The phrase "Fear is the mindkiller..." from Frank Herbert's Dune is as popular a quote in sci-fi as in personal development. Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of being on stage with Kevin J. Anderson talking about Dune, and thinking about some of the questions and feedback from other panels that were more oriented towards marketing, and the busi…

Improv is a great tool for inspiring creativity, improving cognitive function, developing social skills, and supporting mental health. Join me for a chat on the benefits of improv for your creativity, your business, and your life!By James P. Nettles

Adversity is just a part of life - it comes to us through business, creativity, and our personal relationships. How do we handle it? How do we face it? How can we learn to manage it? I recently appeared on an upcoming episode of "Amputate to Amplify" with John Register, and got to meet him in person and hear him speak last week. I go into a few tak…

Knowledge is power, but we can't know everything, even within our own specialties and expertise. What do we do when someone asks a dreaded question where we don't have an answer? Join me this week to talk about the power of, and next steps to, "I don't know!"By James P. Nettles

Creative output requires research. Being a writer often leads down the "research rabbit hole." How do you collect all that info? What do you do with it when you're done? When is it "enough?"By James P. Nettles

You can't avoid AI generated content anywhere at this point on social media. We see platforms starting to filter AI generated content, but do users care? What does this mean for creators? Has AI finally made social media useless for creators, or is there a correction coming?By James P. Nettles

Dungeons and Dragons hits 50 years this year, and launched the modern era of RPGs. Building on thousands of years of gaming and storytelling, This week we celebrate D&D being eligible for AARP, and the influence it's had on society, technology, and creativity!By James P. Nettles

Perfection is a lie, but how do we know when we've gotten to good enough? And in the world where we compete with AI and and mass produced work, is imperfection the key to creative success?By James P. Nettles

Change is always a little scary. Whether it's changing jobs, companies, or even starting a business, our mindsets and emotions will both be excited - and anxious. What can you expect to go through your mind, and then once you've made the decision, how can you take the leap off the cliff to your next adventure?…

Security basics aren't an option, especially in the digital space. Cybercrime is big business, and only growing. This creates bigger challenges for creators to balance personal safety and security against building brands, marketing, and getting to know your community. This week we touch on some of the basics to keep you secure!…

When stress becomes burnout, our personal, professional, and creative lives pay the price. How can you tell if it's just stress, or are you burning out, how can you recover, and how can you prevent it in the future?By James P. Nettles

Fear is primal. It's an instinct that is there to keep us alive, but it often won't let us thrive. Why do we often fear success? Why do we not take often even the "safe bet," much less the big gamble? How do we learn to manage, and even learn to harness fear and anxiety?By James P. Nettles

Believe it or not, coffee shops may offer more than just free WiFi. Is there benefit to creatives for getting out into public places? It turns out, for most of us, the answer is yes. At least sometimes.By James P. Nettles

I haven't touched on it here lately, but there are a few important movements in the Gen AI landscape this week. We're seeing leaps forward in Gen AI video quality, which raises more concerns about deep fakes. More importantly, we are starting to see the various lawsuits work through the court system with much of the Sarah Silverman case which inclu…

Lucienne Diver (LucienneDiver.com) is an agent with the Knight Agency(KnightAgency.net), and a young adult and adult novelist. We do a deep dive into how you find and connect with an agent, the query process, what an agent does, and how to find a good one. We also discuss avoiding the scams in the business. Then we shift into what it's like to be a…

We all love to be recognized for our work, especially nominations, much less winning an award for our work. But when are the awards legitimate? There are a lot of scams out there. And what happens when even some of the biggest awards in the business come into question?By James P. Nettles

Learning is a lifelong process, or at least should be. The act of learning helps mental health and mental acuity, creates personal and professional opportunities, and encourages creativity. This week we talk about the benefits and struggles of learning to learn, and some tips for how you can learn to learn!…

It's tax time 2024! Money works differently in a business than it does for your personal finances, and tax time is when you get to see a lot of the differences. Whether you are a freelancer, have a side business running, or it's your full time creative business, you have to deal with the second certainty of life. Join me for a quick primer as you g…

