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Devoting Your Energy to Creative Development with Daniella and Nardine

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Season 4 Episode 11

On this episode of Wellspringwords: The Podcast, Nkem speaks with two very special guests: the 2023 Writing Fellows as part of Wellspringwords’ Writing + Creative Expression Fellowship. She, Nardine, and Daniella speak about their experiences as creators, moving away from seeking external validation, and the power of the written word — plus much more! Scroll below for the topic timestamps.

Daniella, a Nigerian-American and recent college graduate, expresses herself through words, particularly fiction and poetry. She's been writing since childhood and is an avid reader of all genres. Nardine, who is Egyptian, studies and lives in Virginia. She paints with words through poetry, capturing her experiences and life's essence. This episode is their first podcasting experience, abd allows them to explore creative development and expression of truth within the Wellspringwords community.

“Everything that I accept and reject happens for a reason.”

As a current college student, Nardine was brimming with a frantic desire to express herself and create a lasting legacy. Her quest is to share something meaningful with the world, exploring the origins of creativity and where it can lead her. In her pursuit, she ambitiously applied to various opportunities, though not all resonated with her deeply. However, when she stumbled upon Wellspringwords, she discovered a warm and inclusive community that welcomed and nurtured her creativity. Through writing for herself, not seeking approval from others, and interacting with fellow creators, she has begun to realize that her creative potential is boundless and far greater than she ever imagined.

“If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, did it really make a sound?”

Daniella, previously grappled with the fear of judgment, causing her to keep her writing hidden away for an extended period. As her writing predominantly centered on Black women, she struggled to find supportive spaces where her characters could thrive authentically. However, her discovery of a welcoming platform like Wellspringwords became a turning point. Here, she could unabashedly focus on her characters' genuine selves and confidently share her work without concern for others' opinions, creating a safe space for her artistic expression.

Nkem then opens up about her experiences with various fellowships, discussing the ones she had planned and those that worked out. She emphasizes the significance of writing through the lens of being a writer, as it allows one to feel truly seen and understood, reinforcing the importance of embracing one's unique perspective and voice in the creative process.

“It’s as if my entire world was black and white, and I was spewing out color.”

Nardine discovered her creative identity through her unique lens, shaped by a childhood marked by frequent relocations, which exposed her to both the good and less apparent aspects of life. While healing, she expressed herself through writing, initially for personal growth and reflection. Her early paintings served as a catalyst for art as a means of emotional expression. With a desire to refine her skills, she aims to benefit herself and her close circle through her creative endeavors.

Daniella's family and cultural background, rooted in strong oral storytelling traditions, deeply influenced her creative expression. She embraced stories that presented diverse realities, using her vivid imagination to envision new worlds as she moved from place to place. Incorporating her family's storytelling techniques, she pondered the significance she wanted her work to carry.

Nkem engages with Daniella's insights, prompting her to delve into how her thinking evolved regarding external validation and the obstacles she faced in life. Daniella shares her experience of placing immense pressure on her work, especially when others would read it. However, her time with Wellspringwords taught her the value of collaboration and embracing imperfections. She gained valuable techniques to express herself more authentically and articulate her ideas more powerfully.

“I am still a writer even if I'm writing for me.”

Nardine shares a common perspective with Daniella on the issue of external validation, particularly within an academic environment, where judgment prevails. Facing criticism and lacking a safe space to share her work had hindered her authenticity. Nardine recounts her experience as the Editorial Operations Fellow, appreciating exposure to diverse expressions of truth through writing. She has honed her ability to value an approach to editing that preserves the artist's intentions, aiming to cultivate strengths rather than impose restrictions by highlighting deficits. Discussing how to overcome creative plateaus, Daniella turns to various genres, books, and different storytelling approaches to break writer's block. Nardine finds inspiration in new physical environments, observing life's little details. She enjoys discussing ideas orally with others.

Nkem elaborates on the evolution of the fellowship, sharing how it emerged from her teaching experiences at NYUAD. She sees it as a platform to learn while teaching and connecting diverse individuals to collaborate. Reflecting on past iterations, she feels more grounded and excited about co-creating and fostering organic connections for the future.

As the conversation concludes, the three emphasize the transformative and eye-opening power of the written word, their desire to leave behind lasting legacies, and the ability of words to effect change.

This conversation is a must-listen, especially if you are on a path of creative evolution! Let us know if this conversation brought anything to mind or heart for you in a podcast review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser, on Instagram, or via email at bewell@wellspringwords.love. Be well!

Topic timestamps

0:10 - Introduction

4:03 - How did you know it was time to devote energy to your creative development?

12:01 - A benefit of this writing fellowship and being a writer in general

13:13 - Nardine and Daniella’s experience with their own “creativity”

21:36 - How has their thinking evolved concerning external validation?

30:29 - Nardine’s experience learning from a compassionate editorial approach

34:24 - Practical approaches to evolve your creative expression

43:11 - What was the initial idea behind the Wellspringwords Writing + Creative Expression Fellowship?

48:26 - What differences + similarities are there between the ‘22 and ‘23 cohorts of the fellowship?

52:30 - What do Nardine and Daniella hope and dream for their creative futures?

56:09 - What power does the written word hold?

58:39 - Stay connected and dive into more!

References and resources mentioned in this episode

Read Nardine's writing here:

Read Daniella's writing here:

Find Nkem here:

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