How to Write a Poem with Nathan Hassall

What makes some writing so powerful that it stays with us and changes how we see the world?In this episode of Create For No Reason, I talk with poet, educator, and former Malibu Poet Laureate Nathan Hassall about the art of poetry, finding your creative voice, and what it takes to make your writing more meaningful.We explore why simplicity can be more powerful than complicated language, how to stop overexplaining your work, and why creating consistently matters more than waiting for inspiration.And then I do something a little different. I share one of my own poems with Nathan and ask him to critique it. It was a little nerve-wracking, but his feedback was incredibly valuable.Whether you write poetry, love reading it, or simply want to live a more creative life, I think you'll enjoy this conversation.

What happens when the life you’ve built no longer feels like the life you want?In this episode, I talk with coach and entrepreneur Sarah Janzen about reinvention, identity, and what it takes to step into a new chapter of your life.After more than a decade climbing the corporate ladder, Sarah realized the success she had worked so hard to achieve was no longer working for her. But leaving meant confronting a much bigger question: Who are you when you let go of the title, career, and identity you’ve spent years building?We talk about the messy middle of reinvention, learning to trust yourself when the path ahead is uncertain, and why creating space to hear what you actually want may be one of the most important things you can do.Sarah also shares why changing your life isn’t always about something being wrong. Sometimes you simply realize there's more for you.If you’ve been feeling the pull to make a change, pursue something new, or rethink what you want your next chapter to look like, this conversation is for you.

What keeps us creating when we’re afraid our best work might be behind us?Zibby Owens has interviewed more than 2,000 authors, and she’s noticed something surprising: even the most accomplished writers struggle with self-doubt. What keeps them going is their willingness to face rejection, keep creating, and put their work into the world anyway.Zibby is a bestselling author, publisher, bookstore owner, host of the award-winning podcast Totally Booked, and founder of Zibby Media. In this conversation, we talk about her own creative process, writing her way through a decade of reinvention, and her new collection of essays, Between Chapters.We also explore why the next chapter of our lives rarely unfolds the way we expect, how Zibby decides which ideas are worth pursuing, what she’s learned about creativity from interviewing thousands of authors, and why sharing our stories can help us connect with each other.If you’ve ever wondered whether your best work is still ahead of you, this conversation is a reminder to keep creating.

AI is changing the way we create, but is that always a good thing?Fiction writer, editor, and YouTube creator Kieren Westwood is back for a conversation about AI, creativity, and what we risk losing when we become obsessed with making everything faster and easier.We talk about where AI might belong in the writing process, why struggling through the work matters, and the danger of outsourcing the very skills we're trying to develop. But our conversation goes beyond AI. We explore our culture's addiction to consuming content, the pressure to optimize everything, the value of slowing down, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is stop scrolling and create something instead.Kieren also shares what he’s learning from building a community for writers and why finding your own way of creating matters more than following someone else’s formula.

Discover some of the best journaling prompts in your favorite books. I love a great question, but I’ve realized that some of the ideas that inspire me most to sit down and write come from great books.In this episode, I’m sharing five books I return to again and again when I want to think differently, spark a new idea, or find something worth journaling about.From creativity and perfectionism to slowing down, challenging our beliefs, and questioning what we really want, these books are filled with ideas that invite us to look at our lives differently.The five books:Useful Not True by Derek Sivers101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think by Brianna WiestSlowing Down to the Speed of Joy by Matthew KellyAwareness by Anthony De MelloBig Magic by Elizabeth GilbertWhat book always gets you thinking, writing, or seeing your life differently?

