CreativeMornings - 💡 How do you build the lighthouse?

October 6, 2022

“What happens at the exit point? How do you build the lighthouse? That’s the real question of storytelling.”

The renowned poet and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib gives a masterclass of storytelling for CreativeMornings/Columbus. He shares how an essay about Soul Train he was struggling to write ended up folding in Depression-era dance marathons and became a story about devotion. For creators who feel like they continue to orbit the same topic, take heart; Abdurraqib advises you to go deeper and learn to tell the same story in a hundred different ways. Endlessly quotable and profoundly felt, Hanif Abdurraqib’s talk is a beacon for the kind of craft and stories we want to see in the world.

Photo by Megan Leigh Barnard.

📸 5 ways to change the rules of photography

Rule-of-thirds? Keep the subject in focus? To first break the rules, you have to understand them. In this guide, photography experts at MPB demonstrate five traditional rules of photography and composition, and then what happens when you break them. Learn the fundamentals, then discover the magic that can happen when you throw out the rule book.

(From our content partner MPB)

Fun Stuff to Click On
Have something to share? Fill out this form.

Beautiful illustrations explain how a chameleon changes colors (it’s not how you think!).*

How local photographers and cinematographers in Africa are breaking historical stereotypes.*

Too many projects, too little time. Harvest’s template helps you keep track of what you’re working on so you can keep the creativity flowing.**

The birder who found wild refuge in his own backyard during lockdown.

Brené Brown’s vulnerable and tender reflections from her summer sabbatical.

The forms of ethos your fellow readers subscribe to.

An Italian cyclist overtakes his competitors — without pedaling.

The AI image generator DALL-E is now open to the public.

Artistic attempts to describe the dreaded creative block.

5 creatives inspired by their pets as muses.

How to recycle a 14-story office building.

What healthy boundaries do for us.

* Thanks to Nikitaa Sivaakumar and Jon Feinstein for the link inspiration.
** This content is curated by us, brought to you by our sponsors.

CreativeGuild Spotlights
A global directory of creative companies and individuals.

Black text against a dark gray background with "Be the Contrast." in bright white text

Contrast & Co. believes conformity is not the answer. Based in Annapolis, Maryland, they exist to create strikingly different brand experiences. Check out their research approach for Altum.

Digital graphic with the text "Create awesome work," "Value each team member," and "Have fun," Ink Factory's value statements

Ink Factory in Chicago empowers organizations to communicate visually. They bring ideas to life through the power of visual note-taking.

Cool Jobs in Our Universe
Hiring? Looking for work? Check out the CreativeGuild.

Here’s you chance to be Mailchimp’s remote Manager of Global Web Ops.

Skillshare is hiring a Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships/Alliances in the US (remote-friendly).

Understood is seeking an Associate Director, Insights & External Research in New York.

WeWork is hiring a Community Lead in Dublin.

Stable Kernel is on the hunt for a Senior Software Engineer-iOS in Atlanta.

Frost Talent is hiring a PR Manager in Amsterdam.

Animated illustration of the sun and the moon racing across the night sky while the earth rotates below

I found myself absorbed in all the stories while writing this newsletter and lost track of time. How did the days and nights pass so quickly?

🌜 Waving,
Annie Yi, CreativeMornings HQ

GIF by @isaaclenkiewicz

HQ works out of a fun office with Friends!
CreativeMornings 47 Bergen Street Floor 3 Brooklyn, New York 11201 USA

THIS!

CreativeMornings - 💡 How do you build the lighthouse?

“What happens at the exit point? How do you build the lighthouse? That’s the real question of storytelling.”

Older messages

🕯The infinitely ponderable ethos

🌞 Wake up with the World Wide Wander

Join CreativeMornings Sep 22-23 for a World Wide Wander

🏓 Practice for what’s next

🏠 Home is within you

You Might Also Like

Oh Brother. Printer giant denies dirty toner tricks as users cry foul [Fri Mar 7 2025]

What’s the Difference Between $30 and $300 Jeans?

Why Should Intelligence Be Related To Neuron Count?

What A Day: Veterans Unfairs

The C-Word

Should you use AI during job interviews? | American Express to acquire Seattle-area startup

We Found Elon Musk’s DOGE Email Address and We’re Fighting to Reveal His Messages

GOP Megadonor Got Payday Before Rent-Fixing Charges

☕ All dolled up

☕ Prime will tell