For my Communication Practicum project I had the opportunity to write and create a children’s book titled, Snarl Fairies. For this project I learned about storytelling, collaboration, publishing, and promotion. Writing has always been a passion of mine, and this project allowed me to explore the creative side of communication while aso gaining practical experience in book production.
One of the biggest challenges I faces was navigating the publishing process. I initially chose to use Kindle Direct Publishing, but I quickly learned that it is not best suited for illustrated childrne’s books. I spend a signification amount of time learning the system, adjusting the layout to meet page requirements, and entering publishing information, only to realize that this platform limited my ability to present the illustrations. Because so much time was devoted to troubleshooting the publishing process, I was unable to pursue some of my original promotional goals. This challenge taught me the importance of adaptability, research, and time management.
Another important aspect of this project was collaborating with an illustrator. Throughout the semester, we worked together to create character designs, revise illustrations, and adjust the overall visual direction of the book. As deadlines approached, our agreed-upon illustration style shifted to a different style than I originally wanted. This was also another big learning experience because I should have advocated for myself and my vision more. This experience helped me better understand the dynamics of creative teamwork.
As the semester came to an end. I was able to reflect on the full scope of the project and evaluate what I learned from the experience. Although the final product did not follow the exact path I originally envisioned, I successfully created a physical hard copy of the book and worked on promoting it through a Facebook account. Overall, this project was meaningful to me because it allowed me to turn a personal childhood memory into a tangible story while developing communication skills that will be valuable in the future.