lunch with a man named tennessee

Welcome To Create Pop!

“'If I got rid of my demons, I'd lose my angels.” - Tennessee Williams

Hi there everyone! May the 4th, force, and all that is well be with you.

Now that long summer days have arrived and (whoa whoa those summer nights) I'm noticing a shift in how I approach taking the bad along with the good.

'Balancing difficulty along with triumphs'

It isn't a new concept but choosing to move toward success amid discomfort is.

So let's talk about it!

CREATIVE MINDSHIFT

POV: The Balance of Uncomfortable Success

"I’ve learned that ‘negative’ circumstances come as a means of shaping the potential of greatness inside."

The phrase 'You can’t take the good without the bad' always annoyed me. When people said it felt disingenuous and off-putting. Now I'm realizing maybe it irked me because of the painful truth behind it.

I strive to be as ready to deal with life's waves as the next person, yet acknowledging difficulty or uncomfortableness comes with success, and transition has always been tough for me.

After experiencing certain circumstances, I realize that negative experiences can shape one's potential for greatness. The majority of the most impactful works are a direct result of persevering through tough moments.

Friction forces you to move, to be aware, and innovative. It forces us to be intentional when receiving and extending goodness versus when life is so smooth sailing that you must conjure up goodness to come.

I’m not suggesting that uncomfortableness or negativity is something we automatically thrive in. But, I am learning that by leaning into the side of it, unlocking your ingenuity and resilience brings a power move you hadn't thought possible.

Accepting the good comes along with the bad requires grace and learning your safe spaces. Also, know it can mean great things on the other side.

CREATIVE STRATEGY

Managing Tough Clients As A Freelancer

"Set your boundaries and see the forest for the trees."

Freelancing can be very much like the Wild Wild West. I've had clients stall work to avoid paying me, nickel and diming my prices, attempt project scope, and cease communication. I've followed the advice of set contracts, deadlines, and communication goals, but all this goes out the window with the wrong client.

My best advice when dealing with difficult clients is to ‘see the forest for the trees’. By this I mean if they keep pushing your boundaries it may be best to walk away.

The benefit of freelancing versus employment is that the business is YOU. You set the terms, the conditions, and the pricing. In my experience when a client sets the precedent for not respecting your time or boundaries, it rarely works out in your favor.

I’ve had to turn down a client for this before, and believe me I really (needed) and most importantly was looking forward to doing the work.

Yet, all the red flags in the few months we were working together advised me to move otherwise. If you're currently working with a difficult client and none of your attempts at a solution are working, it may be time to respectfully cut your losses. ​

You will save yourself a bigger headache and leave room for the right fit.

CREATIVE HIGHLIGHT

Tennessee Williams and A Streetcar Walk Into A Bar

Did someone say STELLA!

I stand by Louisiana being its own country. Its city of New Orleans is a swirl pot of culture, food, religion, soul, and sound and it has always captured the hearts of many creatives.

So when I learned Tennessee Williams wrote A Streetcar Named Desire at the Hotel Pontchartrain I just had to know more about his time in a city I think of as home.

I've dabbled in Tennesse Williams's works before but I never knew he and New Orleans had a rich history.

What's more, I've fallen in love with his approach to writing and capturing the city in a way I haven't thought of before.

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The fact that he wrote such a raw, gritty, and complex play in New Orleans felt so right to me, because New Orleans itself was at the crux of innovation, political upheaval, and transition into something rich and new.

New Orleans In The Heart of The 1940s

The Streetcar was invented for the purpose of movement.

In the 1940s, New Orleans was experiencing an influx of immigrants settling in all parts of the city. This birthed the flair of mixed cuisine, culture, soul, and richness it's now known for.

During this time industrialization and the rise of centralized business districts transformed the city and attracted rich settlers. This brought a clash of social classes, cultures, and ethnicities in a tight-packed space.

The city needed a solution and a solution fast. Thus, the Streetcar was invented.

The Streetcar brought an electric charge to the city. Every walk of life could visit and deal in whatever they fancied!

And, right at the heart of this sits a young writer who was also experiencing a personal transition and change. Tennessee Williams was born in Missouri and experienced a conforming Episcopal upbringing.

He found his heart, identity, and home in the bohemian and carefree vibes of the city. Tennessee was an expert at reflecting this in his work.

The Tennessee Williams Rebirth In New Orleans

“Here surely is the place that I was made for, if any place on this funny old world.”

Tennessee Williams reflected on the woes of his upbringing through thematic themes of past days and faded memories. But, with A Streetcar Named Desire, it was important to him that it be real. The story needed to reflect the grit and life of one's desperation to achieve a dream.

“As you have observed, I have only one major theme for all my work which is the destructive impact of society on the sensitive, non-conformist individual.

As a writer, I'm inspired by Williams's choice to break free from the allure of fantasy and dreams to insert yourself into something hard.

There has always been something alluring to me about exploring the grit and seediness of life. To try and capture something up against inconceivable odds, broken dreams, corrupted innocence, and good intentions taken advantage of.

And, I love how Williams wrote Streetcar to reflect his factual life, experiences, and depiction of the city at the time.

When visitors come to New Orleans to experience its creative energy, it continues to inspire new generations of artists, giving them the freedom to express themselves.

I love how Tennessee Williams led by example by allowing himself to be and crafting characters meant to last.

Here’s to Mr. Williams and the jazz lullaby sounds of New Orleans.

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