Write Your Story with Ally Fallon

Human beings have a primal need that we don’t often talk about. It’s not food or water or love, although we need those things too. It’s the human need that drives you to watch Netflix, scroll Instagram, gasp at a text message that says, “you’ll never guess what happened!?” and even binge a great audiobook (the three I mention in the episode are in the notes below). And yet unlike food, water and love, this primal need often gets overlooked. No wonder we’re depressed or bored or dysregulated or overwhelmed. We’re treating a basic need we have like it’s secondary; and that oversight is costing us. I invite you to find ways to bring back this “lost” art so we can rediscover meaning, clarity and connection in our lives. Check out THE TELL HERE! Check out The Anxious Generation HERE! Check out The Secret Lives of Mama Love HERE! Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI has been a constant topic of conversation lately, mainly because we’re watching the world change at a rapid pace in ways that are unprecedented and can be unnerving. We’re in uncharted territory. As nostalgic as I can sometimes feel about a time when iPhones didn’t rule our lives, I tend toward the belief that, in general, the best times are ahead of us — not behind. I even recorded an episode a few weeks ago encouraging creative people not to be afraid of what AI can do for creativity: In this episode, I want to flag a concern I do have about the current AI takeover. It’s not a concern about AI taking over creative jobs or writing all future published books. It’s about something much more personal. Take a listen and tell me what you think. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If we’re all a sort of “hero” in our own personal narrative, it begs an obvious question: who is narrating the story? I watched Harold and the Purple Crayon on Netflix with my kids over the weekend, a children's book turned movie where the main character of a book goes searching for the narrator of his story so that he can better understand his purpose in life. My kids thought the movie was hilarious. I found it deeply thought-provoking. Who is narrating my story? Who is narrating your story? This is a question (and an answer) I explore in today’s episode. I hope you enjoy and I’d love to hear what you think. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most common questions I’ve been asked in the past ten years is if I would talk about my evolving process with the Christian faith of my childhood. I even recorded an episode called, “Are you still a Christian?” here: Finally, after years of avoiding and evading the question, after nearly a decade of processing and evolving privately, I’m ready to share parts of my experience. The concept of deconstruction can be feared and even demonized but the reality is that the deconstruction of a story is a natural and healthy part of the creative process. We are constantly deconstructing and reconstructing the narratives in our lives — and for good reason! As you listen, consider what you might be deconstructing in your life. If nothing comes to mind, ask yourself: what story that I’m currently telling might need to be deconstructed and looked at from a new angle? Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most common questions I am asked from anyone who is writing about their life goes like this: How do I write about the people who hurt me? Maybe you find yourself wanting to write about your parents, lovers, ex-lovers, siblings, neighbors, bosses, co-workers, etc but you aren’t sure how you would do that in a way that is true and also respectful. Maybe you aren’t worried about being respectful but you are worried about being sued. In this episode, I’ll share my own process for writing about a villain in my story and discuss a guiding concept I use anytime I’m writing about others. This storytelling truth might bring healing beyond your writing. The villain in the story has a purpose. I’ll share it with you today. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Research shows that a daily practice of gratitude can make you happier but have you had a time in life when “gratitude” felt impossible? Have you ever felt like “staying positive” might be blocking you from feeling what was true for you that day? What is the line between “being grateful” and pretending things are different than they actually are? Is it healthy to pretend you feel differently than you actually do? If you’ve ever wished you felt grateful but instead you felt sad, depressed, anxious, worried, or even despair, this episode is for you. We’ll dive into the nuance of this topic and I’ll share how I am learning (slowly) to move past positivity and find true joy. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s episode is a love letter to anyone who feels like they are fumbling and stumbling their way through something right now. Whether it’s work or working out or parenting or creativity, if you feel like a beginner or like you don’t know exactly what to do next, you’re normal, you’re doing great, and this episode is for you. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I heard recently about a publishing scam that would be hard to detect by an average consumer and that preys on the vulnerabilities of new, hopeful authors. And yet with just a little bit of publishing context you can arm yourself with enough information to sniff out the fakers and find a publishing path that works for you. I hope this episode finds you before the scammers do! Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I had a conversation with a friend recently about raising boys (of all things) that reminded me of something I already know: a story without conflict or tension is not a story. So why are so many of us trying to avoid conflict and tension in our lives? Sure, problems are unpleasant to deal with but tiptoeing around potential problems causes a story (read: a life) to fall flat. A story without tension or conflict is uninteresting, dull and even a bit depressing.Problems are an essential ingredient to great, inspiring stories. It’s time we acknowledged that life is full of them and stopped wishing them away. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What will make me truly happy? Recently I watched an Instagram reel where a psychologist shared data that suggests parents with young children are not as happy as those couples who are child-free or who have grown kids. In the comments section, you could hear the defensiveness. The frustration. The incredulity from parents of young children who felt misrepresented. As someone with young children myself, I could see that many of us were grasping for how to explain why this wasn’t the whole picture. Of course there are some elements of “happiness” that go by the wayside when you have kids. At the same time, having young kids is a time of profound transformation and meaning (the elements of a great story). I wanted to speak to this — not because I have any interested in convincing someone to have children — but because I think the conversation itself is fundamentally flawed. What if asking the question, ‘what will make me happy?’ is actually making us miserable? What if there’s a better question to ask? I’ll unpack that better question in today’s episode. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you up against a problem in your life that you don’t know how to solve? Have you tried everything you know to try in order to solve it? Maybe strategies that worked in the past are feeling insufficient this time around? Whether it’s a personal problem or a political, global or corporate one — in this episode i’ll offer a suggestion that may surprise you—and may trigger you (it triggered me). Yet it may be the only thing powerful enough to solve the current problems we are facing. Take a minute to think about what would happen if you gave up trying to solve your impossible problem and instead let the problem teach you what it came here to teach you. I am anxious to hear your thoughts. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever feel like you have to be the strong one? Like you have to get your ducks in a row, get your act together, pull it all off—or if you don’t do it, who will? In today's episode I unpack the idea that your greatest leverage to shift any situation—personal or corporate—is not in your strength or composure or ability or even intelligence but in your capacity to tell the truth. We avoid telling the truth because we’re afraid to face what is real; but only by telling the truth do we access the ability to shift and change the “truth” to something new. What are ten things that are true for you today? Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever felt like — once you get your act together — then your life can start? Once you find the right partner? Once you finally get pregnant? Once you write your book? Once you finish your degree? Once your business is profitable? Once your house is clean? Once you finally kicked that bad habit? Once you master that particular skill? And yet the trouble is, we can spend our entire lives waiting to begin when the reality is that this messy middle is precisely our life; and it is a beautiful and exquisite thing. Life is not about mastery but about presence and love. Consider this episode a celebration of the messy middle. I pray it finds you wherever you are and invites you to sink even more deeply into the precious and beautiful thing that is the life you are living right now. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve ever tried to write literally anything, you’ve dealt with that familiar, sinking feeling: staring at the blinking cursor, convinced you have something to say but unsure how to get the words right. But have you ever considered that writer’s block might be about more than just trying to find the right words? In today’s episode, I share the key idea that writer’s block is not just writer’s block — it’s life block; and ask you to consider what your writer’s block might be trying to show you. Whether you’re on a deadline or not, writer’s block is about far more than just getting your writing assignment done. It’s about accessing your full potential and seeing clearly where your life is asking you to grow. What’s your writer’s block trying to show you? Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you ever feel “stuck” or like you’re spinning your wheels, maybe there’s a story you’re telling that no longer serves you. On today’s episode, I talk about how to know which story is ready to be retired, and what happens when we let go of old, tired stories that were dragging us down. I also introduce you to one of my favorite poets, assuming you don’t know him already. You can order his book of essential poems by clicking HERE. You can listen to the podcast I mention HERE! Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever faced a problem that you didn’t know how to change or solve? Perhaps it’s time to fully receive the gift that the difficulty is here to give you. This isn’t a cheap form of glossing over the details. It’s not about quickly “flipping” the story to be a positive one. It’s about listening deeply to what is taking place and receiving whatever wisdom or freedom or relief or liberation the challenge is trying to give you. It’s about fully moving through the experience in all of its discomfort and even pain. This is not a task for the faint of heart. In fact, it’s a task of unbelievable courage, and it seems a level of courage that is needed now more than ever. