The Importance of Illustration

Happy Monday, friends!

Wow, this month has flown by. I hope it's been a productive writing month for all of you. We've had quite a few unusually (aka uncomfortable) warm weather days. On those days, I barely want to stick a toe out the front door, which equals more writing time! Ah, there is always a silver lining in any situation 🙂 So, here is a fun topic for you today—illustration.

An Illustrator's Job

An illustrator has an important job to do. They read what we've written and create visual artwork to make our words and characters shine. We all need them—from the picture book writer to the YA (young adult) writer.

Traditionally Published vs Self-Published

It does make a difference if you are traditionally published by a publishing house or if you've chosen to self-publish. If you've been picked up by a traditional publisher, they will choose the illustrator, and most of the time you won't have a say in this. If you've chosen to self-publish, the choice is totally up to you.

What to Look For

Sometimes knowing what to look for in an illustrator might seem a bit overwhelming. The first thing you need to think about is your book. What is the "feel" of your book? Is it light-hearted and humorous? You can look for an illustrator who delights in whimsical, colorful illustrations. A chapter book calls for black-and-white spot illustrations with an occasional full-page drawing. A YA cover must portray the mood of your book, and it needs to be a specific tone to match your genre (fantasy, historical fiction, etc.)

Where to Look

By now, you probably know I am a big SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) fan. Being a long-time member, I logged onto their website when I needed an illustrator for my picture book. They make it easy. You can click on what type of illustration you're looking for, and that illustrator's portfolio pops up. Pick your top three favorites and reach out to them. If you'd like to go another direction, you can try the Reedsy Book Illustrated Marketplace or check out Adobe's creative network, Behance Children's Book Illustrators. Be sure to fully vet anyone before you make your decision.

What to Ask

Once you contact your illustrator, there will be information to share and questions to ask. They'll need to know what type of book you've written (picture book, YA), your book page count and how many illustrations you'll need. They'll want to know the tone of your book and if you have a completion date in mind. Being open on the date helps a lot. Ask them when they are available to start. The next step is for you to send them your manuscript. As a picture book writer, I've found it's beneficial to include a book dummy along with the manuscript. Lastly, if all goes well, be SURE your illustrator offers you a contract to sign! This will spell out all the details. It's critical to both writer and illustrator.

The Super Fun Part

You've chosen your illustrator and they've started on your illustrations. Your illustrator should send you thumbnail sketches of each page to make sure they're in line with what you've envisioned. My illustrator sends me thumbnails plus a color proof of each page for my approval. Oh, how I look forward to that! Having gone through this process, I must add—try looking for an illustrator who is open to changes or suggestions to improve each page. This makes a big difference!

Ok. Now that I've written this, I cannot wait for my next illustration from my illustrator! It's so fun to see my characters and my book come to life through her amazing artwork. Wishing you the joy I feel as I go through this process.

Keep up the good work!