I’m Sumayya Usmani, award-winning author and writing mentor, who ditched a legal career for a creative one in my 40s. I believe it’s never too late to follow the path you’ve been chosen to pursue. Are you an aspiring author or writer longing to follow the creative path? The Craft is is a podcast for the curious creative and the daring dreamer - I hope that this podcast helps you take the steps towards realising your writing dreams. Join me twice a month here, as I share insights, inspirations and ideas about the craft and creative life.
For Mental Health Awareness Week and Month I speak to artist and educator Kolbie about how we can navigate neurodiversity and creative life in a kind and gentle Manne tapping into the creative part of a neurodiverse mind in a way to avoid burnt out.Kolbie Blume is a watercolor artist, author, and online educator, specializing in helping closet creatives overcome perfectionism and embrace their inner artist. As a late-diagnosed autistic and ADHDer, Kolbie is passionate about making sure neurodivergent folks know there is space for everyone inside creativity, and there is no such thing as “broken” when it comes to being a human. Kolbie lives in the Washington, DC area with her spouse of ten years and their son.You can learn more about Kolbie @thiswritingdesk and her website.
In this episode I share my top tips to help build a sustainable writing practice so that you can find flow and flourish with your writing. If you'd love me to mentor you through writing a book get in touch with me here. My online writers' membership Qissa is a place for community, writing and growth - join the waitlist here.
What if you could find a way to allow dreams to inspire your writing? I speak to author and Certified Dreamwork Professional Tzivia Gover, about how dreams can inspire creativity and writing in ways so many of us don't explore. We talk about the ways in which you can incubate dreams and use, what Tzivia called your 'Midnight Muse' to create textured and layered writing. Tzivia is the author of Dreaming on the Page and many other books. You can read more about her on her website here and follow her on Instagram here.
In this espidoe I speak to award-winning author Awais Khan, (author of SOMEONE LIKE HER, NO HONOUR and IN THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS) about what its like to write about South Asian theme and make them relevant to Western audiences and what inspires him when her writes fiction.
In this episode podcast, I delve into the importance of bringing real people into your memoir or food memoir. I discuss the significance of creating strong foundations for characters within your memoir and provide practical tips on shaping their personalities and relationships. Focusing on the importance of writing truthfully and authentically, while also considering the impact on the people being written about. Additionally, I explore the role of food as a character within a food memoir and how it can symbolise emotions and add depth to the story. The episode concludes with a discussion on the fine line between reality and creative embellishment, urging you to maintain authenticity and honesty in your portrayal of characters and overall storytelling.
Welcome to Season 4 of The Craft! In this episode, I share a seasonal journey into penning down your personal stories to begin the bones of your memoir. JOIN WAITLIST FOR MEMOIRES TO MANUSCRIPT: Coming soon to you, this is a course to help you write your memoir SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER "THE INTUITION SEEKER": and receive Free Guite to The Wordsmith Wanderlust to help you plan your year of writing. SIGN UP TO WORDSMITH: Find your writer's voice in 21 days with my email and audio course JOIN THE QISSA MEMBERSHIP WAITLIST: Doors open to wait-listers only a few times a year. This is a membership community for aspiring authors and writers.
In this year-round-up episode, I share my thoughts on how this year changed me in ways I never imagined and how following your purpose with audacity is the formula to keeping your creative spirit alive. SIGN UP TO WORDSMITH: Find your writer's voice in 21 days with my email and audio course JOIN THE QISSA MEMBERSHIP WAITLIST: Doors open to wait-listers only this month, this is a membership community for aspiring authors and writers. JOIN WAITLIST FOR MEMOIRES TO MANUSCRIPT: Coming soon to you, this is a course to help you write your memoir
In this episode I speak to my own mentor - author, singer/songwriter Malachy Tallack, who helped me write my memoir Andaza, through the Scottish Book Trust. We chat about the benefits of working with a mentor as well a little about his wonderful new Substack called For A Song. Read more about Malachy here: https://www.malachytallack.com/ Social media: @malachytallack
In this episode, I talk about how to structure your life writing project whether its a memoir, autobiography or family history. Learn more about my online writers' membership: Qissa at sumayyausmani.com
In this episode, I speak to a food writer, author, President of the Guild of Food Writers and Masterchef semi-finalist, Orlando Murrin about how he moved from a successful food writing career to writing cosy crime fiction and talk about his debut novel, Knife Skills for Beginners, out 15th February 2024. Orlando shares such a wealth of knowledge and this is one of my favourite guest interviews. Recorded in person while Orlando was visiting the Scottish crime fiction festival 'Bloody Scotland' in Stirling, Scotland. Learn more about Orlando: http://orlandomurrin.com Preorder Knife Skills for Beginners: https://www.orlandomurrin.com/buy
In this episode, I’ll be sharing some tips and strategies to help you strike that delicate balance between nurturing creativity, making time for writing and self-care to help thrive as a writer and not burn out.
