We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aminata Coote a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Aminata, so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever head any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?
The first step in overcoming writer’s block is to figure out why you’re blocked. Are you stressed or worried about something? Are you in burnout or distracted? Do you need to rest?
For example, I’ve found that fear–whether I’m worrying about perfection, meeting readers’ expectations, or if I’m the right person to write a piece–makes it difficult to write.
Address the root cause of your block and this usually unblocks your creativity.
Another thing I’ve found helpful is taking time away from the project. And yes, if you’re on a deadline, the last thing you want to do is stop working. But even a few hours doing something you enjoy may be enough to get your creative juices flowing again.
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?
I’m a Christian contemporary romance, devotional, and Bible study author. I love sharing what I’m learning as I study the Bible in diverse ways. I get to create stories about flawed people who come in contact with an awesome God and are changed as a result.
In all of my novels, at least one of the main characters is a person of color. They’re pursuing their goals, achieving success, and finding love. I hope readers will pick up one of my novels and know they’ll get a heartwarming story that encourages them to go after their dreams or improve their relationship with God.
I want readers to pick up my nonfiction books and get a new or clearer perspective that takes their faith to the next level.
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?
As you can tell, my faith is important to me. I could not have achieved even an inkling of what I have without God. He encourages me to go after my dreams, gives me the skills, and guides me along the way.
I also have an excellent support system. My husband, son, and two best friends serve as sounding boards and cheerleaders. When I waver, they remind me why I’m doing this and motivate me to continue.
Learning from other people has been a key part of my journey. I listen to podcasts and interviews with authors and industry experts. I attend conferences, webinars, and watch YouTube videos. I read a lot to learn what other people have tried and how I can improve my skills.
My advice to anyone who has just started pursuing their goals is to develop an open mindset and be willing to learn from others. Learn from their mistakes. Analyze those who’ve gone before and experiment with what worked for them.
Note what worked and what didn’t. Don’t be afraid to pivot when you determine something isn’t working.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
Playing to your strengths is important because this is where you’ll achieve the most progress. I also believe in working to improve weak areas.
Like many authors, I did not enjoy marketing. I was uncomfortable talking about my books or what I was working on. A speaker at an online conference challenged me to change my mindset and what I believe about marketing.
Now, instead of thinking, ‘Talking about my work is so uncomfortable.’ I think, ‘If I don’t talk about my work, who will? No one is more passionate about my books than I am.’
We wouldn’t have this interview if I hadn’t made an effort to improve my marketing skills and get out of my comfort zone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aminatacoote.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aminatacoote
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AminataCoote
- Other: Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/stores/Aminata-Coote/author/B0773CSDKG
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