Episode 347
How to Embrace Creative Risk | Jasmine Guillory
The Synopsis
What happens when a young person starts to wonder, "Maybe I could make something?" In this episode, New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Guillory joins the show to discuss her debut young adult novel, It's Only Dancing (out October 6th), inspired by the classic film Dirty Dancing. Jasmine shares her personal journey pivoting from a career in law to becoming a successful novelist, detailing the encouragement she needed to start and the evolving routines that keep her writing. The conversation dives deep into the realities of pursuing creative work in a world increasingly shaped by AI, why struggling through the learning process is essential, and how friendships give us the courage to take meaningful risks. Key Takeaways
- Honoring Teenage Passions: Why educators and parents must take young people's creative curiosities seriously and foster environments that support exploration.
- The Role of Friendship: How peer support and collaboration provide the necessary safety net to take creative leaps.
- The Value of the Struggle: What we fundamentally gain by wrestling with something we don't yet know how to do, rather than skipping the hard parts.
- Navigating the AI Era: Fresh perspectives on human creativity, the joy of collaboration, and why the messy process of learning still matters deeply.
- Sustaining Creativity: Practical insights into Jasmine's transition from lawyer to author, and how she adapts her daily routines to maintain a full-time creative career.
- Book: It's Only Dancing by Jasmine Guillory (Available October 6th)
- Inspiration: Dirty Dancing (1987 film)