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TV writer who eats danger for breakfast

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Writers’ Life: How Your Examined Life Informs The Stories You Tell

June 20, 2018 by Amy Suto 2 Comments

Photo by DJ Suto

Just like you are what you eat, you write what you live. While I believe that write what you know is a narrow way to approach the vast expanse of stories you could be telling, I do believe that our own experiences create a prism through which we see the world and write about it.

We can’t — and shouldn’t! — spend every hour of our days writing. But the hours we don’t spend writing still show up on the page.

Our examined lives shape our stories

Photo by DJ Suto

In my writing group, I recently dismantled the seven page outline I had written for my pilot — and rewrote it from scratch, with another character as the protagonist. This is in part because of the badass ladies of my writing group had helped me get to the point where I realized this was the best move, and in part because of what’s been going on in my own life lately. My hero went from the reclusive male protagonist to the live-wire of a woman whose life was a mess but is grappling with her priorities and how she approaches the world. I realized that my male hero was safe to write from: he was a reluctant hero, someone thrown into the story. However, the female character — as vulnerable and messy as she is — is the one who is actually moving the plot forward and putting everything on the line.

After going through a breakup, I realized that I was running from my feelings and the messiness of them — I had also been running from the messy character who was clearly my way into the story all along. So, I got vulnerable, and asked myself why I had relegated her to supporting cast for so long, and realized her story was the most dramatic, even if it was harder to tell.

I say “examined lives” because an unexamined life (aside from not being worth living, according to Socrates) doesn’t provide these kinds of revelations. As artists, we have to question everything. That’s when epiphanies happen: as things click into place after we’ve been moving the pieces around and trying to make sense of it all.

Vulnerability as a lens for truth

I do a lot of freelance writing on the side when I’m not doing things for the showrunner I work for. One of my recent projects is editing a book around a tragedy that reshaped the life of one of my clients. It’s a beautiful story, and what struck me is her brave openness. Her vulnerability is what makes this project so incredibly special.

I’ve also been reading Brene Brown’s work for the first time, and her books preach the power of vulnerability and getting real with the stories we tell ourselves.

That phrase really hit home with me — the stories we tell ourselves. What shields are we building to keep hurt out but prevent us from getting vulnerable? Prevent us from recognizing a truth? As writers, we have to constantly be challenging ourselves to be vulnerable. Otherwise, the walls we construct will keep the truth out, too.

Are you living a life you would want to write about?

Photo by DJ Suto

If the answer is no, you can still be a great writer — as long as you’re cultivating your rich inner world through reading and writing.

However, no book can replace your own experiences in the world at large: living in a bubble means your stories live there, too.

In the past few months, I’ve broken out of a suffocating routine and pushed myself to have more adventures and meet new people. Since then, I’ve gone to art shows, broken into pools at midnight, experienced music in unconventional spaces like Himalayan salt rooms and huge lofts, spent my days playing volleyball badly on the beach and hiking unfamiliar trails. I’ve stayed out way too late for the sake of good conversation and connection, and each week meet at least two new people for coffee for drinks, and reconnect with friends as often as I can. I go to immersive theater experiences and improvised musical shows at UCB.

I turned 24 this past weekend, and I was able to reflect back on a year well-lived. All of these things make it to the page, even as I’m not writing about them directly.

Designing your creative environment

I love writing in coffeeshops, especially ones with outdoor patios with lots of light and a soft breeze and some good people watching when the work is slow. Other writers I know love writing in old libraries, by the beach, in museums.

Even if you write from home, you can invest in some succulents, scented candles and string lights to create a space independent from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind where you can allow yourself to be creative.

Cultivating this creative environment goes beyond just writing spots, though. What kind of people do you spend your time around? What environment does your day job put you in?

I spent as much time as I could in museums and small galleries when I was writing a feature about a classical oil painter. I’m working on another, much different, art-based pilot that’s more energetic and modern. Now, I spend time in immersive theater experiences and art shows with unconventional, live art experiences.

Your milieu informs how you write your characters and their worlds, so if you’re having a particularly tough time cracking a story, it may be because you haven’t immersed yourself in a similar environment yet.

Healthy habits for the “creativity” diet

In the end, it helps to approach your creativity the way you approach your health. Reading widely and experiencing life fully is akin to drinking lots of water and eating your veggies. You’ve got to be balanced in your approach toward cultivating creativity and practicing your art. Writing alone in a room is just as much part of the process as meeting new people and exploring the world.

So here’s to living the life we want to write about, one day at a time.

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Filed Under: All Posts, Most Popular Posts, Musings, Writing

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Trackbacks

  1. Method Writing: Exercises to Experience the Stories You’re Writing says:
    October 2, 2018 at 5:28 PM

    […] once you’ve mastered the art of creating a life worth writing about and practiced the art of living an examined life, you’re ready to dive into method […]

  2. Writing Routines: A Holistic Approach to Crafting Your Weekly Writing Schedule says:
    January 23, 2019 at 11:12 PM

    […] I’ve written extensively on here about method writing exercises and other ways to turn storytelling into an excuse for going on adventures. Be curious about the world, and find a way to be open to new […]

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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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#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_
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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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