Creator Spotlight with Author Jessy Humann
Jessy Humann is the author of the children’s picture book What’s Today For? Her second children’s book comes out in 2022. She also writes poetry, which can be found on her website.
What was the inspiration behind becoming a creator? What do you enjoy most about the creative process?
I’m inspired to create because I’m an idealist. Sometimes I wish that the world was a different place. A place where people are kinder, more compassionate, more mindful, more loving, and more accepting. When I write a book or poem, I often try to write about how I want the world to be. I hope that my words can inspire others to think about life in a different way.
I love the creative process because I never know what’s going to come out of it. I may have an idea of what I want to write about, but I’m always surprised to see what I come up with. I love pushing the boundaries of what I’m capable of creating, and I often find inspiration from other artists or writers.
Can you talk through your creative process? How long does it take? Does everything you produce make money?
In order for me to write something that I’m proud of, I have to be in a certain mental state. The closest thing I can compare it to is being in a state of meditation. If I want to write something, I’ll often need to read some of my favorite poems, watch a heartfelt movie, or listen to a calming song to get into a mental state that allows me to “hear” the words that are wanting to come through.
Sometimes this process can take an hour, a couple of days, or a few weeks. I’ve written poems that have taken me weeks to finish, but my first book only took me a couple of days to write. I think it just depends on how creative I’m feeling.
Most of the writing I do doesn’t make money, but it’s never been about that for me. I love the contentment I feel when I write from my heart, and I think that’s all that matters. Of course, I hope that people will like my work and that it can help them in some way. But I think if people try to produce work with the sole intent of making money, that they’ll end up unhappy in the long run.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about your line of work?
I think that a lot of people don’t believe in their dreams. Why not you? Why not now? I strongly believe that the ideas that come to each of us are meant just for us because we’re the best person to turn that idea into something real. Thinking about things this way has changed the way I look at life. I think people need to believe in themselves a little bit more! Just because someone is already writing or painting or being creative in a way that you want to be, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for you too.
When did you first become aware of copyright, and why?
I’ve been aware of copyright for some time but have only started to take it more seriously in the past couple of months. I share my poetry on my website, blog, and Pinterest, and it occurred to me that I should be more proactive about protecting my work. I tend to be very trusting, but I know there are people out there who will take others’ works without permission, and I know that I need to be more mindful about standing up for what I create.
What is your biggest copyright-related challenge?
I would say that my biggest copyright-related challenge is too much information. There’s so much information on the internet that makes it difficult to know what’s right and wrong. If a google search pulls up a blog post on the best copyright practices, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the information is right. Then the question arises of where to go to for professional advice. I wish it was easier for creative people to access correct copyright information so they can protect their work in the best way possible. To ensure that all creators (and the public) access accurate copyright information, I suggest checking out the Copyright Alliance and the U.S. Copyright Office websites.
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