We recently connected with Lisa Loop and have shared our conversation below.
Lisa, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
My purpose found me. Being a writer involves being told no a lot. I wasted a lot of time taking rejection as proof I was not meant to write.
The actor Nick Offerman talks about how cultivating patience helped him continue auditioning until he got his big break. He is onto something important.
When I understood that just because something is meaningful, that doesn’t make it easy, I could relax. Accepting obstacles is part of overcoming them. Resilience is the superpower that allows me to risk, and get to the yesses.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I attended graduate school for writing in my late fifties. The night before classes began, I was terrified. What if the other students didn’t accept me? What if my brain wasn’t flexible enough to learn? Or worst of all, perhaps I was a terrible writer, and no one had been brave enough to tell me.
I could not have been more pleasantly surprised. Not only did I find a supportive, vibrant community, I gained a ton of confidence. I didn’t know it, but some internal part of me had always been waiting for permission to do what I wanted. By putting myself out there, that inner voice lost all its power.
Since earning my MFA, I have published novels, poems, and essays. I have been nominated for awards, and publicly acknowledged for my work. None of that would have happened had I not been willing to risk. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to face my fears.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The theme of my journey is learning to love my internal monsters. Sounds counterintuitive, but hear me out. Unpacking the voices that limit me allows me to move out of my comfort zone.
My inner critic means well, but she holds me back. I no longer work for her. I am old enough to know that avoiding feelings of failure costs more than I want to pay.
The willingness to look foolish is powerful and necessary. Letting go of self-seriousness keeps me learning and growing. So what if someone teases me for being a beginner? Chances are that person would love to swing for the fences but is stuck in fear.
Be afraid, and do the thing anyway. When the negative voices start up, understand that you have the final say in what limitations to accept.
After ten years as a screenwriting instructor and creative coach, I wrote a workbook about creative flow. The Creative Loop is available on Amazon.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
Many people have helped me, but the most important one is my husband, writer Andrew Chapman.
He has shown me that a true professional recovers from roadblocks with patience and resilience. Every piece of feedback is part of the process, and neither big success nor humiliating failure deserves too much weight. The point is to keep dreaming, learning, and working. The work is truly its own reward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lisaloop.com
- Instagram: lisaloopwriiter
- Facebook: Lisa Loop
- Linkedin: Lisa Loop
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