What does it mean to live a creative life? with Liz Ledden
"... creativity is more than the literal creation of something tangible. It’s about your way of seeing the world, the choices you make, your taste, your curation ..."
Warami and welcome to the What does it mean to live a creative life? interview series.
Here we look at how fellow creatives are living a creative life and what that means to them. We all measure success in different ways and we all have differing priorities, but there’s much we can learn from one another, so let’s dive in!
Meet Liz …
Hello! I’m Liz Ledden, a children’s author living and writing on Gadigal land in Sydney’s inner west. I have three published picture books, the latest being Everyone Wants an Octopus Book! with illustrator Makoto Koji and published by Hardie Grant. I’ve also had short stories for primary schoolers published in The School Magazine and Youkie magazine. I’ve previously worked in marketing and as a travel, food and culture writer for publications in Southeast Asia. I’ve studied children’s literature as part of an MA in Writing and Literature, which led me to the wonderful world of picture books. You’ll often find me in cafés, libraries and markets!
Liz, what creative things do you do? Tell us about your creative pursuits whether you classify them as your job or hobby or side hustle, we’d love to hear about all of them.
Creative writing is the main one! As a kids’ book author, I’m constantly penning new stories, mostly picture books and junior fiction at the moment. My latest picture book released was Everyone Wants an Octopus Book! and although short in word count, it took many re-writes and edits and much thinking time, as picture books do. Kidlit aside, I’ve ventured into the world of Substack newsletter writing as another creative outlet. It’s fun to write something that’s purely me with no parameters. My Substack, Lemongrass Letters is not solely an ‘author newsletter’, but more like a curation of fun things from books and travel to food finds and pop culture recommendations, for likeminded friends and bookish people with similar taste.
Where are you at with your creative pursuits right now? How do they fit into your life?
Writing is the main priority in terms of creative things. But then, small every day creative things are humming along in the background. Decorating and styling, collecting art (and I don’t mean expensive paintings, it could be small prints or trinkets from op shops or markets), even curating playlists and Pinterest boards and consuming Substack newsletters! These are all creative acts, so while writing is the main concrete outlet, there are many other creative things going on!
What does living a successful creative life look like to you? Are you living that right now? Or working towards it?
I think sometimes writers (especially children’s writers) who don’t also illustrate can feel less ‘creative’ than the more artily inclined. If we’re not literally drawing or painting, are we still creative? But really, creativity is more than the literal creation of something tangible. It’s about your way of seeing the world, the choices you make, your taste, your curation, and of course, the ideas you have that come from a culmination of all these things. And your life experience in general can fuel your creativity in many ways. Am I working towards living creatively? I guess I am, but there are so many more things I’d like to do!
Are there obstacles you feel are in the way of you living a successful creative life right now? If so, what are they? What do you think would help move past those obstacles?
Hmmm … good question! I think a main obstacle, particularly with writing fiction, is wondering if your idea is good enough or something people want to read (or if publishers would publish it, firstly!). Having the motivation to finish something and see it through instead of dropping it for the next, shinier idea is another obstacle. So staying focussed and not getting distracted! I think a helpful thing can be different spaces to write. I’ve discovered a local co-working space that I go to sometimes, and like to write in other places like libraries and cafés. Prioritising, focussing, and having a to-do list to tick off each day and week are helpful in keeping on track!
How do you prioritise your creativity? Do you want to prioritise it more or are you content with where you’re at?
There are more creative pursuits I’d like to try, so I could be living a more creative life than I am right now! I’ve had a bit of a ceramics obsession for a while so it would be fun to do a class. I would love to try abstract painting, I just need to prioritise these other creative things more!
Do you have short- and long-term plans for your creativity? If so, what are they? If not, do you think you need one? Why/why not?
Short term it’s to keep pursuing a few kidlit projects and dreams. And to keep writing my Substack newsletter, Lemongrass Letters! Long term – I find it harder to think long term, I feel like I usually have about an 18-month vague plan ahead of me, then beyond that, things are hazy and unwritten! Maybe a longer term goal is the ‘other’ creative pursuits that I’m yet to delve into, of the more arty kind. Do you need plans? I think it’s great to have some creative goals to work towards, but I also think ‘plans’ can change and evolve as you do.
What’s one big dream you have for your creativity? Share your wildest, grandest dream even if you think it’s unattainable.
I think it’s really to have a book published that’s in a different format to a picture book, so a chapter book or novel for another age group. No shade to picture books as I love them, of course! But having something longer would feel like a new and different accomplishment.
Do you have any exciting news/events etc. you’d like to share?
Everyone Wants an Octopus Book! has been sold into Slovenia and also China, so I’m really looking forward to seeing and holding copies of these when ready! The Slovenian edition will be translated into Slovenian, however the Chinese one is an English language deal. That one might not have the novelty factor of seeing the words in another language, but exciting all the same it’ll be released there!
Thank you so much for joining me,
. We LOVE Everyone Wants an Octopus Book! and cannot wait to see what comes next for you!We are absolutely on the same page with many things including trying not to get distracted by the next shiny idea – but it’s just so very shiny and tempting! And I am with you on sometimes not feeling quite as ‘creative’ with writing when compared to other art forms, but also agree that so much of day-to-day life and all the little things, including the choices we make are a way to exercise our creativity.
I’ve also been wanting to do a ceramics class! But I know that I’ll get hooked and distracted by it so I’m letting that one go for the time being 😅
Readers, you can connect with Liz and her work via the links below, and don’t forget to do your thing to show your support – tap that heart, restack, share, subscribe, comment, borrow or buy Liz’s books and follow Liz along on her creative journey!
Connect with Liz and her work
I acknowledge the Darkinjung people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which I am writing from today. I walk, talk, write, and create with respect on this land, and I acknowledge the enduring connection the Darkinjung people have with this Country; I thank them for their care of this Country, and I pay respects to the Elders past and present, and extend that respect to any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here reading or listening.
Great interview!!!
This was a great read! Love Liz’s books and newsletter and loved this behind the scenes peek ❤️