tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post4397378699512287445..comments2024-03-28T06:28:49.282+00:00Comments on Picture Book Den: MY PICTURE BOOK JOURNEY by Saviour PirottaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-70851067719442414592015-04-09T12:00:19.401+01:002015-04-09T12:00:19.401+01:00My children loved 'Solomon's secret' l...My children loved 'Solomon's secret' long before I had the pleasure of meeting you :) It's a favourite in the Huggins family :)LynnHChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01748651754823966254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-84874978887617098012015-04-08T20:19:03.038+01:002015-04-08T20:19:03.038+01:00I understand, my personal experience was kind of o...I understand, my personal experience was kind of opposite yours, in that I often met non-illustrator authors feel less important than the illustrator in picture books, but even comics/graphic novels where there's potentially even less text than picture books from a couple decades back <b>(before the current minimalist movement)</b>...<br /><br />I mostly write novel-length stories, but I have my picture book ideas, but executing them is far more challenging because the story needs to be , but if you've never worked with an illustrator, it's tricky to know what you can show as the author, but at the same time keep in mind the illustrator "completes the equation" later in the proccess.<br /><br />Sometimes that's hard for writers like me who It's dificult to be both specific yet inclusive, in that you want to "make room for the ilustrator" but you also want your words to matter, and sometimes authors can be a little jealous of illustrators in respect to picture books. <br /><br />At least with comics/graphic novels, there can be a little more direct back and forth between the artist and author, and it's not seen as the author trying to "mirco manage" the illustrator. <br /><br />This is another reason I hope more non-illustrator authors epsecially can find ways to collaborate with visual artists like illustrators or professional camera operators where they can experiment and play with collaboration with more visual artists without the pressure, high stakes finanical risk, and/or the weight of a book project.<br /><br />Author-illustrators and non-illustrator authors who have worked with illustrators (and vice versa) do have an edge in this. <br /><br />But since the road to working with an illustrator via the tradtional model (<b>however hands on or off)</b> is LONG and infrequent, we need ways to give authors and illustrator the chance work together and learn from each other, and in the process, learn respect for what they can do for each other in general in that big picture way we're forever trying to define for ourselvs.<br /><br />Not all illustrators are authors, and not all authors are illustrators, but having chances to collaborate with them in non "high stakes" ways can be a great learning experience for both sides.<br /><br />If anyone knows of such avenues, feel free to share them, I know that's something many non-illustrator authors, including me, would love to take part in.Taurean Watkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604609379930060667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-7922031959052185442015-04-08T19:50:13.552+01:002015-04-08T19:50:13.552+01:00It's okay, Saviour, my comments have typos som...It's okay, Saviour, my comments have typos sometimes. <br /><br />Thankfully most readers are more forgiving with blogs versus content they pay for (i.e. books).<br /><br />I wish blogger sties allowed you to edit your comments to fix that. <br /><br />A big reason why I moved T.A.A. to Wordpress, so I can edit typos or fix hyperlinks in replies to commenters, or fixing the typos or links in their comments via the admin tools.<br /><br />I've been known to delete tweets when I catch a really bad typo or grammar tick and redo the tweet with the error fixed, with such a limited character count, it's even easier for folks to get confused by what your saying on Twitter.Taurean Watkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604609379930060667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-87993582146722034042015-04-08T10:19:51.459+01:002015-04-08T10:19:51.459+01:00I was talking out of personal experience, Taurean....I was talking out of personal experience, Taurean. Glad you review the words too. We need more lik you.<br />Saviour Pirottahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00050985173663527791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-57836588591683076452015-04-08T09:42:23.732+01:002015-04-08T09:42:23.732+01:00Glad you shared this post with us, Saviour, but HO...Glad you shared this post with us, Saviour, but HOLD UP! <br /><br />I have to challenge you on this point you made above-<br /><br />"Don’t write picture books if you want to be lauded as a real author. People will tell you, ‘we love the pictures,’ but they’ll never comment on your text."<br /><br />I'm sorry you and other authors and/or illustrators in your ciricle had this disheartning experience, but not all reviewers (whether they're teachers, authors, or lay readers who aren't in publishing) take the words in picture books for granted.<br /><br />I comment on the WORDS, too, not just the pictures in ALL my picture books/graphic novel reviews, they both equally MATTER. <br /><br />Maybe because I'm non-illustrator author I'm more sensitive to not over looking the words (if it's not a wordless picture book) and I ALWAYS give equal billing when the author and illustrator aren't one in the same, <br /><br />But you don't have to take my word for it, <a href="http://www.talkinganimaladdicts.com/weekly-readings-15" rel="nofollow">check out one of my more recent picture book reviews!<br /></a><br />Hope I don't sound rude or whiny, but I just wanted you to know that at my site, "Talking Animal Addicts", authors and illustrators are given equal repsect to what they each bring to a book. <br />Taurean Watkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604609379930060667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-44013598430072304532015-04-08T09:27:51.339+01:002015-04-08T09:27:51.339+01:00That said, Candy, it can go the other way, too.
