Can You Write and Illustrate Too?

[Amheiser]

I read somewhere that publishers don't like authors to illustrate their own work. They prefer to have a few artists they work with to draw their own visions after reading the story. I guess it would be good to see what people see after they read something that you wrote but what if it's not the same as you envisioned? Does anybody know if publishers like to work with their own artists rather than have an author illustrate their own stories?

[kezzstar24]

I hired someone off Deviant Art to do the art for my story. At first I was a bit worried, but he and I get along really well. The first time I saw my characters I nearly cried (might have had something to do with the Lions getting belted black and blue by the crows in front of me too...). The guy I use is also a bit of a writer in his own right, he does his own comic. We share ideas and help each other where we can, it's nice to have a new friend I can work with.

[zeldas_lullaby]

I cannot draw diddly blip. For my cover art, I always buy an image from shutterstock for, like, $15 a piece, or something like that. I always enjoy formatting/creating the covers.

[Braktooth]

I can barely draw adequate stick figures. I wish I could draw; it's always seemed like a lot of fun.

[squirrelmunch]

My favourite part of my books, is illustrating them. I can't wait to get the writing over and done with sometimes.

[debbiebee]

Alas, no. I'm utterly hopeless at drawing. If I try to draw a cat, people say tactfully, what a nice horse!

[ALynnPowers]

Who want to illustrate my next book? The manga version?

[zeldas_lullaby]

Ooh, could there be a manga for my book?

[Connoisseur]

If you want to keep everything the way it is, maybe self-publish, but team up with a professional illustrator to help you "clean up" the rest of the drawings?

[rssllue]

I dabble in both.

[KateNox]

I would love nothing more that to know how to illustrate properly, I would make drawing of my scenes all the time! My drawing isn't bad, I used to go to classes, but it isn't a publishing material also. My goal is to get the drawing part better.

[cari_elizabeth]

I like the idea of writing and illustrating your own stuff. Nobody knows the way your story should be displayed better than you - though it is good to have a second opinion sometimes. I'm an illustrator/writer and trying to get into the children's book industry. I'm hoping 2016 will be the year for me! Good luck to all of you out there!

[CzechTigg]

'Art' may be in my name, but not my skillset.

Luckily a creative networking group is near me, so I have chances to get someone good with their hands.

[MyBrokeCollegeLife]

I am not an artist, but if you have the ability and the vision then I think you should defiantly see about contributing to the illustrations. No one will ever see your story quite the same way you do, after all you are the creator who poured so much time and effort into giving it life. I have the uppermost respect for those who are able to draw in any form!

[CzechTigg]

^ I see where you are coming from there. However, my exposure to Tolkien was first through a graphic novel that was done some time after he passed away. Perhaps without the first rate visuals, I may not have become the fan I did. (Although the Jackson LOTR films did blow me anyway in any case).

Almost all teachers at school were horrified by my art. Hard to shrug off such feedback later on in life.