We recently connected with Kate Ryan and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kate, thanks for joining us today. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today.

Knowing everything I know now, I would definitely take more creative risks when I was younger. When you’re just starting out, there’s no downside to trying things. I worried too much about wasting time on projects that weren’t important or making work that wasn’t good enough, but the worst thing that can happen is doing nothing at all. I’ve learned something from everything I’ve ever written, so I try to keep that in mind whenever I’m entering unfamiliar creative territory. As Julia Cameron says, take care of the quantity and god will take care of the quality.

Kate, 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’m a creative writer by discipline and a content writer and editor by trade. I’ve written brand and SEO copy for the past 7 years, but I’ve also written about culture for The New York Times, VICE, and Buzzfeed. Whether it’s a thoughtful essay or a branded tweet, I like to think strategically about the most efficient, artful way to say something. You can have a powerful message, but if it’s not delivered well, no one’s going to get it.

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

I feel most rewarded when I surprise myself. I spend a lot of time in my own head, so when I’m able to create something I didn’t think I was capable of, it feels like anything’s possible.

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

I used to be exceedingly hard on myself. I held myself to a high standard and achieved a lot academically as a result. But by the time I graduated from college, I was so burnt out, it took a couple of years to find my footing again. While holding myself to a high standard led to short-term achievements, I set myself up for failure in the long run and had to learn entirely new ways of motivating myself without beating myself up.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theonlykateryan.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinefrancesryan/

Image Credits
Melissa Cabral