How to turn a hurdle into a great creative experience

They say that things happen for a reason. It was a challenging week for me, as some of my projects didn’t go according to plan. When I felt like throwing my hands in the air and running for the hills, I was reminded that I was not alone. Yup – I had a great support system – people I could talk to and problem solve.

Bad day ~~ © Patricia Pinsk

As an artist, it’s really easy to forget how to ask for help. It’s really easy to work in a silo, away from everyone and everything. I needed a reminder.

​Sometimes the best things happen when there are hurdles, and things don't go according to plan. Getting another person’s feedback can point you in a new direction - one that you wouldn’t take otherwise. You have an opportunity to try new things.

So where can you get feedback if you live in a secluded area devoid of humans?

In two words: social media. You can connect with all sorts of fantastic people that are really eager to help you out. They can guide you, and help you learn new things. The best part is that most of these groups are FREE to join.

On Facebook, a few writer/ illustrator groups include:

• Children's Authors and Illustrators on Facebook - a group to ask questions about children's books and publishing, and discuss the art of writing and illustrating for children and teens.
• Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market - a group where you can post your Illustrations, discuss art and writing techniques, and check out what other kidlit illustrators and writers do.
• Sub It Club - a support group for writers and illustrators who are submitting their work. The group can help you with everything from query letters to illustration and writing tips.
• Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) - this group has many different chapters that you can join if you are a paid member. I belong to the Canada West SCBWI Chapter. They are super supportive for things related to children’s illustration and writing.


On Twitter, there are many great people you can follow. The best way to “meet” some of them is through Twitter chats groups. A few writer/illustrator groups include:

• #artist_chat - they meet every Saturday 7:30 AM Pacific
• #kidlitart - they have chats about various kidlit art topics on Thursdays at 6:00 PM Pacific.
• #storyappchat is used for people who make kidlit apps and e-books that meet on Sundays at 6:00 PM Pacific.

If you need to brainstorm, troubleshoot, or just want to make some new friends, get active on social media! You can search for chat groups on sites like Tweet Reports.

You can also check out The 20 Most Creative Instagram Accounts That Will Inspire You.

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