Did you think of yourself as a creative kid? What does creativity look like for you these days?

I’ve always been drawn to creative pursuits. Writing arrived early on, but when I was younger I also really loved painting, photography, dance, and music. These days, I move slowly but deliberately on one or two projects that are most meaningful to me. That often means embracing a process I share in Wild Words called “writing in the margins”—finding short windows of time (anywhere between five and thirty minutes) to write, and believing it will all add up to something, which it always does.

How much time do you get to work on creative projects?

Not as much as I’d like, but isn’t that always the case? On an average (pandemic) day, I have about two and a half hours to myself where I can focus. Most of that time is spent on my freelance work, but on the weekends I usually create some space for my own writing when it doesn’t interfere with family time.

How did motherhood change your creative practice?  

It was a profound shift from doing all the things to doing only the things that really mattered. Before my son was born I was fairly used to balancing writing with my full-time job, but having a baby narrowed my margins even more. I literally couldn’t do as many things as I had before, which led to an exercise involving brightly colored post-it notes on my wall that helped me clarify where I should be putting my energy. 

How does art enrich your life? How does being a mother enrich your art?

As both a creator and consumer of art, it enriches my life in so many ways. Art—regardless of the medium—helps us access the interior landscape, connects us to a shared humanity, and has the capacity to move us deeply. I’m always grateful for that. Motherhood has sharpened my senses when it comes to making choices about what to pursue and when. Due to time constraints, only the most essential stories get told—everything else has to wait. This may seem like a downside, but I spent a number of years doing more than I should simply because I had the capacity and time to do it, but not all of those opportunities were furthering my writing career in the ways I wanted them to. Quite simply, motherhood enriches my art by granting clarity.

When do you feel most creative?

Often when I’m out in nature, away from the usual domestic trappings. But I’ve also had wildly productive and inspired writing sessions both at home, when the space is clean and quiet, and in bustling coffee shops. With a favorite beverage nearby and no one asking anything of me, time simply falls away. In all instances, being alone is an essential component—I need to think and ponder without distraction.  

What helps you make time and space for being creative? How do you avoid burnout?

I avoid burnout by choosing to do less, setting boundaries, and prioritizing moving my body (even over a writing session). The mental clarity and physical benefits I get from exercise are essential to my writing practice, so I’m pretty comfortable making choices that years ago would have felt more difficult. I also try to build in social media breaks throughout the year. If I’m feeling a little frazzled or overwhelmed, stepping away from the internet is one of the fastest ways I know to reset and recharge.

I also practice cycle syncing, which supports me to move at my own unique pace and work in partnership with my body to bring projects to fruition. This goes far beyond tracking my period in an app—I leverage the four phases of my cycle to do certain tasks based on what’s going on physically day-to-day, which means more productivity with less effort. I started doing this almost a decade ago and it gave me a new (and more supportive) lens to view my creative life.   

Who would you love to collaborate with? What’s a dream project for you?

In pre-covid times, one of my dreams was to host restorative retreats combining writing and rest. There would be time to write and explore creativity, and times to rest and restore through yoga nidra and other supportive practices. I’d love to work with one or two other women to bring this to fruition at some point.

What’s inspiring you outside of your own genre?

 I love reading contemporary rom-coms. They’re fun, entertaining, and give me something to look forward to when I’m tucking into bed.

How can we support and encourage each other more?

I love this idea that Kate Northrup often shares about how we’re not designed to move at the pace of the internet. These days, encouraging each other to turn inward, do what feels right (regardless of whether it goes against the grain), embrace cyclical living, and spend time offline as needed can feel radical, but it’s one of the simplest ways to access more space for creativity and truly hear yourself think.

If you had a million dollars to make the world a better place, how would you spend it?

I used to facilitate grants for nonprofits so I’ve thought about this question a lot in my career. I’d likely invest most of the resources to programs that support women and girls, including education, literacy, menstrual cycle awareness and hygiene, and jobs training. Research continually shows that when women are empowered, the money is invested back into their families and communities in life-changing ways.

If you could give everyone a small treat, what would it be?

Three days away to rest, eat nourishing food, walk in nature, and enjoy uninterrupted silence.

Nicole Gulotta is the author of Wild Words: Rituals, Routines, and Rhythms for Braving the Writer’s Path and Eat This Poem: A Literary Feast of Recipes Inspired by Poetry. As the founder of the Wild Words community, she helps fellow writers embrace the season they’re in, create at their own pace, and care for their minds and bodies along the way. Born and raised in Southern California, she lives in North Carolina with her husband and son (age 5). Sign up for her weekly newsletter, Over Tea, and join the community on Instagram @the_wildwords. It’s a lovely place to talk shop and bond with other creative mothers.

The Sidewalk Chalk Talks are inspiring interviews with mothers who are making space for creativity and finding ease and joy in the process. The women I admire are bright, visionary creatures who love their work and their families. The different dimensions of their lives enrich each other and the world we share. I hope these conversations will inspire you and your work!