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TV writer who eats danger for breakfast

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Writer’s Life: Finding Creativity & Maslow’s Hierarchy

October 1, 2016 by Amy Suto 2 Comments

amysutocreativitywritinginspiration

I work Hollywood hours. Up at 5am or 6am to write (depending on the project I’m working on), out the door by 8am, at my agency by 8:30am, and back home by 8pm if I’m lucky (if I have networking drinks, make that 10pm.)

When I drag myself out of bed, sloshing coffee into a mug as I fall into my desk chair and stare, bleary-eyed at my computer — well, inspiration doesn’t always visit that early. Sometimes I spend time writing blog posts, short stories, essays — just trying to jog my creativity. One particular horrible morning after I had slept for less than five hours, I just wrote “fuck” over and over and over on my screen until, five minutes before I had to be out the door, a scene hit me and I started writing something real.

So how can us writers who work in the industry find ways to stay inspired on a schedule? 

Step one is showing up — or is it?

In all my writing books, the first step is always “sit down and write” or some variation of “show up.”

And that’s true. You have to not hit snooze a dozen times and miss the early morning writing window (guilty.) You can’t edit a blank page and all that jazz.

But if you’d prefer to fill up your computer with strings of profanities, there’s a little more to the psychology of creativity to be understood.

Maslow’s Hierarchy

At USC, I took a phenomenal class called THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS. It explored the psychology and science behind happiness and contentment. On the first day, our professor said that it would be the most important class we’d ever taken, and on the last day he would tell us the meaning of life.

He was right — it was one of the most impactful classes I’d taken, and one lecture in particular I found particularly important for artists.

Abraham Maslow was a psychologist who created a hierarchy of needs. It looks like this:

maslows_hierarchy_of_needs

The idea of this hierarchy is that in order to reach the top rung of self-actualization, you need to fulfill each step below. According to Maslow, you can’t reach a personal enlightenment and satisfaction if you’re starving for food or emotional connection.

Maslow was part of the positive psychology movement: he believed humans were good, and we are all capable of reaching a kind of satisfaction and level of awe with the life we live. The top of the pyramid means that we see the world accurately, have a kinship with the rest of the human race, and are independent thinkers who are deeply grateful and truly happy.

Writing and the “Creativity Primer”

I’ve written before about the curious burdens of mental problems on creative types, and there is a stereotype that writers and artists have to suffer for their art. While being in the throes of emotional turmoil can stir strong emotions and elicit “blue periods” — it’s not sustainable.

As a working writer, I need to turn pages in on a deadline — and they have good pages. I’m not being paid to turn in something of variable quality, and I have to be as primed for creativity during my writing times as possible.

So how should us writers prime ourselves for creativity? What’s the best way to stay inspired, even with frenetic industry jobs? 

It’s all about preparation, and that goes beyond scheduling time to write. It’s about making sure your hierarchy is in order: that you’re surrounding yourself with inspiring people, working out and eating healthy, living within your means financially, and feeding your brain with things that inspire you, and constantly reading and listening to good stories.

If you’re too stressed to think because you’re sick or underwater with debt, that’s not going to yield good work. If you’re not constantly seeking out good stories or sources of inspiration, your well is going to be dry when you sit down to write.

Building Your Inspiration Hierarchy

how to be creative

In order to elevate your writing, there’s a separate hierarchy you need to achieve: a set of things you need to do on a regular basis to reach that top notch of satisfaction with your ideas and your work. You have to schedule into your routine things and experiences that inspire you.

For example, I’m spending this weekend cooking and cleaning my apartment while listening to storytelling podcasts (THE MOTH and THIS AMERICAN LIFE), going to see a play one of my friends is in that was adapted from the novel MOCKINGBIRD by Katherine Erskine, and reading scripts. During the week, I also aim to research subjects that I’m interested in, such as the inner workings of the Witness Protection program, or the corrupt wrongdoings of the Sheriff who runs the county I grew up in. I also make time to meet and hang out with interesting people.

Writing and creativity is part mental game, part scavenger hunt. What you write is a culmination of your thoughts and experiences, and if you’re not feeding your brain, it’s going to impact the quality of the words you put on the page.

