Tag: creative self

My Experiences with the Unknown

On By Alice StrathernIn Beginnings, Personal

The unknown is always present. In every moment. In every aspect of life.

There comes a time when you have to take chances and see what happens. You have to proceed without certainty and be willing to accept the discomfort that comes with it.

In my personal and creative life, the unknown has led me to discover more of myself. Without a structured plan. Without knowing all the answers. Only by trusting that the next steps will be revealed as I keep moving forward.

Here are three of my most important experiences with the unknown.

Unknown Experience #1: Moving to a Different Country

I came to Canada in 2015 as a student. I got into a journalism program. I knew I wanted to experience it for the full two years it lasted, but I had no idea what would happen next. Would I like it? Would I be able to adapt to a completely different environment? How badly would I struggle with culture shock?

When I finished the program, a job opportunity came up. I took it. I wanted to know what it was like to work in a different country. How different would the work dynamics be? What kind of tasks would challenge me? How could I use my journalistic skills and all the other skills I had developed in my professional life?

At the same time, I still didn’t know how much my life was going to change in the long run. It turns out I got engaged a year after I started working. Then, after being married for two years, we welcomed our baby, which led me to my next experience with the unknown. Parenthood is a whole new world.

Unknown Experience #2: Becoming a Mom

It’s true what they say: babies don’t come with manuals. Every moment is new. Every single day is a new experience. It’s tough to predict how a day is going to unfold, especially in the first weeks of the baby’s life. It’s a major change.

What I did know was that I wanted to be the best mom I could be. And I wasn’t sure I was doing it right. Soon I learned that there was no point in comparing myself to my own mom or to other new moms sharing their experiences online. I also learned that being fully engaged in the experience, with its ups and downs, would help me develop a stronger intuition.

I now know that I won’t always have all the answers. However, doing my best is always enough.

Unknown Experience #3: Becoming a self-published author

I promised myself that I would finish writing a book before my baby was born. I did it. I had it professionally edited and was ready to go. Small detail: I didn’t know when I would be able to self-publish it. I had just become a mom and taken on new responsibilities.

At first, I wanted to figure out how to juggle everything at once. That felt reasonable. Later on, I realized that the healthiest thing to do was to take one step at a time. First of all, I needed to adjust to my new life. Afterwards, I’d learn all the necessary steps to self-publish a book.

I didn’t need the perfect system to balance life as a mom and life as a self-published author. Instead, I needed to prioritize responsibilities and give myself grace when things on the writing side took longer than expected.

The path revealed itself as experiences unfolded. Having everything mapped out is just not always possible. And that’s important to accept. Walking into the unknown means being open to rhythms and actions that you had not considered. And they can work too.

The unknown can actually be a safe place to meet yourself more freely. I think that’s a perspective worth considering.

 

What do you think?

Curating Your Own Anthology

On By Alice StrathernIn Miscellany, Thoughts

For a long time, I’ve been enjoying doing this on social media platforms. Tools like bookmarks or creating themed boards are helpful to keep track on where my mind is being drawn to.

Both digital and analogue tools reach the same goal: curating your own anthology of wisdom. Interests will vary. Some eras may contain more poetry. Others, may contain more colourful collages of whimsy. Your essence will always remain present.

What kind of content have you been curating lately?

Exploring the Other Side of the Unknown

On By Alice StrathernIn Inspiration, Personal

What’s on the other side of the unknown?

I don’t know why, but this question popped up in my head the other day.

If we think about it, the unknown is present in every aspect of our lives. Every day. And the other side of it doesn’t have to be scary. From a more curious perspective, the unknown can be defined as something waiting to be explored.

As I kept pondering the question, I thought of the time when all I ever wanted to read was existentialist books. It all started in my late teens. I was intrigued by Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Franz Kafka. I was happy to discover that there was a literary world different from feel-good books, romance, and anything that ended with “and they lived happily ever after”.

