It's February and the first flush of excitement over a "New Year" is over and you also realize that a year or one month blends into the next, just as a week does and a day does. It all just feels like a constant hamster wheel with hops off for meals, snacks, rest and a look outside in-between. So the question Ive been asking myself lately is what have I done today to move me towards my goals and what can I do to get me closer. Another problem is that like most people, I have goals for several different areas in my life. How does one deal with that without feeling like you're trying to drive to five different destinations simultaneously? Again, back on that damn hamster wheel cause it's safer to feel like you're running, busy doing something without actually going anywhere.
So I've been looking for inspiration and structure with prompts and challenges out there that align with my goals. Signing up for these give me both community and accountability. So here's what I've been up to:
Create More submittable Kid Lit projects in 2023. Unfortunately I begin 2023 with nothing submission ready for my agent. EEK!
- Tara Lazar's Story Storm 30 story ideas in 31 days in January. Yay I did it. Came up with 30 story ideas, in January, sure some were just to make the count. Which leads right into...
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Julie Hedland's 12X12, 12 Picture Book drafts and/or revisions in 12 months. Yup, in January fleshed out 1 of my story ideas from Story Storm and revising my graphic novel synopsis.
Create More Kid Lit Art and Share It. It's competitive out there and hard to be stand out. Need I say more.
- Gina Perry's #KidLitArtPostcard or
#kidlitartpostcard started in 2021 and getting stronger every year. children's book illustrators design a digital postcard and we all post on the first Thursday of each month. Which is when Art Directors, Editors know when and where to look. I was able to come up with 12 last year. I will commit to doing the same in 2023. I'll be sharing mine this year on Instagram and Post.news and probably sharing it here too. Check out my
January KidLit Art Postcard & 2022 postcard round up blog post.
-Illustration Contests: there's a bunch out there I'll be keeping my eye out for a prompt I like. The
SCBWI runs a monthly one called
#scbwiDrawThis - February prompt is
Worm's Eye View, could be fun - deadline to post is 2/20/23.
There are others. Right now I have my eye on one that has a deadline of March 31. I wasn't interested at first but the more I think about it the more intriguing it feels. The benefits of making the piece and entering even if you don't win: a chance to stretch as an artist and to be seen.
Ok Ok I hear you. But what about your own illustration projects? Yes, I do have one and it's a big one, my GN. Right now I'm revising the synopsis ending and doing rough rough stick figure + dialog scribbles. Making a point to do a bit almost daily. This stage alone could take awhile. Which means, I'll have nothing to share from this project for awhile. Hence my interest in doing shorter illustrations that I can share now. Plus I've found if I do nothing but sketches for awhile, I get scared that I will forget how to take a piece to finish.
Stock my Art Licensing/Surface Design Portfolio Currently focusing on greeting card designs
- #DHGartspark Design House Greeting on Instagram currently has a call out:
Cue the Confetti, celebration themed greeting card designs with a deadline of March 1. I have a sketch on my drawing board ready to transfer to paper. I will show when I finish it.
Well that's my plan for now. Will you be joining me on any of the above prompts and challenges?
