We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Andre Soares. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Andre below.
Andre , appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Hi!
This might be a bit controversial but as a writer, I don’t believe in writers block or blank page syndrome. If you experience a lack of creativity, it is more of a symptom than the disease itself. There’s a root cause somewhere there, buried deep: this could stem from a lack of life experience, a narrow perspective, depression… You have to identify the root cause and develop a countermeasure to this so you can deploy a solution.
On my end, I continue broadening my views and perspectives. That’s how I keep my creativity alive: I’m a student of life. I like to have conversations with individuals from various backgrounds and learn from their experiences. I travel. I consume art across different mediums. I commune with nature. I “people watch”.
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?
My name is Andre Soares and I am an author, screenwriter, and actor based in Atlanta, GA.
My current focus is on my creative writing career, and more specifically on my path as a novelist. I write stories across all genres, from political thrillers to time travel romances.
I also support various initiatives such as Black Girl Ventures, the NAACP, and Silence The Shame. My social mission concentrates on the empowerment of black women in art and business as well the treatment of mental health in the black community.
I aim at shaping worlds and stories beyond the usual tropes and nefarious shortcuts most mainstream publishers rely on. I want to challenge my readers and empower them to yearn for more.
My next novel, The Sunflower Protocol, releases November 24, 2023.
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?
In this digital age, I believe we tend to overlook essential skills that once were the norm and still greatly contribute to one’s success.
1. Instant gratification/reward is harmful. Only a few benefit from it. Take your time to study your craft. Get a degree, read about it, practice and practice and… practice. Get a mentor, ask for feedback, implement recommendations for said feedback… Knowledge is power, and a highly educated creative is more likely to succeed. Craftsmanship is still something invaluable.
2. Genuine networking is something you should strive for. It is not only about “what can they do for me?”. Get that out of your head. Ask questions about their works, show genuine interest, collaborate, have a coffee… Not every relationship has to come with financial incentives.
3. Be detail-oriented. It’s important to condition yourself to pay attention to the slightest detail. Make sure that everything you produce is top-notch.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
I owe my mother a lot. As a single mom raising a son in an impoverished and crime-ridden area, she did great. She always reinforced that we weren’t necessarily products of our environment but that we actually shape the environment we wish to be in.
She taught me culture, etiquette, and leadership in adversity. She is the reason I thrive and why I didn’t end up locked up or dead, victim of my life circumstances.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thesoaresprotocol.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesoaresprotocol/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesoaresprotocol
