The Creating Pros Podcast

David Ekrut is a PHD scientist, researcher, mathematician, science reporter, and fantasy author. We dive into the winding path of his career, his process, disciplines, and how his scientific background influences his work, and how his creative outlets support his career!Plus some introvert survival tips! 

Hi all, This week's episode is a little late, I was overseas for the last few weeks touring the UK. It's been a number of years since I've been over, and I reflect on how writers and creatives are remembered, and even revered. I toured the neighborhoods where Brahm Stoker stalked and Oscar Wilde lived; the writer's museum with Robert Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson, and  Sir Walter Scott's lives and works are remembered. How JK Rowling was inspired and the Potterverse brought to life. How thousands of years of history shape who we are. And how we can learn from our past to shape our future.

 
Developing your skills is critical in any endeavor, and being a writer is no different. Join Valerie Heller and Katherine Penndorf, the duo behind Much Ado About Writing where we talk about writing groups, writing critique, and the programs they offer!

 
David Taylor II is an award winning author, songwriter, producer, and playwright, having written books, comics, and games, in music he's written rap, gospel, adult contemporary, and musical theater for for Justin Bieber,Usher, Cuba Gooding Sr., Dave Koz and the James Taylor singers. He has done commercial work for McDonald’s and Disney. He is a co-composer for the smash hit theater production, Eye of the Storm:The Bayard Rustin Musical. We talk about all this, plus dive into his writing children's books, novels, comics, and creating his own RPG. There's a lot packed into this one!

This is one we've been trying to get scheduled for almost a year (and been talking about it longer than that). Tom Flemming got his start designing for the World Wrestling Federation (Now the WWE).
Tom has painted covers & trading cards for almost every major publisher in the comic book industry such as Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and has illustrated for some of the most popular gaming companies in the world such as: World of Warcraft, Magic the Gathering, and White-Wolf Publishing.
We talk about art, the business, Tom's landmark IP lawsuit, and some really fun stories!
 
 
 

We're seeing a lot of churn in businesses right now, and the publishing industry is being hit hard. What happens if your agent, publisher, artist, or services company goes out of business? The owner can't handle the business for one reason or another? What happens if you work for one of these companies?
 
It's a hard discussion, but you need to know what your options are, and how to prepare. And if you were affected by any of the recent closures, what are your options?

The USPTO has found works of generative AI to be public domain, we have a writers strike facing streaming and AI in the writer's room, and the Supreme Court found Andy Warhol didn't meet the "Fair Use" standard, and should have paid licensing fees. What do these three events have in common, and what might it mean for creators?

There's a trap all of us have fallen into at some point, personally and professionally. And while it's not entirely unavoidable, there are things we can do to understand when we're falling into the trap, and ways to mitigate it. 
This week, we will talk about the Sunk Cost Fallacy. What it is, why we fall into it, and how to manage it.

When the pandemic struck in 2020, The Internet Archive launched the National Emergency Library program. Which then set into motion a lawsuit by Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, John Wiley & Sons, and Penguin Random House accusing the Internet Archive of "mass copyright infringement."
The finding of the court is in, and this may direct the next phase of copyright law in the digital age, affecting users, publishers, and creators.
This is one for which I have mixed emotions, but I agree with the court. What will happen in the appeals? Will it bankrupt the Internet Archive?

Myth is the foundation of society, culture, and our belief systems. As creators and storytellers, we depend on and build upon the stories that came before us. As creators and business owners, myth is an important part of creating not only work, but our brands. Find out how you can use the power of myth to build your brand, your reputation, and how you can set off in your own journey!