Meet Jessica Lipinsky

We recently connected with Jessica Lipinsky and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I’ve always been passionate about being creative and I knew I wanted to write stories, but I was always more focused on securing a more stable 9-to-5. It wasn’t until I worked at my college’s career development center helping other students apply for jobs that I realized how many other creatives were doing the same thing. That same year I went to the Small Press Expo in Bethesda and was able to meet a lot of artists who inspired me, and all of them said how necessary it was for them to take a leap of faith, and how independent publishing was able to support them while they established themselves. That experience made me realize how a lot of people feel like they can’t take that leap without support. Publishing with creatives I believe in allows me to act as that support and fills my life with purpose.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

My name is Jess Lipinsky. I am the author/illustrator behind the indie comic Cool Girl, and I co-founded JESS JESS PRESS with my collaborator and good friend Jess Lin. JJP is an emerging press dedicated to uplifting marginalized creatives in the comics/magazine publishing industry. We strive to provide publishing opportunities and high-quality printing services for underrepresented creatives in the Baltimore community, allowing them to build their platform in an increasingly censored industry while staying local, keeping our arts district vibrant, and creating additional sources of revenue for Baltimore citizens.

I also act as editor on Sick Freaks Magazine, JJP’s premier publication. Sick Freaks is a comic magazine dedicated to showcasing work by new authors and giving them the chance to speak freely in an increasingly censored industry.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The first thing that comes to mind is my ability to network. I would not be where I am today without the support of others. I would tell anyone looking to develop their communication skills to really push themselves to talk to strangers even when it feels embarrassing, and that conventions and markets are a really great place to meet other entrepreneurs.

Perseverance is also an extremely important quality to foster. We were only able to start JJP after winning a grant that we were previously rejected from twice. Its crucial to not take rejections personally and always keep trying.

Lastly, my creativity is a skill that’s been very impactful in my journey. A lot of my more out-of-the-box ideas have been the most memorable and successful. To develop this skill it has been imperative to trust my creative instinct. It’s really easy to think you’re ideas aren’t good enough but you are the only one able to have them so they must be great.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

We love collaborating with all kinds of authors and illustrators, especially those who write about gender and sexuality, race, and gender politics, or whose work criticizes intolerance. If that sounds like you submissions for Sick Freaks will be open soon and you can find updates on our social media @jessjesspress or website jessjesspress.com.
In the meantime if you have any questions or interest in our risograph print services you can reach us at [email protected].

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photos provided by Andrew Copeland and Oliver Maddox.

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