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Humanities+ Series explores how to sustain creative habits

By Dr. Carrie Jerrell | Nov 5, 2025

creativity without suffering poster

ӶƵ State University’s Humanities+ Series wraps up its fall 2025 speaker series on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. in Faculty Hall Room 208 with a presentation on "Creativity without Suffering" with Dr. T.J. Martinson

 

MURRAY, Ky. – ӶƵ State University’s Humanities+ Series wraps up its fall 2025 speaker series on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. in Faculty Hall Room 208 with a presentation on "Creativity without Suffering" with Dr. T.J. Martinson from the Department of English and Philosophy. The event is free and open to the public.

Martinson is the author of “The Reign of the Kingfisher” (Flatiron Books, 2019), “Her New Eyes” (Clash Books, 2025), and “Blood River Witch” (Counterpoint Press, 2026). His short fiction, poetry and essays have appeared in venues such as “Lithub,” “Passages North,” “LIT Magazine,” “CRAFT,” “Permafrost” and “Heavy Feather Review.” His scholarship on literature and science studies has been published in “Modern Fiction Studies,” “American Literature,” “Poetics Today,” “Configurations” and others. He earned his PhD in English from Indiana University and is currently assistant professor of English at ӶƵ State University, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in creative writing and literature.

In his talk, Martinson will debunk the myth that in order to achieve artistic excellence, an artist must endure or even seek out strenuous hardship as part of their process. 

“I'll be discussing why this myth of suffering for creativity exists in the first place,” says Martinson, “(as well as) why it's fundamentally flawed, and strategies that you might implement in your creative life to not only balance your creative energies with your general well-being, but also improve your creative output as a result.”

When it comes to maintaining a creative practice, regardless of the medium, consistency is key, says Martinson.

“For me, this means writing something every day. It could be 1,000 words or 10 words, but as long as you keep some kind of consistency in writing every day, I’ve found you keep the creative muscles strong. Whereas if I do take a few days off for some reason, it takes me a day or two to warm back into things.” 

Another crucial component of creativity without suffering is learning to deal with the challenges and disappointments that come with being an artist, especially artists early in their creative journeys.

“If you can learn to transform disappointment into motivation, you’ll be unstoppable,” said Martinson, “because disappointment is in endless supply for anyone pursuing a creative passion. The alchemy required for turning that into motivation is a delicate process, one that requires an equally delicate blend of humility and ego.”

This event is part of the Humanities+ Series, sponsored by ӶƵ State’s College of Humanities and Fine Arts. The series explores how individuals flourish in today’s challenging world and fosters creative, intellectual and educational opportunities. It showcases the work and achievements of ӶƵ State University faculty, students and alumni, as well as invited professionals in the arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences. The series encompasses public lectures, teaching workshops and cultural events focused on cultivating the skills individuals need to live and learn well. All events are free and open to the public.

More information can be found at .

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