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Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: artistic growth, Most Recent at Top [Help]
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1. The Great Critique

Giving and receiving critiques on your writing is one of the most helpful and necessary parts of the process. I value my critique group beyond any other writing tools I have. They let me know what works and what doesn't, when something I thought was crystal clear is not, and when my characters are acting out of character. They offer encouragement and cheerleading.

Not only has constant critique made me a better writer, it has made me a more professional writer. When I receive notes from agents, editors, and other professionals, I am able to receive the notes with a professional calmness. I don't get defensive. I get revising.

I hope everyone who writes is able to find a group or a few trusted beta readers who can offer valuable critique, but I know that there are quite a few writers in our SCBWI region (Utah and southern Idaho) who may not even know any other writers in their community. Or perhaps they don't know how to get a group started. Or have never critiqued anyone else's work and feel inadequate.


That is why we started a region-wide event called The Great Critique. We give you the opportunity to meet with other children's writers in your area and critique away. On one day, August 9, we all meet throughout the region, helping each other become better writers (and illustrators--they get to participate as well!). During the summer, you'll receive excerpts from manuscripts by the others registered in your area. You'll read them, prepare comments, and then meet in August for live critiquing. And if you don't have a meeting close by, we offer an online location as well. This event is FREE, and we hope you take advantage of it.

In addition, if you wish to have a critique from a publishing house editor or an agent, you can register for that through our web site. And for an extra bonus, you can get a professional query critique.

You'll find all the details on our registration page. So there are no excuses. Sign up NOW. Registration is open until June 15.


by Neysa CM Jensen
your regional advisor for SCBWI
(I live in Boise, Idaho, but don't hold that against me.)

0 Comments on The Great Critique as of 5/16/2014 2:52:00 PM
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2. My promo postcards


After a long, agonizing struggle, my postcards are finally printed and starting to make their way out into the world.

My style has changed so much over the last year or so. I knew something had to change for awhile. I had that uncomfortable, exciting, aggravating feeling running in the background of my consciousness. I tried to lean into it and let it happen, knowing that change and growth are part of the creative life, but that knowledge didn't make it any easier. I played, I experimented, I caught glimpses, but the goal was always just out of reach.

I researched, I studied, I went to conferences. At my local Illustrator's Day, John Clapp, illustration teacher at SJSU, told me that it should always be uncomfortable when I'm creating something. That means I'm growing, that I'm making something worth making. It shouldn't be easy or rote.

That mantra has been playing in my head since last fall. I am so grateful for my friend, Tracy Bishop, for listening, pushing, and agonizing right alongside of me through this journey. Thanks also to Kelly Light for helping put the cherry on top of this illo.

My word for this year and last has been Intention. I used that word from the beginning of this illo, starting with the color palette. I loved Peter Brown's book Children Make Terrible Pets as a reference for the color.

@Peter Brown



The painting in progress. I create everything in layers traditionally, then assemble, collage, and enhance in Photoshop.

3 Comments on My promo postcards, last added: 6/15/2012
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