Antoinette Portis：Write from Your Inner Child

嘉宾 | Guest： Antoinette Portis is an award-winning American author and illustrator of picture books. Her debut title Not a Box became a contemporary classic, followed by Not a Stick, Wait, A New Green Day, Hey, Water! and others. Her work is celebrated for its elegant minimalism, visual wit, and a profound respect for children’s creativity and perception. Before becoming a full-time author-illustrator, she worked as a creative director at Disney. Portis's books invite readers to rediscover the extraordinary hidden within the ordinary. 01:56 — Staying Connected to the Inner Child Portis shares how curiosity and noticing small things fuel her creativity. 03:48 — Why Structure Matters in Picture Books She explains how structure creates page-turn magic and supports imagination. 06:43 — Early Creative Memories Childhood moments that shaped her as an artist and maker. 09:30 — Encouragement vs. Discouragement How adults influence a child’s sense of creative identity. 13:09 — The Making of Not a Box The writing class insight that transformed her approach: honesty over cleverness. 14:32 — Sparks Behind Hey, Water! and Other Books How observing shapes in nature became a foundation for new ideas. 16:54 — Children’s Emotions Are as Complex as Adults’ Portis discusses how picture books should honor children’s inner lives. 19:10 — Powerlessness & the Story Behind Wait A real-life moment becomes the seed for a book about noticing. 23:34 — Creative Blocks & Letting Ideas Breathe Why not every idea opens up right away—and that’s okay. 24:14 — Longing as a Creative Force The emotional core behind A Penguin Storyand her process of 87 drafts. 29:31 — When a Book Feels Like Wrestling an Alligator Portis reflects on creative struggle and persistence. 35:31 — Advice for Young Creators The episode ends with encouragement for kids and aspiring storytellers. 你可以在这里找到我们 | Where to Find Storyland： wechat: Storyland童书研究所（ID:STORYLIVING)

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Antoinette Portis：Write from Your Inner Child is an episode from Storyland Podcast by Storyland Podcast.

This episode is 48:10 long.

This episode was published on Nov 30, 2025.

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