We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chelsea Dicicco. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chelsea below.
Chelsea, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Oh, I love this question! Keeping creativity alive is such an essential part of thriving in a creative industry. And the answer lies in the keywords: “KEEP” and “ALIVE.”
‘Keep’ is a verb, which means that it involves action! It actually means to “continue doing.” And that’s a really important piece to the creative puzzle. (ANY creative puzzle…) And the word “alive” is very fitting because creativity is, in fact, a LIVING, BREATHING thing. As we all know, living things need continuous maintenance. They need to have the right sustenance and environment. Otherwise, they’ll die. Creativity is no exception!
The trick is knowing what YOUR creativity needs to thrive. What environment does it do best in? What food should it be taking in to stay energized and healthy? There is no one right answer. It will vary depending on the person. This is where personal experimenting comes in.
For me, as a writer, in order to keep my creative juices alive and flowing, I set aside time in a quiet, peaceful environment to feed my creativity by reading books in a genre and age range similar to those that I write. This not only keeps my creativity alive but also helps me continue honing my skills as a writer because I’m actively studying the craft.
I also make an effort to participate in (and/or attend local/virtual) community events and writing contests when I can, such as contests like Storystorm, Spring Fling Kidlit, PBParty, 50 Precious Words, Fall Writing Frenzy, etc., as well as stay active in writing organizations that I’m a member of like The Writing Barn, Courage to Create, Write Academy, SCBWI, etc. All of these things combined help keep my creativity alive!
Chelsea’s Magic Formula for Keeping Creativity Alive:
CONTINUOUS MAINTENANCE + FEEDING THE RIGHT FOODS + PROVIDING THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT
Regardless of what creative field you’re working in, it’s always beneficial to immerse yourself in that community. Part of what gives us inspiration is the interchange of learning and sharing with others. It not only builds us up and motivates our own creative pursuits- but it can help others as well.
On the flip side of this, I’d say the biggest creativity killer is comparing yourself to others. Simply put, don’t do it. Never compare yourself to anyone except maybe who you were yesterday. Comparing yourself to someone else is entirely unfair. Because you are not, and never will be, anyone but you. So, keep your eyes on your paper. Enjoy the journey. Work hard. And measure your success around your personal goals… not someone else’s.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My name is Chelsea DiCicco, and I’m an entrepreneur living outside of Nashville, TN. I wear A LOT of entrepreneurial hats, but they all revolve around my passion for kids and literature. Outside of the home, I work in ABA therapy as a Behavior Therapist for children with ASD, but I also run multiple small businesses in the realm of publishing, as a Children’s Book Author as well as a Literary Blogger + Interview Host on my website www.chelseasworldofbooks.com.
On my website and literary blog, I offer all kinds of resources for parents, educators, librarians, and, of course, kidlit writers and illustrators! I also have lots to offer book lovers of all ages, including but not limited to cozy must-haves, reading accessories, and book recommendations. Here’s a little peek at what you can find on the website:
For parents, librarians, and educators: Things available on my website for parents, librarians, and educators can be found under the TEACHER CORNER tab and include a huge collection of resources designed for kids ages 4-12. These resources include downloadable worksheets and lesson plans, audio and video files, games and activities, etc., and range across various topics like literacy, art, music, ASL, social-emotional learning, and resources for neurodivergent families. And don’t forget book recommendations!
For writers and illustrators: Things available on my website for writers and illustrators can be found under THE BLOG tab; the list is almost endless- and always growing. My personal favorite resource is the popular monthly Feature Interview segment.
The Feature Interview segment is a monthly collaboration of industry professionals, including authors, illustrators, editors, and agents, having real conversations about the ins and outs of publishing. These conversations help provide writers and illustrators with tools and insight by giving them an up-close look at publishing across a diverse collection of viewpoints from different sides of the desk. Every month, we dig deep into the behind-the-scenes of publishing, share tips and resources, and provide answers to common (and not-so-common) questions. We also offer PRIZE giveaway opportunities to all readers who take the time to either leave a comment on the blog post or share it on social media. Prizes include free merchandise, one-on-one Zoom mentor calls, Ask-Me-Anythings, manuscript critiques, and more. If you’re a kidlit author and/or illustrator, whether at the beginning of your journey or not, there’s something useful here for everyone! You can check it out here: https://chelseasworldofbooks.com/category/feature-interviews/
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Another great question! My three qualities/skills and/or areas of knowledge would have to be:
Growing your CRAFT, finding and maintaining your VOICE, and learning to persevere in ENDURANCE.
CRAFT: This is the part where you’ll learn the rules and begin to implement them in your work. This involves doing homework on whatever creative endeavor and/or business you’re looking to start (or continue running). To continue growing your craft, you need to be willing to LISTEN to constructive criticism and advice/suggestions with an open mind. If you keep yourself open to feedback and continue working hard, you can continue growing your craft!
TIPS: Be willing to push yourself past your comfort zone. CONTINUAL GROWTH MINDSET will help you to succeed.
VOICE: Voice is something that often pertains specifically to writers but can be applied to anyone in any industry. In a nutshell, your “voice” is basically who your authentic self is and what message you’re trying to deliver.
