Meet Natalie Grigson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Grigson.

Hi Natalie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
These days I wear many hats: I’m an author, an illustrator, a facilitator. When I started down my career path (i.e., that whole trying to make enough money to support yourself part of life), I was just writing. I’d been writing my whole life, and I went to school for creative writing (and visual arts). Straight out of college, I got a job writing a funny blog with a great team of creative and supportive folks here in Austin. I was lucky, or maybe this was just long enough ago that people still got jobs straight out of college.

(This is also right around the time I started taking my first improv classes with Merlin Works here in Austin. This will come into play down the line.)

After that and over the years, I had many other jobs writing and editing – both full-time and freelance. I also started picking up illustration freelance projects (book covers, art for small businesses, comics, etc.) and illustrated my own books.

Because throughout all of this I was writing my own novels. At this point, I’ve written eight – seven of which are currently published, two of which have been bestsellers.

And over the past three or four years, I’ve taken all that I’ve learned – both in school, professionally, and personally, and I’ve created my own creative writing, art, and connection-based improv classes.

So these days, my life looks a lot like this: I teach a few times a week – a couple of improv classes, a creative writing class or group. These classes are all six- or ten-week series, with a consistent group. They’re designed to facilitate deep connection between students, and tap into that magical place of creativity and playfulness. I’ll also throw in a one day or weekend-long workshop here and there. (One of which is coming up – June 3-5!)

Otherwise, I’m generally writing, editing, or making art. After years of making art on paper and canvas, I recently started playing with makeup / body paint as art.

You can check out any of my art or workshop offerings on my Instagram: author_natalie.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
As anyone who works for themselves or freelances knows, there are definitely difficulties to this path.

The biggest challenge for me has probably been doing enough marketing and spreading the word to get my classes and workshops enrolled. This was especially challenging at first, but over the years, I’ve learned more or less what works and what doesn’t work for me. Over time, I also have more of that “word of mouth” thing going for me, which is nice.

It can also be a challenge to keep a consistent enough flow of freelance work going (writing, editing, or illustrating in my case), to stay creatively challenged – and also, you know, pay for things.

Lucky for me, I am, perhaps, a rare breed of a creative person. I am Super Organized and Type A, and absolutely love to juggle multiple projects in a very orderly fashion. If I wasn’t naturally so organized and if time management wasn’t my JAM, working for myself would be much, much harder.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m primarily an author / writer. In this category of artistic expression, I’ve written eight books. You might’ve heard of my Peter Able series, which has been a bestseller for multiple years. (This *is* the part where we brag, right?) I’ve also written several other fiction novels and two books for young readers on mindfulness and positive body image. I now teach my own creative writing courses and workshops focused on the elements of storytelling.

Secondarily, I’m an artist. I’ve illustrated several of my own books, as well as covers and projects for other authors. Sort of by accident, I have become known as the “face paint girl” among my circle. Several years ago, I got bored of painting on canvas and paper, so I started painting on my face and sharing these images on social media. I love the creative challenge of it and now do makeup / body paint for other people as well.

And third, I’m an improviser. Mostly these days, I teach a class that is focused on deep connection + improv, but I’ve been doing improv for about 12 years, and have played and practiced and been in troupes and shows in Austin, San Francisco, London, and (weirdly) Bali.

The thing, I think, that makes me unique as a creative is that I sort of jumble all of my passions into one. I care the most about laughing, playing, deep connection, and creativity. So everything I write, paint, or teach will most certainly be some combination of playful, connective, and creative.

How do you think about luck?
I don’t think luck has played a role – but I certainly think privilege has.

I was privileged enough to go to school and study what I wanted to study, without coming away with a whopping student debt that I’d have to stress about and repay for years, or decades.

I was privileged enough to follow my passions, rather than practicality, knowing that if I failed, I wouldn’t be totally screwed.

I am also privileged to be walking around this world as a pretty, able-bodied, white cis-woman. People will respond differently to me, whether that’s my intention or their intention, or not, because of the way I look. Who knows how much of my career or success over the years has been impacted by the way I present to the world in this culture.

Probably about 100 percent.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nataliegrigson.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_natalie/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNatalieGrigson
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/nataliegrigson