Applying the Sketchbook Habit

The day I became an Author.

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

Mitchell Volk

, it’s two index cards stapled together.

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:

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Here are some sketches (and stories) from the Food Gallery from 2 weeks ago.

Libby Brewster: Here’s tonight’s Thai red curry, next to the coriander that’s going to go on top and bananas because I don’t get to use my yellow pen very often!

Pat Coakley: Years ago, I decided to lose weight but really didn’t like veggies. I was a photographer back then and could appreciate the shapes and colors of the produce aisle and overloaded tables at farmer’s markets. So, I decided to look at vegetables as objects of beautiful shapes and colors and photograph them rather than think of them as something I HAD to eat. At first, when I brought a bunch of whatever home, I photographed them and gave them to a neighbor to eat. Eventually, these veggies found their way to a pan with hot oil and garlic and I lost the weight and kept it off. And…i just finished a lunch of roasted chicken peas and kale!

Hannah: Not sure if I have ever had a proper Waldorf Salad, but I do want to try it. Sounds refreshing, might just need to wait for warmer days.

Tasha Goddard: Just realised I was probably supposed to sketch in an actual sketchbook, sorry! But this was tonight’s dinner, and a fairly recent favourite of mine. Especially love how many green vegetables I can manage to stuff into it! And it changes each time, depending on what’s available in the fridge, cupboard, etc. (And who’s eating - eldest only likes spinach raw, for example, otherwise I would throw some in, she also can’t stand peas, whereas youngest loves peas. If I’m making it just for me, I will throw in everything green I can find, including edamame beans, okra and peas from the freezer.) Also sometimes make it veggie rather than vegan, with sour cream and some Parmesan, but the vegan version is lighter and I find easier to digest.

My 4D World: Doodling at lunch today. I was craving something sweet. Took the phrase "Piece of Cake" and illustrated utilizing those verbs. Not quite following the prompt for today, but was just having a little fun.

Monique: I realized food is one of my favourite things to illustrate 🥰. I decided to draw some of the things I ate over the weekend. I also worked out that I took a cake decorating class so decided to include that cake as well

Jenn: I wanted to follow the list of food to draw—so I asked my husband to make breakfast for dinner. I had microwaveable Indian food for breakfast. One of my daughters requested a German Pancake. I haven’t yet drawn it plated yet.

Elaine Horn: Some meals are healthier than others, but sometimes it's fun to just go to the beach and enjoy the good weather!

Yumiko Kitazono: Traditional meal

View the full Gallery…

Buy my books here. And If you want to start your sketchbook habit today, here are 21 thoughts to guide you

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