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

Seth, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

There is a timeless catalog of stories that have been told and are still being told. These stories have been written, whispered against the backdrop of shadows and firelight, and brought to life through expanding media, like shows, movies, and comic books.

There can never be too many stories. New stories will always be needed to capture the emotions of a changing world. I want to add my stories to that catalog and be part of the conversation that reflects the desires that drive characters and narratives, and that are inspired by the great stories that I have read and seen, and heard.

If I’m lucky, I am telling stories that will leave a resounding impact on others. The way great stories have left an indelible mark on me. When I write a story, I want to feel that I am writing to the masters who have come before me. I want them to know that I heard them and I am writing to leave the impression on others that they left on me.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’ve been on a writer’s journey since I was in high school. I wrote for my high school newspaper and I then worked for my local newspaper, but I knew at some point that I was not a journalist. Instead, I wanted to write stories about characters and worlds that I felt communicated complex ideas to an audience, in ways that journalism could not.

I sought an avenue where I could make this happen. I took many paths and even tried to find full-time jobs where I could write on the side. However, I was not successful. And after enough attempts, I slowly found that if I wanted to make writing into something that served my goals I needed to make a change.

It all started when I stopped trying to only write one type of story. I had to get past the belief that I was only qualified to write one type of story. Then, a colleague suggested I try writing comics. I doubted if I had the right to do something that others had spent their lives pursuing. But, I was reassured by the competing argument that writing comics was something I had always wanted to do and was finally admitting.

After a few attempts, I was able to connect with some independent creators willing to entrust me with their stories and bring them to life. I was then connected with the amazing crew over at HAPSIE, who offered me the chance to bring to life one of their original characters, the man who goes by the name of Greedy Greg.

Greedy Greg is one of the many characters who are part of the HAPSIE initiative to teach young readers the value of working in collaboration with the world we share. Some characters are models of good behavior, who recycle, upcycle, conserve, and bring about positive change to their communities. My character, Greedy Greg, is a model of how not to behave, and a great example of what happens when someone is driven by selfish desires.

Greedy Greg is always willing to do anything to make as much money as possible and cut every corner he needs to make it happen. Greedy Greg often discovers that his get-rich-quick schemes, are unsustainable and eventually they cost most, if not all of the profits he has gained. However, Greedy Greg is always undeterred and committed to finding the ultimate quick money gamble.

I have since worked with a number of amazing characters and collaborators for comic books, animation, children’s stories, and conversations about literature, comics, and mythology. I love digging into new worlds and the ideas that inspire them so I can bring them to life for my clients and our audiences.

I am most proud of my ability to write characters who feel like someone readers know or have met. It defines what elements will raise the stakes for a story and dictate the character’s actions.

I believe solutions and stories are created by characters, and helping a story find the answers is one of my favorite things to do.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I know that everyone’s experience will vary, but the most rewarding thing for me is that I believe I’m doing what I know I should be doing. There is an unbelievable relief that I experience every time I invest my writing in a project. It doesn’t matter if it’s a project for me or for someone else.

With the acknowledgment, that doing a project for someone else when it is paid work is immensely rewarding after so many times of struggling to be recognized and paid what you are worth. Any time that I am doing something that is paid work is a reminder that what I am doing is a gift but it’s also the result of hard work and perseverance.

The next most rewarding part is executing an assignment. When it’s a larger project, it starts with developing characters and getting feedback. Next is writing in their voices and describing who they are and then defining them through examples. Taking that and moving it into a story and using it to build events and elements that push these characters while also challenging the story creates the best moments.

After that diving back into the story each day, finding solutions, experiencing moments of clarity that bring ideas into sharper focus, and building deeper connections between the narrative and the characters is the end goal. It reinforces your confidence that you know what you are doing and you are good at it.

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.

I think one of the hardest things for non-creatives to understand about a creative journey is that so often it is tied to a person’s emotions. It’s one of the reasons why creatives struggle with the idea of letting things go. For a creative person, letting things go might feel like surrendering or giving up. For others, it can feel like a failure from which they will never recover.

I find an interesting similarity exists between creatives and professional and competitive athletes. Both have to believe in their ability to perform. Some may choose to define it in terms of being the “greatest” and others might choose to see themselves as the best at what they do. But no matter what designation or title they choose, without a grounded belief in themselves, the opportunities to achieve their full potential will always be limited.

Creatives exert their imagination through willpower, and it is exhausting. It takes time to recover, and it also takes energy to do it again. Creatives need to fuel their minds and their bodies. They need to continue ingesting, art, stories, and ideas just like they need food and water. There’s a popular idea that writers must go to a well to draw their ideas, and there is an equally popular restorative belief that the well must be filled, and filled often.

In the end, creatives need support, and that can include nurturing, and other times it can mean telling a hard truth, no matter what the outcome may cause.

One last thing I will add is that creatives need to know that those around them will stand by their side while they continue to figure things out. It’s very rare that they can rest or soak up moments of achievement or accomplishment without being driven by an unquenchable thirst to keep pushing and challenging. Having a great community that supports and understands, makes all the difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/sethsingleton
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seththewriter/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SethSingletonStoryteller
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/freelance-fiction-comics-writer/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/1MoreSingleton
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sethsingletonstoryteller941/videos
• Other: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/seth-the-storyteller

Image Credits
HAPSIE Logo – hapsie.com