Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hannah Taragan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hannah, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Falling in love helps. Not always with a person, although that can be the case… but with a color, an idea, a feeling, a time, a hunger, a surrender, a current, a mirror…. It’s over-romantic, but I can’t find my way out of it. When I am in love, I see the world in color… prismatic, shattered, opening. I see the spell of the world, and I dip myself in and out of it like one would a candle… forming myself with water and wax.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Hi, my name is Hannah Taragan, I’m an actor, writer, and filmmaker. I’m gay and I lean towards lesbian fiction, non-fiction, and literature.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Ability to communicate with oneself (effectively). Form a kind of language, even one that may be foreign to others. As long as it brings you closer to you. Drop an anchor over a deep shore, touch down on rich sediment.
2. Value curiosity (and play). Look into subjects that interest. Philosophy? Weaponry? Emotional intelligence? Art Nouveau? It doesn’t matter what it is, but if you’re interested- and pulled- it’s worth it to dive underneath. Overarching systematics that rub up against art is an obvious yes… psychology, humanities, history, religion, etc. But follow what you’re interested in inherently. That’ll be the stuff that sticks. And later, you’ll find it scattered through your work, enriching your very own point of view.
3. Be hungry, be bored, be obsessed. Lean into the discomfort, no matter how acute. And don’t be afraid to go a little bit mad. You might have to dive in deep, in order to crawl your way back out.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
I smooth myself closer to you. I daydream of something formless, something I can’t quite see. But you linger on the mind, linger on the tongue. Home is the space that I build right here. I look at you like treasure. Your heart is beating, and I am so close, I can hear it (you). My friends say the reason I’ve been feeling like a chronic smoker lately (I’m not) is because I haven’t been letting you in. Fine! Fine. Come in. Come find me. Now I want that burning cigarette, and I want to split it with you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hannahtaragan.com
- Instagram: @hannahtaragan
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahtaragan
Image Credits
Caitlin Fisher
