Meet Shannon McDermott

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shannon McDermott. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Shannon, so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever had any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?
Most of the time when I reach such an obstacle, it means I need to re-manage my expectations. For example, I was asked to write a book during Covid lockdown. It felt like my creative brain would just freeze up whenever I opened my laptop to work on it. I didn’t want to deliver a subpar product, so I asked myself, “How can I make this process easier for my brain to allow my creative side to flow freely?” After writing down my feelings and fears concerning the writing process, I ended up creating an exciting new writing format and layout design that not only respected the subtle boundaries my brain was giving me, but made the process fun!

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
At the moment, my husband and I are building an audiobook production company that will specialize in uplifting diverse voices with a focus on neurodivergent, disabled, and Latinx-centered stories. We favor a human-centered perspective in storytelling that gives power to the people the story is about, not just a clinical or observational perspective. Unfortunately, a majority of stories featuring marginalized groups as characters are told through the eyes of characters who do not share the same experiences. As an actor, I am always cooking something up with Blinky Productions, however, I am unable to comment on specific projects at this time.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1) Release any expectations you have about pursuing a career in the arts. This is especially true of people who pride themselves in being ROI-focused. If you have unrealistic expectations, you will never be happy with what you produce. 2) Learn how to manage your stress. There’s a reason they say the entertainment industry isn’t for everyone. There’s a lot of fuckery afoot in this industry, and it will drive you crazy if you let it. Do not be afraid to speak to a mental health professional.
3) Stick to your principles, even when it hurts. If someone is asking you to violate your sense of professionalism and personal values for a project, don’t give in. Even if it hurts now, you will be happier and stronger for it in the future.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
All my neurospicey’s! Filmmakers, Directors, Agents, Managers, Writers…etc. If you need a passionate, hardworking, and fearless AuDHD badass to collaborate with on your next project, DM me on Instagram: @iamshannimal. It is our time to shine and take the microphone, and I would love to help you do just that!

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Kenny Mathieson, Jake Aviles, Chris Notarile, @AdmiralKatfish

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