42. Touching creative source w/ Jackie Amsden

Have you had that moment when your words flow effortlessly onto the page and what you write completely surprises and delights you?

Joining today’s conversation is Jackie Amsden, an indie comedy author, podcaster, and mom of two. In today’s episode, you’ll hear about how tapping into creative space helped Jackie reconcile her struggle with becoming a mother and the loneliness she felt throughout that transition.

You’ll learn why a writing habit doesn’t have to be done a certain way and how having kids can make our creativity more efficient. Tune in to also find out how Jackie has began reshaping the identity of mom through her writing.

Topics discussed in this episode
  • Feeling alone a new mom who also writes
  • How Jackie thought writing had to be done, before having kids
  • Tapping into that creative space and feeding the soul
  • How passion and motivation change after becoming a parent
  • How to not forget your creativity
  • Using writing to play with the identity of mom and reshaping it
  • Jackie’s desire to connect with more writers
  • Using podcasts to connect with specific communities
  • Favorite books
  • BONUS: Using Fancy Nancy as an example for a strong voice
  • BONUS: Advice on digging deeper into why you’re not writing
About Jackie

Jackie Amsden is an indie comedy author and host of These Mums Write podcast. She is currently working on a MomCom about a stay-at-home mom who needs to pretend to be an ex-con to get a job.

She has children, ages 6 and 13, who provide an endless source of hilarious one-liners and also a great deal of lower back pain. She lives in Vancouver, the Canadian one.

Connect w/ Jackie
Books and resources discussed during the show
  • Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, by Elizabeth Gilbert
  • You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life, by Jen Sincero
  • Midlife Bites: Anyone Else Falling Apart, Or Is It Just Me?, by Jen Mann
  • Welcome to the Neighborhood, by Lisa Roe
  • Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up, by Alexandra Potter
  • The Wayside School series, by Louis Sachar
  • Pinkalicious series, by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann
  • Fancy Nancy, by Jane O’Connor
Join our online community

Looking for a community of passionate writers who understand your goals and struggles? Join my exclusive Facebook group, Parents Who Write, where you can attend weekly group writing sessions and find writing prompts, writing resources, and free weekly tutorials.


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ABOUT ME

Erin P.T. Canning has worked for 20 years as an editor, encouraging each writer’s individual voice and strengthening their writing goals.

She always planned to write a book, but life had a tendency to distract her. After dedicating six years of her life to motherhood and discovering her ADHD, she started writing again, even though she feared her writing skills had atrophied.

After letting go of her perfectionism, Erin finally finished her own shitty first draft and released her fantasy romance novel, Ruins and Redemption, in 2023. Her current role as a podcaster and book coach enables her to help writers pursue their author dreams.