We were lucky to catch up with Dave Dvorak recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dave, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

While I’ve done a great deal of songwriting and creative nonfiction writing over the years, playwriting is a new endeavor for me. In order to learn more about the art and craft of playwriting, I’ve been reading and talking to playwrights, actors and music directors. I also took a playwriting course last fall at The Loft literacy center in Minneapolis, which I found quite helpful.

Dave, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve worked a satisfying and challenging 30-year career as an emergency physician. As much as I’ve enjoyed the science of medicine, I’ve also always been drawn to the human stories of struggle and compassion that play out daily in the ER. I’ve done a fair amount of creative writing over the years in which I sought to convey the humanistic side of medicine in creative nonfiction pieces. About 7 years ago, I joined a singer-songwriter group, which lit a passion in me for songwriting as a means of creative expression. I became part of a vibrant world of amazing fellow songwriters and musicians who continually learn from each other and support each other.

The pleasure I get from songwriting has been matched by the joy of performing, connecting with listeners in a live setting. I enjoy playing both solo gigs and with my amazing bandmates in the Minneapolis band Zoë Says Go, which has recorded three albums and plays regular live shows around the Twin Cities. Last year, I also embarked on a side project called WonderCurrent, an album of more intimate tunes recorded with a very talented local musician/producer named J.J. Benson.

My latest challenge has been to write a musical play, entitled “Just One Life” that I’m planning to bring to the stage at The Hive Collaborative Theater in St. Paul in late May of this year.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of songwriting for me has been the opportunity to connect with others, to find some kind of shared experience through the music. There’s something magical that happens when the right lyrics find the right melody and rhythm–you get to reach the listener’s heart as well as their head. I believe that a song, at its best, has the ability to cut through the noise and endless distractions of life and get at some truth that many of us feel but are otherwise unable to express.

And I think that’s something that doesn’t apply just to music, but also so many other art forms that are continually striving to wake us up from our sleepwalking.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

The resources I’ve found and benefitted greatly from include:
*The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis (https://loft.org) – offers a wide array of courses in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, memoir, etc for all writers, from beginners to veterans.
* The Songwriters Circle-Twin Cities (https://www.meetup.com/Songwriters-Circle-TwinCities/) – a friendly and supportive group of songwriters who regularly come together to share their songwriting and learn from one another. Hosted by Twin Cities music veteran Don Strong.
* Open mics – there is a rich array of regularly occurring open mics around the Twin Cities that offer the chance to share your music or poetry on stage. Most of them are warm, friendly and supportive toward musicians of all abilities. You can find the latest open mic listings here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/432040863614448

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zoesaysgo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoesaysgo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zoesaysgo/

Image Credits
Credits: Alan Shefland, Mike Bredon, Sammie Jean Cohen