In this episode I talk about how to overcome the fear of the blank page and finding inspiration to begin your writing and share my top tips to push the fear aside and stay motivated to conquer the blank page.
In our 1st episode of season 3 (with the new podcast title, The Craft) I speak to New York based therapist and author Israa Nasir about how creativity and community together can really support your growth and mental well-being but also how to cope with any pitfalls of working in a community setting - how to maange comparison, envy and self-confidence. LEARN MORE ABOUT ISRAA NASIR: Instagram @well.guide and website www.israanasir.com LEARN MORE ABOUT SUMAYYA : www.sumayyausmani.com Email sumayya@sumayyausmani.com for support with one-on-one mentoring writing mentoring and coaching. JOIN THE QISSA WRITER’S MEMBERSHIP WAITLIST Follow Sumayya on Instagram
Have you always dreamt of being an author? In this episode I share some practical steps I took to pave the path towards an author’s life and hope that they offer guidance and inspiration. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under an Attribution-Non-Commercial License. LEARN MORE ABOUT SUMAYYA : www.sumayyausmani.com Email sumayya@sumayyausmani.com for support with one-on-one mentoring writing mentoring and coaching. JOIN THE QISSA WRITER’S MEMBERSHIP WAITLIST Open to new members on 31 July 2023 - 7th August 2023 Follow Sumayya on Instagram
It was only when I began to believe I was a writer that doors opened up for me. In this episode I talk about how the journey as a writer begins with the first step of believing that you can make your dreams a reality through consistency, commitment and most of all belief. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under an Attribution-Non-Commercial License. LEARN MORE ABOUT SUMAYYA : www.sumayyausmani.com Email sumayya@sumayyausmani.com for support with one-on-one mentoring writing mentoring and coaching. JOIN THE QISSA WRITER'S MEMBERSHIP WAITLIST doors open on 31 July 2023 next Follow Sumayya on Instagram
In this episode I will be candid about what it felt like tackling perimenopause and now menopause as a creative and why it's an advantage in many ways to tap into creativity through one's golden years. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-Non-Commercial License. For more information on Sumayya's offerings: www.sumayyausmani.com Email sumayya@sumayyausmani.com for support with one-on-one mentoring writing mentoring and coaching. Join the email course Wordsmith: find your writer's voice in 21-days in this email and audio course Follow Sumayya on Instagram
In this episode I'll share the reasons why it's important to nurture self care as a writer and a creative. I talk about some of the ways I have learned to not let my creative energy be sapped by the need for productivity as a writer. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-Non-Commercial License. For more information on Sumayya's offerings: www.sumayyausmani.com Email sumayya@sumayyausmani.com for support with one-on-one mentoring writing mentoring and coaching. Join the waitlist here: for Sumayya's new 21-day email and audio course Wordsmith, to help you find your writer's voice. Follow Sumayya on Instagram
In this episode I speak to Glasgow based author Sarah Smith and chat about her top 5 reasons to return to university at 50. An inspiring talk that resonates with me as I am back to university this September, at 50! Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-Non-Commercial License. For more information on Sumayya's offerings: www.sumayyausmani.com Email sumayya@sumayyausmani.com for support with one-on-one mentoring writing mentoring and coaching. Join the waitlist here: for Sumayya's new 21-day email and audio course Wordsmith, to help you find your writer's voice. Follow Sumayya on Instagram Follow Sarah Smith on Twitter
In this episode I talk to the author, gardener and food writer Mark Diacono, (founder of Otter Farm in Devon) about the magic of creating flavour and finding inspiration for recipes and writing through growing herbs at home. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-Non-Commercial License. For more information on Sumayya's offerings: www.sumayyausmani.com Email sumayya@sumayyausmani.com for support with one-on-one mentoring writing mentoring and coaching. Join the waitlist here: for Sumayya's new 21-day email and audio course Wordsmith, to help you find your writer's voice. Follow Sumayya on Instagram Learn more about Mark Diacono : https://www.otterfarm.co.uk
In this episode I talk to nature writer, author and mentor Kathryn Aalto about how nature can help the writer to see the world in a different light and draw inspiration from it in their writing. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-Non-Commercial License. For more information on Sumayya's offerings: www.sumayyausmani.com Email sumayya@sumayyausmani.com for support with one-on-one mentoring writing mentoring and coaching. Join the waitlist here: for Sumayya's new 30 day email coure Wordsmith, to help you find your writer's voice. Follow Sumayya on Instagram Follow Kathryn Aalto on Instagram
In this episode I talk about how the art of slow writing helps you through the barriers of mindset and practicalities of a writing practice and makes you lookbehind the reasons for writing and what truly fuels your craft - helping you slow down, give it all meaning and perspective. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. For more information on Sumayya's offerings: www.sumayyausmani.com Click here to join QISSA: a sanctuary for stories , the monthly membership for aspiring authors and writers - doors open 22nd February 2023 Email sumayya@sumayyausmani.com for support with one-on-one mentoring either through Nurtured or Nourished writing mentoring and coaching. Follow Sumayya on social: @SumayyaUsmani
In this new year episode I talk to Victoria Frolova, author, writer of Bois de Jasmin and professionally trainer perfumer, about how the sense of smell can do more than just transport us to another time but can also help us tap into our creativity. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. More about Victoria Frolova https://boisdejasmin.com/about For more information on Sumayya's offerings: www.sumayyausmani.com Click here to learn join Savoured waitlist, the monthly membership for creatives and writers. Email sumayya@sumayyausmani.com for support with one-on-one mentoring either through Nurtured or Nourished writing mentoring and coaching. Follow Sumayya on social: @SumayyaUsmani
In this new year episode I encourage you to make a goal to set time for intentional writing, and offer my top tips to set up a mindful writing practice. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. For more information on Sumayya's offerings: www.sumayyausmani.com Click here to learn join Savoured waitlist, the monthly membership for creatives and writers. Email sumayya@sumayyausmani.com for support with one-on-one mentoring either through Nurtured or Nourished writing mentoring and coaching. Follow Sumayya on social: @SumayyaUsmani
In this episode I share my own mindset issues with finances while building a writing career and my 2023 promise to myself. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. For more information on Sumayya's offerings: www.sumayyausmani.com Click here to learn join Savoured waitlist, the monthly membership for creatives and writers. Email sumayya@sumayyausmani.com for support with one-on-one mentoring either through Nurtured or Nourished writing mentoring and coaching. Follow Sumayya on social: @SumayyaUsmani
In this episode I speak to Moneeza Khan from Lotusblu Book Art who manages her chronic pain with creating beauty in her work and in her life. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. For more information on Sumayya's offerings: www.sumayyausmani.com Click here to learn join Savoured waitlist, the monthly membership for creatives and writers. Email sumayya@sumayyausmani.com for support with one-on-one mentoring either through Nurtured or Nourished writing mentoring and coaching. Follow Sumayya on social: @SumayyaUsmani
In this episode I discuss whether adversity actually fuels creativity and how you can use the power of mindset to find strength to create during tough times. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. For more information on Sumayya's offerings: www.sumayyausmani.com Click here to learn join Savoured waitlist, the monthly membership for creatives and writers. Email sumayya@sumayyausmani.com for support with one-on-one mentoring either through Nurtured or Nourished writing mentoring and coaching. Follow Sumayya on social: @SumayyaUsmani
In the next few episodes I'm delving deeper into what makes a creative life thrive with adversity and challenges and how we can find direction through life's hurdles to create good work and a nurturing career. I'll be talking to other creatives through the next few episodes, but I thought I'll begin by sharing my journey. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. For more information on Sumayya's offerings: www.sumayyausmani.com Click here to learn join Savoured waitlist, the monthly membership for creatives and writers. Email sumayya@sumayyausmani.com for support with one-on-one mentoring either through Nurtured or Nourished writing mentoring and coaching.
