Egads! Social Media Overload!

I was updating the LINKS page on my website, when I realized how many new ones I had tried since the beginning of 2023. Starting in January with Post.news, up to August with BlueSky I count 5 new social media platforms. Needless to say it has become overwhelming to post on all daily even if you just copy and paste. I have found that posting on 3 is not too bad. 

But then someone mentioned that the key to saneness with social media was asking yourself: why you felt you needed to be on social media and to stop worrying about the numbers and focus on the quality of your engagement. 

SO what was I really looking for on all these new sites? 

1: My KidLitArt community and the ability to connect with industry professionals. Twitter used to be IT But now that its X the community is rapidly fragmenting.  I was also told to be on Instagram as that's where art directors look for talent. While that may be true, most of the "calls for illustrators" happened on original Twitter. 

2: A small bit of comraderie with my fellow creatives. Being an illustrator/writer is a very solitary endeavor. It's nice to be able to rant about deadlines etc. And have someone cheer you on or commiserate. Definitely looking for engagement.

SO... from all these new sites is there a clear winner? To be honest, whenever I tried a new site my first reaction was this is great it just needs more functional (fill in the blank). However after the initial honeymoon a few of these were clearly not it. The following is my personal opinion:

POST.news - friendly enough community, left leaning, very NEWS oriented. The first month I was there, there were a few illustrators posting for #KidLitArtPostcard. But at his point it's only a handful of illustrators. Unfortunately the kidlit community never embraced it. 

THREADS - owned by Meta, the people that brought you Instagram and FaceBook. Very friendly. Quite a few editors, agents and art directors on it, at least in the beginning. Lots of kidlit people. But with no hashtags or pinning functions, it is hard to find each other or even engage properly with each other. SO there might be an art call there but I probably didn't see it. Also while I really liked it in the beggining - I'm finding that my time there is not as satisfying as before. But I will prob still pop on it as I can't delete it without deleting my IG account!

Linked-In - supposedly you can connect with industry professionals. I was on it years ago and stopped going there - tried again - but don't quite get it. 

BlueSky - This is the one. I think.   At the moment there is no Pin or true Hashag functions. However, there are Hashtag work arounds and custom feeds set up by kidlit people. Now we just need the PIN function. There's an active growing kidlit community. Yay! At the moment, Bluesky is still in beta so you need an invitation to join or you may add your name to their waitlist.

Find me at:

Website: dianadelosh.com

Illustration Blog: dtdelosh.blospot.com

Instagram & Threads: @dtdelosh

Post: @dtdelosh

Bluesky: @dtdelosh

Check out my illustrations on products at:

Greeting Cards: greetingcarduniverse.com/dianascards

Gifts: zazzle.com/deloshdesigns*

Art Prints: wingedrabbit.imagekind.com

September 2023 Holidays

 Labor/LabourDay - September 4

See ALL my Labor Day Cards HERE

Here's one for the Canadians - Labour Day HERE

Grandparents Day -September 10

See ALL my Grandparents Day cards HERE

Patriots Day  / September 11

9/11 Remembrance Day  Card

Rosh Hashana  - September 15

See ALL my Rosh Hashana cards HERE

Mid-Autumn Moon Cake Festival - September 29

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Dancing Bunnies Card

Find me at:

Website: dianadelosh.com

Illustration Blog: dtdelosh.blospot.com

Instagram & Threads: @dtdelosh

Post: @dtdelosh

Bluesky: @dtdelosh

Check out my illustrations on products at:

Greeting Cards: greetingcarduniverse.com/dianascards

Gifts: zazzle.com/deloshdesigns*

Art Prints: wingedrabbit.imagekind.com

2023 CBIG Directories

I'm really honored that this year, both my cover art submissions were voted in by my peers to be on the covers. As I'm on the CBIG Directory design team, I always submit cover images along with my promo page for both books. But it's been awhile since my art actually made any of the covers never mind both.  YAY 2023!

Yuko Torii, Diana Ting Delosh, Navina Chhabria, Leeza Hernandez

Here's my Color Promo on page 13.

Ann D. Koffsky, Yuko Torii, Paulette Bogan, Diana Ting Delosh

Here's my B&W Promo on page 4.

Finally a shout out to my CBIG Directory Team members: Deb Cuneo for all the image collection and dealing with all sorts of minutiae and Vicky Rubin for proof reading and checking for inconsistencies.

