Meet Garrett Broussard

We were lucky to catch up with Garrett Broussard recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Garrett, thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.

By sitting in my chair and staring at a blank page until there were words on it. Like, good words. Words that moved me. Words that made me angry. Words that made me cry. Words that made me laugh. Words that sounded like I spoke them.
Creativity can’t be forced, but it does respond well to time and space. Give yourself the time to practice creativity in a safe space. You may not finish the project you’re working on, but you’ll process the thing occupying your mind, consciously or unconsciously.
Sometimes, a creative block is just your ideas forming slower than you’d like them to. Let yourself slow down and wait for the ideas to show up back up. Again, it’s not a passive process, but it does require a balance between work and rest.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’ve been a software developer for Animation and VFX since 2014, and I’ve recently added the titles of Author and Storyteller. I’ve kind of always been a writer, but now I spend time every day writing something and reading something.
2 years ago, I released Cacophony of Crowns, my genre-spanning short story collection. Just last month, I released an audiobook for Cacophony of Crowns. I was lucky to have Nick Plaisance, and his many talented voices, narrate the audiobook. He brought so much inflection and emotion to the piece. He really took it to a level I didn’t expect.
It was so fun and different to bring my visual eye to an auditory art. Nick brought great skills and talent, so I really just directed him until he found something that matched each character – no small feat for a book with 80 characters.
I’m really excited for folks to check out the book!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Patience, introspection and respect.
Patience means “bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint”. Patience doesn’t hesitate, it waits for the right time to move. Patience doesn’t accept failure, it learns and moves on. Patience helps me show up daily and do my best, while also remembering that it takes years to change into who I want to be.
Introspection is a hell of a drug. It can provide insights into why we act or feel certain ways, but it can quickly devolve into an obsession that takes over. Balance introspection with empathy and putting others before yourself.
Respect is a tricky one. Respect for the craft of writing and how much time others have put into it. Respect for my peers and their skills. Respect for myself and my well-being. Respect for my wife and loved ones and the time they want to spend with me.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

Not writing. Probably the number one challenge facing all writers. I’m trying to solve it by writing small things like blog posts or snippets for social media and publicity. Anything I can knock out quickly to check the daily writing box for myself and get back to living, which is the source of my inspiration.
I don’t come up with ideas just by sitting inside my home. The ideas float by me as a smell of someone cooking dinner next door, or bumping into a pack of coyotes on my evening walks. Writing is about living, so forcing myself to live and experience new things is always good for my writing.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
Are you walking a path—or wandering?

The answer to whether you are walking or wandering often changes from season to season

Highlighter Series
What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?

With so many high-achievers in our community it was super interesting to learn about the

Highlighter Series
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?

We asked some of the wisest people we know what they would tell their younger