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the rise of AI making you uncomfortable? Does it make you wonder about how we will evolve as a species? What the effects will be on the human psyche? Does it make you question how the value of creativity will shift and change as AI takes over? These questions are valuable ones to ask and answer while we navigate this wild new world we’re living in. And yet on today’s episode, I want to offer an interesting take on AI that you may not have heard elsewhere. While asking the hard questions about AI is certainly a vital part of the conversation, it’s might also be valuable to consider how AI might remind us what it means to be human in the first place. What if AI reminds us why creativity matters so much? What if our resistance to AI is helping us resolve our fears? I hope you enjoy these candid and casual reflections as the widespread use of AI expands in real time. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever get the sense that there is a higher, wiser part of you that can stay at peace even when there is chaos around you? A part of you that is able to intuit the next, right step when you’re in unknown territory? That sees through the masks of others and recognizes the truth of who they are? There are many words for this wise voice — I’ve been known to call it the “narrator voice” since it’s the same voice in a story that sees the whole of the narrative arc while the hero struggles with tunnel vision. In his book The Immortal Diamond, Richard Rohr calls this voice the true self. Whatever you choose to call this deep wisdom, one thing I know for sure is this: writing is an amazing way to connect with your innate wisdom. In today’s episode I teach you a simple writing prompt that helps you see through the lies of your false self and hear the strong, sturdy voice of your true self more powerfully than ever before. Listen in to learn more. You can read Immortal Diamond by Richard Rohr by clicking HERE! Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s possible that “staying positive” could be keeping you stuck. In today’s episode, I use the analogy of writing a book (first draft first, second draft second) to talk about how we naturally grow and develop as people. A first draft is inevitably messy and chaotic, raw and guttural. The second draft is cleaner and holds more clarity. But there’s no getting to the second draft without the first draft. Oftentimes, in life, we try to get to the “second draft” before we ever write the horrible first draft. We would like to skip to the healing, the moral, the integration, the clarity, the understanding. But there’s no such thing. If you’re in the messy first draft of your story, maybe it’s time to own that fact and tell the raw, harsh, guttural truth. Could telling a more raw and guttural version of the story actually help you access the second draft you’re reaching for? Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode idea started as a joke. But the more I talked about it, the more I realized I do actually want to take a break from self-improvement — a journey I’ve been on for nearly 20 years. Before you judge me, or dismiss me, hear me out. In today’s episode I’ll talk about what happens when we stop trying to become “better” than we already are. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever felt like there was something you wanted to do — like write a book or take an improv class or start a yoga practice — but you were avoiding it because you hate the feeling of being a beginner? It can be uncomfortable to not know what’s coming next, to make mistakes, to feel out of place, to wobble or stutter or unknowingly break decorum. And yet reconnecting with the beginner in you is also liberating. There’s a freedom that comes with lowering your expectations, with waiting for cues, with learning as you go and even taking the pressure off for a performance of any kind. In today’s episode, we’ll talk about the importance of being a beginner in all aspects of life and talk about how we can reconnect with the beginner in each of us. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comFollow Ally on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When I ask a writer working on a manuscript why they are writing a book, or what they hope happens with their book, one of the most common sentiments I hear is they want to “help as many people as possible.” While this desire makes sense, and I know it comes from a good place, I want to point out one of the major pitfalls of “helping as many people as possible” as motivation for your art. If we aren’t making art to “help people” then why are we making art? I’ll unpack that in today’s episode and the answer is one that even I didn’t see coming when I first sat down to record this one. I’d love to have you come along for the ride. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you know why writing a manuscript is harder than writing an instagram caption? Because we’re not used to “dragging out” a problem in stories. Yet the books and movies that capture our attention don’t resolve problems quickly. They lean into the tension as a tool for transformation of the hero. And it keeps you engaged. If you’re facing a problem in your life, is it possible you’re jumping too quickly to a solution? Are you simplifying a matter that is not simple because living in the problem feels too painful? Are you “waiting on a miracle” as a way to numb the pain of the present moment? I believe miracles exist and I also believe most of us have no idea what a miracle really looks like. What if the miracle is found deeper inside of the problem you’ve been busy trying to solve? Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re less than three weeks into the new year and have already faced a healthy handful of national tragedies (14 killed in Louisiana, the cybertruck explosion outside the hotel in Vegas, the fires in Los Angeles, just to name a few) not to mention the global crises that rage on (the war in the middle east, the destruction in Ukraine, climate change, for example). And this doesn’t even account for whatever personal disappointment or chaos that may be brewing in your little world. Needless to say, it seems we may be gearing up for another wild year. So how are we approaching this turning of the clocks? Are we entering in with the same energy we have always brought to January — rigid, individualistic and even sometimes materialistic goals that we are determined to meet? Or are we entering in with an attitude of softness, of listening? Are we willing to receive what life is trying to teach us? On this week’s episode, I want to talk about how I’m trying to soften my way into the new year, and why I think softness (especially when things are hard) is the way of the future. See the poem I discuss by clicking HERE Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever just known something was true but you didn’t know how you knew? Have you ever been inspired to say something or create something but couldn’t explain where that inspiration was coming from? Have you ever had a flash of insight or information about yourself or another person? In today’s episode I talk with my friend Amanda Rieger Green, who also happens to be a psychic medium and a brilliant teacher on astrology and numerology, about how we learn to trust ourselves and our perceptions. Especially when those perceptions fall outside of our typical five senses. According to Amanda, we all have access to senses beyond the five physical senses, and when we can learn to tune into those senses and trust what comes through, we find ourselves more confident and aligned than ever before. Creativity and spirituality meet here — at the place where we begin to listen to the unique way god or love or universe wants to speak through us. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Please be sure to find Amanda’s show called Soul Sessions wherever you listen to podcasts. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a time of year that seems to move at lightning speed. it can feel like, if we don’t also move at lightning speed, we’ll fall behind and miss something truly important. What if moving fast isn’t the flex you’ve been told it is? It might seem like FAST is the way to get more out of life. Think of all the magic we can experience and things we can accomplish if we move at the fastest possible pace! But what if we’re wrong about that? In this weeks episode I want to give you permission to move much more slowly than is culturally normal this time of year, and maybe even more slowly than you’re used to moving. Fast might be “normal” for you but take a minute and ask if it feels gentle or even good in your system. What if you could move more slowly and actually get MORE (rather than less) out of your life? Today, I suggest exactly that. It’s a little benediction for you as you move through the busiest time of year. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you missed last week's episode – go back and listen before you jump into this one! We talked about what it looks like to get into the ease and flow of creativity.  This week, I want to address the role of restriction, boundaries, rules and borders as it relates to flow. Boundaries and flow might seem diametrically opposed but these two seeming “opposites” actually play together quite nicely and are necessary for true expansion. If “restriction” sounds like a bummer to you, or conjures up memories of going without, listen to this episode.  If “restriction” was used against you in the past, as a way to limit pleasure or generate suffering, listen to this episode.  If you yourself sometimes use “restriction” as a form of self-punishment or because you feel undeserving, listen to this episode.  It's time to reclaim the value of restriction for our creativity and our well-being.  What is getting in the way of your flow?  Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are two ways we can approach our creative life — that is, anything we want to make or create in this world.  The first is to fight for what we think we want.  The second is to open and receive what has always been rightfully ours.  I have used both ways in my life and both ways work, to one extent or another. Neither is bad or wrong. On today's episode, I'll talk about why I moved from approach #1 to approach #2 and what has surprised me about the second option.   Fun side note: listen in real time to what happens when I do this as I'm recording this episode! I came with an intention for what I wanted to say, and something totally different unfolded.  What if creativity is happening for you and you don't have to force it forward?  What would it take for you to open to what is trying to happen for you?  Here's the book I mention several times in the episode: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If creativity doesn't always yield the expected results, how do we measure “success”?  In today's episode, I explore the idea of focusing more on how the creative process feels than on how it looks. It doesn't matter if you're growing a business or falling in love or making a piece of art. The question I want you to ask yourself is: how does it make you feel?  This isn't how we're trained in religion or in many family dynamics and it certainly isn't how we're indoctrinated by broader culture. But is it possible that leaning into what feels good — over what looks good — gets us closer to our desired outcome?  