Art and my Protestant Work Ethic
An opportunity recently fell in my lap to illustrate a children’s book, thanks to some of my professors. Even at this early stage–preliminary character sketches–it’s been an incredible challenge. I’ve been pushing myself in ways that I hadn’t realized I could be pushed, pressing myself to more finished, clean-looking drawings. Thank goodness for John Cech’s class; it really gave me the warm-up I needed.
Looking at the drawings I’ve done so far, I can’t help but wonder what my art was really like back in high school. I had notebook upon notebook filled with sketches of role-playing characters, but they often had an unfinished edge to them. I don’t think it was because I wasn’t capable. I think it was because I didn’t push myself. I could draw well enough generally that I didn’t have to try to make things look really polished, or whole, or complete. To be fair, through high school, I felt that way about a lot of things. Like many other people, I had plenty of page-long novels. In all classes but English and art, I only pushed myself hard enough to get Bs. And I’m not sure I pushed myself much harder than that in those subjects, because I never really had to.
Several factors have contributed to an improved work ethic over the past three years or so–starting with nearly finishing NaNoWriMo 06, continuing with keeping track of what I read (and therefore taking my reading more seriously as a contributing factor in my writing), finishing the rough draft of a YA novel over the summer, writing a thesis I was really proud of, continuing to send my work out. I promise listing those meager accomplishments isn’t intended as bragging. The truth is, every step of the process–all processes–was hard work. I guess this is just a way to say that I’ve learned to push myself hard enough to finish what I start. I don’t really want to be a mediocre anything anymore (except maybe banjo-player–I’m fine with that being just a hobby, unlike most things I try to tackle), and I’ve realized what it takes, how much effort one needs to expend, to not just be talented but good.
Phoebe
Phoebe is a 20-something writer who lives in New York State with her husband and cat. She is a dork, not a geek or a nerd.
Her debut novel, Starglass, will be released from Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers in Summer 2013.
3 comments
Good luck with the children's book! Sounds like a great opportunity.Agreed on the importance of taking yourself seriously. When I decided to put in more effort, track my reading and work habits, etc., it all started syncing up more effectively. Whatever I do, I don't want incomplete, and I don't want "just fine." Sure, I'll get better and look back over time and see my growth, but if I'm not doing the best I can for right now, something's wrong.
Definitely.Now I just need to get over my fear of editing a 150 page thing and go back to work on the novel. The scope of that is so overwhelming that I sort of don't even want to think about it!(Have you started editing yours yet?)
Hey Phoebes! If you want another opinion on your novel — or some developmental editing work, since that's a lot of what I did at Wiley — I'm happy to help over the summer while I'm not doing homework/studying!