Back then, I wasn’t a fan of any of those themes. I loved that those authors offered stories that reflected “the other side” of life. Something that was ‘dark and mysterious’ and not painted with pastels. Something that would leave a mark when putting the book away.

Time passed. The pandemic, a new unknown, came along and confinement changed my interests. Existentialism no longer felt like the topic I wanted to keep digging deeper, especially in a challenging phase. All I had ever known in literature, circled around those authors. I began to ask myself: “What’s something new I could explore?”

That was the opportunity to expand my horizons after years of the same type of books. I explored some classics like Dracula by Bram Stoker, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, as well as a variety of authors such as José Saramago, Isabel Allende, and Clarice Lispector.

Later on I began a further exploration when coming across fragments of books by Mary Oliver, Anaïs Nin, Octavia Butler, Zadie Smith, and Sylvia Plath. These days, any book that sparks a sense of curiosity in me is my next step towards the other side of the unknown.

It’s fascinating how a little nudge can stay in your mind long enough to grab your attention. It’s like allowing life to ask “what else is there?”, and at the same asking it to surprise you in delightful ways. Once the seed of curiosity sprouts, it goes on and on. Then again, it doesn’t have to be scary or intimidating. There’s only more aspects of yourself to discover.

What’s on the other side of your unknown?

The Importance of Being a Fan

On By Alice StrathernIn Inspiration, Mindset, Personal

Being a fan of something or someone is inevitable. It’s an ageless practice. It’s also a cornerstone of the creative world. We all start by imitating our idols, just like children imitate their parents as they learn about the world.

Later on, as we grow as creatives, I believe our sense of curiosity expands, too. It goes beyond imitation and starts inviting introspection.

Ever since I saw this 99u talk by Nishat Akhtar, I’ve been more intentional about asking myself how I discovered or refined my own tastes in anything. It all sparked from the question: “Why do I like what I like?”

At first glance, that question sounds simple. However, it opens intriguing doors. When I look closely at the artists and creators I admire, I spot patterns. They tell me what moves me and what inspires me to create something of my own.

Here are a few examples of how I inspect my own fandoms.

Continue reading “The Importance of Being a Fan” →

My First Book Fair as an Indie Author

On By Alice StrathernIn Beginnings, Mindset, Writing

There are things I never thought I’d do.

Like participating in a book fair as an indie author. I thought that’d take me years to do. That I needed at least ten books published and commercial success to feel like I belonged in these kinds of events.

I had the opportunity to try something new at the Indies and Oddballs Book Fair. I completely ignored that mindset of “you need to be an established author”. I’m proud to say this was my first live event. I felt like I was discovering a new world of possibilities, even while still fighting my mind talking me out of that. Luckily, my curiosity for this experience was greater than my fear.

As I waited for the big day, I came across a few things that helped me approach it with a more grounded and optimistic lens.

Kobe Bryant on Failure

Kobe Bryant was once asked if he was a player who loved to win or hated to lose. His answer is one of the wisest things I’ve ever heard.

I play to figure things out. I play to learn something. If you play with a fear of failure or you play with the will to win (…) it’s a weakness either way. 

If you play with the fear of failing, you’ll have the pressure on yourself to play to capitulate to that fear. If you play with the sense of ‘I want to win, I want to win’, then you have the fear of what happens if you don’t. But if you find common ground in the middle, then it doesn’t matter. You’re unfazed by either, and that enables you to really stay in the moment. Stay connected to it and not feel anything other than what’s in front of you.

 

Watching this interview before the book fair helped me stay grounded. I thought it’d be beneficial to not get obsessed with sales or what could possibly go wrong. I could see that the best attitude was being fully present in the moment.

This made my experience much more enjoyable. Every moment at the fair was full of opportunities to learn from everyone around me.

Depeche Mode as Beginners

I came across this video on YouTube. Watching Depeche Mode perform live in their early days is wholesome. A simple stage. Small venue. All four members playing for the love of music regardless of the number of people around.

