tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post7497036974278723131..comments2024-03-28T06:28:49.282+00:00Comments on Picture Book Den: My top three surreal editorial comments by Jane ClarkeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-45542899761562347372022-07-30T11:11:41.135+01:002022-07-30T11:11:41.135+01:00Thanks you very much!
Thanks you very much!<br />xnxxhttps://xnxx-mom.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-44830727084747877002015-02-04T11:55:02.019+00:002015-02-04T11:55:02.019+00:00This made me laugh a lot!This made me laugh a lot!Lydia Sysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04613876235125755967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-24021308689517106692015-02-04T00:52:13.681+00:002015-02-04T00:52:13.681+00:00Well, I actually have a quite a vivid picture of t...Well, I actually have a quite a vivid picture of them in my head, but you know that "Trust the Illustrator" thing. I really want to be an illustrator one day for at least some of my books. I'm a firm believer that non-illustrator writers have an eye for visuals and blogging's a great way for writers to explore what they appreciate and love visually.Taurean Watkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604609379930060667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-50294289963340886472015-02-03T22:15:35.265+00:002015-02-03T22:15:35.265+00:00Good to hear from you. Like you, as a writer I ten...Good to hear from you. Like you, as a writer I tend to have a 'hazy' idea of the pictures (and one that lurks somewhere in the middle ground you talk about), so I sympathise with the illustrators who have to decide how 'natural' our unnatural ideas are. Jane Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361379190770989657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-34496024176361566782015-02-03T18:40:35.203+00:002015-02-03T18:40:35.203+00:00These are the kinds of things that can drive (part...These are the kinds of things that can drive (particularly non-illustrator writers like me) CRAZY because I've only got words to work with.<br /><br />Granted, I write novels more than picture books so my thoughts are colored with that POV. <br /><br />That said, I think there should be more room to have a middle ground between cartoony and naturalistic.<br /><br />My stories tend to be in that hazy middle between anthropomorphic and naturalistic, and for one particular project I've shelved for now (but will bring out) I'll indie publish when I can afford to do so as I'd need more back and forth with an illustrator that can pull it off visually.<br /><br />My take specifically on the "Cow udder" thing is I think it should be a case by case basis. <br /><br />Sometimes it makes sense to use them and other times it doesn't. <br /><br />Cow (from the 90s cartoon "Cow and Chicken" ) flaunted her udder and it doesn't bother me, it is a natural part of the animal (blatantly cartoony as that show is) and lot of humor can come from exploiting the more unusual aspects of the animal. (Hello, skunks and their scent glands, anyone?) <br /><br />What I personally find more off-putting is the cow from Nickelodeon's "Barnyard" series because he's male yet has an udder, and only females have udders, right? Okay, I'll end it here before I create a documentary out of this topic... (LOL)<br /> Taurean Watkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604609379930060667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-63133708655573871332015-02-01T18:10:12.866+00:002015-02-01T18:10:12.866+00:00I remember a half-hour telephone conversation with...I remember a half-hour telephone conversation with a lovely illustrator. She asked me lots of questions about the main character in the picture book. I answered all the questions, even though many of them I made up on the spot, but I KNEW what the character's answers would be as she was real in my head. Afterwards it struck me how surreal the conversation had been!Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-31023401372094393642015-02-01T09:36:44.938+00:002015-02-01T09:36:44.938+00:00Now, call me naive, but I hadn't tracked these...Now, call me naive, but I hadn't tracked these comments back to sales. Thanks Moira and Nick, illuminating.Jane Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361379190770989657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-11041826503763493192015-02-01T09:34:08.156+00:002015-02-01T09:34:08.156+00:00I'll look out for that one, it sounds fab - I&...I'll look out for that one, it sounds fab - I'm fond of cows and used to live in Holland in a place called Koewacht (koe being Dutch for cow). In the pic book that's currently being illustrated, it's only the cow in one particular pose that's the subject of surreal debate :-)Jane Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361379190770989657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-49199924123451384462015-01-31T14:38:50.707+00:002015-01-31T14:38:50.707+00:00Also the comment about drugs is *especially* revea...Also the comment about drugs is *especially* revealing...Nick Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08191176209084540085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-11506954096533465212015-01-31T11:23:22.940+00:002015-01-31T11:23:22.940+00:00I did a picture book about cows positively bristli...I did a picture book about cows positively bristling with udders a few years ago! It didn't seem an issue at the time. I wonder if a picture of a cow with no udders would look rather incomplete. Deborah Fajermanhttp://www.deborahfajerman.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-44331085392192463312015-01-31T07:15:41.808+00:002015-01-31T07:15:41.808+00:00More and more I think we should just leave the sal...More and more I think we should just leave the salespeople to write and draw the books themselves... Wait for them to starve to death... Then quietly start up again.Nick Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08191176209084540085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-47275868947227024932015-01-30T19:59:25.865+00:002015-01-30T19:59:25.865+00:00Moira, those are unbelievable!! Love the post, Jan...Moira, those are unbelievable!! Love the post, Jane - really funny but telling, too.Leilahttp://www.leilarasheed.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-48983912747632015532015-01-30T14:41:34.433+00:002015-01-30T14:41:34.433+00:00As an editor I used to get regular comments on pro...As an editor I used to get regular comments on projects from frankly crazed salespeople, such as:<br />'Change that picture. Father Christmas doesn't tuck his trousers into his boots.'<br />'Don't show children with big eyes. People will think they're on drugs'. <br />Recently - 'we can't have a child eating honey sandwiches because honey is not healthy' <br />'boys don't like books with hugs in' <br />'any couples you show in picture books must have wedding rings on'<br />I'm not surprised by anything any more : ) Moira Butterfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17355420549929911500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-14285513813981843882015-01-30T14:23:48.640+00:002015-01-30T14:23:48.640+00:00Well put, Jonathan, thanks Well put, Jonathan, thanks Jane Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361379190770989657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-89194341707286159092015-01-30T08:16:24.577+00:002015-01-30T08:16:24.577+00:00Nice post. I know those kind of dilemmas well. The...Nice post. I know those kind of dilemmas well. The book/story has its own internal logic which will rub up against real world logic in odd ways sometimes. I can't think of any surreal examples, but I have avoided food as an issue in my Baby Owl books, as Baby Owls do tend to eat generally cute creatures such as mice and voles. . .<br />The issue of male genitals on kid's book creatures is tricky. They are plainly evident in real life, but to include them in a kid's book would feel wrong, which shows what a strange mindset we (adults) have. I guess that because they are almost totally absent, to include them would become a big statement about our values and distract from the story etc. Jon Burgess Designhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686489273842347796noreply@blogger.com