Create with John Fanning podcast

In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion; in order to serve men better, one has to hold them at a distance for a time. But where can one find the solitude necessary to vigor, the deep breath in which the mind collects itself and courage gauges its […]

The post Episode 24: Process, Retreats and Dark Nights of the Soul appeared first on John Fanning.

Your hand opens and closes, and opens and closes. If it were always a fist or always stretched open, you would be paralyzed. Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated as birds’ wings. That’s part of a poem transposed by Coleman Barks in his book […]

The post Episode 23: Balance, Health and Notebooks appeared first on John Fanning.

And that, of course, is the lingering problem: The maintenance of an arbitrary division between “literature” and “genre,” the refusal to admit that every piece of fiction belongs to a genre, or several genres. There are very real differences between science fiction and realistic fiction, between horror and fantasy, between romance and mystery. Differences in […]

The post Episode 22: Limits, Genre and Numbers appeared first on John Fanning.

“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.” That’s a quote from the character of Master Qui-Gon, in “Star Wars, Episode I, The Phantom Menace, written by American writer, director and producer, George Lucas. More on that later. I’m John Fanning and this is the Create with John Fanning podcast. How’s it goin out there. Hope […]

The post Episode 21: Focus and Creativity appeared first on John Fanning.

The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. That’s a quote from The Analects attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius. I’m John Fanning and this is the Create with John Fanning podcast. How’s it goin out there. Hope all is well. This is Episode 20 of my series of episodes on […]

The post Episode 20: Work and Creativity appeared first on John Fanning.

“No one can arrive from being talented alone. God gives talent, work transforms talent into genius.” That’s a quote from Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova from the 1956 book “Pavlova: A Biography” edited by A. H. Franks in collaboration with members of the Pavlova Commemoration Committee. I’m John Fanning and this is the Create with […]

The post Episode 19: Mentors and Talent Borrows, Genius Steals appeared first on John Fanning.

Much Madness is divinest Sense —To a discerning Eye —Much Sense — the starkest Madness —‘Tis the MajorityIn this, as All, prevail —Assent — and you are sane —Demur — you’re straightway dangerous —And handled with a Chain — That’s a quote from The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. I’m John Fanning and this is […]

The post Episode 18: Enthusiasm, Passion and Madness appeared first on John Fanning.

Dancing is very like poetry. It’s like poetic lyricism, sometimes, it’s like the rawness of dramatic poetry, it’s like the terror — or it can be like a terrible revelation of meaning. Because when you light on a word it strikes you to your heart. That’s a quote from the American dancer and choreographer Martha […]

The post Episode 17: The Dancer and the Dance appeared first on John Fanning.

I love my rejection slips. They show me I try. That’s a quote from Sylvia Plath in her posthumously published The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath, and I’m John Fanning and this is the Create with John Fanning podcast. How’s it goin out there. Hope all is well. This is Episode 16 of my series […]

The post Episode 16: Failure, Rejection and Creativity appeared first on John Fanning.

If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is: Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro’ narrow chinks of his cavern. That’s a quote from William Blake’s 1793 poem The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. I’m John Fanning and this is the […]

The post Episode 15: Doors and the Cave appeared first on John Fanning.