Category Archives: Creativity

Be A Maker

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Jennifer Kay

Engineer Jennifer has always been a builder. LEGOs were a right of passage for me – probably for most kids headed for a career in Civil Engineering. Among my peers, there were two schools of thought regarding those LEGO kit … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Engineering, Jennifer, Middle Grade Books, Nicole, Parenting, Picture Books, Publishing, Reading, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Be A Maker

Finding My Own Inspiration

Posted on January 15, 2019 by Jennifer Kay

Last weekend many of my writing friends returned to VCFA for residency. I did not – for the first time in two and a half years. It was harder than I expected to view the social media posts about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Creativity, Home Improvements, Jennifer, MFA, SCBWI, VCFA MFA WCYA, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Tapping Into Your Creative Inner Child

Posted on September 11, 2018 by Jennifer Kay

This fall author / illustrator Lynda Barry has fueled my creative fire. She generously shares her teaching materials and encourages others to follow along with the UW-Madison courses she teaches by sharing her syllabus, exercises, and homework assignments on Tumblr … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Creativity, Jennifer, Nicole | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Tapping Into Your Creative Inner Child

Post-Grad Revelations

Posted on August 3, 2018 by Jennifer Kay

Last month I checked a few major writing milestones off my bucket list: 1) Delivered my graduate reading of my young adult science fiction work-in-progress, Eraser. 2) Presented my graduate lecture, Shift That Narrow Trend Line into a Scatter Plot of … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Engineering, Family, Jennifer, MFA, Nature, RVC, SCBWI, Teaching, VCFA MFA WCYA, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Open Question

Posted on January 5, 2018 by Jennifer Kay

My first revelation of 2018 is that MFA programs have magical time slip powers. I last blogged in September when my third semester at VCFA was just getting started and I had taken on the challenge of writing a pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Jennifer, MFA, Nonfiction, Reading, SCBWI, VCFA MFA WCYA, Writing, Young Adult Books | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Open Question

Talking Slower and Thinking Deeper

Posted on September 5, 2017 by Jennifer Kay

My twelfth packet of MFA homework was due earlier this week. For once it was submitted without any all-nighters, drama, or emotional meltdowns. I had plenty of time to do the quantity and quality of work I knew I had in … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Jennifer, MFA, Poetry, VCFA MFA WCYA, Writing, Writing Excercise | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Talking Slower and Thinking Deeper

Secret Hobbies

Posted on September 18, 2016 by Jennifer Kay

Ten years ago writing was my secret hobby. I had a story bubbling inside of me that slowly seeped out in stolen moments alone with my laptop. That secret hobby morphed over time from “something just for me” into a … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Jennifer, MFA, Painting | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Secret Hobbies

Sample Illustrations

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Jennifer Kay

Where has Jennifer been for the past two months? Attached to my new digital drawing pad. It’s become a third limb. After only three hours of online webinars on how to use Manga Studio 5, I’ve reached below average functionality … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Graphic Novels, Jennifer, Middle Grade Books, Nicole, Publishing, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Sample Illustrations

Starting the New Year with New Art Forms

Posted on January 22, 2016 by Jennifer Kay

It’s no secret I’m a creature of habit. If my online calendar crashed, my life would fall into utter chaos. I make lists. Even lists of my lists. There’s only one way to juggle so many balls for myself, my … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging, Creativity, Graphic Novels, Jennifer, Nicole, Parenting, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Starting the New Year with New Art Forms

Coloring – Not Just For Kids

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Jennifer Kay

In case you haven’t heard: Coloring is no longer just for kids. USA Today recently featured this article: Whimsical coloring books for grown-ups are a hit. Their story featured the break-out success of artist Johanna Basford, author of Secret Garden and … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult Books, Creativity, Family, Jennifer | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Coloring – Not Just For Kids