It’s not unprecedented. I am done with that one, seen over and over in headlines, emails, speeches. Unprecedented feels like a poor sloppy stand-in for the word we should be using to describe this time. I’ve heard friends say the universe is done with humanity’s antics; we’ve all been put in the ultimate time out. The more optimistic have dubbed this time “the great pause” so we can refocus on what truly matters. I hope you will find the best word to describe it for yourself. One that gives strength to push forward and shine a bright light in the darkness. I’m thinking mine will be perseverance. Be well, be safe. May Links Bonanza Things to take your mind off the virus that will not be named. Madeline Miller on Myth, Nostalgia, and How Power Corrupts: I had the opportunity to read Circe for my book club and thoroughly enjoyed it. Ezra Klein over at Vox interviewed author Miller, give it a listen. If You’ve Always Wanted To Write A Book, Here’s How: NPR Life Kit is back, this time with how to start that book you’ve always hoped to write (bonus, they provide recommendations for books about writing). My Darling Vivian: You may or may not know, I love Johnny Cash’s music. Unsurprisingly this documentary about Vivian Liberto, Cash’s first wife, caught my interest. The film was scheduled to screen at the SXSW Film Festival in March. You can now view it online for free through Amazon. AV Club has also put together a list …

International Women’s Day is today (#IWD2020)! A global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, the day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. This year’s theme #EachforEqual reminds us a gender equal world can be a healthier, wealthier and more harmonious one. Consider These Key Points An equal world is an enabled world The rise of women is not about the fall of men Everyone can play a role in forging gender parity Gender balance is not a women’s issue, it’s an economic issue Advocacy, inclusive mindsets and tangible action are needed from all Journalist and activist Gloria Steinem once said, “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” Visibility of Creatives A key piece of IWD is to increase the visibility of women creatives and promote their work for commercial projects. This year IWD joined forces with the all-women street artist group International Women’s Crew to run an IWD Street Art Competition. Female street artists worldwide made works based on three categories: #EachforEqual, Happy International Women’s Day, and Women’s Equality. Go see their powerful submissions. IWD also holds a photography competition and typography competition (winners have now been announced). Seeking a woman typographer for a project? Look through all the 2020 entries and connect with creators online. Additionally, you can read about multi-talented musician C Cane who made this IWD video on the importance of taking action today. What You Can …

10 powerful quotes from women in music. Often it just takes strong words and good songs to lift spirits. If you’re really in a rut, I suggest downloading the incredible catalogs of these artists and putting the headphones on. 10 Powerful Quotes from Women in Music “You can’t move mountains by whispering at them.” ~P!nk “My legacy is that I stayed on course… from the beginning to the end, because I believed in something inside of me.” ~Tina Turner “I believe in individuality, that everybody is special, and it’s up to them to find that quality and let it live.” ~Grace Jones “My mother would really make me notice the world of women, and in Latin America they have a kind of magic in that they make society function in every kind of intimate way, as well as in the bigger picture.” ~Lila Downs “You have to fail and then get better. Then you have to fail again, and then get even better.” ~Lady Gaga “Everyone looks to an artist for something more than just the music, and that message of being comfortable in my own skin is number one for me.” ~Lizzo “We only have one rule and that is there are no rules, so stand up and sing as much as you want to.” ~Natalie Maines (The Chicks) “Women are not always taken as seriously as we should be, so sometimes we have to put our foot down.” ~Missy Elliott “Each individual is as individual as their fingerprints, and I think that’s extraordinary.” …

