Write, Paint, Create: Why You Don’t Have to Choose Just One
3 Lessons on success from Valerie Khoo
From accounting to glossy magazines, an industry-leading CEO to a celebrated visual artist, Valerie Khoo’s career has been both creative and joyful.
She shares what it's like to juggle business and art, why following your curiosity is never a waste of time, and how creative burnout finally taught her to slow down. Whether you're a writer, painter, dreamer or all three, Valerie's wisdom is a warm reminder that your creative life doesn't need to fit in a box.
🍿 For paid subscribers: In the bonus segment, Val shares insight into the characteristics all of the Australian Writers’ Centre’s most successful graduates have possessed. The answer might not be what you think!
Here are the top three takeaways from Michelle’s conversation with Jess:
1. Curiosity is leading you somewhere
We often don’t allow ourselves to indulge in the things that interest us. Val shares how a guilty-pleasure reality show led her to mentoring veterans and front-line responders in creativity. Something that wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t given herself permission to explore new things.
💡 Takeaway for Writers: Be curious about what interests you. Don’t wait! Water that seed and see what grows.
2. You have responsibilities…but you also need your art
We all have fiscal responsibilities we need to meet and often times, these things can present themselves as a barrier to creating art. But art is something you do for your heart—it enriches your life in invaluable ways. Make room for both.
💡 Takeaway for Writers: Creating is something you do for your soul. Don’t neglect this important part of your life.
3. You’re not a highway…you don’t need to pick a lane
Pushing back against ‘conventional advice’, Valerie reminds us that being multi-passionate, multi-dimensional creatives is perfectly normal. You don’t ever need to box yourself in as ‘a writer’ or ‘a painter’ or ‘a business person’. You can be all of these things at once.
💡 Takeaway for Writers: Don’t limit yourself. Explore all the ways that creativity can bring joy to your life.
Connect with Valerie Khoo
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✨ Subscriber Bonus: The secrets of AWC’s most successful graduates
In the bonus segment, Val shares insight into the characteristics all of the Australian Writers’ Centre’s most successful graduates have possessed. The answer might not be what you think!
💛 This full bonus chat is available for paid subscribers ($7/month) and includes behind-the-scenes access to more interviews, creative deep dives, and writerly real talk.
🎧 Get Inspired. Get Encouraged. Get Writing.
Happy writing! 🎉
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