What makes writing actually good?Andrew Bashford is a writing teacher, author, and creator of the popular YouTube channel Writing with Andrew. With an MFA in Creative Writing and a PhD in Rhetoric, Composition, and Literacy, he has spent years studying what makes writing work.In this conversation, we explore what separates writing that connects from writing that falls flat, why specificity makes our work more powerful, and how feedback and revision help us become better writers.Andrew also takes us inside his own creative process, sharing four drafts of a poem and walking us through how he revises his work to find the heart of what he’s trying to say.We talk about:• What makes a poem—or any piece of writing—work• Why specificity is one of the most powerful tools a writer has• How to know when your work is finished• Why “wasted time” is actually part of the creative process• How paying closer attention to everyday life can make you more creativeWhether you write poetry, books, essays, or simply want to become a better communicator, this conversation is a fascinating look at what it really takes to strengthen your craft and create work that connects.

What if confidence isn’t something you need before you start, but something you build along the way?I’ve interviewed a lot of writers, artists, entrepreneurs, and creators over the years, and there’s a common thread I see among so many of them: even people doing incredible work still struggle with self-doubt.In this episode, I share what I’ve learned from those conversations, along with my own experience and what the creative process reminds me about creativity, confidence, and how we define success.We can spend so much time waiting to feel ready. But confidence doesn’t come before the work. It comes from doing the work.Your job isn’t to make everyone love what you create. Your job is to keep showing up, keep experimenting, and keep making something.Because one piece may not change your life, but hundreds of pieces will change who you become.Keep creating.

Every creator has a different process.The challenge isn't finding the "perfect" one. It's discovering the one that helps you keep creating.This week, fiction writer, editor, and YouTube creator Kieren Westwood joins me for a conversation about creativity, comparison, perfectionism, and why embracing your own creative process is one of the most important things you can do.We talk about finding your authentic voice, why slowing down can actually help you make better progress, and how trusting your instincts often leads to better work than trying to follow someone else's formula.Whether you're writing a book, making art, building a business, or creating something that's meaningful to you, I hope this conversation inspires you to create in the way that works best for you.In this episode, you'll discover:⭐ Why there isn't one creative process that works for everyone⭐ How to stop comparing your creative journey to someone else's⭐ Why slowing down can lead to better ideas and better work⭐ The difference between productivity and meaningful creative progress⭐ How embracing your own process can help you keep creating

What's the future of books, creativity, and sharing ideas in an AI-powered world?After reading a fascinating article by Tim Ferriss about the decline of nonfiction book sales, I found myself thinking less about the data and more about my own creative journey. The books I read, the way I create, and even my definition of success have changed over the years.In this episode, I explore why I'm reading more fiction than ever before, what creators can learn from the idea of "1,000 true fans," and why building meaningful work for a small, engaged audience may be far more fulfilling than chasing millions of views.If you're a writer, artist, entrepreneur, or anyone creating something that matters to you, I hope this conversation encourages you to keep going.In this episode, you'll discover:⭐ Why my reading habits have changed over the past few years⭐ What the decline in nonfiction book sales might tell us about today's world⭐ Why 1,000 true fans may be more valuable than millions of followers⭐ How to stop chasing every platform and focus on creating work that lastsI'd love to hear your thoughts. Are you focused on long-form or short-form content? Has AI changed the way you create? Let me know in the comments.

How do you know what you're meant to create?In this episode of Create For No Reason, I sit down with bestselling author David Kadavy to discuss curiosity, creativity, and what it really means to build a meaningful body of work.David shares why he published a novella under a secret pen name, how following his curiosity has shaped every stage of his career, why quitting the right projects can be just as important as finishing them, and how balancing exploration with execution has transformed the way he creates.One of my favorite parts of this conversation is David's reminder that you can't connect the dots looking forward—you can only connect them looking back. The challenge is having the courage to keep following what genuinely interests you, even when you don't yet know where it will lead.In this episode, you'll discover:⭐ Why curiosity may be your greatest creative advantage⭐ How to redefine success beyond money or productivity⭐ Why some projects are worth creating simply because they matter to you⭐ How to know when it's time to finish something—and when it's time to let it go⭐ A simple exercise for turning overwhelming dreams into something you can actually startWhether you're writing a book, building a business, making art, or simply trying to create a life that feels more meaningful, this conversation will encourage you to trust your curiosity and keep creating.