Our community is growing! - Introducing Creativity Coach Joanna Phoenix

You asked, I listened

Hello, Protagonists! In this post you’ll find:

📚 What’s Filling My Creative Well—books or articles that are lighting up my brain

🎉 Welcome to Creativity Coach Joanna Phoenix!

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📚 What’s Filling My Creative Well

Orbital by Samantha Harvey - This Booker Prize winner is our “Read like a Writer” Book Club pick this month, and I am enjoying re-reading this short, lyrical book about six astronauts on the international space station.

• Book Club meeting is Sunday, September 21st at 8pm ET / 5pm PT - Join us even if you haven’t read the book!

• Discussion Qs and Zoom link are HERE.

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🎉 Let’s Welcome Creativity Coach Joanna Phoenix

I’m excited to announce that our beautiful, warm community is expanding!

This year, many of you have reached out to ask if CREATIVE. INSPIRED. HAPPY might offer mentorship or coaching in the future. I wanted to make this happen for you. So…

I am thrilled to introduce you to my bestie, Joanna Phoenix—a Creativity Coach and writer—who will be joining me as co-host/author here, writing newsletters and hosting our podcast. I adore her, and I know you will, too!

Joanna Phoenix and Evelyn Skye

Who is Joanna and what will she be doing here with us?

Well, why don’t we just ask her?

Welcome, Joanna Phoenix!

Evelyn Skye:

Joanna, I was so excited when you said Yes to co-leading our Substack community / newsletter / podcast.

You are one of my favorite people in the world, and you’ve also helped me find so much clarity about who I am as a writer/artist, which has in turn really shaped my career these last few years.

Can you tell everyone a little about who you are and what your creative background is?

Joanna Phoenix:

Since we are story people, how about I tell you my story of self?

I grew up writing stories. I asked Santa Claus for a word processor for Christmas and wrote a YA novel in middle school. I was also quite good at caring for others, so when the world around me valued a stable profession over creative pursuits, I stopped writing and started my nursing degree.

I took this direction all the way, becoming a nurse, then getting a masters in public health, and finally my PhD. I worked day and night to be of service to the world.

Then, I burned out.

Feeling lost and tired, I picked up a book for pleasure for the first time in years. I started reading fiction, and I couldn’t stop. The only way I got my nose out of a book was to start writing one.

Looking back, I see that I needed to return to my creative soul. Allowing myself to make art felt like the deepest healing. I went on to learn everything I could about writing. I spent a decade studying story arcs, character development, and emotion on the page, completing three novels and having two babies along the way.

But caring for people was still a big part of me. And when my cup was full again, I started supporting the other creatives in my life. I gave the gift that I so desperately needed - coaching people to connect to their creative energy and to remember their full aliveness.

With this as my journey, you can imagine how delighted I am to be holding this bright and full-hearted community with you, Evelyn. Engaging about reading, writing, creativity, and growth is my happy place.

Evelyn Skye:

You and I are such good friends in part because we’re very different, yet complementary in our skills and ways of seeing things.

I’m really looking forward to the new perspective you’re going to add to our community here.

What is creativity coaching?

And why are you drawn to helping people tap into the “it” that makes them special?

Joanna Phoenix:

We can be our own worst enemies in manifesting our creative visions. I help creatives understand the deeper patterns that block them from sharing their gifts with the world and feeling fully alive in the process.

Coaches help people reach their full potential by asking the right questions and providing useful tools to help people discover and direct themselves toward their best life. I do this with creatives, using the broadest definition of that term—anyone who taps their creative energy to make something meaningful to them.

My life’s work is about helping people transform with love. It’s at the core of what I do as a writer, coach, mother, and generally, as a human being in this world.

I find people’s inner worlds, on the page and in real life, fascinating. Our shadows. Our dreams. Our choices. Each person holds a whole universe of wonder for me. And I get such joy in helping them see the magic within themselves and letting it flow. It feels like the ultimate gift to the world.

I love this Howard Thurman quote: “Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

Evelyn Skye:

Gosh, I adore you, and I can also attest that you’re very good at what you do because of the difference you’ve made in my life.

I’m curious, though, how does coaching and creativity overlap for you?

And even though it’s early stages, what do you think you might want to do here with our community?

Joanna Phoenix:

First, I can’t wait to get to know you all and learn about what makes you come alive.

In the newsletter, I’m excited to start sharing some of my most meaningful ah-has and some tools that could provide you with fresh perspectives on your creativity.

