[christen-mccreavy1 Posts: 12 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Hello everyone,

I am a children’s book author and illustrator in the making. I thought in the future when my children’s book dummy is good and I have a great children’s book illustration portfolio I could send a proposal to an children’s book author to be their illustrator. I just wanted to know what should be included in the proposal.

Thank you,
Christen 

[olmue Posts: 3,560 Status: Offline]

Hi Christen! First of all, welcome and also good luck in your illustration endeavors! I'll let others explain what to put together for the portfolio, how to contact, etc., but for the submission process, it works a little differently than many people think. In traditional publishing, the author doesn't choose the illustrator. Instead, the publisher hires the illustrator and pairs them with an author--maybe because the artist's style matches the tone of the story, maybe they will pair a new writer with a known illustrator or vice versa, etc. Because of this, it's sort of frowned on for a writer and illustrator to team up together and query publishers. It's possible that one or the other will be signed, but not necessarily both together.

For self publishing writers of course, that is different. Those writers ARE the publishers, so of course they would be the ones doing the hiring as well. For this I would advise working with writers who understand this. (Ie don't promise to illustrate a book "because it will be good exposure" or for royalties alone--self published picture books don't do as well and may never earn out.) Don't overcharge, but do value your time and work.

I do know that one thing you should have is a portfolio that can be viewed online that showcases your style and your ability to create child-friendly illustrations, and give a sense of story. Art directors or potential SP writers looking to hire will want to see samples of your work. If you are querying a publisher with your own pictures AND text (which is fine to do, as opposed to teaming up with another writer prior to being signed on), then your dummy should consist of sketches, but only maybe 3 of them as finished artwork. Illustrations, like text, also undergo editorial revisions. You want to show what a finished page might look like, but you also want to show that you are open to edits.

[christripp Posts: 1,218 Status: Offline]

Christen, Rose's advice is spot on! Illustrators don't send proposals but you do want to set up a website with samples of your work, with the subject matter something you would find in a Picture Book and as far as I know, sending postcards out to Art Directors is still being done (?)
There is also the "Illustrators Gallery",  on the main SCBWI site, where you can upload samples, https://www.scbwi.org/illustrator-gallery/
When you have a few Stories (dummies) polished and ready to show, you might want to try the Literary Agent route first, many of them are keen to see work from an Author/Illustrator. If you wish to try looking for an Agent, don't send to any Publishers until you have exhausted the Agent route.
As for working with Self Publishing Authors, with an Illustrator presence on SM and the on line portfolios, they typically find and approach you.

[christen-mccreavy1 Posts: 12 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Hello Olmue and Christripp

     Thank you so much for the warm welcome! It’s great to be a member here at SCBWI. Thank you for your input it’s so valuable to me. I’m not sure which road to take whether it be self published or through a published company with my own written and illustrated work and illustrated work for others. Although when I think about it I do feel that I want to be published with a company and not be self published. Hearing about how I can submit my portfolio and not have a proposal to a publishing company and have the publisher pair me up with an author sounds wonderful! I’m just so glad to be able to have these discussion boards to go to for advice especially because I joined a different social media page that wasn’t SCBWI and posted a similar question and received a disheartening message that really got to me. This one person who wrote and illustrated their own picture book book and had it self published through Amazon told me : “ So you want to be ran over and taken advantage of…..How about you write the story draw your images make the bucks, become famous and be your own person.”

    I also for some reason posted that I’m an illustrator looking for job advice to suddenly have people message me saying that they are  Illustrators that would like to work for me, when it’s like no guys read my message twice. It was bizarre! But I definitely know better resources to go to now and I’m thankful to have SCBWI as a top resource!

     I feel that I’m still a rookie Children’s Book Illustrator that needs to work on building the design aspects of a children’s book dummy more. So I’m taking courses on Domestika for that and looking over YouTube videos on how to create a children’s picture book dummy in Procreate which I’ve seen an accomplished published through a company illustrator named Anoosha Syed post.  I know if I want to work for someone when creating a children’s book I want to be paid the normal wage I should be paid. I have a question, for my children’s book illustration portfolio should all my illustrations be the same size or can they be different?

Thanks so much,
Christen

[christen-mccreavy1 Posts: 12 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Oh by the way,

What does SP stand for in SP Writer?

Thanks,
Christen

[dewsanddamps Posts: 2,320 Status: Offline]

Hi, Christen! SP stands for self published. Other abbreviations you might see are PAL (published and listed, meaning a traditionally-published writer or illustrator), ms (manuscript), mss (manuscripts), MC (main character), POV (point of view), and BIC (butt in chair, the most important thing in getting a project done).
 

[christen-mccreavy1 Posts: 12 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Hi dewsanddamps,

Thank you so much! 

[christen-mccreavy1 Posts: 12 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Hey Rose and Christripp,

 I want advice on where I should be in my life as a children’s book author and illustrator in the making. Right now I’m revising my children’s book story and illustrations and building up my children’s book illustration portfolio. I’m going to have people review my children’s book and illustrations for constructive criticism. If my work is really great, I’ll just show my portfolio on my social media with a link to my website and other social media pages. And from there I will wait for an art director,literary agent and or SP writer to find and contact me for work? Is that a good plan? And if my work isn’t great I’ll continue to revise my work and improve until I can showcase a good portfolio to get me hired. As a Children’s book author and illustrator I should make more artwork to share online, review other author’s, children’s book manuscripts in critique circles and continue attending online SCBWI webinars right? Am I missing anything? Is it okay for me to post w.i.p.’s and finished unpublished illustrations from my children’s book dummy online? I don’t know if I should be warry that someone could take my designs or ideas? But if I have my name watermarked I don’t think anything bad could happen? What’s a good guide for me to look at when critiquing other children’s book manuscripts and or pictures books?

