https://deborahmcfarlane.com/ Entertainer, Creator, Storyteller en Thu, 20 Aug 2026 04:16:04 GMT https://deborahmcfarlane.com/stop-chasing-followers-start-earning-fans-real-currency-creative-career/ https://deborahmcfarlane.com/stop-chasing-followers-start-earning-fans-real-currency-creative-career/ We've been sold a lie that bigger numbers mean a better career. But the creators who are actually building something lasting aren't the ones with the most followers — they're the ones with the most trust. Here's what the difference looks like in practice, and why it changes everything. Deborah McFarlane Storytelling & Culture Thu, 20 Aug 2026 04:15:12 GMT https://deborahmcfarlane.com/stories-most-afraid-to-tell-define-your-career/ https://deborahmcfarlane.com/stories-most-afraid-to-tell-define-your-career/ Every storyteller has a drawer full of experiences they've decided are too messy, too embarrassing, or too raw to ever share publicly. But those are almost always the stories with the most power. Learning how to open that drawer — carefully, intentionally — might be the most important creative skill you ever develop. Deborah McFarlane Personal Essay Thu, 20 Aug 2026 04:15:12 GMT https://deborahmcfarlane.com/stay-yourself-creative-brand-authenticity-algorithm-age/ https://deborahmcfarlane.com/stay-yourself-creative-brand-authenticity-algorithm-age/ Every creator eventually hits the wall where platform pressure, audience expectations, and the relentless pull of trend culture start whispering that who you actually are isn't quite enough. Spoiler: it's a lie. But navigating it takes more than good intentions — it takes knowing your non-negotiables before the noise gets loud. Here's what I've learned about building a creative identity that actually holds. Deborah McFarlane Personal Essay Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:35:13 GMT https://deborahmcfarlane.com/when-the-script-goes-out-the-window-improv-and-audience-connection/ https://deborahmcfarlane.com/when-the-script-goes-out-the-window-improv-and-audience-connection/ Rehearsal gets you to the stage, but it's what happens when things go sideways that reveals who you really are as a performer. The entertainers who leave lasting impressions aren't always the most prepared — they're the ones who know how to catch a curveball and turn it into the highlight of the night. Here's what improv culture has quietly been teaching storytellers all along. Deborah McFarlane Storytelling & Culture Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:35:13 GMT https://deborahmcfarlane.com/butterflies-breathwork-stopped-fighting-nerves-onstage/ https://deborahmcfarlane.com/butterflies-breathwork-stopped-fighting-nerves-onstage/ For years I thought stage fright was the enemy — something to conquer before the curtain went up. Turns out, those nerves were actually the secret ingredient I'd been trying to throw away. Here's how learning to work with my anxiety instead of against it completely changed the way I perform. Deborah McFarlane Personal Essay Wed, 19 Aug 2026 17:50:12 GMT https://deborahmcfarlane.com/polished-stories-losing-what-audiences-actually-want/ https://deborahmcfarlane.com/polished-stories-losing-what-audiences-actually-want/ We're living in the golden age of high-production content, and somehow audiences are more starved for genuine connection than ever. This piece digs into why the cultural appetite for authentic storytelling is surging, what's driving creators back to raw and real narratives, and how you can build that kind of trust with your own audience. Deborah McFarlane Storytelling & Culture Wed, 19 Aug 2026 17:50:12 GMT