Aug 28, 2026 · 38 min
Attention turns ordinary creativity into a practice
Summer Fridays: The art of paying attention (w/ Wendy MacNaughton and Laurel Braitman)
The conversation argues that drawing and writing can make attention, vulnerability, and creative confidence available beyond professional artists.
- 1Creative prompts help people notice overlooked experiences and return attention to the present.
- 2Imperfect work is not a failure of creativity but the necessary path toward making better work.
- 3Sharing specific stories about memory and loss can transform private pain into connection with others.
Don't miss
Wendy MacNaughton explains how How to Say Goodbye grew from a small personal artist book into a broader publication without losing its spare emotional force.
The brief
Laurel Braitman and Wendy MacNaughton trace a creative friendship built on humor, vulnerability, and mutual support, then explain how those values shaped Attention Club.
Attention Club uses drawing and writing prompts to slow people down and direct notice toward experiences they might otherwise overlook, without requiring professional skill.
Blind-contour drawing, sensory writing, and drawing without lifting the pen turn creativity into a practical exercise in presence, connection, and imperfect beginnings.
The conversation moves from making bad work through repetition to writing about objects, memory, and loss with specificity, sensory detail, and present-tense attention.
Wendy’s How to Say Goodbye began as a small gift and became a published book, raising a larger question about making work for oneself while offering it to others.
Books & mentions
Some links are affiliate links — PodLume may earn a commission if you buy.
Weekly email
State of the Pod, every Monday
The week's most-discussed names and stories from podcasts, with the moments behind them. Free, five minutes, unsubscribe in one click.