In this episode I offer the invitation to spend a week nurturing your creative soul in small intentional ways to help rest and recover your creative soul. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. For more information on Sumayya's offerings: www.sumayyausmani.com Email Sumayya@sumayyausmani.com for support with one-on-one mentoring either through Nurtured or Nourished writing mentoring and coaching. Click here to join the waitlist for Brewed: create your cookbook proposal in 4 weeks Follow Sumayya on social: @SumayyaUsmani
This episode is the last in the 4 series of Writer's Roadblocks - I offer support to calm the fear of rejection and why it's important to be resistant as a writer. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. For more information on Sumayya's offerings: www.sumayyausmani.com Email sumayya@sumayyausmani.com for support with one-on-one mentoring either through Nurtured or Nourished writing mentoring and coaching. Click here to join the waitlist for Brewed: create your cookbook proposal in 4 weeks Click here to join my Creative Writer's Hour Follow Sumayya on social: @SumayyaUsmani
This is the third of 4 episodes that tackle the roadblocks we as writers and creatives face - blocks created by self-sabotage that stop us from fulfilling our dreams. In this episode I share my thoughts on how to make time for writing when you think you don't have time. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. For more information on Sumayya's offerings: www.sumayyausmani.com Email Sumayya@sumayyausmani.com for support with one-on-one mentoring either through Nurtured or Nourished mentoring programs Click here to join the waitlist for Brewed: create your cookbook proposal in 4 weeks (online course previously named Crafted) Follow Sumayya on social: @SumayyaUsmani
This is the second of 4 episodes that tackle the roadblocks we as writers and creatives face - blocks created by self-sabotage that stop us from fulfilling our dreams. In this episode I share my thoughts on the need for perfectionism and how we can manage this roadblock. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-Non-commercial License. For more information on Sumayya's offerings: www.sumayyausmani.com Email Sumayya@sumayyausmani.com for support with one-on-one mentoring either through Nurtured or Nourished mentoring programs Click here to join the waitlist for Brewed: create your cookbook proposal in 4 weeks (online course previously named Crafted) Follow Sumayya on social: @SumayyaUsmani
This is the first of 4 episodes that tackle the roadblocks we as writers and creatives face - blocks created by self-sabotage that stop us from fulfilling our dreams. In this episode I share my thoughts on procrastination. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. For more information on Sumayya's offerings: www.sumayyausmani.com Click here to join the waitlist for Crafted: create your cookbook proposal in 4 weeks (online course) Follow Sumayya on social: @SumayyaUsmani
In this episode I chat to award-winning food writer and author Eleanor Ford about the way one can chronicle stories of food and culinary culture of faraway lands while respecting the culture we seek to write about and the processes of writing a food and travel cookbook. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. For more information on Sumayya's offerings: www.sumayyausmani.com Join the waitlist for Crafted: create your cookbook proposal in 4 weeks (online course) Follow Sumayya on social: @SumayyaUsmani Follow Eleanor Ford on Instagram
I talk to award-winning food writer and Guardian columnist, Felicity Cloake about the soulful art of writing about food and how to forge a career as a food writer. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. For more information on Sumayya's offerings: www.sumayyausmani.com Join the waitlist for Crafted: create your cookbook proposal in 4 weeks (online course) Follow Sumayya on social: @SumayyaUsmani Follow Felicity Cloake on instagram
In this episode I talk about the way food and memories are intertwined and how they can shape us and make us a who we are. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. For more information on Sumayya's offerings Join Savoured, Sumayya's monthly membership OPEN NOW Join the waitlist for Sumayya's cookbook proposal course Crafted HERE Follow Sumayya on social: @SumayyaUsmani
In this episode I am joined by Manifestress Jess Collins, a copywriter and a soulful coach who has allowed the magic of manifestation to offer her the life of her dreams. Listen to this inspiring chat where she shares her secrets to unlocking the magic within us all. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. More information on Sumayya's offerings Join the waitlist for Savoured, Sumayya's monthly membership launching 2022. Follow Sumayya on social Follow Jess Collins
I talk to Jane Lindsey of Snapdragon Life on location in her home in the Trossach's near Loch Lomond, and discuss how to harness creativity and get in touch with the natural world - the most beautiful way to thrive and heal. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. More information on Sumayya's offerings Join the waitlist for Savoured, Sumayya's monthly membership launching 2022. Follow Sumayya on social Follow Jane Lindsey
This month's theme is finding creativity naturally: in this episode I speak to Moneeza Khan, a bookbinder and artist based in West Yorkshire who shares with us the magic in making space for creativity to flow by tidying. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. More information on Sumayya's offerings Join the waitlist for Savoured, Sumayya's monthly membership launching 2022. Follow Sumayya on social Follow Moneeza Khan
This month's theme is ‘making magic' in our creative lives. I'm joined by guest Gaelle Jolly who is a calligrapher and bookbinder. We chat about the meditative magic of calligraphy and how it healed her life after bereavement and learn about her positive mindset around her craft. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. More information on Sumayya's offerings Join the waitlist for Crafted: 4 week online cookbook proposal course Click here to email Sumayya about Nurtured Mentoring Join the waitlist for Savoured, Sumayya's monthly membership launching 2022. Follow Sumayya on social Follow Gaelle Jolly
Continuing this month's theme An Aspiring Author, I speak to London-based literary agent Emily Sweet who shares inspiration, insight and information to help you think about how you increase your chances of finding the right representation for your dream career as a published author. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. More information on Sumayya's offerings Join the waitlist for Crafted: 4 week online cookbook proposal course Click here to email Sumayya about Nurtured Mentoring Join the waitlist for Savoured, Sumayya's monthly membership launching 2022. Follow Sumayya on social
This month's theme is An Aspiring Author – in this episode I'll share my top tips to helping you realise your book publication dreams. I'll share with you my own experiences and how mindset really has a lot to do with it – plus 3 practical tips to help you get closer to your dreams. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. More information on Sumayya's offerings Join the waitlist for Crafted: 4 week online cookbook proposal course Click here to email Sumayya about Nurtured Mentoring Join the waitlist for Savoured, Sumayya's monthly membership launching 2022. Follow Sumayya on social
We are all guilty of comparison – in this episode I talk about the key ways this negative mindset can affect our creativity and how best to stop it from doing so – allowing us creatives to cut through the noise around us and focus on our own growth. More information on Sumayya's offerings Join the waitlist for Savoured, Sumayya's monthly membership launching 2022 Follow Sumayya on Social Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License.
In this episode I share ways in which you can harness the magic of spices to create a sanctuary of connection and calm in your life. I'll also share my top 5 magical spices to help you create your spice sanctuary box. More information on Sumayya's offerings Join the waitlist for Savoured, Sumayya's monthly membership launching 2022 Follow Sumayya on Social Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License.
Finding the connection to ourselves through the power of memoir-writing / life-writing is powerful. Tapping into our memories, our lived experiences and penning them down can bring not only a beautiful story to life, but also help us tap into our own ways of processing our experiences. In this inspiring episode, I chat to memoirist, lecturer and editor, Jonathan Taylor about memoir writing and its benefits, and how to begin writing it. More information on Sumayya's offerings Join the waitlist for Savoured, Sumayya's monthly membership launching 2022 Follow Sumayya on Social More about Jonathan Taylor and on social. Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License.
We've stopped listening to our own gut feelings, that little voice inside our heads that always paves the perfect path for us. We are blessed with this powerful, potent magic within us and if we begin to tap into it again, reconnect with our instincts, trust it – we can find peace in the uncertain and most importantly uncover creative potential and confidence. In this episode I introduce A Savoured Life and share my 5 tips for reconnecting to our inner voice. More information on Sumayya's offerings Join Savoured, Sumayya's monthly membership launching 2022 Follow Sumayya on Social Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License.
WELCOME TO THE CRAFT, A PODCAST THAT SHARES STORIES ABOUT WRITING AND THE WRITERS’ SPIRIT I’m your host: Sumayya Usmani an author who found belonging from the courtroom to the craft - Join me as I navigate this craft of writing with chats on practical challenges and nurturing the creative spirit. THIS IS THE CRAFT. (this podcast first launched as A Savoured Life in January 2022. It is now called The Craft More information on Sumayya's offerings Join Qissa, Sumayya’s monthly writer's membership Follow Sumayya on Instagram Music credit: Simple Melody by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License.
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