Ada Lovelace is a pioneer in computing, having worked with Charles Babbage and having innovated on his mathematical calculations engine to propose new and innovative uses, including creating music. We take a look at Ada Lovelace, and how her parents greatly influenced her, and ultimately set her up to influence the world. A case for STEAM is showin…

January 1 is Public Domain Day in that ever year this is when thousands of works Copyrights expire and enter the public domain. This year, it was Mickey Mouse's turn. Being that Disney has been a significant influence on Copyright Law and extending out Copyright dates, it's worth taking a look at what this means for the Mouse, how trademarks are st…

This one was supposed to drop last week, but technical issues! Every year as we head into the holidays, most of us begin reflecting on the past year, and come up with resolutions for the upcoming year, only to usually push them aside by the end of January. In this process this year, I've seen and heard (and might have uttered myself) some flavor be…

John Ryan is a mental health expert and advocate and half the team of happytohealthyou.com where they blend humor and comedy with mental health. As a comedian, John performs in clubs and cruise ships, has written and performed for the BBC, Irish Times, Liberty Radio, and more. Join us as we talk about his early days in mental health work, often for…

In college, after being diagnosed with Dyslexia, Ariel Burgess (ArtistArielBurgess.com) painted the Wheel of Time playing cards and has since branched out towards film, story-boarding and concept art. She was an Official artist for The Wheel of Time from 2012 to 2019 and has been published internationally. Her first publication was in “Stan Lee’s H…

For most creatives and freelancers, "strategy" is throwing stuff at a wall to see what sticks. Are you trying to figure out why ads aren't working? Social media engagement sucks? One big factor is not treating your creative process and output like the commercial enterprise it is. Most people confuse taking classes in ad tactics as a strategy. It's …

Randee Dawn reports on entertainment and lifestyle stories during the day for publications including Today.com, NBCNews.com, Variety, The Los Angeles Times and Emmy Magazine, and is a speculative fiction writer by night. We talk about her career, what the media side of life is like, covering celebrities and entertainment, and how it influences her …

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone celebrating in the States. This week, I'm building on the last few. I want to touch on Gratitude. Real thankfulness. What is it, and how can it help us? How can we find it, and build it in ourselves? It's gratitude, not platitudes.By James P. Nettles

Humility may not be a term often used about me, but this week we build on last week's exploration of Imposter Syndrome. What is humility? Where did the term come from, and what does it mean today in the world of social media? How can we be creative, run businesses, and yet have humility? Why is humility a tool in the Imposter Syndrome toolbox? What…

Everyone faces imposter syndrome at some point, some more than others. This week we dive into what it is, how it manifests, and techniques to manage it.By James P. Nettles

Melisa Todd joins me to talk this week about her move to becoming a full time author and publisher, what it's like to complete a series now that she is completing her second series, her popular "Twisted Luck" urban fantasy series and how it's different from wrapping up her Sci-Fi series "The Kaylid Chronicles," the grief process you experience as a…

This episode brings us up on a year since the relaunch of CP! This week, I touch on the three things I think are the biggest learnings for me, and some of the most meaningful conversations of the last year!By James P. Nettles

Creative businesses, like all businesses, runs by the numbers. Rachel E. Carr (RachelECarr.com) is an accountant and auditor by day, and an author by night. She joins me this week to talk about accounting, royalties, taxes, budgets, and the benefits of creativity in your professional life.By James P. Nettles

This week is a short, but important one. Have clarity and intention in what you say, and do.By James P. Nettles

I recently taught a workshop at DragonCon 2023 on side hustles. With a full room, we ran through the fundamentals of a business, starting your ideas, and ideas around marketing. A common factor to all of these is the question, 'What's your why?' The reason you look to go into business, especially starting creative ones, often is your motivation beh…

Cleveland was home to Superman's creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. To celebrate Superman's 85th anniversary, locations all over Cleveland are hosting talks and events from September through November 2. Co-director Valentino Zullo joins me to talk about Superman’s Cleveland, and event for everyone: comics fans, families, scholars, history buff…

