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My advice for other writers & illustrators & my kids

Three of my kids are grown up and one is still a kid. They're all creative.
If they wanted publishing advice, this is what I would tell them:

- You can't always get what you want.
But if you try, try, try, you just might find: You get what you need.
(I sing this to them a lot)

- Boost your self confidence by doing work you love and getting paid for it.
Don't take jobs you don't like. It will only bring you down further.
And make sure your pay goes up over time. Don't get stuck in a rut.

- Keep improving your work, no matter how good it already is.

- Ignore bossy people who try to tell you what you cannot do with your life.

- Read, read, read, read, read, read, read

- Join a critique group that will tell you honestly how good your work is and
what needs improvement. And don't be the best person in the group (or even
the second or third best). Leave yourself lots of room to grow.

- Keep up with what is current in the business. Know what's selling.

- Be true to your vision. Create work you love and keep trying to do it better.
Don't do something just because it's trendy.
And don't bother trying to figure out what editors or art directors want.
Do what YOU love and do it well. THAT's what they want.
(Well, it helps if their customers love your work too)

- Figure out what your goals are and imagine yourself achieving them.

- Don't worry about rejection. Your work will get rejected sooner or later.
It just means that your work didn't click with that particular person.
Everyone has an opinion and everyone's taste is different.
So just find the right audience for your work.

- Don't get discouraged. Anything worthwhile is worth working hard for.

- If someone in the industry tells you to do something you don't think
works for your art, thank them, try their suggestion, and if it doesn't work,
ignore the advice. Everyone has opinions.

- Life is unfair (sometimes publishing is also).

- Don't send anything out to editors unless it's your very best work.
They're already overloaded and you don't want to give them any easy reasons
to reject your work.

- Trust that the path you're on is the right one for you.

- It's ok to be afraid or nervous.
But do what you're supposed to do, anyway, and with passion.
What is it you are supposed to do? Write? Draw? Paint? Dance? Sing? Act?
Heal? Make people laugh? Only you know the answer to that question.  :)

- Keep a journal. It can be for writing or sketching or both.
It'll help sort things out, no matter what you're writing about.