Children play; adults usually don’t. At least, not in the same way. Adults play an instrument, or tennis, but they don’t often ‘play’ like children do, to learn, to find out what happens if….., which is a shame. Children play to learn, not because they don’t have proper jobs or a hundred chores to do continue reading »
Two things make an illustrator stressed: a) Having deadlines. b) Not having deadlines. Last year I was suffering from the first type. So far this year the second version is looming. I’ve plenty of work to get on with, including a revision of the Log Book for Children which is nearly out of print, continue reading »
My favourite Blackadder episode is the one where Samuel Johnson tries to get royal patronage for the first English Dictionary. When told that the book has taken Dr Johnson ten years Prince George replies, “Yes, well, I’m a slow reader myself.” Those of you familiar with the rest of the episode will understand why in continue reading »
Being surrounded by exceptionally talented people can make you feel a) despondent; b) inspired or c) a mixture of both. The way to stay sane when attending a SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) conference is to soak up as much information and advice as your brain can handle while at the same continue reading »
Normal people decide they want to do for a living. They then go and find out how to do it, do some training, go for interviews or pitch for work, and then spend their productive years putting it all into practice. And, ideally, getting paid for it. It’s entirely logical, but I’ve never quite managed continue reading »