Courage to Create

Bethany Hegedus

The Porchlight is brought to you by Bethany Hegedus, Creative Director at The Writing Barn in Austin, Texas. (thewritingbarn.com) Join us as we chat with authors, illustrators and other creatives in and outside of the kid-lit field.

  1. 09/04/2019

    Courage to Create Episode 63 with Christina Soontornvat

    Bethany interviews friend, Writing Barn student and teacher, and prolific author Christina Soontornvat in this episode of Courage to Create. Christina is the author of THE CHANGELINGS and IN A DARK LAND, the chapter book series DIARY OF AN ICE PRINCESS, three forthcoming picture books, the upcoming middle grade novel A WISH IN THE DARK, and the highly anticipated ALL THIRTEEN: THE INCREDIBLE CAVE RESCUE OF THE THAI BOYS' SOCCER TEAM. Together, Bethany and Christina discuss all of these titles plus the importance of diversity in children's literature. As a first-generation Thai American, Christina is thrilled to be writing books with children that look like her and her family on the covers. In the spirit of the We Need Diverse Books movement, Christina strives to create stories that are mirrors and windows for children and that show readers the "white by default" mentality is inadequate in literature. She and Bethany also discuss the long time involved in publishing books and picture books in particular. The kid lit industry involves so little that writers can control, and Christina talks about how finding joy in the work and the craft are crucial because those are about the only elements of the business creatives can control. They also chat about freeing yourself from your own inner editor and getting out of your own way so that you can enjoy your work and your literary life. Tune in today for this inspiring episode of Courage to Create and find out more about Christina at https://soontornvat.com/

    57 min
  2. 08/16/2019

    Courage to Create Episode 60: Write. Submit. Support. Segment 1

    In this special first segment of a two part Courage to Create, Bethany leads the group of writers from her pilot program of Write. Submit. Support. during their most recent retreat. This group of writers has worked together for three years now, and they continue to retreat together twice yearly at The Writing Barn. The theme of this retreat was "Reclaiming Your Brave," and during this episode, listeners will hear Bethany and the ten retreat participants discuss various aspects of how they are doing that in their creative lives and how they plan to add more bravery to their work. Listeners can also engage in the various writing exercises Bethany led the group in over the course of their afternoon workshop. Participants were asked to use elements of their childhood selves that they wanted to reclaim and embrace anew in themselves and their characters. The group discusses the challenges and the importance of trying new things as well as looking honestly not just at your weaknesses as a writer but also at your strengths. "Having a want can be scary because it means for a time we're going to go unfulfilled," Bethany tells the class who then expounds on how to cope with this knowledge and not let it stop you from starting or continuing your work. Tune in next week for part two of this episode, and meanwhile, check out The Writing Barn's online Write. Submit. Support. programming at http://www.thewritingbarn.com/upcoming-classes/#online

    36 min
4.8
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

The Porchlight is brought to you by Bethany Hegedus, Creative Director at The Writing Barn in Austin, Texas. (thewritingbarn.com) Join us as we chat with authors, illustrators and other creatives in and outside of the kid-lit field.