...That said, Candy, it can go the other way, too. <br /><br />Sometimes authors feel in the shadow of illustrators <b>(regarding picture books that have a separate author and illustrator )</b> and yes, I understand illustrators can an do feel marginalized, but we should remember that not all authors and illustrators <b>(esp. via the tradtional model)</b> get the luxury to bounce things off each other, and the editor and art director at the publisher work with the illustrator separate from the author. <br /><br />The authors and illustrators that do team up usually have worked together in the past and slowly <b>(and I do mean SLOWLY...)</b> built up a direct collab spirit <b>(or they get a RARE opprotunty to build that reprore outside the publisher(s) they work with)</b><br /><br />I know and truly respect/empathize with the illustrators who've felt marginalized and given this second class treatment. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/blogettes/5-qualities-of-an-irresistible-picture-book" rel="nofollow">Still, non-illustrator authors of pictures books have had it tough just to get READ</a>, never mind sell their book.<br /><br />I haven't been agent searching for awhile, but there was a period shortly from 2008-2013, where publishers AND agents preferred pictue books from author-illustrators ONLY, and I know people keep telling me non-illustraor authors still get picure books published. <br /><br />Even so, I do think it's harder for us, and not just at the query/pitch stage, but we also have to "make room for the illustrator" and if this if your first book where you have an illustrator <b>(assuming for the sake of arguement sells)</b> I know picture books are a fusion of words and pictures working together. <br /><br />But it's HARD to do that when you're not also illustrating the book, and I know even author-illustrators don't always illustrate their own books, but I'm speaking from the POV of authors who aren't illustrators. <br /><br />That said, just becasue I can't illustrate, doesn't mean I'm not visual and have an eye for visualss, and while many authors are actually glad to be hands off in the art stage, I'd liek to have SOME input, which I don't equate to "Micro-managing the illustrator" which I know many illustrators hate. <br /><br />But I do believe authors should get some input in the illustration process, especially with books that have had issues with mischaracterizing diverse characters, and this isn't nessecarily the illustrator's fault, but what the publisher <b>(again, tradtional model)</b> wanted to go with, and it hurts the book first impression at best, and turns away readers at worst. <br /><br />What I think some publishers forget sometimes is that we as the author, and the illustrator, don't want the book to tank anymore than you, but understand that w'er taking a chance on you just as much as you're betting on us. <br /><br />Whether it's a small press or a "Big 5", I just hope more publishers and agents realize that we writers are no less mortal than you are! we can only be our own "One-Man <b>[or Woman]</b> marketing genius" so much!<br /><br />Despite the indie author revolution: middle grade novels and picture books are still among the HARDEST books to publish well, particularly for the indie author, because one thing people tend to overlook is that aside from the marketing challenges, indie authors also have to handle their own printing costs, getting ISBNS <b>(especially if you want to get in offline bookstores, picture books and novels BELOW YA, print still MATTERS</b>), and that's ON TOP OF-<br /><br />-The costs of hiring a dream team of editors <b>(For different stages of editing, for those who don't know)</b><br /><br />-Hiring the illustrator, cover diesnger, and SO MUCH MORE, along with remembering to, you know, write the "next book" in midst of all that...<b>(Sigh)</b> <br /><br />I don't mean to whine, but those are fair and valid facts to state as I see them.<br /><br />Anyway, Take Care All,<br />Taurean W.Taurean Watkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604609379930060667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-3966361494086801192015-04-06T19:27:09.233+01:002015-04-06T19:27:09.233+01:00Good job Saviour. So proud of you! Thanks for shar...Good job Saviour. So proud of you! Thanks for sharing<br /><br />Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13427323691519456329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-36997430866877494982015-04-06T14:20:44.836+01:002015-04-06T14:20:44.836+01:00Thank you, Saviour! Looking forward to the new boo...Thank you, Saviour! Looking forward to the new book, coming from your toilet break inspiration! Moira Butterfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17355420549929911500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-4165947194809264852015-04-06T12:25:29.338+01:002015-04-06T12:25:29.338+01:00Thanks for the comments, everyone, and I do apolog...Thanks for the comments, everyone, and I do apologise for the typos. Saviour Pirottahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00050985173663527791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-17280102332782663712015-04-06T10:38:42.495+01:002015-04-06T10:38:42.495+01:00So many great learning points here. And a differen...So many great learning points here. And a different take on the recent "who is the author" debate ... sparked by illustrators iften not being named as co authors! Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-18986637481929606572015-04-05T16:29:52.465+01:002015-04-05T16:29:52.465+01:00Throwing ideas back and forth with editors or writ...Throwing ideas back and forth with editors or writers friends, or even just with yourself, seems to work particularly well for developing picture book stories. Good luck with the story out with the agent, Saviour!Pippa Goodharthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17709422048047155208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-34393232490844917862015-04-05T15:18:54.886+01:002015-04-05T15:18:54.886+01:00Thanks for sharing your picture book journey, Savi...Thanks for sharing your picture book journey, SaviourJane Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361379190770989657noreply@blogger.com