Thank you again,
Christen

[christripp Posts: 1,218 Status: Offline]

Christen, posting great pic book friendly new artwork on twitter and other SM is certainly a good idea to get your work out there but never sit and wait for an AD (Art Director) to find you. There are, world wide, millions of Illustrators looking for the same book opportunity
An AD might like an Illustration of your's they see but it can be forgotten about in tomorrows bombardment of SM art. Send them physical postcards of new art, as often as is possible (every 3 months if you can) Find and follow AD's on twitter, ED's (Editors) too, of PB's (Picture Books). Now, don't pop art on every tweet an AD or ED makes, that will annoy them (there's a fine line between persistence and pest But they occasionally put out calls for art samples and if you are following them, you can add yours to the line up. Be ready to play the long game in Publishing, it's almost never fast as we'd like.
Also, take advantage (if you aren't already) of what your chapter and ALL the other Chapters offer. You can spend a day going through the events they are hosting, not just in EPA but all over the Globe. In person was/is the very best but on-line has made it possible to "travel" to any event.
I'm seeing 3 that might interest you, in your region.  2 coming up this month are, "peer critique night" and "zoom into PB's" (looks like they may be monthly offerings ? and they are free)  The other, mid march, has a small charge but features a well known  Literary Agent (who was an AD with Abrams) The event is called "finding your story as an Illustrator"
I see there is a pay for opportunity to have an individual critique from him (also a second Agent listed) (15min) but you'd want to be sure your work is it's very best & it and you are ready for something like that. A professional critique is an amazing opportunity but can be hard on even the most seasoned of us. There's a lot of "thick skin building" needed in our industry but if you go in with the attitude of wanting to learn from the critisisum, not be praised, it goes a long way
https://epa.scbwi.org/events/

[christen-mccreavy1 Posts: 12 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thank you so much!

I wanted to make a #kidllitposcard that says:

Hi #kidlitpostcard !

I’m Christen McCreavy a children’s book author and illustrator in the making! I’m looking to be found by an art director, literary agent or self published author for future projects and job opportunities! For now check out my website and feel free to follow me on Instagram 👩🏿‍💻and here on Twitter 🦜!

💼 IG: https://www.instagram.com/christenmccreavyart
💼Website: christenmccreavy art studio
📧 Email: christenmccreavyart@gmail.com

I would need to have a portfolio of art centered around children’s books so I don’t have the url published yet.

Does this sound good or what should I say?

I am joining an open mic night this Monday night and I plan to join other critique groups too. I messaged one SCBWI critique group head in an email explaining who I am and she’s still trying to see if I’m a good fit. I had to message her about me twice because she said she had a busy week and I still haven’t heard from her. I don’t know if I should message her back.

I’ll look into the other group events thanks for sharing the other events you find would benefit me! I don’t feel ready enough to share my picture book dummy it still needs revisions but I’m just sharing my manuscript in the open mic night event which I’m happy about.

 

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,068 Status: Offline Language is so cool!]

Hi Christen,

It's possible the person you're emailing attended this weekend's winter conference. Give them a couple more days to get back to you.

Think of your postcard as a professional marketing tool. You are selling yourself and your art, therefore, you want to sound confident even when you aren't. I'll let Chris Tripp advise on better wording since I'm not an artist. My point is to have you get into that business mindset as the postcard is a business tool for when you're ready. Meanwhile, happy learning.

[christripp Posts: 1,218 Status: Offline]

I don’t feel ready enough to share my picture book dummy it still needs revisions

That's very wise. You want to present the best work possible. You'll know when it (and you) are ready (well honestly we are never absolutely sure we or the work is ready but you'll know when it's 'now or never time' and  must take that next step

As for how to address AD's, just keep it simple. Illustrator's physical postcards showcase 1 or maybe 2 pieces of art, large as possible, then text wise,  just the basics. Name, email address & link to where more work can be viewed (be it instagram, a pay for art portfolio site or your own website. Your art says everything else
I like your Twitter intro # idea but keep that simple, straightforward too. No, "in the making" or "ready to be found". I'd say  more like this...
" I’m Christen McCreavy a children’s book author and illustrator. To see more of my work, follow me on Instagram and here on Twitter!"

[Vijaya Posts: 7,104 Status: Offline Encourage]

Christen, you've received a lot of great advice. I would also send your postcard to magazines--it is much easier to break into the magazine market than the book world and you can slowly build your portfolio with both published and unpublished work. You can check out several magazines at the library and see which children's magazines you like, study them for content and style, and then send postcards to the AD. Good luck!

[christen-mccreavy1 Posts: 12 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thanks everyone!

Now in the future if I feel  I have a good written and illustrated children’s book, how do I get it published?

Thanks,
Christen

[RebeccaL-G Posts: 1,526 Status: Offline RA SCBWI Cen-Cal]

Cristen, if you haven't done so yet, reach out to your SCBWI region's Illustrator Coordinator to find out about illustrator events.

[christen-mccreavy1 Posts: 12 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thanks Rebecca! I’ll do just that!

[Vijaya Posts: 7,104 Status: Offline Encourage]

Now in the future if I feel  I have a good written and illustrated children’s book, how do I get it published?

Check out this faq for an overview: https://www.scbwi.org/boards/index.php?action=faq;sa=show;faqid=8

[christen-mccreavy1 Posts: 12 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thank you Vijaya!