The Constraints of Publishing Business

The blank page is not really blank

When working with a kids book publisher, you’re never really starting with a blank page.

You’re starting with a set of constraints.

For example:

• What kids of books will many people want to buy when your art is ready?

• Will your cover look good on an amazon thumbnail and stand out on the supermarket shelf.

• What can you bring something that’s incrementally different from what’s already available.

• Work in a style that can be completed within a fixed deadline taking into account editing

• The ability to both be creatively independent and a team player.

• Can you be push the boundaries of a well established category?

• Can you be a subject matter expert on this narrow subject?

I’m very comfortable working within these constraints. I don’t thing they stifle my creativity if anything, my creativity thrives in constraints.

How do you feel about creative constraints?