"TMATP book" I can use some help with my english.

Samu · 5 Sept 2018, 20:35

(Updated Friday, September 14, 2018)

Hi! I just add some pages to my project, two illustrations and 7 written pages. If someone actually read the pages, can you please let me know if there are some error, weird sounding thing or simply a phrase that you think doesn't convey the right meaning and can be express in a better way? English is not my first language and all help with that is appreciated.
Thank you all in advance!

(Updated content ends here)

Hi everyone!

I'm illustrating and writing this free online Children's book. Is an "in progress" book with updates every week in English and Spanish. I plan to add around 4 or 6 pages every week.

https://jazzstepscat.wixsite.com/gabyandremy

My plan now is to continue working every day and to reach as many people as possible. For that, I plan to use Linkedin, Youtube, Instagram, and Facebook. If you know any other platform I should be using to promote my work, tell me, please.

I want to thank Jake Parker for made me understand that I need a Product and the importance of finishing projects and have something to show. His mantra "finish, not perfect" are magic words, really are!

I hope you like it! Have a nice day!!!!

nasvikdraws · 5 Sept 2018, 20:46

Love your style! Cool. Keep us posted on you progress. Very inspiring. I have a similar goal with a children book but need to break free and just DO IT.
Excited to see the final product

JulPer · 5 Sept 2018, 21:24

This is a pretty cool project! And offering spanish and english versions is something not many people does or can do!

And well, "pirate dinosaurs" is as cool as it can get honestly hehe, keep the great work!

Nathan · 5 Sept 2018, 22:27

Really cool man. I really like it.

A couple of questions when promoting it.

What kind of people do you want to reach when promoting it?
Mum's with young children is an obvious one. Teachers could be another one.

Instead of promoting it to social media in a blast, find out where your target audience hangs out. This could be specific facebook groups, forums, subreddits or they could check out specific instagram tags. Promote your stuff there.

For forums, facebook groups and subreddits, gauge the people in those groups to see how they react to people "promoting" their stuff without initially giving value to the group. Most groups are pretty good. I would initially come in asking for feedback...

"Hi, I'm X and I've always dreamed of writing a childrens book. Over the last month I've been drawing and writing my first ever book. I'm a little nervous but I'd love to get some honest feedback. You can see what I've done so far here: [link]"

People will go and look and potentially give honest feedback - awesome, you refine your story and book. It's also not in-your-face self promotion which people loath. Also, don't forget to interact with the people who take the time to respond

How are you keeping in touch with these people?
People are going to be interested in your book. Eventually, when you finished your book you might want to print and sell it. Make sure you have a way to keep in touch with the people you have been marketing to. Don't be afraid to ask people to follow or sign up if they are interested in your work.

Anyways, hope that helps.

lmrush · 5 Sept 2018, 23:01

love your style, keep sharing!

Samu · 6 Sept 2018, 06:19

@nasvikdraws
Thank you! You can simply start today. I know it sounds easier than it actually is, It takes a lot of time for me to start too. But once you start, the book and the characters become alive and the story starts evolving in ways you didn't imagine before.

Is a great difference to draw unrelated subjects that to actually develop a story, is like now I have a mission every time I put myself in front of the paper. And more important, at the end of the day. I have a product to show.

I went to your Instagram and I think you can start developing a story involving all these monsters you draw, they are great. You know, sometimes I create the story and then I draw the illustration, but others, things in the illustration makes me write the story in a different direction. I think you can use a lot of draws you already have, make them consistent and related which each other, let them talk to you and lead you to whatever they want to go.

Just ideas, thank you for your feedback and I'll look forward to see your book!

Samu · 6 Sept 2018, 05:55

@julper Thank you!

Samu · 6 Sept 2018, 06:11

@Concept

Hi! Thank you for all the valuable information! Specific Facebook groups, forums, subreddits (I had to Google this one, I didn't know about this Reddit page) and specific Instagram tags are great ideas.
And I think that I'll do it everything, this is my work now, I'm totally dedicated to this book.

About keeping in touch I know is something I'll have to work on, is very important. I know constancy and quality is key, interaction too... I'll do my best! ...and probably ask about that when my work got followers

Thank you again!!!! Have a Great Day!!!!!

Samu · 6 Sept 2018, 06:17

@lmrush Thank you for your feedback!!!!!

nasvikdraws · 6 Sept 2018, 13:14

@zombie-rhythm Thanks for your inspiring words! I have no excuse now :)). I have already have a book in mind. I developed a story and did a rough dummy then started developing the characters. Actually the monsters you see in my Instagram are in connection with this project. I consider them character studies.
Anyway I need to speed up

I really admire you focusing on your goal. I am looking forward to see your book finished. The glimpse I saw is very exciting. Did you setup a full schedule?

braden H · 6 Sept 2018, 16:56

This is awesome! I really wanna finish a book and posting as it's finished is a great idea.

Samu · 7 Sept 2018, 07:14

@nasvikdraws
Hi! About the schedule, I give myself a year to finish it and I'm committed to delivering new pages every week, at least two but more if is possible without compromising quality. But this is only so I can have a "time-frame". I'm ready to make changes and let the story flow instead of forcing things.

Good thing about digital media is that we can present our work to the people while still in progress like I did and we still can change every aspect of every section of the book at any moment. So we can improve our whole work following fan bits of advice, for example, and continue to do this until we are happy with the final result before taking it to the print.