As you mature (become more familiar) in your line of work, you’ll learn to recognize the difference between being willing to be open to growth/feedback VERSUS allowing yourself to be tamped down into something that you’re not. Authenticity is so important for two reasons. One: if you’re truly passionate and authentic about what you’re doing, people will pick up on that energy. On the flip side, they’ll pick up on it if you’re not. It’s also important because being authentic to YOU can make the difference between your happiness in your career VS. your misery. So, stay true to your voice!
If you’re wondering, ‘What’s my voice?’, some questions that will help you identify your voice are, ‘What do I care about in relation to this job/venture?’ ‘Who do I hope to reach and/or will benefit from what I have to offer?,’ and ‘Why is it important to me?’ Once you know the answers to your question, the rest will fall into place.
And last but not least, ENDURANCE. If you’re an entrepreneur in any field, learning to persevere in endurance is crucial. But it’s especially true if you’re in the publishing field BECAUSE publishing moves like a bale of turtles; slowwwwlyyyyy.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
Publishing is definitely a challenging career by nature, and I have *quite* a long list of people who have helped me to endure and overcome the ups and downs. The list begins with my family. Firstly, my husband, who is beyond words supportive of my writing, and just in general, supportive of me as a person. (Marrying your best friend is always the way to go.) My grandma and my sister, who are my loyal fangirls always. And my parents, who are on a whole different level altogether. Their constant support and steady encouragement have truly been a blessing. If you only knew how many hours they’ve dedicated to sitting on the other end of the phone, listening to me read and re-read story after story, pitch after pitch, and revision after revision, as well as the time they’ve spent providing me with moral support as I’m prepping for a contest, event, or other publishing happening. I’m so grateful for them. Special shoutout to my mom, the artist, for even going as far as creating an original piece of artwork for me to use for my story entry for the 50 Precious Words Contest in 2024. (For my family: thank you so much. I love and appreciate you all).
And then, of course, my writer/illustrator friends have helped me so much. My critique partners, in particular, have been invaluable on my publishing journey in so many ways. Their continuous support, regular communication, and our routine monthly meetings and critique deadlines have helped keep me anchored when the waves made me feel that my boat may float away. Their kindness and honesty in their critiques and feedback have helped me to become a stronger writer and improve my skills. They motivate me to push myself by encouraging me to participate in writing contests and events. They are always there to cheer me on and celebrate with me over every little success. And when I face self-doubts and imposter syndrome tries to drag me down, they’ve been there to pull me back up and provide me with the reassurance that I need when I need it most. (Terri, Sope, Elspeth, and Alicia- you girls are truly the best! Thank you.) My former writing instructor, now friend, Lisa Katzenberger, was over-the-moon helpful in both her thoughtful feedback and understanding of my work, as well as her warmth and encouragement to stay true to my voice and keep shooting my shot. (Thank you so much, Lisa! I can’t tell you how much your feedback and attitude have inspired me.)
My former library co-workers, Natalie and Rebecca, who are now two of my closest friends, and despite not being in the kidlit/publishing world, have been my nonstop moral support and cheerleaders, rooting for me at every milestone and “win” no matter the size. (Seriously- they cheer me on for everything. It’s amazing.) And two more of my wonderful besties, Heather and PJ, who have been so supportive of all my writing endeavors! From writing first drafts to starting a blog, they’ve been there for the journey. They’ve been my beta readers. They’ve attended my events. They’ve participated in my blog and always keep up with what’s going on in my literary life. Their never-ceasing support has been such a reliable source of comfort, and I’m so grateful to have both of them in my life.
As for building and developing the essential skills, qualities, and knowledge it takes to be a writer, I’d say joining writing groups like SCBWI, Julie Hedlund’s 12X12 Challenge, and The Courage to Create Community were all tremendously instrumental to my growth. Seeking out and enrolling in classes and educational courses/schools like Write Academy and Write Submit Support were both very helpful as well. And then, attending conferences/events/workshops through places like SCBWI and The Writing Barn, to name a few, as well as engaging in the writing community by participating in contests like Vivian Kirkfield’s 50 Precious Words, Mindy Alyse Weiss’s annual PBParty, The Fall Writing Frenzy, the Spring Fling Kidlit, and the list goes on, all helped me to grow by challenging me in different ways. The preparation it takes, the rules and guidelines you have to follow, the challenge of a set word limit and/or writing prompt you have to use, the deadline for the entry window, etc., all helped strengthen new areas of my writing and will no doubt continue to be useful as I move further down the path of publication; when signing with my first agent and meeting deadlines with editors.
Something else that has helped me overcome challenges and provided me with so much knowledge is shared experiences. Talking to authors, illustrators, and other publishing professionals every month during my Feature Interview segment on my blog has been eye-opening in a million different ways. It’s provided a peek into the world of publishing that many people don’t get to see until they’re in the situation themselves. I’ve learned so much from hearing my interview guest’s stories, as well as learning about ways that they’ve been able to overcome challenges. Their words of wisdom have been so encouraging.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chelseasworldofbooks.com
- Instagram: @chelseasworldofbooks
- Facebook: Chelsea’s World of Books
- Twitter: @chellysbooks
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
