The Craft: stories about writing & the writers' spirit

Navigating neurodiversity and creative life with Kolbie Blume

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 [https://thiswritingdesk.com].

How to build a writing practice

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 [https://www.sumayyausmani.com/contact]. My online writers' membership Qissa is a place for community, writing and growth - join the waitlist here.  [https://www.sumayyausmani.com/qissa-writers-membership-closed]

'Dreaming on the page' with author Tzivia Gover

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  [https://thirdhousemoon.com/about/]and follow her on Instagram here. [https://www.instagram.com/tziviadreams/]

Writing about South Asian culture with Awais Khan

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.

Crafting Characters: Bringing Real People into Your Memoir

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.