The CBIG 2023 Illustration Directories are now Live! Do go and check out ALL the wonderful illustration Promo Pages that make up Both Directories at: cbig-nyc.com/portfolio

Find me at:

Website: dianadelosh.com

Illustration Blog: dtdelosh.blospot.com

Instagram & Threads: @dtdelosh

Post: @dtdelosh

Bluesky: @dtdelosh

Check out my illustrations on products at:

Greeting Cards: greetingcarduniverse.com/dianascards

Gifts: zazzle.com/deloshdesigns*

Art Prints: wingedrabbit.imagekind.com

REJECTION! - Survival Tips

Rejection is not something anyone likes to deal with but as an illustrator/writer surviving it is a necessary skill. After all the only way to  avoid  Rejection is to take yourself out of the game and that is not an option unless you're retiring or changing careers. Here are a few tips in random order. If you are an illustrator or writer please feel free to comment on how you have dealt with rejection. Let's learn from each other.

I've discovered that Submitting while agented is a different game. First, I have to  run my book ideas through my agent before it even reaches the submittable stage. The idea is so I'm not wasting time working on an unmarketable project. Most of my ideas do not get the green light. Which is fine. A picture book dummy can take me 2+ months to create and I'd rather spend it on something that has a chance in a super competitive market. And  my graphic novel? Well...  So far my concept and full synopsis has past my Agent's scrutiny and I'm still working on the full script.

When my picture book dummy went out on submission, my agent sent it out in batches of about 8 or so publishing houses at time. The other BIG difference is she got responses and feedback, even if it was just a short note to most of her submissions! Me, pre-agent mainly got crickets. However when you and your Agent decide to shelve a project. It is still a sad thing. YES, there is still lots of rejection even with an agent.

1 - CREATE Something NEW - even better fall in love with your new project. Keeps your mind on something positive and moving forward. 

2. Be A Prolific Creative. This is much, much easier said then done.

3. Focus on what you can control. Unfortunately you can't make them acquire it. Focus on what you can control; your creativity, your craft, your productivity.

4.  It's Not Personal. When they say the style doesn't suit their needs at the moment. Or they are moving in a different direction. They didn't say you are a terrible person. They just were not into your work.  It's subjective. See number 1. Always have a few projects running.

5. Wallow in the  Rejection. When all else fails OD on the chocolates and hide under the blankets just set a time limit -an hour, a day or even 2. Allow yourself to feel sorry for yourself and your project, even shed a few tears - you're human - just remember to get back on track, ASAP.

6. Let things cool off. Perhaps put it aside to revise when the dust has settled. In the meanwhile work on something else.

7. Work on your craft. One day, you may be pleasantly horrified by some of your earlier rejected projects and agree with the editors/art directors.

8. Diversify. Learn new things. Keeps life interesting. Your writing may be selling at the moment but your illustration may not, but at least something is getting a positive response. 

9. Research adjacent markets that use your skills and strengths.  May be your kid lit art might look great on a greeting card or puzzle or hangin in a a kid's room or kitchen or...  try your hand at Surface Design. This also allows you to submit to different markets.

10. Adapt. There maybe nothing wrong with your project. It could be something you can't help like the economy or the market. Be willing to repurpose your art. So the picture book market is down maybe adapt the story for an early reader or chapter book Or try working on art for an older market. OR maybe that piece of finished spec art that was rejected for the XYZ book cover would make a great puzzle or wall art or greeting card. Don't define your art too narrowly.

11. Don't call it a Rejection. I find saying they Passed on my project sounds a lot less harsh then they rejected it.

12. Find your TRIBE. It is super helpful to have at least one other person  that understands. It's even better if you find a whole bunch of people to commiserate with when you're down and cheer you on when things go well. This is one of the true benefits of social media.

It should also be noted that in this day and age where many companies are no longer responding to submissions unless they are interested, a rejection at least is a concrete response. I personally find the lack of response more unnerving than a definite yay or nay. I also find submitting things through submittable and jot forms a good thing as you usually get a confirmation that your submission was successful so you know it wasn't lost in the internet ether.

I had originally planned to repost a post for THROWBACK THURSDAY. However when I reviewed the original post I realized that a lot had changed and things that worked then no longer worked for me now.  You can read the original here, REJECTION! A Few Antidotes  was posted on 10/15/2010.

You can find me at:

Website: dianadelosh.com

Instagram & Threads: @dtdelosh

Post: @dtdelosh

Bluesky: @dtdelosh

Check out my illustrations on products at:

Greeting Cards: greetingcarduniverse.com/dianascards

Gifts: zazzle.com/deloshdesigns*

Art Prints: wingedrabbit.imagekind.com