So what’s your inspiration hierarchy? What are the things that you need to build into your life to feel more inspired and to elevate your writing?

 

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Filed Under: All Posts, Creative Screenwriting, Screenwriting, Writing

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  1. Assistant Life: Surviving Vs. Thriving, Strategies to Keep Writing says:
    December 19, 2016 at 2:45 AM

    […] written in the past about Maslow’s hierarchy and how to feed your inspiration bank so that what you write is more creative and […]

  2. 3 Tips for Getting Organized and Motivated after a Setback (Writing in Hollywood) says:
    September 10, 2017 at 10:05 PM

    […] Writer’s Life: Finding Creativity & Maslow’s Hierarchy […]

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About Amy Suto

Welcome, I’m Amy Suto! I write for TV, scripted podcasts, and I also ghostwrite memoirs for fascinating people all over the world. Check out my portfolio page, sign-up for my newsletter, and don’t hesitate to get in touch and share your favorite coffeeshop recommendations! Check out my writing coaching and consulting offerings here. Hiring for a writing project or need a memoir ghostwriter? Tell me about you and your project!

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The Last Station Scripted Podcast: Listen Now!

Listen to The Last Station, the scripted podcast I wrote and produced about the last radio host at the end of the world who gets her first caller and realizes she’s not alone in her post-apocalyptic world. It’s a sci-fi mystery series inspired by what we’ve gone through in quarantine.

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Find Freedom in Freelancing

Hi friends! Not sure if you heard, but I wrote a book about how freelancing allowed me to travel the world and focus on my writing full-time in-between writers’ rooms. If you’d like to read about how I made my first $60,000 on the freelance platform Upwork and how I’ve grown my freelance business since then, check it out on Amazon!

Recent Posts

  • Your Bio Sucks: How to Write a Better Bio for Your Website/LinkedIn/Resume/Whatever
  • How to Write a Witty Blog Post with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) That People Actually Want to Read
  • Pain Clarifies Priorities: Getting My Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis and Creatively Recalibrating
  • So You Wanna Be a Great Writer/Artist/Musician: How to “Honor the Work” as a Creative
  • How Much Does Hiring a Memoir Ghostwriter Cost?



Because I’m a Millennial

sutoscience

Amy Suto
A moment of zen from our fireplace to yours ❤️ A moment of zen from our fireplace to yours ❤️ ft. this wonderful candle from @tuesdaycandleco (shout-out to Emily who makes these!) there’s something satisfying about lighting things on fire after a long day of work. For us, today was errands-city which is a lot harder to do when you’re staying in the middle of nowhere and have to drive an hour and a half to get to a bank. What a world. But even if you didn’t get everything you wanted to done today, you should still light a candle and rest up. The work will still be there tomorrow.
This is where I’m taking most of my Zoom calls t This is where I’m taking most of my Zoom calls these days — in the greenhouse of our crazy abandoned-orphanage-turned-Airbnb in the middle of the town of Galena, IL which might as well be a time capsule of the 1960’s. When @kylefcords and I aren’t working, we’re walking around the town and hearing stories from local amateur archeologists about the old steamboats that used to come down the river. Aside from the freight train’s horn, there’s also been intermittent emergency storm sirens that sound, alerting the town of coming rains and potential floods. We’re also living next to Ulysses Grant’s home, so excited to say hi to his ghost whenever he fancies a visit.
It’s been a surreal year in quarantine, and it’s hard to think about what things are going to be like when we are “back to normal.” My normal definitely looks a lot different: building @kingdomofink_writers and @kingdomofpavement with @kylefcords this past year and producing three scripted podcasts and one upcoming unscripted podcast on top of all of the other lovely projects in my life has created a brand new reality for me. I’m lucky I get to wake up every day and do what I love in a different part of the country each month. Next stop on our remote work road trip: a definitely haunted orphanage-turned-Airbnb in Galena, IL!

