creative process

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August 24, 2020

Writing the Book You Wish Existed: Megan Lacera on Creativity, Publishing, and Original Ideas

Some of the best books begin with a simple realization: this book should exist, but it doesn't. That realization helped inspire Zombies Don't Eat Veggies!, a picture book created by author Megan Lacera and illustrator Jorge Lacera. What began as a fun story about a young zombie grew into something deeper—a story about identity, family, belonging, and embracing what makes us different. In this interview, Megan shares how the book came to life, what she's learned about publishing, how she collaborates with her husband as a creative team, and why some stories are worth pursuing even when success isn't guaranteed. Writers, illustrators, and creators alike will find valuable insight on developing original ideas, handling rejection, and creating the work they wish already existed.

October 14, 2019

What Picture Book Critique Fest Taught Me About Creative Growth

One of the fastest ways to improve any creative skill is to seek thoughtful feedback from people with more experience than you. Whether you're a writer, illustrator, entrepreneur, or artist, growth rarely happens in isolation. We learn through studying our craft, practicing consistently, and receiving outside perspectives that help us see what we cannot see on our own. Back in 2019, I participated in Picture Book Critique Fest (#PBCritiqueFest), a community event that connected aspiring children's book creators with literary agents, authors, and illustrators willing to provide critiques and guidance. While the event itself has long since ended, the lessons behind it remain highly relevant today because the principles of creative growth never change. The experience reinforced something every creator eventually discovers: improvement requires knowledge, practice, and feedback.

August 21, 2017

How Writing Slowly Became Impossible to Ignore

Some creative ideas arrive quietly. At first they seem small — easy to ignore, easy to postpone, easy to dismiss as unrealistic. But the longer they stay with us, the more difficult they become to silence. What begins as curiosity slowly turns into obsession. We think about the idea constantly, research it, revisit it, and eventually share it carefully with someone we trust. For many writers and creators, that is how the process begins. Not with certainty, but with a growing sense that something meaningful needs to be made.

August 19, 2017

Alicia Arlandis Interview: Children’s Illustration, Publishing & Creative Process

Alicia Arlandis is an illustrator from Valencia, Spain, a beautiful city near the coast. She's been interested in art for as long as she can remember and has been illustrating for over twelve years. Alicia loves drawing, painting, reading, and teaching, both older people and children. She is a graphic designer and illustrator that loves continual learning in both areas. To learn more about her, check out Alicia's website and Alicia's Twitter account.