Create Me Free February 2024 Monthly Digest

Interviews of me on writing and depression, interviews of other creatives on anxiety, neurodivergence, perfectionism and more + videos about depression, a book talk, crochet as therapy ...

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Last month, I launched the opportunity for people to choose to receive only monthly digests posts from me. I believe it is important to offer opportunities for “less noise” in inboxes and social media platforms in ways that don’t make people feel like they’re missing out. This way, if you wish, you can receive just one monthly email that recaps everything and you can look at those links throughout the month ahead when it feels right for you. To switch to just these recaps, here’s the info.

February was a good month but an unexpectedly busy one in my life. My partner and I finally found the home we want to rent after looking for well over a year and we moved fast on it so the month was filled with packing and cleaning and moving. And we’re all moved in now and it’s wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. The dogs (and us) have a huge yard now after living in apartment all of this time. We get sunshine flowing in and the wild parrots of San Francisco fly overhead and there’s so much space to create art and music and life.

So, I still shared a lot here this month but some of it was republished from before. And the past week I just haven’t been here much at all. And I’m excited to get back but also glad to have had the space.

So, here’s what was shared on Create Me Free in February.

Interviews of Me

Three past interviews on various platforms that I revisited here this month …

Kathryn Vercillo on writer's block, the editing process, reading as research, and being gentle with yourself

Reflections on an author interview from over a decade ago and how much is still true

7 Questions with Kathryn Vercillo: on lived experience with depression and what “recovery” might mean

Interviews of Other Creatives

Meet Writer/Creative Tricia Easter in this Art and Mental Health Interview

Meet Neurodivergent Playwright Kari Bentley-Quinn through this art and mental health interview

Art and Mental Health Interview with Writer, Reader and Musician Alex Yalen

D was pressured to become an artist as a child and it ruined art for a time ... art therapy as an adult changed that

Substack Writers You Should Know:

5 Substack Writers You Really Should Know on the creative mind, fiber arts, writing, international literature, gratitude, slow living and more ...

Helen Conway, Donna Hays, Jeffrey Streeter,Jennifer Tatroe, and Joyce Wycoff

Mandalas for Marinke Collaborative Crochet Project

Now-Closed Small Yarn Store Had Contributed 50 Mandalas to Crochet Project Raising Awareness about Depression and Crafting to Heal

Depression in Schizophrenia, in People of Color, Depicted in Dance ... Honored by Beginner and Expert Crocheters Alike

Benefits of Crochet for Ten Symptoms of Depression

Miscellaneous

Passing the Torch: Northern California Liberty Crochet Mural Moves From One Hand to Another in Display of Solidarity for Women’s Reproductive Rights

Dancing About Depression

Thoughts from a book talk: Gigi Otálvaro-Hormillosa's Erotic Resistance: The Struggle for the Soul of San Francisco

What’s True …

What’s True for Me This Week

What’s True for Me This Week

Housekeeping:

What We Lose if Create Me Free's Friday Digests Go Away

Ongoing dialogue/ FAQ about the financial realities of writing on Substack

Not Paywalled, Not Free ... Exploring an Alternative Model for Funding on Substack