Photo cred @aaronjayyoung
Afternoon tea in the mountains 🍵 @onetea.co’s Afternoon tea in the mountains 🍵 @onetea.co’s black honey tea is to die for — Cynthia’s teas are my favorite because of how unique they are. My parents had an online tea shop I worked in when I grew up, and I used to put together our tea gift baskets. I’d spend my afternoons trying out all sorts of different kinds of tea, so this ritual is near and dear to my heart. Spending time to slow down and enjoy the moment is time that is never wasted. 
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#tea #mountains #teatime #tealover #writing #storytelling #smallbusiness #travel #travelphotography #forest #nomad
I’m so thrilled to share with you @kingdomofink_ I’m so thrilled to share with you @kingdomofink_writers — @kylefcords and my new business that aims to connect companies and individuals to high-end writers from entertainment backgrounds. We started this collective of #freelancers because we saw the need of creative writers in different industries, and the opportunity to create a more holistic career for high-achieving professionals. Want to support us? Go to KingdomofInk.com to hire a writer. Want to join us? Check out our careers page at KingdomofInk.com/careers

Shout-out to @elenamaria_sanchez who so beautifully designed our feed and website at KingdomofInk.com!
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#freelance #writers #ghostwriting #freelancing #remotework #writer #storyteller #creators #create #maker #artist #hireawriter #hire #hiring #startup #siliconvalley #tech #business #entreprenuer
So proud to be an EP with @kylefcords on @kingdomo So proud to be an EP with @kylefcords on @kingdomofpavement’s newest scripted podcast, JUST TO BE NOMINATED, which was featured in Vulture today. Created by @colormejorge, everyone on this project brought their murder-y A-Game. Listen to the first ep now! KingdomofPavement.com/JTBN @jtbnpodcast 
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#scriptedpodcast #oscars #awardseason #story #season #writing #amwriting #writerscommunity #writersofig #writersofinstagram #reader #murder #murdermystery #murdershewrote #truecrime #truecrimepodcast
As a writer, I’ve always believed we have to wri As a writer, I’ve always believed we have to write honestly and openly about our world. Today is no different — at the beginning of this year I was diagnosed with the incurable autoimmune disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and am one of those aggressive medications you’ve probably seen on TV commercials. This disease happens when the body’s immune system attacks its own joints, causing chronic pain and disfiguration (my fingers look like sausages right now, and not in a sexy way) and it just generally sucks. I wrote a post on my blog (AmySuto.com) about how I’m coping (lots of green juice and complaining about the number of pills I have to take each day to my quarantine roadtrip friends) and am going to be contributing more to the dialog of what I’m finding works for me. The thing that has helped so far is being able to read about other people’s experiences with this disease and what they’ve found to be effective in reducing pain and retaining mobility, and I’d like to be a part of the conversation of what it means to heal from chronic illness. (And mourn the loss of coffee and alcohol and gluten and dairy from my life — major RIP) So, while I’d welcome your soy-free and gluten-free vegan recipe suggestions, I’d also love for this to mostly be a reminder that there are probably other people in your life who are going through health problems they aren’t sharing, and to hold some space in your day to honor the invisible battles the people around you are fighting on a daily basis. 
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#rheumatoidarthritis #health #wellness #blog #bloggersofinstagram #rheumatoidarthritiswarrior #write #writer #writersofinstagram #writingcommunity #create #chronicillness #autoimmunedisease #autoimmunearthritis #autoimmunewellness #autoimmunehealing
So thrilled for @colormejorge’s scripted podcast So thrilled for @colormejorge’s scripted podcast, @jtbnpodcast! Produced by my production company @kingdomofpavement, don’t miss this award season murder mystery. Listen to the full trailer wherever you check out podcasts, links at: KINGDOMOFPAVEMENT.COM/JTBN
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#jtbn #scriptedpodcast #podcast #podcasting #producer #podcastersofinstagram #create #story #awards #listen
Episode 106 of Kingdom of Pavement’s @thelastst Episode 106 of Kingdom of Pavement’s  @thelaststationpodcast is live wherever you listen to podcasts— be ready to receive a message of SAFETY, COMMUNITY, AND HOPE written by @colormejorge, executive produced by @kylefcords and @sutoscience, directed by @tymaw, edited by @mglennsound, scored by @sudsmusic and starring @the_other_keanu, @itsbexfinch, and @danielrashid with @mattkeibler and Sarah High. And whatever you do — DON’T LISTEN TO THE NUMBERS.
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#scriptedpodcast #scifi #art #create #podcast #sciencefiction #podcastersofinstagram #podcastlife #podcasting #audio #radio #radiodrama #story #storytelling #writing #writingcommunity #writersofinstagram
Snippet from our shoot in the desert last year wit Snippet from our shoot in the desert last year with the badass @idaliavalles_ and @medwardsphx, can’t wait to eventually get back to filming projects again!