It hit me: Everybody has to start in one way or another. As an indie author, I’m in that phase too. Learning. Participating at book fairs even though I have zero experience.

Whether we are musicians, writers or any kind of artist, we’re there for the love of the craft. Not for the number of people who show up. This video was a beautiful reminder of that.

A Seasoned Author’s Voice

I read an article by author Chuck Sambuchino’s article on how to maximize a book festival appearance. He provided nine tips, and all of them were spot on.

As I kept doing some more research, my main takeaway was this:

The point of these events is the connections we make. While the number of sales is an important aspect, being able to talk about our books and the stories behind our stories is what allows connection.

That also helped me approach the day with a different perspective. On that day, I got to meet lovely and inspiring indie authors. I also chatted a little bit with some people who came by and got curious about my book. I was happy to go beyond the salesy pitch.

Connecting was, by far, the best part of this experience.

 

How wonderful that life is always offering first times at any given moment. I’m so glad I went for it. I’m so glad this was my first event ever.

I’m now more motivated to keep going.

Liminal Spaces of Creativity

On By Alice StrathernIn Inspiration, Mindset

Creativity lives in liminal spaces. It moves through the “in-between” phases, where ideas are transforming and have yet to take a specific form of expression.

Anthropologist Victor Turner, renowned for his work on symbols, rituals, and rites of passage, defined liminality with precision:

A time when identity is fluid, roles are undefined, and a person exists between what they were and what they will become.

In the creative world, liminality can look like automatic writing, doodling, jamming, the first strokes on a canvas, testing lines of code, or a brainstorming session. From these beginnings, a more concrete direction may unfold and eventually lead to a tangible outcome.

But if you pay closer attention to Turner’s definition, there’s a fascinating aspect to explore: identity.

As a creative, you are not only transforming abstract ideas; you’re also being transformed by the process itself. The work is shaping you while you shape it.

That’s what makes creativity so profound. It is not only about bringing something into form, but also about meeting yourself in states of uncertainty, transition, experimentation, and growth.

So, who are you when you don’t see the results you’re expecting? Who are you when nobody is watching your effort behind closed doors?

Those are liminal moments of creative identity. They also appear when you’re standing at crossroads, choosing between one creative direction or another. When you’re caught between what worked in the past and what may work in the future. When you’re sitting in the discomfort of the unknown and still choosing to follow your intuition.

Identity and Liminality Are Continous

Liminal spaces of creativity don’t end with a fully finished product or result. As the public begins to receive your work, new “in-between” phases emerge.

Your book, song, or product is ready for consumption, but the audience is slowly engaging with it. You have shared your voice on an online platform, and somebody has yet to reply.

In that waiting period, when you’re being discovered as an artist, writer, or thought leader, you’re developing resilience. You’re learning to keep trusting yourself even when feedback takes time to reach you.

Not long ago, I came across a post on Threads from a writer who said, “I will keep writing even if nobody reads my words.” That’s a clear statement of identity.

All liminal spaces are nurturing. They’re places where possibilities are born and where you choose your identity as a creative.

Who are you being in each phase of your process?

Back to Basics: Analogue Experiences

On By Alice StrathernIn Inspiration, Personal

I recently posted on Threads the picture above along with a series of thoughts on having a discman. This was a Christmas present.

The last time I played a CD on this type of device was in my university days. I clearly remember listening to Reanimation by Linkin Park. Back then, I didn’t know my ‘analogue’ days were numbered. I would eventually transition to the iPod experience even though I was doing everything in my power to resist.

It happened, and I never looked back. I don’t even know what happened to my old discman.

However, as years went by, I felt the need to go back to what I used to love. I still have a collection of great CD albums. At the same time, I thought this would help me stop doomscrolling on the phone. That it’d be more enriching to read the booklet of my selected album instead.

