I got the following from a friend via facebook message earlier today:
"I've got a potential client for you... a colleague/friend of mine is editing a book, and he needs an artist to create about 20 line art illustrations for the book. He's envisioning them as quick-sketch sort of illustrations that visualize the various storylines - nothing in great detail (perhaps 30 minutes per illustration, that sort of thing).
Nearly all would be old western scenes, such as a couple in a buckboard, 2 men on horseback, an artist painting a western street scene... Does this sound like something you might be interested in?
I must've talked you up well, because once I finished describing your work, my friend said, "I don't think I can afford someone like that!" (smile emoticon) He doesn't have a huge budget but there is a budget!
Let me know if you'd like to learn more and I can connect the two of you. (He can send you a sample chapter and more information). Hope all is well on your end!"
Now I know my friends heart is in the right place and it does feel good to think that folks speak highly of me/my work. But you know what felt even better - politely saying No to this entire thing.
A few months ago I would have jumped on something like this and sold myself short in the process. I am currently working my way through two self published author books now, that I know will never make me a proper return on my huge investment of time to complete them. I have long been plagued by being an amiable personality type - friends with everyone, people pleaser etc. The problem with that is I continue to learn everyone else may end up happy when I do that but not me.
And I have learned so much from the you tube videos of @will-terry and this class from @lee-white, now to know that my time will be much better spent working on my portfolio, my own personal projects and staying the course to get proper work via publishers someday. And that the road to being successful in this business (and in life) sometimes means you have to say No! Politely but still No.
I never felt so good saying No to anyone ever. Because saying NO to this was really saying YES to myself!