#Repost @idaliavalles_
・・・
A casual stroll in the desert 🏜 excerpt from @sutoscience projects 🎥 @medwardsphx
In 2020, we were constantly faced with our own mor In 2020, we were constantly faced with our own mortality. If your life was taken away from you tomorrow, what would you do differently today? What would you change in yourself and the world around you? In reading this book about how different cultures around the world treat death so much differently than us, I also think our fear of death harms us. In thinking that we’re going to live forever, America pretends very real viruses don’t exist, and we don’t make the changes today that would lead to a better tomorrow. The fact that death is an inevitability is both freeing and a call to make the most of the time that we do have. Here’s to 2021 and the way in which we can make the most of it ✨
I'm doing a blog series heading into the new year I'm doing a blog series heading into the new year about building better habits and mental frameworks around our work as writers and creatives, and this first installment is about how to "honor the work" it takes to make great art. Check it out at AmySuto.com and I will one day also be updating my email newsletter before the end of this godforsaken year so if that's your jam feel free to sign-up!
Taking a yoga break in-between working on a key wr Taking a yoga break in-between working on a key writing project today— I’ve loved playing with standing balance flows lately because they help with focus. If you’re trying not to fall over it’s hard to have wandering thoughts 🙂 warrior 2 > triangle > half moon > crescent 🌙 lunge > warrior 3 > half chair > eagle > warrior 3 was one of my favorite challenge sequences I taught in my yoga classes pre-pandemic, and is a great way to quiet your mind even if you fall out of it like I did 🙃 one of my favorite yoga teachers used to tell me falling is just proof that we’re challenging ourselves. If we’re doing everything perfectly, we’re too far within our comfort zone.
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#yoga #writing #movement #yogapractice #yogaflow #yogadaily #writing #scriptchat #nature wearing @alo #aloyoga
I’ve spent most of 2020 in cozy spaces reading w I’ve spent most of 2020 in cozy spaces reading with my cat, and there’s something satisfying in the simplicity of sifting through all these good books. My current read is “Women Who Run With Wolves,” a book analyzing mythology and feminine nature that’s deeply fascinating and a life-changing read. We don’t think about the wisdom we need to protect our creative nature and inner worlds, and this book goes into how to find restoration and strength even in our chaotic environment. A full list of all my favorite books from this year coming to my blog soon!
This is been a year of climbing mountains. Whether This is been a year of climbing mountains. Whether we’re forming a fictional folk band and need to get our album cover or creating new systems and structures from scratch, I couldn’t be more grateful for the people beside me as we build a kingdom that can pave a new road into Hollywood and storytelling. Every day I get to wake up and work on projects I love, help fascinating folks tell their stories, and try to make my corner of this world a little brighter. In 2021 I’m planning to keep upholding the standards and values I want in our work, and to bring some really special art to life. Even as things are burning, we can find a way to use the flames to show us the way to what’s next.
Enjoying the last few days of working remotely in Enjoying the last few days of working remotely in Palm Springs. It’s been a lovely month soaking up the last of the summer (fall?) sun while writing by the pool and transitioning to fire pit days. Working in inspiring places has helped me focus on the top-secret writing work I’m doing for really inspiring people, and think deeply about the right way to tell a story from all angles. Soon, back to LA, home for the holidays, and onto the next adventure as we try to make the most of our quarantine world with really exceptional people.
Lots of late nights writing, working, and drinking Lots of late nights writing, working, and drinking whiskey lately 🥃 it’s been a busy year, but I’m lucky to be working on projects I love.
Spent all of the past month living and working rem Spent all of the past month living and working remotely in the Colorado Rockies, and here’s what I learned:

1) Fresh air and long hikes can fix a lot
2) What can’t be fixed by 1 can be remedied with good friends and long conversations 
3) What can’t be fixed by 1 and 2 can be solved by renouncing all material possessions and just moving to the woods permanently and taking up whittling 
4) While I’m not quite at 3 just yet, I’m working on trying to carve out a place in the world that feels full of life and heart and community. It’s going to take a long time to build everything we’re working on, with a lot of hard decisions along the road. But I’m excited to keep making progress and creating stories I care about with talented folks.

