A Conversation with Erica Ginsberg, Author of Creative Resilience

Erica Ginsberg is the author of the much-needed book, CREATIVE RESILIENCE, released on December 5, 2023, [https://www.ericaginsberg.com/books] and blog [https://www.ericaginsberg.com/blog], which help artists reframe the challenges of the creative process and creative life. The book features experiences of artists from a variety of disciplines, ages and backgrounds. Topics include motivation, self-confidence, blocks, rejection and balancing creative pursuits with the rest of life. CREATIVE RESILIENCE "is the book I was born to write," Erica says. It draws from her journey and those of others with whom she has worked, recognizing that the creative process is part of everything that we do, whether we are artists or not. In the book, Erica helps readers navigate their own creative processes. She encourages readers to think of their motivations behind their creative endeavors as a way to stay focused on why they choose to do what they do and to not allow discouragements and rejections derail creative projects. "Know what your best is, which is a spectrum [depending on various factors on a given day]," says Erica, "and continue to strive, while being realistic," as you move forward. She observes that rejection can be used as a form of feedback. Erica has drawn on creativity in a variety of different roles: writer, documentary filmmaker, story consultant, and project manager. While working at the U.S. Department of State, she pursued her masters degree in film and video and co-founded the documentary film organization Docs In Progress [http://www.docsinprogress.org], serving as its founding executive director for more than a decade. Docs In Progress is thriving, but it took three years before its founders were able to pay themselves for their work. She also co-hosts The D-Word [http://www.d-word.com], a peer-to-peer global community for documentary professionals. One of Erica's documentary film projects is called "Creative Feds," about musicians whose "day jobs" were working in federal government agencies. The film explores the ways these individuals balance their two careers and how having a creative outlet is essential and can feed all parts of a person's life. In addition to working in the arts, Erica organizes professional development study tours to the United States for mid-career professionals from around the world as a Senior Program Officer with Meridian International Center. She finds joy in travel, painting (though she does not consider herself a painter), collage, reading, nature hikes and spending time with friends, family and her dog Lulu. Her goal is to always keep learning something new. If you are in the Washington, DC area, come to Erica's book talk on CREATIVE RESILIENCE at Docs In Progress (8560 2nd Ave., Silver Spring, MD) on January 17, 2024 from 6:30-8:30 pm. Learn more about Erica's work at ericaginsberg.com Follow her on social media: https://www.instagram.com/erica.ginsberg https://www.facebook.com/erica.ginsberg https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericaginsberg/