Junkworld and Beyond: Writing, Retail, and Caretaking with Michael Stangeland

What does it take to keep multiple creative projects alive while working retail and caring for a grandmother full-time?Michael Stangeland is the author of the science fiction novel Junkworld: The Ballad of Leroy Brown and the children's fairy tale The Taming of the Moon Dragon, both published through hybrid publishing services. Beyond his published work, he has a growing folder of unpublished books, scripts, and potential projects always in some stage of development, all while balancing a day job in retail and serving as an in-home caretaker for his grandmother.In this episode, Michael shares where his inspiration for Junkworld actually came from, how he decided to become a writer in the first place, and what it's like juggling creative ambition with the real, unglamorous demands of everyday life. He also opens up about the biggest challenges he faces when writing, and offers advice for other writers trying to create amid life's competing responsibilities.WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:The inspiration behind Junkworld: The Ballad of Leroy BrownWriting a children's fairy tale alongside science fictionBalancing creative work with retail and caretaking responsibilitiesThe biggest challenges he faces as a writerAdvice for other writers juggling life and creative ambitionWhat's next in his growing folder of unfinished projectsCONNECT WITH MICHAEL STANGELAND:Substack: mkstangelandjr.substack.com