We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Taeler Buchanan. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Taeler below.
Taeler, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I’m happy for the opportunity! Thank you for having me. Well, to answer your question, I actually try to release my creativity in a number of ways.. I don’t typically stick to just one lane of expression when I write.
Currently, I regularly publish book reviews on a “bookstagram” blog I host on IG, @readandpose, where I also create themed photoshoots (or book shoots as I like to call them) for the books I review. I’ve also written film scripts in the past, children’s stories.. I even created my own set of “story” flashcards to help my son and other littles recognize sight words as they read. As cliche as it may sound, I like to think of my world as my life’s book.. and as a writer, I love having the perspective that I get to write my own chapters.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Yes, of course! My name is Taeler Buchanan, everyone. I wear a lot of hats actually, haha. I’m a published writer, a mother, and a business owner. My company, Cre8tive Collective, is an online, interactive directory designed for creative professionals to showcase their brand or businesses. I like to describe our brand as a creative platform with a primary goal of connecting artists with career resources, networking opportunities, and even potential clients! It’s funny; the vision for the directory actually came to me after I made the decision to officially pursue writing. To be completely honest, I struggled at first, to find the right opportunities and the right people to become more professionally involved in the writing world. But after I had eventually fostered a few working relationships, I thought to myself, “There might be people out there, just like me, who are looking for support and resources in their own creative journey,” and I allowed that thought to bloom. I understood that when it comes to freelancing or even owning a small business, connections truly mean everything. So, Cre8tive Collective was built with the ambitious, creative professional in mind, and we are here to advocate for creatives of all types!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think my ambition, tenacity and determination helps to pave my way significantly. Even today, I am still in my pursuit of my dreams. The creative path can sometimes be a lonely one and it can be easy to quit or not let imposter syndrome set in when you don’t feel supported. I just refused to let my lack of “industry” knowledge or a professional network stop me. I researched, I cold called, I wrote, and I wrote some more. I was lucky enough to meet some amazing creatives in the Atlanta, Georgia area who believed in my ideas enough to help me turn them into a reality and I decided to pay it forward by building the Cre8tive Collective brand. My advice for anyone who is on a similar journey now is to find a community like ours in the very beginning, because the support will truly be an anchor along the way. Find ways to stay motivated and always remember the “why” for what you started.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
As a creative, I am constantly on the lookout for other creatives I can collaborate with. The best way to get my attention for a creative project is to showcase your skills on Cre8tive Collective! Advocating for yourself on our platform is made easy and I utilize the community pages frequently to spot out interesting people and concepts I can connect with myself. I can also be reached by email directly for professional inquiries, at [email protected] or on all socials, @c8cstudio. Thanks again for the opportunity, Bold Journey! This was fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.c8cstudio.com
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/taeler-buchanan