I must say, it’s uncomfortable. I feel like I could have the music playing in the background while still browsing something on my phone. The pain is real. But I’m intentional about taking a break from the endless noise of the digital world. I want to reconnect with the music and the feelings it evokes in me.

I want to engage with the story each song is telling. Or the story my own feelings create as I immerse it. In my teen years, I used to put on my headphones, push play, and imagine the official music video for the song. I liked pretending I directed it and that I was seeing the final result in my mind.

I want to be able to do that again.

This is the beauty of analogue experiences. It’s you and your imagination plus all the sensations you want to include. All of it guiding you to interpret the melody you’re perceiving.

It’s like creating a time capsule of your feelings, thoughts or things you’re going through in this moment of your life. Isn’t it wonderful to appreciate music this way?

Yes. I could be listening from an iPod with the Wifi turned off. It’s just not the same, though. There’s something about the analogue experience that makes it more meaningful. More intentional. Or at least that’s me.

I keep hearing a strong call to return to the analogue. I keep coming across ideas for hobbies and crafts that involve staying away from the screen. Now I’m starting to answer that call.

Since this specific device is bringing so much satisfaction to my moments of unwind, I’d like to keep collecting CDs. So I’m motivated to visit local stores that sale this kind of format. After all, there’s a lot of us that want to bask in the magic of the analogue.

How about you? What kind of analogue experience are you willing to explore?

 

 

20 Things that Made My 2025

On By Alice StrathernIn Personal

It’s time to wrap up the year. Some great experiences made 2025 really special. It’s going to be a tough one to say good-bye to. Luckily, I got to make beautiful memories with the people I love, and this entry is a testament to everything that left a mark.

Here’s my 20 things:

  1. The miracle that it is to see my son grow. This year he started pre-school!
  2. Seeing my husband accomplish great things in many ways.
  3. Hello Meteor. This musician composes ethereal songs. You may close your eyes while listening and find yourself in another dimension. Here’s a playlist I made in case you’re curious.
  4. Finally putting all the links of the content I create on linktree. Something that stood out this particular year: I’ve talked more openly about my book on TikTok.
  5. Reading Leviathan by Paul Auster. I can’t believe I had not read this author before.
  6. Janet Jackson’s music. Simply. Mindblowing. Also, realizing that I’ve loved Fleetwood Mac’s music all my life. The album “Rumours” is one of my favourites now.
  7. Travelling to Victoria, BC for the first time with my family.
  8. Tasting the best poutine ever at Garrick’s Head Pub, in downtown Victoria, BC.
  9. Celebrating five years of running my e-newsletter.
  10. Going out more often. I got to meet a wonderful author, Samara Knight.
  11. Songs I didn’t know I was going to like: Out of my Body by Brain Tan. Pink + White by Frank Ocean. Hysteria by Def Leppard.
  12. Travelling to Seattle, Washington
  13. Going to Lumen Field to support the Seattle Seahawks.
  14. Being delighted with coffee and pastries at Storyville and Freya Bakery & Cafe in Seattle.
  15. Visiting Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle.
  16. Visiting the Funko store in Everett, Washington.
  17. Reading more of Isabel Allende’s work.
  18. Staying in contact with my best friends throughout the year.
  19. Coming across Bon Chic on YouTube.
  20. Learning that, according to the yearly Spotify wrap-up, I’m 53 years old. I’m currently 37.

 

Re-Arrange and Create: Transforming the Pieces You’re Handed

On By Alice StrathernIn Inspiration, Mindset

Creative life means re-arranging all the pieces that come your way. Every circumstance, pleasant or challenging, is meant to activate something in you.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about a drawing class I took in junior high school. I remember feeling anxious about “not doing it right”. I had not drawn anything in a long time. I was also worried that the instructor would laugh at my basic skills. Still, I wanted to give it a try and feel as free as I did when I was a child.

One day, he doodled some random lines on blank sheets and handed them to each of us. Then, he said: “Draw something out of this. Let your imagination find the form.”