Stay safe and here’s to hoping we’ll get our blue skies back in LA sometime soon 💙
The trees are changing like we all are; the season The trees are changing like we all are; the seasons of life we go through can either cultivate personal growth or personal fear and I’m hoping to always have the courage to choose the former.
Spent the past four days off-the-grid, driving to Spent the past four days off-the-grid, driving to Colorado and spending a night in a yurt in the middle of the Utah desert 🌵 now we’re in the woods and back in semi-civilization to write, quarantine together, and work on all the things.
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Recent Posts

  • Your Bio Sucks: How to Write a Better Bio for Your Website/LinkedIn/Resume/Whatever
  • How to Write a Witty Blog Post with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) That People Actually Want to Read
  • Pain Clarifies Priorities: Getting My Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis and Creatively Recalibrating
  • So You Wanna Be a Great Writer/Artist/Musician: How to “Honor the Work” as a Creative
  • How Much Does Hiring a Memoir Ghostwriter Cost?

Because I’m a Millennial

sutoscience

Amy Suto
A moment of zen from our fireplace to yours ❤️ A moment of zen from our fireplace to yours ❤️ ft. this wonderful candle from @tuesdaycandleco (shout-out to Emily who makes these!) there’s something satisfying about lighting things on fire after a long day of work. For us, today was errands-city which is a lot harder to do when you’re staying in the middle of nowhere and have to drive an hour and a half to get to a bank. What a world. But even if you didn’t get everything you wanted to done today, you should still light a candle and rest up. The work will still be there tomorrow.
This is where I’m taking most of my Zoom calls t This is where I’m taking most of my Zoom calls these days — in the greenhouse of our crazy abandoned-orphanage-turned-Airbnb in the middle of the town of Galena, IL which might as well be a time capsule of the 1960’s. When @kylefcords and I aren’t working, we’re walking around the town and hearing stories from local amateur archeologists about the old steamboats that used to come down the river. Aside from the freight train’s horn, there’s also been intermittent emergency storm sirens that sound, alerting the town of coming rains and potential floods. We’re also living next to Ulysses Grant’s home, so excited to say hi to his ghost whenever he fancies a visit.
It’s been a surreal year in quarantine, and it’s hard to think about what things are going to be like when we are “back to normal.” My normal definitely looks a lot different: building @kingdomofink_writers and @kingdomofpavement with @kylefcords this past year and producing three scripted podcasts and one upcoming unscripted podcast on top of all of the other lovely projects in my life has created a brand new reality for me. I’m lucky I get to wake up every day and do what I love in a different part of the country each month. Next stop on our remote work road trip: a definitely haunted orphanage-turned-Airbnb in Galena, IL!

Photo cred @aaronjayyoung
Afternoon tea in the mountains 🍵 @onetea.co’s Afternoon tea in the mountains 🍵 @onetea.co’s black honey tea is to die for — Cynthia’s teas are my favorite because of how unique they are. My parents had an online tea shop I worked in when I grew up, and I used to put together our tea gift baskets. I’d spend my afternoons trying out all sorts of different kinds of tea, so this ritual is near and dear to my heart. Spending time to slow down and enjoy the moment is time that is never wasted. 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#tea #mountains #teatime #tealover #writing #storytelling #smallbusiness #travel #travelphotography #forest #nomad
I’m so thrilled to share with you @kingdomofink_ I’m so thrilled to share with you @kingdomofink_writers — @kylefcords and my new business that aims to connect companies and individuals to high-end writers from entertainment backgrounds. We started this collective of #freelancers because we saw the need of creative writers in different industries, and the opportunity to create a more holistic career for high-achieving professionals. Want to support us? Go to KingdomofInk.com to hire a writer. Want to join us? Check out our careers page at KingdomofInk.com/careers

