You probably know the talented illustrator Ryan Hipp—he’s the guy who designed the first PiBoIdMo logo. Well, now he’s got a cool sketch service to check out. You want something drawn? A robot eating a cupcake? A cupcake eating a robot? Or, even more awesomer—a cupcake robot? He’s your man! Check out his very cool site www.SketchRequest.com!
Ryan told me he’s a world-class procrastinator and we battled a little over who was better at putting off things. I think I won. I said I’d continue the argument tomorrow.
But I did ask Ryan to guest blog about his New Year’s resolutions and how to turn procrastination into pro-magination. Take it away, Ryan!
by Ryan Hipp
The New Year is upon us all, and along with all the diets and promises to give up vices, many of us set resolutions and battle with the evils of procrastination in our professional lives. This is no different in the business of children’s literature. Take it from me—someone that really knows the sinking, overwhelming feeling deep in the pit of the stomach—someone that often doesn’t even know where or how to begin.
People ask me all the time, “So when’s your next book out?”. Wow, its, the worst question to get. Lately I say, “Oh yeah, I’m totally working on this awesome thing that I totally can’t talk about because its like on the verge of blowing up big time and I don’t want to unveil it too soon and stuff, you know?” But in secret, I haven’t sat down to work on it in weeks in some cases.
For me, the irony is that the rigors of being a kidlit professional means I spend a ton of time trying to secure school visits or sending out mailings, and not doing the very thing that all of that work stems from—the writing and the drawing. I am often feeling underwater with all the business that goes along with making books, that I have trouble concentrating on…well…making books!
And then there’s just normal life getting in the way. We all can relate to that, excuse or no excuse.
But here’s an indefensible excuse—the other embarrassing reality is that when I do actually have time to be creative and productive, I still sometimes don’t . I’ll get easily swayed by a call from friends to go out to a movie, or whatever. I’ll have full intentions of turning a free 24 hour Saturday into a work day, then find a way to completely blow it on fun and frivolity.
I’ll say, “I can just do it on Sunday”. But do I? Nope. Encore performance.
I find myself making every excuse in the world to keep away from my desk. Its as if I have a subconscious mental barrier that won’t allow me to begin writing or drawing if my office is cluttered or if I have other things on my mind. And then when I do sit down, sometimes it is a battle to stop goofing around watching cat videos on YouTube.
So here is what I have been doing to combat this of late:
Slow & Steady for the Win
Every little bit helps. 15 minutes a day for a week is still better than failing your intention to sit down for 2 hours on the weekend and then not doing it.
Get Out of the House to Get Work Done
A quiet coffee shop or restaurant away from distractions at home. (Tara: I spend at least one day a week at the library. Otherwise the fridge calls me too often.)
Turn off Phone/Computer
The battle for me is my computer is a tool for research and design—but also a distracting temptation. So I draw my thumbnails away from my desk, and I scribble my notes away from my computer. Then I bring that stuff back home when the momentum will keep me on-task.
Ask Someone Else to Keep Accountability
When you are your own boss, nobody will get on your case if you didn’t write today. So schedule someone to critique your work on a set schedule so you have regular benchmarks to shoot for.
But, when I do get an urge to goof around on YouTube, I cut myself some slack, and remind myself to watch the one thing that usually puts me in the right mood to get productive immediately afterwards. It’s an episode of the Babar animated series titled “To Duet or Not Duet” and it’s a wonderful lesson in procrastination and setting realistic goals. So the next time you are distracted or frazzled, I give you permission to take a break to watch it here:
So what are my resolutions for 2012? I am going to defeat another battle I have—submitting. I am TERRIBLE about sending my work out. But it is really the most important part. I am going to make a better effort at sending out my queries and samples—because all that diligence and hard work means nothing unless it gets discovered.
Be Good and Work Hard!
What are some of your tricks for getting the BIC—butt in chair?
19 comments
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January 12, 2012 at 11:00 am
Cathy Mealey
Your email hit my inbox at 10:45.
I completed my first HippHopp order at 10:58.
Fantastic! Thank you for featuring Ryan’s studio!
January 12, 2012 at 2:36 pm
Ryan Hipp
Awesome! Thanks Cathy!
January 12, 2012 at 11:00 am
Susanna Leonard Hill
This post really hits home with me.. Ryan mentioned all the things I battle with every day! Why is it so hard to work? For me, lately, I think it’s discouragement – the feeling that nothing I’ve written is going anywhere (and it used to, so I’m clearly in a decline :)) I think Ryan’s right. Even 15 minutes a day of productivity beats not doing anything!
