66 Comments
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Bob Gillen's avatar

Thanks! A wonderful, engaging read. Inspiring!

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Kelcey Ervick's avatar

Thanks, Bob! So nice to hear!

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Susannah's avatar

I read your post from beginning to end and wished for more. Touching and funny. I’m looking forward to The Keeper.

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Kelcey Ervick's avatar

Oh thank you so much! 🥰❤️

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

What a super post! Thank you for the inspiration. Xo

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Kelcey Ervick's avatar

Thank you!

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Paolo Peralta's avatar

You did it again! ❤️

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Kelcey Ervick's avatar

Ha! Thank you, Paolo!

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K. Woodman-Maynard's avatar

Another brilliant comic, Kelcey! And I loved the conclusion.

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Kelcey Ervick's avatar

Thanks so much, Katharine! I appreciate that because I struggled with the conclusion before finally landing where I did!

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Anne's avatar

Wow I love everything about this. As a librarian who only started drawing when I was 54 this really moves me. Thank you!

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Kelcey Ervick's avatar

Wow, good for you! I started drawing late too. I've been writing for a long time, but even that started late...

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Haley Weaver's avatar

This was SO sweet and needed!

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Kelcey Ervick's avatar

Thanks, Haley! This is your week for fearlessness, bravery, and hopefully lots of JOY! Thinking of you!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

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Haley Weaver's avatar

Ahhhh I may need at least a few additional Kelcey pep talks!

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KHM's avatar

I’d love to do a comics workshop with our local library and kids in my community - I think they’d enjoy it! Maybe good for the Summer Reading program :) thanks for sharing your story!

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Kelcey Ervick's avatar

Gosh, yes, do it!

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Amy Makechnie's avatar

I really really truly love this! Teenagers are amazingly creative...and then what happens? Thank you for this!

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Amy Makechnie's avatar

Can I ask an art question? How do you get your pictures onto Substack and have them look so good? They're j.pegs? Is it as simple as taking a photo with the phone, playing with the lighting and moving them? Or - with your digital work (I haven't done ANY digital work) it's a much cleaner process? Thanks for any advice!

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Kelcey Ervick's avatar

Yes, this is all done digitally on my iPad using Procreate. If I include something painted on paper, I just take a photo and import it into the file. I draw on Procreate and export each file as a JPG, which I load here. I'll maybe do a post soon about my process! You're not the first to ask!

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Amy Makechnie's avatar

Thank you so much!

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Andy McNally's avatar

Very inspiring post!! Now, I just need to be brave. Thanks for reminding me.

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Kelcey Ervick's avatar

Same, Andy, same. Thank you! ❤️

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Raju Tai's avatar

From creative abandon to abandonment of creativity ❤️ GENIUS… all of it…

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Betje's avatar

Oh I love this post! Why do we get so scared about creativity at some point, I wonder. Thanks for sharing your insights.

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Kelcey Ervick's avatar

Thanks, Betje! I realize you are mostly wondering rhetorically, but the irony of course is that one big culprit is SCHOOL. Ironically, we "learn" to lose our creativity in schools, which are organized like factories thanks to capitalism, etc. (I'll stop there but you get the point! 😂)

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Alice Kaltman's avatar

OMG. This was so inspiring, and as usual w/ you, so wonderfully illustrated. Those teens were so inspiring. From the mouths (and pens of, no longer, but still really, they are) babes.

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Kelcey Ervick's avatar

Thanks, Alice! They ARE still babes! Overgrown, articulate, inspiring wonderful BABES.

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Krista Hoefle's avatar

THIS. was soooooo inspiring!!!

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Kelcey Ervick's avatar

Yay, thanks, Krista! (We should get coffee sometime!)

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Krista Hoefle's avatar

I would love it!!!! Let's do it!!!

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Grant Snider's avatar

Love this post! Thanks for mentioning POETRY COMICS, and I second the Lynda Barry influence. She's one of the great graphic thinkers and teachers!

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Kelcey Ervick's avatar

Wow, thank you so much, Grant! Geeking out to have you comment. I've been a fan for years, ever since discovering your comics at The Rumpus. I brought my copy of Poetry Comics to the library this weekend and told the librarian to order it ASAP. :) And yes, re Lynda Barry: I'm not sure I can overstate how she has shaped my teaching and comics making. ❤️

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Grant Snider's avatar

That means a lot, thank YOU!

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Myq Kaplan's avatar

hey grant, i just want to piggyback on all this enthusiasm to let you know that i think you are great and kelcey is great and lynda barry is great! thanks for all the greatness everyone!

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Grant Snider's avatar

I appreciate it, Myq! In good poetry comics company 😊

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Kelcey Ervick's avatar

Myq! You are also very great! 😁❤️

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Gary Ervick's avatar

Absolutely brilliant perspective! You inspire so many people…including me. 😎

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Kelcey Ervick's avatar

Aww, shucks! 🥰

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