Goals for this Newsletter in 2022
A roadmap
Becoming an Illustrator
2021 is the year I got my agent.
I also started Illustrating:
My first middle grade book
My first picture book
My first non-fiction kids picture book
It has been my dream to become an illustrator for 30 years, but I only developed the domain-specific skills, soft skills and mindset to work in this industry in the past couple of years. That is what I write about in this weekday newsletter. It’s advice for my younger self on becoming an illustrator.
Two Goals
2021 is also the year I started this newsletter which got picked as a ‘Featured Publication’ on Substack. Right now 372 people are subscribed to the newsletter and I appreciate every one of you.
I have two goals for this newsletter in 2022:
To grow the readership of the weekday newsletter, “Adam’s Notes” to 1500 readers.
To get 10% of those readers to subscribe for $7-$10 a month, to a new “Weekend Edition” of Adam’s notes. The weekend Edition will expand on the ideas that bubble up during the week or explore new ideas in depth. They will include interviews with illustrators, agents, editors, book designers, and other industry professionals.
Schedule
The first “Weekend Edition” will launch the month after I hit 1500 free subscribers (currently 372). I’m aiming for July, but it could be as early as February if the readership goes up quickly.
What can I do as a reader ?
You’re doing great, I really appreciate how engaged you are with the newsletter it’s very motivating so keep doing what you do! If you read a post you like, you could email it to a friend or share it on socials.
I also love when you hit ‘Reply’ and let me know what you think about a piece.
Please continue to send your questions, I’ll answer them if I can and I’ll collect them for future interviews.
Let me know what you think about the plan, and if there’s anything you’d like to see in the “Weekly Newsletter”, I’m also open to suggestions about what we should call the thing.
Hi Adam, I have a burning question I would love to ask you… I have been asked to illustrate a second picture book with the same format and characters as the first edition, so consistency is key. But my technique and style have improved since then.
Although I created the characters I now think they look stiff and overworked. When I draw them now they look slightly different but in my eyes so much better! But the editor and author want to keep them exactly the way they were!
I’m not even sure I can recreate them again as my drawing style has relaxed and I have found my new style. How would you approach this problem?
Many Thanks
Sandy