The Spark File with Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien – Details, episodes & analysis

Here’s a summary of the key takeaways from this episode!

In this week’s episode, we discuss the idea of “shining the light” on your creative work.What do we mean by “shining the light”? In The Spark File Community, we think of the creative cycle in three steps: generating sparks, fanning the flames of creativity, and shining the light on your creative work. This step involves inviting others to share in your work. This might be requesting feedback, inviting folks to a reading, submitting to a festival, or promoting the sale of your work - anything that extends your work beyond your safe and comfortable realm.

This week, we tackle the most common reasons why people struggle to shine the light—and, we take a look at our recent cohort of llumineers, who did a whole lot of light shining in their recent capstone presentations. Our goal is to make sure that every artist has a choice about whether or not they want to share their work, and if they choose to do so, support them as they learn how to share it in a way that generates excitement.

As always—whether you’re generating those sparks, fanning the flames, or shining that light—however you’re doing it, you’re doing it right! Dive back into Season 5 and bask in the warm glow of The Spark File.

When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do it at all?  Join our FREE WORKSHOP: Is It Too Late to Create? March 20, 6:30 - 8:30pm ET, live on zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Certainty or Creativity - which will you choose?

This week, Nathan Hill’s novel “Wellness” serves as a springboard for Laura’s spark. 
The specific line that ignited our conversation?  "You can choose to be certain or you can choose to be alive." We'll discuss how this notion impacts all our creative journeys and share wisdom from playwright Stephen Karam on the price of admission for love and artistry.

This episode marks the launch of Season 5 with a fresh approach—shorter, more frequent episodes designed to keep your creative sparks burning. Join us as we explore how the need for certainty can hold us back in love and creativity, and how embracing uncertainty can fuel growth and transformation. 

And consider the scientifically proven placebo effect…just the belief in positive outcomes can lead to positive outcomes. What might happen if we approached our creative work with optimism, hope, and a belief in positive outcomes?

Jump back into The Spark File and discover how you can connect with us to turn your sparks of inspiration into a bonfire of creativity!

When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do it at all?  Join our FREE WORKSHOP: Is It Too Late to Create? March 20, 6:30 - 8:30pm ET, live on zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

This week, Laura and Susan discuss that tremor in the force you felt a few weeks ago when New York Magazine's The Cut handed us all The New Rules.
These 194 rules on how to exist in polite society, sparked conversations everywhere. 
Listen in to get our take on their take on everything from dating apps to work slacks, texting friends and lovers or engaging with stangers and others... Are we all doing it wrong??

When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do it at all?  Join our FREE WORKSHOP: Is It Too Late to Create? March 20, 6:30 - 8:30pm ET, live on zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Susan and Laura dip into the mailbag and hear sparks of creativity from YOU! Sharing your grief, guilt, and guilty pleasures during quarantine and the many ways creativity is feeding your soul...

When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do it at all?  Join our FREE WORKSHOP: Is It Too Late to Create? March 20, 6:30 - 8:30pm ET, live on zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

This is Part 2 of Susan and Laura's conversation with the inspirational and aspirational Bobby Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, all about creative collaborations, big wave riding and who determines success and failure? These two are a creative masterclass, illustrating the value of putting the people you collaborate with before the work you are creating. 

When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do it at all?  Join our FREE WORKSHOP: Is It Too Late to Create? March 20, 6:30 - 8:30pm ET, live on zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Two fresh new sparks of creativity -- first, a look at how the art of golden repair, Kintsugi, might give us proper perspective on our collective scars as we heal our broken world. And, the story of Vedem, an act of creative resistance and resilience, offers a glimpse into how art just might help us survive.

When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do it at all?  Join our FREE WORKSHOP: Is It Too Late to Create? March 20, 6:30 - 8:30pm ET, live on zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

This week on The Spark File Makersode, because there is no better duo to laugh, cry and talk shop with than Bobby Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez. Dare you to find a more talented and free flowing creative team than these two. On Part One, find out how they found their own voices, and each other.

When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do it at all?  Join our FREE WORKSHOP: Is It Too Late to Create? March 20, 6:30 - 8:30pm ET, live on zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

In this week's sparks of creativity episode, Susan shares a glimpse into The Show Must Go On...line mindset that allowed Orange County School of the Art's production of Now.Here.This to continue despite the recent closures and cancellations. Plus, Laura gives appreciation to all the educators out there, holding it all together, including a shout out to her Kansas State University. Thanks to Taylor Mali for the always timeless reminder of what teachers contribute to us all!

When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do it at all?  Join our FREE WORKSHOP: Is It Too Late to Create? March 20, 6:30 - 8:30pm ET, live on zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Part two of Susan and Laura's conversation with Heidi Blickenstaff digs deeper into the spark that inspired her to create GenZStayHome, and how she fanned it into a flame that has now become the bonfire called Broadway Because. 

When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do it at all?  Join our FREE WORKSHOP: Is It Too Late to Create? March 20, 6:30 - 8:30pm ET, live on zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

This week, Susan and Laura share some recent sparks of creativity that have inspired them while the world is upside down. First, an ode to the beauty of handwritten letters and the USPS for delivering them, plus, ideas for making a day at home special and meaningful, including the joy of kittens on a blanket.

When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do it at all?  Join our FREE WORKSHOP: Is It Too Late to Create? March 20, 6:30 - 8:30pm ET, live on zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!