On Becoming an Author
I asked around, and most people say you can call yourself an author once you have a book published.
I’m going to stop believing that today, here are my reasons.
1. James Cameron
“Shoot something. No matter how small, no matter how cheesy, no matter whether your friends and your sister star in it. Put your name on it as director. Now you're a director. - James Cameron
2. I became an Illustrator before I got published. Same Thing.
In order to get an agent or a job as illustrator, you need to tell people you’re an illustrator. Why should it be different for being an author.
3. And most importantly, I AUTHORED a thing.
This is the thing. It’s a Zine called “On becoming an Author.”
Now, you might think I’m being cute and cheesy, but I’m raising my voice and waving my arms and looking at you intently and telling you that it’s not. This is how you become a thing, you decide and then you do it.
That’s how I became an illustrator, the rest is details.
Today, I Adam Ming am an Author.
And I became an author, by
Applying the Sketchbook Habit
For 6 months I’ve been spending 10 minutes a day sketching.
These are not works of art or anything special in itself. But I’ve developed a habit, I smashed that old foe resistance so hard it’s cowering in the corner in fear. Yeah that’s the most you can ever do with immortal enemies.
At the moment, I’m winning.
I know all its tricks, traps and deceptions. And while I’m wary of Resistance, I have confidence from all my small victories.
I’m taking those winnings and doubling down.
I have cracked open a new sketchbook for a writing project. I need to fill this book for 10 Minutes a day.
That’s how it gets done right?
A page at a time.
I have a pile of sketchbooks that show me that I can fill a page, I can fill hundreds of pages.
Now I’m using this habit, to write this story ten minute increment at a time.
Sketchbook Project
Become an Author.
Write a story or part of a story every day.
You can draw it too. I have a cousin who drew a story in an exercise book, that impressed me so much, it was called The Ship.
It started with characters getting on a ship.
The book then showed the ship on every page, and on the last page, everybody got off.
Make that your story…
chooses who gets in and who gets off and what adventures happen at sea.
Or write/draw any story.
You can make it as a zine too if you like. The Zine in the video is inspired by
For my project, I’m going to share the story I’m authoring in the news sketchbook, can’t wait to see your story!
Share your stories here:
Here are some sketches (and stories) from the Food Gallery from 2 weeks ago.








Buy my books here. And If you want to start your sketchbook habit today, here are 21 thoughts to guide you
A More Robust Ten Minute Artist Community and other updates.
I love all the illustrations! And I love the words about the sketchbook for 10 minutes a day. Thank you for the encouragement!
I love this. I keep seeing posts from people and messages and books that are urging me to start drawing every day again. I started scribbling again two days ago and your post had affirmed that I need to keep going and build my habit.
I used to draw every day and then I stopped because I got tangled up in life and didn't realise that drawing helps you untangle.
I like the story idea, I'm going to try that one.
Thanks.
Lynne.