Shout-out to @elenamaria_sanchez who so beautifully designed our feed and website at KingdomofInk.com!
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.
.
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.
.
#freelance #writers #ghostwriting #freelancing #remotework #writer #storyteller #creators #create #maker #artist #hireawriter #hire #hiring #startup #siliconvalley #tech #business #entreprenuer
So proud to be an EP with @kylefcords on @kingdomo So proud to be an EP with @kylefcords on @kingdomofpavement’s newest scripted podcast, JUST TO BE NOMINATED, which was featured in Vulture today. Created by @colormejorge, everyone on this project brought their murder-y A-Game. Listen to the first ep now! KingdomofPavement.com/JTBN @jtbnpodcast 
.
.
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.
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.
.
#scriptedpodcast #oscars #awardseason #story #season #writing #amwriting #writerscommunity #writersofig #writersofinstagram #reader #murder #murdermystery #murdershewrote #truecrime #truecrimepodcast
As a writer, I’ve always believed we have to wri As a writer, I’ve always believed we have to write honestly and openly about our world. Today is no different — at the beginning of this year I was diagnosed with the incurable autoimmune disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and am one of those aggressive medications you’ve probably seen on TV commercials. This disease happens when the body’s immune system attacks its own joints, causing chronic pain and disfiguration (my fingers look like sausages right now, and not in a sexy way) and it just generally sucks. I wrote a post on my blog (AmySuto.com) about how I’m coping (lots of green juice and complaining about the number of pills I have to take each day to my quarantine roadtrip friends) and am going to be contributing more to the dialog of what I’m finding works for me. The thing that has helped so far is being able to read about other people’s experiences with this disease and what they’ve found to be effective in reducing pain and retaining mobility, and I’d like to be a part of the conversation of what it means to heal from chronic illness. (And mourn the loss of coffee and alcohol and gluten and dairy from my life — major RIP) So, while I’d welcome your soy-free and gluten-free vegan recipe suggestions, I’d also love for this to mostly be a reminder that there are probably other people in your life who are going through health problems they aren’t sharing, and to hold some space in your day to honor the invisible battles the people around you are fighting on a daily basis. 
.
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#rheumatoidarthritis #health #wellness #blog #bloggersofinstagram #rheumatoidarthritiswarrior #write #writer #writersofinstagram #writingcommunity #create #chronicillness #autoimmunedisease #autoimmunearthritis #autoimmunewellness #autoimmunehealing
So thrilled for @colormejorge’s scripted podcast So thrilled for @colormejorge’s scripted podcast, @jtbnpodcast! Produced by my production company @kingdomofpavement, don’t miss this award season murder mystery. Listen to the full trailer wherever you check out podcasts, links at: KINGDOMOFPAVEMENT.COM/JTBN
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#jtbn #scriptedpodcast #podcast #podcasting #producer #podcastersofinstagram #create #story #awards #listen
Episode 106 of Kingdom of Pavement’s @thelastst Episode 106 of Kingdom of Pavement’s  @thelaststationpodcast is live wherever you listen to podcasts— be ready to receive a message of SAFETY, COMMUNITY, AND HOPE written by @colormejorge, executive produced by @kylefcords and @sutoscience, directed by @tymaw, edited by @mglennsound, scored by @sudsmusic and starring @the_other_keanu, @itsbexfinch, and @danielrashid with @mattkeibler and Sarah High. And whatever you do — DON’T LISTEN TO THE NUMBERS.
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#scriptedpodcast #scifi #art #create #podcast #sciencefiction #podcastersofinstagram #podcastlife #podcasting #audio #radio #radiodrama #story #storytelling #writing #writingcommunity #writersofinstagram
Snippet from our shoot in the desert last year wit Snippet from our shoot in the desert last year with the badass @idaliavalles_ and @medwardsphx, can’t wait to eventually get back to filming projects again!

