Shows From the Murverse

S21 Ep2: Mental Health and Creativity

“Nothing is 100% original. It’s what you do with it that counts.” -Elaine M. Will

(This post went live for supporters on February 13, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or Substack!)

Ever-looming existential dread, but we keep going. Then there’s the challenge of navigating creativity amidst mental health struggles. I also reflect on a fear of failure. I’m not proud. I’m human.

And then we welcome to the show Elaine M. Will, a writer and illustrator known for her graphic novels that tackle mental health themes. We discuss Elaine’s latest work, The Last Band on Earth, and the intricate relationship between storytelling and visual art.

Whether you’re a writer or an artist, we hope you’ll get something out of this episode, and you remember that a creative journey is filled with ups and downs, and it’s okay to take your time.

Transcript

Links

* Elaine M. Will on Ko-Fi

* The Last Band on Earth (Affiliate link)

* The Artist’s Way

* Toronto Comic Arts Festival

* Scott McCloud

* Lynda Barry

* Gene Day Award

* Cuckoo’s Nest Press

* Citizen Sleeper 2

Evergreen Links

* See all books from Season 21

* Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing.

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In case it wasn’t clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds bl...