We can't do that with physical issues like comics, etc. And is a great help when we start doing this and we lack the experience of others authors.

So you, for example, can create a page today, write the first pages of your story, illustrated it with your characters "studies" you already have, and once your work is online, you can make the changes you feel necessary at any time, ask for feedback, take advises... etc.

I don't think this "changing things" process is going to last very much time, because I'm learning very quickly since I made the compromise and put myself on the edge. Now I have the ideas much more clear about what I'm doing, and I think the story is on track. And artistically, now I know better the style of illustrations and the layout. This last area is where I have to make the bigger changes but in a couple of weeks I expect to have it wrap up, and perhaps I'll have to change some of the first draw so it matches the rest. Consistency is very important.

Well, I suppose you don't have an excuse now!!!! jajajjajajjaj Just kidding, but it could be great if you start your book and we can learn from each other on the road!

Have a great day!!!!!

Samu · 7 Sept 2018, 07:19

@art-of-b
Hi! I'm not sure I understand what you say, I think you say that posting the book where "in process" is a great idea. If so, I have some advises I just made answering to user nasvikdraws. I'll just copy and paste here:

"Good thing about digital media is that we can present our work to the people while still in progress like I did and we still can change every aspect of every section of the book at any moment. So we can improve our whole work following fan bits of advice, for example, and continue to do this until we are happy with the final result before taking it to the print.

We can't do that with physical issues like comics, etc. And is a great help when we start doing this and we lack the experience of others authors.

So you, for example, can create a page today, write the first pages of your story, illustrated it with your characters "studies" you already have, and once your work is online, you can make the changes you feel necessary at any time, ask for feedback, take advises... etc.

I don't think this "changing things" process is going to last very much time, because I'm learning very quickly since I made the compromise and put myself on the edge. Now I have the ideas much more clear about what I'm doing, and I think the story is on track. And artistically, now I know better the style of illustrations and the layout. This last area is where I have to make the bigger changes but in a couple of weeks I expect to have it wrap up, and perhaps I'll have to change some of the first draw so it matches the rest. Consistency is very important."

Lewbotart · 7 Sept 2018, 12:11

I really love your style! I cant wait to see more of the book. Did you write the story yourself?

Samu · 10 Sept 2018, 01:42

@lewbotart
Hi! Yeah! At first I thought that I could write like little sentences, you know, more like "Where the wild things are" kind of writing. A book that you can read in five minutes.... but the writing took life on its own and I found myself more time writing than drawing without even know how I got there And in the process discovering that I enjoy the process of creating a world and fill it with characters and adventures so the project mutated and I can't be more happy about it.

Now I'm making two sections more, one in which I'm going to describe the rules of the world I'm creating and upload maps of the different islands, cities, etc and other in which I'm going to present the characters.

I have now 4 drawings waiting for watercolors and I expect Wednesday to be online with a little more of writing.

Thanks for your feedback!!!!!

Samu · 10 Sept 2018, 02:00

@lmrush Thank you for your feedback!

Lewbotart · 10 Sept 2018, 19:10

@zombie-rhythm Thats amazing and really creative! I'll keep an eye out for them when you upload!

nasvikdraws · 12 Sept 2018, 13:27

@zombie-rhythm
Cool. Thanks for getting back. I can see that you're determined. That is great.
I see that the story took on. How long will it be? I guess it is for 5-9year olds?

In the meantime I warmed up my project and after inktober I'll hop on to it in all my spare time. I'll keep you posted. I am still hesitant about putting myself out there like you did. But it's a bold move. I respect you for that. I might need to do the same.

I am also following your progress and excited to see your project happening.
So good luck and I'll see you on the other side:)

Samu · 12 Sept 2018, 15:33

@nasvikdraws
Thank you!
The story I think can take me 80 pages but is an estimation. I have the idea of creating an "alife book" that never has to end. I've based myself on Manga and Anime series. If I create a great world and continue feeding every week, I can create Stoy Arcs. I can print every one like a book that has a story with a conclusion but that has an overall quest that is part of the series.
I prefer parents themselves judge if my book suits his education preferences because I'm going to treat some themes in a very natural way... But I'm really writing for all ages. There are some animation films like Megamind that are fun for kids and really interesting and fun too for adults. I'll try to do the same.

I recommend you to jump. First, in the beginning, only a few people are going to find his way to your webpage. Second, a lot of interesting things happens once you jump. For example, I finish an illustration and I was very unhappy with that one. I mess up the watercolors. I have my set mind now in "finish not perfect" and the work has to be done, so, I worked on the illustration with photoshop and did my best and even I was still unhappy I put the illustration online.
A friend of mine whos roommate is an illustrator too saw the illustration and they love it, like a lot!!!
So, "Who I'm I to judge my work" I only can do my best and put the work out there and let people judge.
Even I wasn't happy with the illustration I was happy with myself because I did my best, and then some people had a great time reading the page and laughing with the illustration. So you never know until you are not out there. Our point of view is to thin and if we talk about our own work thinner, normally we are our worst critics. So take the burden of judging out of your shoulders and let people decide if your work is good or not. I like a lot your draws, so I encourage you to jump

That's is what I learned this past week and gives me material to feed the youtube channel that I'm creating so I can reach people to know my book. So everything goes like interlace. Once you start, your work tell you what the next step is

Thank you for your feedback, always encouraging!

Samu · 14 Sept 2018, 13:51

@zombie-rhythm Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnyyyy hOOOOOOp!!!!!!!!