It was right after the time change—one of those it’s-too-early-to-be-this-dark! late afternoons in November 2023—when I arrived home to find a package sitting on my front stoop.
I’d just returned from a work trip with my husband, exhausted and depleted. I wish I could blame the travel, but there was a mountain of other factors weighing on me. I took the package up to my office, opened it, and immediately, stinging tears sprang to my eyes.
Consuming opinions from people on the internet is generally fruitless, but there are notable exceptions and Kara Cutruzzula is one of them. After connecting with her terrific newsletter, Brass Ring Daily, I reached out to Kara, who kindly sent me a copy of her latest book/journal, Do It (or Don’t)—the one that made me cry.
As I flipped through Do It (or Don’t), Kara made me feel seen. It spoke directly to what I was struggling with on that dark, heavy day: I was overcommitted at a time when my family was dealing with hard changes. I was afraid to let people down. I was so overwhelmed that I had lost sight of my goals—and with them, my drive and sense of purpose.
Kara knew exactly what to say to spark a turning point, and that same thoughtful wisdom shines through all of her writing.
In addition to penning books and sharing her insights on Substack, Kara is also a lyricist, playwright, and editor. Her articles and essays on work, the creative process, and culture have been published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Quartz, The Daily Beast, TIME, and Vulture.
One of the other things that immediately made me want to be friends with Kara is her love of theater—not just attending—but writing her own musicals! I can’t wait for you to get to know Kara through this interview and hear more about her latest projects in development.
I’m endlessly fascinated by the way artists research, work, rest, and play. If you are too, read on to see what fuels Kara’s creativity, and consider subscribing to enjoy more interviews like it!
What inspires Kara Cutruzzula?
What themes or ideas recur in your work, and why do they hold such meaning for you?
Kara: My work is fundamentally about revealing the extraordinary within the ordinary. While my journals and newsletter encourage readers (and myself!) to approach each day with a fresh perspective, they're also tiny nudges saying: now what should we do with our day?
In my musicals, plays, poetry, and film and TV work, I write about the complexity of artistic lives, ambition, and searching for connection in the modern world.
I love high-concept storytelling that starts simply and grows into something profound and bittersweet. I'm also obsessed with writing for actors who might be overlooked—women in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s; character actors who should be romantic leads; quirky, authentic performers.
And because of my journalistic background, with every project I ask the question: Why this story? Why now?
Describe your ideal workspace: what surroundings, scents, and sounds fuel your creativity?
Kara: The workspace has to be neat, whether that's a pile of paper on my desk or my slightly maniacal color-coded Google Drive folders. Easy access to my drafts and ideas reduces the friction to getting started.
When I'm writing songs, I listen to those audio clips hundreds of times, but when I'm doing other writing or editing work, I'll put on my "Flow State" playlist with energetic piano songs—no lyrics! I want my brain to be on the words on my screen.
Which artists do you admire, and what about their work resonates with you?
Kara: Writers with clear, unmistakable voices—you could never confuse their work for anyone else's—and artists who work across mediums and genres inspire me the most. Here's a very limited, hodgepodge list: Nora Ephron, Amy Sherman-Palladino, Nancy Meyers, Richard Curtis, Richard Linklater. There's George Saunders and Joan Didion and Mary Oliver.
On the nonfiction side, I admire the work of Cal Newport (Slow Productivity transformed my 2024), Adam Grant, Oliver Burkeman, Seth Godin, and Studs Terkel. Also, random, but I love David Goggins! He's not for everyone, but he is for me. His audiobooks got me through ultramarathon training.
My favorite playwrights are Annie Baker, Samuel D. Hunter, Terrence McNally, and I never miss a production directed by Joe Mantello or David Cromer.
Some icons of musical theater: Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Jeanine Tesori, and Stephen Sondheim. In my view, each of these artists has something to say. Yes, they entertain us! But they also reveal more to us about our world.
I'm also such a fan of my real-life friends and newsletter friends and strangers who are doing the work. They inspire me daily.
When you feel creatively stuck, do you have any rituals or go-to activities that spark your inspiration again?
Kara: Running always makes my brain happy. It's counterintuitive, but going outside makes it easier to dive inside and work. Friends and I also text each other for "flash accountability." We'll say, "I need to get this application done in 45 minutes—will let you know when I'm done!"