January 12, 2012 at 11:14 am
Jennifer Noel Bower
Perfect and timely! I love knowing that I am not alone in my procrastination methods. This year’s trick to combat procrastination: I told my daughter to hold me accountable. For every day I DON’T sit down and sketch for 20 minutes (ironically – the same amount of time she is supposed to practice her piano) I will owe her a quarter. We have a jar set up and everything. I am determined not to owe her $91.25 by 2013, although I do currently have $2.50 logged in the jar 🙂
January 12, 2012 at 11:45 am
Ty's Adventures
THANK YOU! This post could not be more perfectly timed for me & Mom, aka Procrastinatorasaurus!
January 12, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Dana Carey
Good luck with your resolution to submit more. That’s a big problem for me! Maybe a submission schedule would help. If I think of anything that works, I’ll let you know! Thanks for sharing, Ryan. Very helpful.
January 12, 2012 at 12:41 pm
cravevsworld
I’m thankful for my procrastination, because it led me to read this insightful and extremely helpful post. I especially agree with the “slow & steady” approach. Thanks for sharing!
January 12, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Alison Hertz
Sketch Request is such a great way to get his art out in the world – fantastic. Thanks for introducing Ryan Hipp!
January 12, 2012 at 2:59 pm
Stephanie Shaw
I love this! I had an idea for a pb yesterday and wondered what a picture might look like — thanks to Ryan I’m going to find out! Of course, I’m procrastinating writing the story until I see the sketch…
Seriously, I really relate to Ryan’s blog. Thanks for posting this plus his Sketch Request.
January 12, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Lori Grusin Degman
Thanks for the awesome tips, Ryan! Also, thanks to you and Tara for giving me a diversion from what I should be doing 🙂
January 12, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Shane M
As a musician struggling to make the music I want to on a regular basis, I recognize that much of daily life saps creativity. It’s so easy to automate; driving the same roads, eating at the same restaurants, going to and from work in monotonous patterns. I think being able to break out of the automation is a skill, much like creativity itself. For some people, its’ a process that requires isolation from the right factors. For other people, they seem to get their creative energy flowing among the company of others. Thanks for the post Ryan, good stuff as always.
January 12, 2012 at 7:27 pm
terrifore (@terrifore)
I know the feeling…procrastination disease I call it. Thanks for the post.
January 12, 2012 at 7:43 pm
Marcie Colleen
Thanks for sharing, Ryan! I have been making a lot of excuses this January. I have been blaming my lack of writing on the fact that I just moved and I don’t really have a space that is my office yet in the new apartment. Time to get my BIC…any ol’ chair. Who cares if it is in my “home office” or not!
January 13, 2012 at 1:51 am
helgapearson
Snap! I was JUST thinking about writing a blog post about exactly the same thing. It’s seems like everyone has this problem to a certain degree. The funny thing is, We ALL feel like the only person in the world dealing with it. Procrastination is a bad habit and like any habit you’re trying to kick, the best thing is to tackle it one day at a time. Great post as usual Tara, you even produce fabulous work when you’re avoiding producing fabulous work! lol, neat trick…
January 13, 2012 at 7:37 am
Jenn DesAutels
I really had to wrack my brain to figure out what might get my BIC (to illustrate)… One thing I can think of that helps is to start off with my on-again, off-again journal. Less pressure there, but I can start to at least list some tasks for the day, including “Do the laundry” or “Get bday present for twin cousins.” More often than I expect, it eventually branches out to train-of-thought brainstorming and crude sketches. Maybe it could be the other way around for authors? Sketch first? With the idea that *no one* will ever see it but you. This idea is borrowed of course from Artists’ Way… which I have yet to complete after 2 years…
January 13, 2012 at 7:37 am
Amy Dawn DeLuna
My two problem areas: Letting “life” get in the way (and make excuses for me) … and subbing! Thanks for your suggestions, Ryan. I’m definitely trying a few of them out ASAP.
January 13, 2012 at 2:21 pm
Kayleen West - Children's Book Illustration
Wow Ryan. I was reading thinking “What an honest article!” I have the opposite issue where I have to ballance not being obsessive with working but I relate to Internet and fridge distractions.
January 14, 2012 at 7:41 pm
Jan O'Neil
Ryan, I feel like I just looked into a mirror. I so know where you are coming from! Best of luck to you in 2012!
January 17, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Ryan Hipp
Thanks for all your very nice comments everyone! I am glad a few of you appreciated my honesty. I fully believe in transparency in this line-of-work.
For those curious, feel free to follow me on FB here: http://www.facebook.com/ryan.hipp.is.awesome
or if you want to see the timeline of growing SketchRequests, follow here: http://www.facebook.com/sketchrequest
I am also @hipphop on Twitter (two Ps, then one P)
I love visitor comments on the websites too
hipphop.com
sketchrequest.com