How is it already 2020?!? To kick off the new year I want to share a few links worth noting, which includes NPR’s dive into why making art is good for your health. Also, if you sign up for the Girls That Create newsletter, you’ll now automatically receive lovely quote artwork by the talented Laura Castillo (who also designed the Girls That Create logo). Display in your home, office or wherever you need a happy boost. To receive, sign up on the right-hand side of this page. Your email address will not be shared with any outside parties and you can always opt out at the bottom of newsletters or by contacting me directly. Magical Links Making Art is Good for Your Health. Here’s How To Start A Habit: The act of creation can reduce stress and anxiety and improve your mood. I call that winning. NPR has put together a new Life Kit with six things you need to know to kick-start a creative art habit. They also have a post on Quieting Your Inner Critic. Speech by Maxine Bailey: The former vice-president of advancement at Toronto International Film Festival gave this moving speech at December’s Women in Film and Television Toronto Crystal Awards Gala, where she received the Special Jury Award of Distinction. New study reveals the number and percentage of female directors of top films reached a 13-year high in 2019: 12 women directed one of the 100 top films in 2019. While the overall percentage of female directors across the 13-year time frame remains 4.8 percent, 2019’s …

Christmastime is here again, and its music is coming at us from every direction. Whether you love it or hate it, I am confident you’ll find these songs sung by women worthy of your attention. A little rock, a little soul, and some delightful spins on classics, this playlist shakes the bah humbugs from even the most determined holiday grouch. 10 Fabulous Christmas Songs Sung By Women 1) It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Diana Ross Born and raised in Detroit, Diana Ross rose to fame as the lead singer for the Supremes (one of the world’s best-selling girl groups of all time). Ross is the only female artist to have number one singles as a solo artist; as the other half of a duet (Lionel Richie); as a member of a trio; and, as an ensemble member. Watch her perform It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year with a full orchestra. 2) Go Tell It On The Mountain: Dolly Parton Oh Dolly, how we love you. A lot of folks have been talking about the new podcast Dolly Parton’s America from NPR (and rightly so). However, look no further than this video of Dolly performing Go Tell It On The Mountain to grasp the power of her voice. 3) One More Sleep: Leona Lewis Singer, songwriter and actress Leona Lewis recorded this tune in 2013; it peaked at number three on UK charts. With this chart entry, Lewis became the first British female solo artist to reach the top five with eight …

It was serendipitous a review copy of Sarah Centrella’s book #futureboards: Learn How to Create a Vision Board to Get Exactly the Life You Want came to my mailbox. A few days earlier I had been blown away by the exhibit “Dior: From Paris to the World” at the Dallas Museum of Art. From a cathedral-like room packed with remarkable designs to areas filled with the works of Dior himself, imagination ran abundant throughout the exhibit. Several pieces in particular caught my eye…the mood boards by current Dior creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri. Mood boards (aka vision boards) let designers establish a theme for their lines with visual details and inspirations. In the same mindset, Centrella asks readers of her book to take the concept further with what she dubs #futureboards. She defines them as a physical board (proudly displayed) that has beautiful photographs intentionally chosen to visually show the creator’s future dream life. #futureboards What I appreciate most about Centrella’s concept is #futureboards focus on experiences and not things. Experiences matter because, as Centrella writes, “they teach you to focus on what brings you happiness and joy. When you are building your life around experiences, you are training your mind to seek happiness and receive joy. It’s one of the fastest ways for you to tap into a sensation of happiness at any given moment, by thinking of an experience you want to live. When you feel that happiness in your mind, you will soon manifest it in real life.” The book is divided into three parts: Exercises …

What are the roles for women and girls in science fiction (SciFi) and superhero films and television? Are they visible? Are they powerful? Are they inclusive? What do their representation, voice share, presence — or absence — mean to the stories that shape our imaginations of who we are and what is possible? These are just some of the questions approached in the study Superpowering Women in SciFi Superhero Films: A 10 Year Investigation by WOMEN’S MEDIA CENTER with BBC America. “At this time of enormous, sweeping, social change, it’s important that television and film provide an abundance of roles and role models for diverse girls and young women,” said Julie Burton, President and CEO of the WOMEN’S MEDIA CENTER. “We know that representation matters, and impressive box office numbers show that women filmmakers make great films and women and girls lead the charge to watch them. Despite that, our analysis shows we still have a long way to go for sci-fi and superhero films to reflect the views and visions of women and girls.” Behind and In Front of the Camera There has been a slight uptick in opportunities for women, particularly in front of the camera — an indication that demands by media and gender advocates, filmmakers, journalists, and audiences, has begun to make a difference. Some key findings from this latest report show: Only three percent of sci-fi/superhero film directors were women during the 10-year period. 88 percent of the most influential behind-the-scenes roles (directing, producing, writing and editing) were held by …

