Posts tagged creative storytelling
#303 – Living with MS: Personal Stories and Insights for World MS Day
#303 – Living with MS: Personal Stories and Insights for World MS Day

Welcome to Episode 303 of the Spun Today Podcast—your home for honest conversations about writing, creativity, and the journeys that shape us. I’m your host, Tony Ortiz, and today we’re releasing a truly special episode to honor World MS Day.

In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with my wife, Zoila Ortiz, to share her powerful story of living with multiple sclerosis. We dive deep into her first symptoms, the uncertainty of diagnosis, and the emotional and physical challenges that come with MS. Zoila walks us through her search for information, the importance—and dangers—of online self-diagnosis, and the strength found in community.

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Tony Ortizmultiple sclerosis, MS awareness, autoimmune disease, writing and creativity, motivation, inspiration, chronic illness, creativity and adversity, podcasting, personal story, diagnosis journey, symptom management, medication trials, creative resilience, health challenges, relationships and illness, energy management, disability, self-advocacy, neurological symptoms, mental health, awareness month, medical support, community support, creative storytelling, living with MS, overcoming obstacles, treatment evolution, accessibility, creative adaptation, perseveranceComment
Bonus: Five Actionable Writing Lessons from Shrinking Season Two (Companion to Ep. 300)
Bonus: Five Actionable Writing Lessons from Shrinking Season Two (Companion to Ep. 300)

Welcome back to Spun Today! In this bonus episode, Tony Ortiz explores what writers can learn from Season 2 of "Shrinking." Through a breakdown of five actionable takeaways, you'll discover how to craft flawed, believable characters, turn emotional growth into concrete action, and write conflicts where both sides feel justified. Whether you’re a seasoned storyteller or just getting started, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical tips to fuel your creative process—reminding you that the best writing comes from digging deep into the real, messy parts of being human.

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Tony OrtizShrinking Season 2, character development, writing takeaways, storytelling craft, trauma in fiction, emotional growth, character flaws, protagonist mistakes, conflict in writing, perspective versus perspective, character arcs, transformation, writing prompts, companion guide, actionable tips, motivation for writers, inspiration, creativity, bonus episode, creative process, character confrontation, moral complexity, emotional action, learning from TV shows, applying lessons, writing better characters, writing resources, writing guides, unpacking stories, creative storytellingComment