I am also wondering if the community would be interested in some virtual sessions on topics like unlocking creative energy, dealing with the inner critic, drama-free creativity, and finding your genius.

I think it would be cool to interview some creativity coaches in addition to the awesome authors on the podcast. I’m ready to play.

Evelyn Skye:

You’re not just a coach. You’re also a writer.

I’ve been sharing my Author Diaries over the past year, showing the behind-the-scenes of publishing from book deal to publication. I’m going to continue doing that, but I’m excited to have you here to share a different part of author life.

Can you talk a little about your experience with publishing?

Joanna Phoenix:

Ah yes, the publishing arena is not for the faint of heart.

I first queried with my second novel, a YA historical adventure. I revised the manuscript with beta readers and an editor. I honed my pitch and research agents, then I received several glowing rejections after several rounds.

Agents enjoyed my work but didn’t see a market for it. It hurt. I took it personally.

I had to set the novel aside and work on something new. Reconnecting with my creativity helped so much.

I drafted my third novel, but then I went back to the second. I had an idea to make it more marketable. I added a fantastical twist and then queried again. I faced more rejection, but finally got my first full request and then an offer for representation followed. I was ecstatic.

I polished it up with my new agent and we went out on submission to editors at the big five houses. I thought, This was it! But after two rounds, no offers.

Again editors enjoyed my novel but the YA historical market wasn’t hot enough for a story like mine. I would have been more crushed, but at the same time my creative soul was feeling drawn to write stories for an adult audience.

So, I didn’t push for a third round of submission, I lovingly parted ways with my YA agent, and started trying my hand at women’s fiction. I entirely rewrote my YA novel for adults, but the third novel really drew my heart.

After many more drafts, more beta readers, and a fantastic independent editor, I am ready to enter the fray again. This time centering my worth within myself instead of letting the business of publishing determine my value. Wish me luck.

Evelyn Skye:

You don’t need luck. It’s going to happen, I feel it.

You are also a voracious reader (we met in a book club!)

What are some of your favorite recent reads?

Joanna Phoenix:

My favorite book this year was The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi. I loved the rich (but not too rich) portrayal of 1950s India, the clever and competent protagonist, and the gently pulsing plot.

Evie Dunmore’s A League of Extraordinary Women, starting with Bringing Down the Duke, was a perfect combination of all the tropes I love in historical romance with fresh feminist twists.

I’m a loyal Taylor Jenkins Reid fan with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo at the top of the list, and Atmosphere did not let me down.

On the creativity side of things, I’ve been enjoying an occasional dip into The Creative Act by Rick Rubin.

For personal growth, I’ve gotten a kick out of learning about the neuroscience behind manifesting practices in Mind Magic by Dr. James Doty. And for the writing side of things, I constantly go back to Story by Robert McKee. So, it’s an old standby but recently loved.

Evelyn Skye:

Now a silly question, but an important one (to me) because I feel like it gives a lot of insight into a person.

If you were a cartoon animal, what would you be?

Joanna Phoenix:

Remy, the rat, in Ratatouille. Helping people create amazing things even if I have to pull their hair to get them going, and making some delicious stuff all on my own.

But also Rafiki the monkey in Lion King - his joy, his wisdom, his devotion, and his love for the entirety of the circle.

Evelyn Skye:

Pineapple on pizza, yea or nay?

Joanna Phoenix:

Delicious, but it can’t beat a mushroom. Oh, the umami of mushrooms.

Evelyn Skye:

OK, whew, we can still be friends. I’m Team Pineapple all the way.

I have only one more question for you… What’s made you happy this week?

Joanna Phoenix:

This week has been a big one.

The first thing that made me happy is I started a coaching circle with eight amazing women. To get to know someone to that level is just so enlivening to me.

The second thing is that I finished my last revisions on my pitch, synopsis, and entire query packet, so I’m ready to go.

Evelyn Skye:

I love that so much! And the thing that made me happy this week is you being here with me. I cannot wait for everyone here to get to know you even more in the coming months.

All right, Protagonists - now it’s your turn:

Please welcome Joanna in the Comments below with

• a Hello!

• a favorite emoji, or

• any wish list items for what you would like her to do as a creativity coach in our community:

  • unlocking creative energy,

  • dealing with the inner critic,

  • drama-free creativity,

  • finding your genius,

  • or anything else!