Here's the book I mentioned in today's episode: Breathing Under Water by Richard Rohr. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Control is toxic to creativity. So what's the alternative? Do we have to take what life hands us or do we get any say in the matter? In today's episode I explore the concepts of agency and control and talk about the distinct differences between the two.  This conversation is with an aspiring author and my new friend Meredith, who is a former CIA agent and expert on the idea of using your own personal agency to create a sense of safety, even in an environment that by all standards would be considered unsafe.    If the world feels chaotic to you right now… If you struggle with anxiety… If you have a hard time feeling safe (even when you are actually safe)... If you have felt at times like you have to “take what life handed you”... If you'd like to experience the feeling of being settled inside your own skin… If you want more access to your power and intuition…   Don't miss this powerful episode.  Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is actually happening when you write / paint / sing / create? Are you simply dreaming up something in your brain and making it material?  Or are you reaching beyond the mind to something harder to explain or understand?    In this week's episode of the Write Your Story podcast, I share a story that I've only told to about three people before today. And the reason I'm sharing the story is to demonstrate the power of a tool like writing—or really any creative practice. I've said a thousand times that writing is about more than just publishing but I don't think I have accurately articulated what it actually is about.   A few weeks ago, something happened that illuminated the “why” behind writing for me and I felt an urgent need to share it with you.  What if your writing isn't just about finishing a book or getting published? What if writing isn't only about expressing your thoughts or feelings?What if writing is a way to get in touch with wisdom beyond yourself? Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi there. I'm popping in your feed with a special bonus episode because I have some things on my heart I want to share.  It's been a big week in the USA with the election of Donald Trump for another term of presidency. No matter how you voted, this is a complicated and heavy time, so I wanted to talk about how we move forward from here.  How do we keep going when the material world doesn't align with the ideals, values and beliefs of our spiritual world?  I share in the episode who I voted for and why — but this topic is so much bigger than a political candidate. Listen to hear why this benediction of sorts is for you, even if you're celebrating Trump's victory.  I pray these next four years are rich with clarity, awakening, connection and truth. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In honor of election day, I want to take a break from our regularly scheduled programming and talk about why and how we get drawn in by powerful (and sometimes dangerous) narcissistic leaders. This is something I've been thinking about since leaving an abusive relationship many years ago and, as I discuss in the episode, this topic matters for far more than just politics. Our power and our communities and our creativity are also at stake. Regardless of who you vote / voted for, take a moment to ask yourself a few important questions:  - Are you drawn in by powerful, overly confident leaders?  - Are you constantly looking outside of yourself for solutions, direction and affirmation? - Do you question if you have personal power to affect your surroundings and circumstances?  - Do you feel “backed against the wall” or “held under water” as if nothing you do matters?  Perhaps consider how shifting your perspective could open you up to more collaborative relationships, more personal power and to a deeper creativity than you've ever known. The article I mention in the episode is linked HERE. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We think we know what it means to “be creative” but do we really? Or have we been subtly indoctrinated by a culture that so worships productivity and achievement that we have missed what creativity actually is, what it means, and why it matters? In this season of the podcast, I'll ask those questions and more. I'll find some answers, I'm sure, and leave others to a mystery I may never fully understand. I hope you'll come along with me for the ride. Two weeks ago, I lost my dad very suddenly to a heart attack (thank you for your grace as I skipped an episode). He was a therapist and an amazing man who taught me so much. This week, I want to share what I'm learning from him even after his death.  Are you an artist or a coach?  How can you feed your inner artist?    Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We think we know what it means to “be creative” but do we really? Or have we been subtly indoctrinated by a culture that so worships productivity and achievement that we have missed what creativity actually is, what it means, and why it matters? In this season of the podcast, I'll ask those questions and more. I'll find some answers, I'm sure, and leave others to a mystery I may never fully understand. I hope you'll come along with me for the ride. In this week's episode, I share two different approaches for getting unstuck and the second one might surprise you. If you're feeling in the “muck” or like you could use a breakthrough, don't miss this episode. Also, here's a link to the whole poem I share in this episode: Aristotle by Billy Collins Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We think we know what it means to “be creative” but do we really? Or have we been subtly indoctrinated by a culture that so worships productivity and achievement that we have missed what creativity actually is, what it means, and why it matters? In this season of the podcast, I'll ask those questions and more. I'll find some answers, I'm sure, and leave others to a mystery I may never fully understand. I hope you'll come along with me for the ride. In this week's episode, I talk about what happens in the middle of the creative process when it looks like what you hoped to create, you may never create. Hopelessness. Despair. Existential dread. It's quite the uplifting episode. But seriously. I hope you enjoy it and I hope it makes you feel just a little less crazy if you've found yourself losing hope. