Interview: T. Thorn Coyle on Let Your Life Be Lightning
T. Thorn Coyle is a writer, creator, and teacher whose work spans essays, fiction, and poetry. Kris Rusch, the curator of the 2026 Write Stuff StoryBundle, describes Thorn as “a positive voice in a world of darkness” and “probably the best teacher I know” for how to create and survive in tumultuous times.
Thorn’s contribution to the bundle is Let Your Life Be Lightning—a collection of essays on the creative life, imposter syndrome, and how to keep creating for the long haul.
The Interview
Your book is titled Let Your Life Be Lightning. Why did you pick this title, and what does it mean to you?
The title came from my response to a quote about success from Kris Rusch, where she talked about not trying to re-engineer someone else’s lightning. I ran with that in my essay by the same name. For me, the title is about harnessing the power of our passion, and lighting up the sky with that. We can be bold and startling in our creativity, cracking the darkness, and illuminating something new. In this way, we create our own version of success.
Kris describes you as “a positive voice in a world of darkness” and says you’re probably the best teacher she knows for how to create and survive in tumultuous times. How do you maintain that perspective—and does it ever waver?
My positivity definitely wavers. Some days, it feels hard to remain connected to both creativity and hope. I say this as someone who has both been writing or creating and fighting for justice for several decades. It can feel discouraging sometimes, for sure, to witness the pain and greed in the world. But I call upon the words of abolitionist Mariame Kaba who continuously reminds us “Hope is a discipline.” Positivity is not avoidance. It is not a bandage. Positivity is a practice. Creativity is necessary when times feel at their bleakest. We must practice connection and creation as much as we possibly can. The continuous, gentle return to creativity is an ongoing commitment to life itself.
What are some ways an author can deal with perfectionism? Is there one approach that works best for you personally?
I was raised to be a perfectionist! The impulse never truly goes away, but we can learn to not let it control us. Two things have helped me: one was learning to say a simple “thank you” when someone complimented my artistic endeavors, whether dancing or writing or anything else. The other thing that helps is what I call “write and release.” Once I committed to finishing projects and releasing them into the world, my perfectionist tendencies calmed down. My practice became creation itself, not striving for perfection and falling short.
Let Your Life Be Lightning focuses on creating for the long haul. What’s the difference between surviving a life roll (or two, or even more) and building a creative life that lasts?
I’ve managed to create during the worst, and most challenging times of my life. I’m not the only one. Think of the poems written, songs sung, clothing made, and baskets woven by people living under the harshest conditions, even now. The human spirit is resilient, if we are able to make space for a bit of beauty, curiosity, and wonder when times feel hard. For me, creating for the long haul is helped by small, daily connections to that beauty: a raindrop on a leaf, some bright graffiti on an alley wall, a song, a flower growing in a ditch, crows winging through the sky… All of these serve to remind me that life continues, and is worth engaging with. The earth and our cosmos are constantly creating, every moment. We can, too.
How does your planning and scheduling relate to your own creativity?
I am fortunate to be internally motivated, and have learned to find satisfaction in finishing projects. Planning helps with this. That said, I pad my schedule hugely, to account for the vagaries of life, my autoimmune disorder, and other factors. This way, I can find a steady cadence of creativity and business, but not feel crushed by obligations and deadlines. Both creativity and business are helped by flexibility and curiosity. I try to build both into planning and scheduling.
The other thing that’s good to realize about planning is that it gives structure not only to our creative processes, but helps us connect our creative output with other people! Creativity is meant to be shared. Planning helps with that.
If a writer came to you and said “I don’t know if I can keep doing this”—not about craft, but about the emotional weight of being a creative person right now—what would you tell them?
Take a deep breath. Slow down. Tune in to one thing every day that brings you a sense of beauty, peace, or joy. This could be going for a walk, listening to music, sitting beneath a tree, reading something engrossing, or looking at art. Give yourself grace. Then set a timer and write for fifteen minutes. Breathe some more. Repeat.
And remember: the weight of the world is not on your shoulders, even when it feels that way. That’s just your ego talking. What is on your shoulders is to find one small way to help. Showing up for our neighbors is similar to showing up for our creativity, and vice versa. It needn’t be all consuming. Helping others and sitting down to write are both commitments we can make to help the world.
What are you working on now—and what’s fun or exciting about it?
I’m finishing up Book Two of The Rhymer Chronicles, which is a contemporary fantasy series (it’ll either end up as a duology or trilogy, not sure yet) based on the old Scottish ballad “Thomas the Rhymer.” I love playing with these characters, and watching Tom, my main character, as they struggle to find their power, with the help of friends. My favorite stories are ones where magic hides just around the corner. This series explores that in new ways for me. Book one is The Winding Road, and this one is The Fernie Brae.
About the Author
T. Thorn Coyle believes that magic is real, justice is worth fighting for, and love always wins. Their fan-favorite fantasy series include The Witches of Portland, The Steel Clan Saga, The Mouse Thief Cozy Fantasy Capers, and The Panther Chronicles. Thorn also pens two popular paranormal cozy mystery series featuring cats and corgis: Bookshop Witch and Pride Street.
Thorn’s non-fiction includes The Midlist Indie Author Mindset, You Are the Spell, and Sigil Magic for Writers, Artists & Other Creatives among several others.
Thorn takes a lot of walks in Portland, OR where they talk with crows, squirrels, cats, and trees.
Find Thorn
Let Your Life Be Lightning is available now in the Write Stuff StoryBundle, curated by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. 15 exclusive books on writing and publishing—pay what you want, starting at $5. Customers can choose to direct a portion of their payment to World Central Kitchen. The bundle runs through May 14, 2026.