I thought that was brilliant. There were no rules and no expected outcomes. Just the freedom to deliver something unique.

Even though I doubted my skills, I loved the idea of re-arranging those lines in a way that worked out for me. It was liberating to be the one defining the form. In case you’re curious, this was my end result: a fish swimming in a pond. I wish I would have kept that drawing.

Years later, I still think of that particular exercise. Especially, when adversity shows up in my journey.

Back then, part of me wanted more lines, more shapes…something to make the process easier. It was uncomfortable to “figure it out” on my own. Now I realize what I was doing: resisting the “lack” of elements. Fighting the exercise itself. Once I embraced the challenge, I was able to make progress.

Creative living often asks us to do the same.

At any given point, life hands us unexpected events, detours or blank spaces. It invites us to re-arrange the pieces we’re handed. Some moments are joyful; others, test our resilience. Regardless, we, as creatives, have the power to transform them and turn them into an experience that helps us grow. At our own pace and in our own way.

So when an unforeseen situation arises, pause and ask yourself:

“How can I re-arrange this?”

“What could this be teaching me?”

“What shape wants to emerge from this moment?”

 

The answers may lead you somewhere you never expected. Maybe toward a new skill, a new strength, or a new perspective. Sometimes, the point is to discover more of yourself and more of what you’re capable of doing.

What’s something in your creative life that you can re-arrange today?

The Art of the Minimum Creative Effort

On By Alice StrathernIn Inspiration, Mindset

Doing the minimum creative effort on any given day might be the most powerful creative habit you can build.

Life shifts constantly. Schedules change, responsibilities pile up, and some days it’s impossible to give your creative projects your full attention. That’s why the common mantra “make something every day” can backfire.

The phrase suggests that each day should yield a finished product. While initiatives like Inktober, The 100 Day Project, and NanoWriMo encourage commitment, they can also add pressure.

For me, as a writer, my minimum creative effort is simple: sitting at my computer for 30 minutes to write a page of my new novel. Let me tell you: it works. I’ve proven myself that small actions accumulate over time, and repeating this action consistently pays off.

It’s deeply satisfying to know that I’ve touched my project, even briefly. Since I juggle multiple interests, I also assign specific days to different creative pursuits. That way, I rarely get bored. There’s always something new to work or experiment with!

The main take away? There’s power in focusing on minimum creative efforts. Small steps compound into meaningful projects. A single sentence added to your draft keeps your novel alive. A sketch, even a rough one, plants the seed for a larger idea. A note on your business plan keeps momentum flowing. Slow progress is still progress.

Artist Carolyn Yoo, author of the Substack See You, describes her approach like this:

I make lists of the smallest or largest actions I can do in a day to feel like I’ve meaningfully contributed to my creative work, then I’ll estimate the time it takes to do each action and order them by time period.

Carolyn Yoo

 

We don’t create with the same intensity every day, and nor should we. Creativity moves in seasons. Some periods are abundant and high-energy, while others call for rest and gentler effort. It’s natural. The key is to honour those cycles instead of fighting them.

When energy is low, ask yourself:

“What is the minimum I can do today to feel satisfied?”

It might not always involve direct action on your craft. Researching, reading, or simply talking with like-minded creators all count as staying engaged. What matters is connection to the work, not constant completion.

Austin Kleon, a writer who draws, puts it beautifully:

Find the one-armed, half-brained, miniature version of what you do. (…) The answer will be different for everybody. For me, the bare minimum is pretty bare. If I go for a walk, write at least two pages in my diary, and read a few pages of something decent, I can be pretty functional. (…)

Take a little time to figure this out for yourself. Once you know your bare minimum, then you can figure out what you have to do to make it happen.

Austin Kleon

 

So, what about you? What’s your minimum creative effort?

Try defining it today. Whether it’s a single line in your journal, a five-minute sketch, or one not saved on your phone. Then celebrate it. Those little steps carry you further than you think.