Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Holly Settoon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Holly, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

This is a great question, because I feel like in some ways I am of course happier as an artist, because it’s what I’ve always wanted to do, but at the same time, it can be very challenging and I think about having a regular job all the time! I think that getting older and trying to plan a bit more for the future has made me question a lot of things. The industry I work in can be precarious and unpredictable, and it’s usually when I am thinking about big life changes, like starting a family one day, that I most crave a more linear, “regular” career path to rely on. However, talking to friends and looking around at other people in my life who have a chosen a more straightforward career path, and hearing how almost everyone has doubts at some point or another about what they’ve chosen to do for work puts things in perspective. Ultimately, I think I would always be too curious to not at least try to be an artist, so I’m thankful to be where I am!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a playwright, actor, and screenwriter. I started out mainly as an actor, then moved into writing shortly after I graduated college and moved to New York City, where I discovered how difficult it is to be just an actor! My plays and screenplays are all different, but I tend to write comedies about girls and young women. I started writing because when I was just focused on acting, a lot of the parts I would audition for felt half-baked and unrealistic, so a big thing I try to do now is write female characters that are complex and multi-faceted.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One thing I had to unlearn is that “all or nothing” mentality that I think a lot of artists are prey to, especially when they are just starting out. In some ways that mindset can be helpful because it keeps you very focused and determined, but I’ve learned recently that it can also be pretty detrimental when it comes to actually making art. For instance, I’ve recently discovered how important it is to take breaks. I used to always set out to write for four or five hours straight when I had a deadline coming up. If I hadn’t accomplished all that I intended to in that period I would beat myself up and feel like a total failure, which is ultimately such a waste of energy that could be going toward the art! Now I try to always take breaks while I’m writing in order to avoid burning out. I also think that slowing down and taking time to breathe while you’re working keeps you more in the moment, and can actually allow you to have new ideas and be generally more open and explorative in your art.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist for me is connecting with other people and feeling more connected to the world in general. I grew up in a really small town where art was not very pervasive or celebrated, so the fact that I get to do it at all feels very special and crazy to me and I feel very grateful that I have found a community that I get to share my work with! It just means so much to me when someone tells me that something I wrote or performed in affected them in any way whatsoever.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hollysettoon.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyspittoon/

Image Credits

Eddie Merino, Jamiya Wilson, Eva Meiling Pollitt