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We think we know what it means to “be creative” but do we really? Or have we been subtly indoctrinated by a culture that so worships productivity and achievement that we have missed what creativity actually is, what it means, and why it matters? In this season of the podcast, I'll ask those questions and more. I'll find some answers, I'm sure, and leave others to a mystery I may never fully understand. I hope you'll come along with me for the ride. In today's episode, I am talking about what role “miracles” plays in our creative work (creative work meaning: building a family, starting a business, creating community, solving problems) and reframe the idea of what a miracle is and what role we play in welcoming the miracle. If you've ever found yourself waiting for something spectacular to happen and feeling like it's out of your hands, you don't want to miss this episode. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We think we know what it means to “be creative” but do we really? Or have we been subtly indoctrinated by a culture that so worships productivity and achievement that we have missed what creativity actually is, what it means, and why it matters? In this season of the podcast, I'll ask those questions and more. I'll find some answers, I'm sure, and leave others to a mystery I may never fully understand. I hope you'll come along with me for the ride.  In today's episode, I talk to my husband Matt about a creative project he's been working on for four years that didn't hasn't gone the way he wanted. We talk about the bizarre mix of money and creativity, what failure has to teach us about success and how knowing your “why” trumps figuring out “how” to bring your vision to life. If you've ever failed at something that mattered to you — or if you haven't even tried because you worried about failing — you don't want to miss this episode. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We think we know what it means to “be creative” but do we really? Or have we been subtly indoctrinated by a culture that so worships productivity and achievement that we have missed what creativity actually is, what it means, and why it matters? In this season of the podcast, I'll ask those questions and more. I'll find some answers, I'm sure, and leave others to a mystery I may never fully understand. I hope you'll come along with me for the ride.  In today's episode, I explore what it looks like to follow your impulses and share why I'm learning this is an essential element of creativity. “But what if my impulses are selfish? What if they are born from ego? What if they lead you down a dark path?” I'll explore these questions and more. Whatever you call them — impulses, intuition, or that still, small voice — hearing and responding to that subtle knowing is one important key to creativity. Join me as I share my own experience of hearing and following my impulses. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We think we know what it means to “be creative” but do we really? Or have we been subtly indoctrinated by a culture that so worships productivity and achievement that we have missed what creativity actually is, what it means, and why it matters? In this season of the podcast, I'll ask those questions and more. I'll find some answers, I'm sure, and leave others to a mystery I may never fully understand. I hope you'll come along with me for the ride.  In today's episode, I unpack the symbolism of the “blank page” and how when we set out to make something, we start with nothing. If creativity is about making something from nothing, then how we view emptiness, silence, boredom and the heavy feeling of “nothing to say” matters. If you've ever wanted to create something — a business, a family, a community, a way of life — but had no idea where to start, this episode is for you. Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the story you're living in takes a turn you weren't expecting, you have two options: accept the change and ride the wave, or fight the unfolding narrative at every turn. In this episode, I'll share some ways I'm being asked to let go of the narrative I was trying to write and to step into a newer, more courageous version of myself. Listen to the end for a big announcement about what's next for me and for this show! Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever wish you felt more like a “real” writer? Do you find yourself getting stuck on writing projects and you aren't sure why? Maybe one of these three essential ingredients is missing from your life. On today's episode I share three ingredients that will make you a better writer but that don't get much airtime in publishing or writing circles. I also share an important announcement about the show. Don't miss this important episode!   Have something you'd love for me to cover / someone you want me to interview? Email me at mystory@writeyourstory.com   Host: Ally Fallon // @allyfallon // allisonfallon.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.