Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Malinda Fugate. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Malinda, 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?
My office job felt like a prison. I would eagerly escape the filing cabinets and tinted windows for lunch breaks in the fresh air of a nearby park. But returning to my desk after sitting under rustling tree leaves got increasingly difficult as time went on. The job itself wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t built for it.
My current job as an author and director of the kids department at a local church is another breath of fresh air. I traded cabinets full of files for shelves full of craft supplies, a rigid desk-bound routine for a flexible hybrid office/remote schedule, and frustration-fueled depression for the happiness that comes with freedom and purpose. Now, I write books, create engaging lesson plans, and interact with kids, teens, and their families. There’s also time to explore other artistic projects, such as painting. This is more than happiness; it is joy.
Occasionally, thoughts of a regular job emerge, particularly when finances become challenging. But in a quick moment, I remember the constraints of a career that lacked meaning. What’s the point of a steady paycheck when life is only a gray blur of empty routine? There is a fulfillment in creativity that can’t be measured monetarily and isn’t listed with healthcare and 401ks as a benefit.
This colorful world of creativity provides gratitude, adventure, and, yes, happiness.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
As a kid, I didn’t really dream of being a published author. Sure, I liked writing, but my aspirations were on the stage. Singing, dancing, and acting out stories would be a wonderful career. And perhaps, I thought, I could be a marine biologist on the side.
Theatre remained part of my life well-into adulthood, though it was outside a full-time job at a radio station. After relocating to Los Angeles, the idea of film and tv production held the potential of more stories to tell, so I eagerly pursued education and experience on soundstages and in writers’ rooms.
Faith is an integral part of my life that guides my steps, including my career choices. I never expected that it would lead me away from musicals, screenplays, or a camera lens. Instead, my stories are now told to kids at a church and in the pages of books. Though less flashy, my goal isn’t as much entertainment as it is encouragement and love. I strive to tell stories that change lives and explore things bigger than we imagine. Sharing the hope I’ve found in faith is different than I pictured and beyond what I expected.
Now, I am the author of three books- one self-published kids devotional and two Bible-based studies for adults. “The Other Three Sixteens,” traditionally published by Ambassador International in 2020, tells stories of God’s love and inspires us to look for it in our own lives. “Stories From the Sidelines,” also traditionally published to be released in September 2024, explores our purposes, particularly in difficult seasons of life. Meanwhile, my daily job is directing the kids department at a local church, which involves telling stories and learning through hands-on crafts, games, and sometimes science experiments. Unlike creating stories and never seeing the audience on the other side of a screen, I get to interact and develop delightful relationships with kids and families in our community.
So many of us hope that our creative pursuits make a difference in the world. My books can travel farther and reach more people than I could in person. Bringing joy and hope to kids can stay with them much longer than a soon-forgotten cartoon episode. It’s a privilege to take this path, even if it wasn’t the original plan.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
It’s not all about the paycheck. Success can’t be accurately measured by wealth, promotion, or material goods. Achievements are not focused on the bottom line. Living creatively operates by different standards.
Yes, business sense is required to sustain a career; there are needs to meet and bills to pay. But that’s often not what motivates or fulfills us. Although, it’s also true that the things that signal success are a little harder to define and can vary from person to person. It might be effectively reaching more people with a message dear to our hearts. It could also be stretching our abilities to go beyond what we’ve ever done before. To someone else, true achievement might be inspiring someone else to express their own story through the arts. And of course, we also measure by books sold, paintings displayed in distinguished galleries, or working with high-profile clients. But ultimately, satisfaction comes from creating our best and bringing soul into any project.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
My instant response was “pay us fairly.” But that goes deeper to “value us.”
People frequently forget the creators behind the products they enjoy, media that entertains, or music that they hear. Creativity is so tightly woven into every part of our existence that it becomes seamless and expected. It’s not viewed as an asset that society is privileged to experience, but reduced to a hobby or side project. Arts and music are the first to be cut from school budgets and people often expect creativity to be given freely or “for exposure.”
To support artists and creatives, understand that great effort goes into creating just as it does in science or business pursuits. Recognize the multitudes of creativity that are regularly consumed. Appreciate the skill and know that not everyone has the talent to create at high levels. Pay attention to the art, music, writing, movement, architecture, design, and so many more creative gifts we receive each day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://malindafugate.com
- Instagram: @malthewriter
- Facebook: @malthewriter
- Linkedin: not really used
- Twitter: @malthestar
- Youtube: not currently used
- Yelp: n/a
- Soundcloud: n/a
- Other: https://malindafugate.substack.com
