.proaching the creative procMary Jane Nealon has spent a life in service as a writer, innovator, and advocate for social justice in healthcare. Her memoir about her time as a nurse during the AIDS epidemic is titled “Beautiful Unbroken: One Nurse's Life”. In this episode of #madcreativepod we speak with guest @poetrysavesnealon about her two pillars of life and writing: joy and suffering.

Writing about the human condition is in part informed from her own lived experience working as a nurse. She discusses the poems and essays that emerged from those periods, revealing how the vivid mental images from that time will continue to shape her future writing. Mary Jane recounts how a poem took her 23 years to develop in her mind, yet only a few minutes to put on paper.

The conversation delves into Mary Jane Nealon's writing process and practices, exploring her writing life and the huge influence her father had on her. Her approach to starting a writing project is unconventional; and often doesn't start with a blank page.

Mary Jane describes how the act of writing contributes to her healing process and helps her find hope. She shares the struggle that many creatives face when attempting to find time for personal projects. And emphasizes that fear of failure often accompanies the process of creating these projects.

As the dialogue progresses, Ed and Leyden find common ground in their lack of enthusiasm for small talk, establishing a common bond among their differences on approaching the creative process.ess.