#Repost @idaliavalles_
・・・
A casual stroll in the desert 🏜 excerpt from @sutoscience projects 🎥 @medwardsphx
In 2020, we were constantly faced with our own mor In 2020, we were constantly faced with our own mortality. If your life was taken away from you tomorrow, what would you do differently today? What would you change in yourself and the world around you? In reading this book about how different cultures around the world treat death so much differently than us, I also think our fear of death harms us. In thinking that we’re going to live forever, America pretends very real viruses don’t exist, and we don’t make the changes today that would lead to a better tomorrow. The fact that death is an inevitability is both freeing and a call to make the most of the time that we do have. Here’s to 2021 and the way in which we can make the most of it ✨
I'm doing a blog series heading into the new year I'm doing a blog series heading into the new year about building better habits and mental frameworks around our work as writers and creatives, and this first installment is about how to "honor the work" it takes to make great art. Check it out at AmySuto.com and I will one day also be updating my email newsletter before the end of this godforsaken year so if that's your jam feel free to sign-up!
Taking a yoga break in-between working on a key wr Taking a yoga break in-between working on a key writing project today— I’ve loved playing with standing balance flows lately because they help with focus. If you’re trying not to fall over it’s hard to have wandering thoughts 🙂 warrior 2 > triangle > half moon > crescent 🌙 lunge > warrior 3 > half chair > eagle > warrior 3 was one of my favorite challenge sequences I taught in my yoga classes pre-pandemic, and is a great way to quiet your mind even if you fall out of it like I did 🙃 one of my favorite yoga teachers used to tell me falling is just proof that we’re challenging ourselves. If we’re doing everything perfectly, we’re too far within our comfort zone.
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#yoga #writing #movement #yogapractice #yogaflow #yogadaily #writing #scriptchat #nature wearing @alo #aloyoga
I’ve spent most of 2020 in cozy spaces reading w I’ve spent most of 2020 in cozy spaces reading with my cat, and there’s something satisfying in the simplicity of sifting through all these good books. My current read is “Women Who Run With Wolves,” a book analyzing mythology and feminine nature that’s deeply fascinating and a life-changing read. We don’t think about the wisdom we need to protect our creative nature and inner worlds, and this book goes into how to find restoration and strength even in our chaotic environment. A full list of all my favorite books from this year coming to my blog soon!
This is been a year of climbing mountains. Whether This is been a year of climbing mountains. Whether we’re forming a fictional folk band and need to get our album cover or creating new systems and structures from scratch, I couldn’t be more grateful for the people beside me as we build a kingdom that can pave a new road into Hollywood and storytelling. Every day I get to wake up and work on projects I love, help fascinating folks tell their stories, and try to make my corner of this world a little brighter. In 2021 I’m planning to keep upholding the standards and values I want in our work, and to bring some really special art to life. Even as things are burning, we can find a way to use the flames to show us the way to what’s next.
Enjoying the last few days of working remotely in Enjoying the last few days of working remotely in Palm Springs. It’s been a lovely month soaking up the last of the summer (fall?) sun while writing by the pool and transitioning to fire pit days. Working in inspiring places has helped me focus on the top-secret writing work I’m doing for really inspiring people, and think deeply about the right way to tell a story from all angles. Soon, back to LA, home for the holidays, and onto the next adventure as we try to make the most of our quarantine world with really exceptional people.
Lots of late nights writing, working, and drinking Lots of late nights writing, working, and drinking whiskey lately 🥃 it’s been a busy year, but I’m lucky to be working on projects I love.
Spent all of the past month living and working rem Spent all of the past month living and working remotely in the Colorado Rockies, and here’s what I learned:

1) Fresh air and long hikes can fix a lot
2) What can’t be fixed by 1 can be remedied with good friends and long conversations 
3) What can’t be fixed by 1 and 2 can be solved by renouncing all material possessions and just moving to the woods permanently and taking up whittling 
4) While I’m not quite at 3 just yet, I’m working on trying to carve out a place in the world that feels full of life and heart and community. It’s going to take a long time to build everything we’re working on, with a lot of hard decisions along the road. But I’m excited to keep making progress and creating stories I care about with talented folks.

Stay safe and here’s to hoping we’ll get our blue skies back in LA sometime soon 💙
The trees are changing like we all are; the season The trees are changing like we all are; the seasons of life we go through can either cultivate personal growth or personal fear and I’m hoping to always have the courage to choose the former.
Spent the past four days off-the-grid, driving to Spent the past four days off-the-grid, driving to Colorado and spending a night in a yurt in the middle of the Utah desert 🌵 now we’re in the woods and back in semi-civilization to write, quarantine together, and work on all the things.
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