If I'm having trouble with my creative output, I'll also take a look at my inputs. What is the quality of what I'm reading, watching, taking in?
Also, asking for help was a major theme of my last year. I find myself constantly asking, "Do I need more information?" And then: "Who can help me with this?"
Are there specific places that make you feel most alive creatively—those that unlock a fresh vision or new energy?
Kara: Honestly, just…action. My kryptonite is the energy sap of ambiguity. So when I'm rotting in bed or overanalyzing "but should I do this or that," doing anything to move forward is the right choice. Helping someone with a little task, journaling for 10 minutes, flipping open a book. When I need more energy, I have to get first outside of the rumination.
What’s a recent or upcoming piece of published work you’ve created, and what are you most excited for your audience to experience?
Kara: Producing a reading of our full-length musical Marathon was an absolute joy on every conceivable level last year. This year, I'm excited to partner with an institution so the show can move along on its developmental journey.
I'm also excited to share my new television pilot THE MUSE, a half-hour dramedy about a disgraced theater director who must reunite with her TV star ex-husband to save a struggling New York theater. And I'm working on two feature scripts—one's a horror film, and the other's a passion project I've been percolating.
The goal is lots of time spent in the creative cave. And then revising! Absolutely necessary to making my best work.
Here on Inspiration Everywhere, I like to close out each post with a list of recent things that made me happy. What’s a recent moment that brought you joy?
Kara: On New Year's Eve, my husband Colin and I went to the American Museum of Natural History and watched a 20-minute immersive show called "Worlds Beyond Earth." It was an essential reminder of the extraordinary conditions required for our earth to actually, well, exist.
We are very lucky to be here. So what are we going to do about it?
For more inspiration from Kara:
📰 Follow her newsletter, Brass Ring Daily
📷 Find her on Instagram
📚 Check out her books and journals
💻 Visit her site
✍️ Creative Exercises/Journal Prompts
Of the many project ideas that might be swirling in your mind right now, which best answers Kara’s journalistic prompts: Why this story? Why now?
Create a list of 5-10 little actions you can keep as a reference to get yourself moving the next time you feel stuck.
Go out and experience something bigger than you: stargaze, hike, visit a planetarium. Like Kara’s experience with World’s Beyond Earth, let yourself be reminded of the wonder that it is just to be alive in the here and now.
☀️ Five good things
When we can recognize the things that bring us the most joy, we invite more of them into our lives. Here are five things that made me happy this week. Share yours below!
Five good things that happened this week:
The Girl Scout Cookies I ordered from my niece arrived, making my nighttime tea + treat routine even sweeter!
It was another strong writing week—I edited my way through all of Act 2 of Draft 4. If I keep up this cadence, I’ll have Draft 4 finished by the end of next week!
I’ve been loving the new series of short meditation practices on Tim Ferriss’s podcast from Zen Master Henry Shukman.
Domino Magazine’s tour of Dan Pelosi’s home brought me so much joy and left me shopping for wallpaper. 🎧 You can catch our interview with Dan on Pod for Creatives here — it’s one of my favorite episodes!
Though our favorite contestant was knocked out of Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions this week, my husband and I have been in our glory with all the extra Jeopardy! we’re getting right now—including Celebrity Jeopardy! and Pop Culture Jeopardy!
💬 Share your intention
Whether it’s a giant leap, a tiny to-do list item, a habit change, or something else, there is power in accountability, and this is a safe space to share your aim. Some weeks, we’ll fail, others we’ll soar, but with support, we’ll always keep going together.
Until next week, get out there and make something beautiful.
Michelle
🫶 Paid subscribers keep this newsletter going! If that’s you, thank you for being a part of this community.
✨ If this newsletter brings you value please consider becoming a paid subscriber. You’ll access to everything I share + a 12-month printable calendar download when you sign up!
Here are some free ways you can help support this newsletter:
❤️ Like and comment on this post
📱 Take a screenshot and share it on social media
✍️ Restack a quote to share on Substack
💌 Forward to someone you think would love it
👋 If you received this from a friend, welcome! Here’s where you can subscribe.
⬇️ Use the link below to refer a friend!
Michelle! I just found your Substack through Kara's Brass Ring Daily :) So fun to find you here on Substack too!
Thank you so much for this wonderful feature -- you helped me tap back into some essential sources of inspiration during the start of the year!