10 powerful quotes from women in the arts are a great antidote to a creative rut. Here is a collection of inspiring words by several women artists. Consider it a thought-provoking pep talk. Trust me; these women know what they’re talking about, and their wisdom deserves to be shared! 10 Powerful Quotes From Women in Arts  “I love creation more than life, and I must express myself before disappearing.” ~Sonia Delaunay, multi-disciplinary abstract artist “The world is full of fictional characters looking for their stories.” ~Diane Arbus, photographer “Every time I have had a problem, I have confronted it with the ax of art.” ~Yayoi Kusama, contemporary artist “The only thing I have learned is to find strength in yourself. No one can help you, no one can do anything for you, you have to do the work yourself.” ~Marina Abramovic, performance artist “Dreamers are those who have achieved in love and life, because it is a dream that got them there.” ~Cindy Sherman, artist photographic self-portraits “I try every time for a project to have a natural ending. As much as I can, I try to follow the story and to give it its own end.” ~Sophie Calle, writer, photographer, installation artist “That’s what I’m interested in: the space in between, the moment of imagining what is possible and yet not knowing what that is.” ~Julie Mehretu, contemporary visual artist “Inhale possibility, exhale creativity.” ~Laura Jaworski, author and artist “We have to laugh. Because laughter, we already know, is the first evidence of freedom.” ~Rosario …

Last week I went to the Mom 2.0 Summit in Austin. What is Mom 2.0? I’ll let Texas Monthly explain. I connected with a lot of inspiring folks and learned a whole new set of communication ninja skills for Girls That Create. Google attended as a main sponsor to promote its Be Internet Awesome program. Its purpose is to teach kids the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety so they can explore the online world with confidence. I will be using the Family Guide to help my girls become more informed online users and there’s also a Digital Wellbeing Guide to help spark discussion within families about screen time. Brené Brown Special The stars also aligned so I was able to see Brené Brown again at Mom 2.0. Brené actually spoke at the very first Mom 2.0 over a decade ago…the talk focused on how to self-publish a book when no one else will give you a publishing deal. It was also revealed that when I saw Brené last year, Netflix was in the audience. Which is how you can now watch a talk similar to what I saw on the streaming service. And you should watch it. Which takes me to Melinda Gates. She spoke with Krys Boyd (the host of the radio/podcast show THINK) about why providing opportunities to women is the key to bettering society as a whole. Guess what? Turns out Brené Brown’s book The Gift of Imperfection made an impact on Melinda (always funny when things you’re interested in mingle unexpectedly). Don’t pass up hearing this THINK episode. Little Humor and Gratitude I saw the author Mary Laura Philpott speak at Mom 2.0 and …

International Women’s Day is today (#IWD2019)! A global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, the day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. This year’s theme #BalancefoBetter calls on all of us to build a gender-balanced world. Ways You Can Celebrate International Women’s Day 1) Honor an important woman  Ask your kiddos to name a special woman in their lives. Suggest they create a gratitude card for that person, one that includes why the woman is important to them. Deliver the card personally, mail it, or take a phone photo to send digitally. Create your own card for a woman who is special to you. 2) Make a music playlist showcasing women artists Last year NPR put out a list of The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women. Compiled by more than 70 women and non-binary writers from inside and outside NPR, the list celebrates how women and non-binary musicians are shaping the sound of music today. Use the list to buy music and jam out. 3) TED videos are awesome, watch them Recommendations: Why women should tell the stories of humanity The story of Marvel’s first queer Latina superhero Small ways women can support each other at work Why should you read sci-fi superstar Octavia E. Butler? The historic women’s suffrage march on Washington The political progress women have made — and what’s next 4) Commit to supporting a nonprofit for women and girls Whether a domestic abuse shelter, health clinic, female film festival, after school program or job-search assistance, …