This week I chat with Anne D. Bartolucci, Ph.D. about the relationship between sleep, productivity, and creativity. We also talk about the relationship and connection between our creative selves, professional, and personal lives. You can find out more about Anne, and her alter ego Cecelia Dominic at: Practice: https://sleepyintheatl.com Fiction: ht…

Sponsored by BGSU's Department of Popular Culture, the Browne Popular Culture Library, and School of Cultural and Critical Studies, the Spider-Man in Popular Cultured Conference is an academic and fan celebration of an iconic character from the comics, TV, film, gaming, and more. Join Dr. Charles Anthony Coletta and Dr. Matthew A. Donahue from the …

Last week I talked about self-censorship. This week I look at the meaning of creative work, and how is can affect not only the creator, but the fans and consumers as well.By James P. Nettles

Self-censorship comes in a lot of forms, and for a lot of reasons. Fear of how your ideas will be received, of ridicule, and rejection. Will you be 'cancelled.' Have you been told it's something you shouldn't write about? What are the costs of self-censorship, and how do you decide what's right for you?…

All of us are called on to be creative at work, at home, school, organizations, and every facet of our lives. But being A Creative is more a way of living and being. A way of looking at and approaching what we do. What does generative AI technology mean to being creative? How do we continue to be Creatives in this world?…

Time is the answer to the universe. We only get so much of it, and never really know how much that is. How do we use it? What's important to us? How do we set the boundaries to make sure we put aside time for what is important to us?By James P. Nettles

Often, we think of gatekeeping being the process by which people are kept away from centers of power and influence to prevent the average person from reaching some goal. Agents and editors are the age old gatekeepers of publishing and entertainment. In my experience, it's more about making sure you and your product are ready to be considered at tha…

Funding a project can be hard, we look at self funding, crowd funding, but what about one that has fueled the arts for centuries? What are grants, and are they really free money?By James P. Nettles

What is risk? What does it mean to running a creative business? A creative life? How do you manage and mitigate it?This week is all about understanding what risk really is, and how to handle it!By James P. Nettles

Over the weekend, I moderated a panel with John Scalzi and John Hartness, discussing working with professional organizations for writers, such as SWFA, HWA, and the RWA. This week I recap the discussion, diving into the benefits, and sometimes challenges of being a member in these organizations. I also touch on the current writers & actors strikes,…

As people, we rely on the opinions and experiences of others. In the digital age, it's no longer friends and family, but online monikers and avatars. How do we deal with fake and toxic reviews? Do they even have any real meaning any more?By James P. Nettles

David Ekrut is a PHD scientist, researcher, mathematician, science reporter, and fantasy author. We dive into the winding path of his career, his process, disciplines, and how his scientific background influences his work, and how his creative outlets support his career! Plus some introvert survival tips!…

Hi all, This week's episode is a little late, I was overseas for the last few weeks touring the UK. It's been a number of years since I've been over, and I reflect on how writers and creatives are remembered, and even revered. I toured the neighborhoods where Brahm Stoker stalked and Oscar Wilde lived; the writer's museum with Robert Burns, Robert …

Developing your skills is critical in any endeavor, and being a writer is no different. Join Valerie Heller and Katherine Penndorf, the duo behind Much Ado About Writing where we talk about writing groups, writing critique, and the programs they offer!By James P. Nettles

David Taylor II is an award winning author, songwriter, producer, and playwright, having written books, comics, and games, in music he's written rap, gospel, adult contemporary, and musical theater for for Justin Bieber,Usher, Cuba Gooding Sr., Dave Koz and the James Taylor singers. He has done commercial work for McDonald’s and Disney. He is a co-…

This is one we've been trying to get scheduled for almost a year (and been talking about it longer than that). Tom Flemming got his start designing for the World Wrestling Federation (Now the WWE). Tom has painted covers & trading cards for almost every major publisher in the comic book industry such as Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and has illustrated fo…