As Pierre Ouellet proposes, “creation is bolstered by chance, by unexpected forces”. This article examines the creative processes of a contemporary Canadian poet and of a textile artist by considering unanticipated events that renew their artistic practices. We analyze the unpredictable announcement of a literary prize as a favourable surprise that acts as an impetus for new themes in the work of Winnipeg poet Katherena Vermette. We also analyze the way New Brunswick artist Anna Torma transforms the distressing loss of an artwork in a positive way. Through these two examples, we demonstrate that the impact of the unexpected on the practices, the techniques, and the imaginations of Vermette and Torma affirm both the incomplete and unpredictable nature of the creative act itself, and the value of diverse critical approaches in understanding the creation and interpretation of artistic and literary works.