I think all of us are probably feeling the weight of years of pressure to keep posting to stay relevant and it is exhausting. Posting just when I feel like it seems like a solution that suits me and I don’t really fret about engagement - but maybe that’s because I’m starting to feel detached from the picture book world… more on that soon!
I can't wait for your Sub Jane! I think I'm at my happiest making books now because I don't make them to sell to publishers.. I make them for myself and can't be bothered to bend my voice/art into a pitch thats not authentic to me anymore. ironically, they are the ones that get taken up. I think not caring about outcome, is very freeing and I'm a gal that has always loved my freedom and sticking two fingers up when needed! I am my maverick mother's daughter 😂
That’s just it Jane posting to stay ‘relevant’. How has it come to this? I remember being a picture book maker in the late 80’s early 90’s and it was so much nicer back then! New books were found and savoured in the bookshop and not with pre order pushes and pre publication razzmatazz. It was a kinder more thoughtful industry back then. Artists were not forced into marketing roles if they didn’t want to.
Yes, we’re all tired of the relentlessness of Insta. I admire the souls able to push on, let alone the time and confidence to post three times a day or everyday!
I’m looking forward to your thoughts on the picture book industry.
Just had another thought! The very same industry that is still profiting from 60s classics like The Very Hungry Caterpillar/Where the Wild Things Are etc. is not remotely now prepared to take a chance and create the conditions where books like that can emerge - everything has to be a proven commercial success before it even starts. Which was very much not the case back then. Ursula Nortstrom's memoirs, 'Dear Genius' are so interesting about this lost, nurturing age.
Yes! I remember when the jewel in the crown publisher started in 1978 with ethos of nurturing talent, unusual and exciting books, sadly that publisher has lost it's trademark 'look' these days too. I would recognise one of their books even up to a few years ago, not anymore. Gone very commercial and I guess the sales team has a bigger say even more now. Ultimately its a big business that needs to make money. Natalia O'Hara sent me a really interesting article about the state of publishing generally now, post a big court case over a merger of two publishing houses that ultimately got blocked by the courts. It makes for a sobering read. Successful back lists heavily mentioned in it. I'll re post it on my Substack.
it all just feels like such hard work, doesn't it! I wish I'd been a picture book maker back then, or even in the 60s would have been fun. It's not fun any more, just steadily demoralising. More thoughts coming soon!
The weight of years seems about right. I think everyone is also getting complacent with likes because we are weary of time spent there, a decades worth, and it’s proved itself impossible to keep up with the many thousands. I also think art practices aren’t something that should be on a conveyer belt. Rolled out impromptu like a rolling out another factory carpet. It takes time to grow, to think, often in quiet contemplation over long periods of time. Sadly lost. It is a devil and the deep blue sea conundrum. Breaks are so important. Numbers are not.
I remember when Facebook and Twitter were prolific. I also remember walking away from them, shutting my accounts without a backward glance. I also remember a new ‘star’ of the picture book world who had massive followings on both. He worked very hard to build up his accounts for his career. No one looks at them now (obviously now Twitter/X is too toxic to touch) and his insta which he only recently fully embraced is small. I think there’s a warning here, things change and don’t rely on a platform. The grim reaper will surely come for Instagram. And yes, likes numbers are now meaningless because as you say no one is really looking properly now. I’m just stunned at how quickly two weeks off it has made me disconnect.
I still wonder why we all put up with it? It’s proven to be addictive, unhealthy and in some cases very harmful, yet we stay. In terms of kids publishing there’s a real pressure remain for our books but I’m not sure I can.
So many of us feel like this. It’s the addiction and feeling like you need to be there for your book(s). I had an analogue phase - short lived. I’m with you. But then I also have huge show-off phases!
Hi Polly, I absolutely agree with your thoughts on instagram, I love being out the loop. I feel the pressure to post to promote myself- even with an agent we are encouraged to do that. I also want to cheer on my friends, so maybe a private account would allow me to do that. The way in which we feel about sharing our worlds/ work is definitely changing. I love the idea of returning to posting out things. Much more personal. I think the fact we’ve all been pushed online (more so since Covid) that we are all craving more human contact and real interactions. Maybe this is how we can beat AI. Lots to think about. Thank you for discussing x
A private acc is a lovely way to keep in touch with friends and feed other interests. I can log in without being blasted by posts/images/ etc from the picture book world which, when one is developing books can be really distracting. I love that my private acc is just that! Though I rarely look, it's nice to know I can in a protected way. I do think, if one has an agent, it's easier to step back and not fret about exposure. Let the agents do their jobs and get our work seen! Let the publishers promote our books too. Posting on Insta is so tricky now, too much and it irritates folk, too little and we get dropped by the Insta Gods.. personally I'm enjoy my third week in blissful ignorance, though I did pop on to congratulate Kate Rolfe for her Carnegie. Thats a huge achievement, and we don't know each other, but it's nice, as you say to cheer people on and their achievements.
This year I've deleted all my personal accounts from social media and removed the apps from my phone to making it 'boring' too. I can still access my work accounts on socials from my laptop - I do still need them, but this boundary means that I don't check them in the evenings or at weekends. And I don't scroll endlessly. I'm probably missing some stuff but I actually don't care. I feel less scattered, more creative and for the first time in ages, I can hear myself think.
Interesting to read you've done the same with your apps and phone. Less scattered sums it up well. Along with 'hearing yourself think', it's a good feeling isn't it. And yes, missing stuff is a small price to pay for regained creativity and feeling grounded.
I can SO relate to your feelings. I'm regularly deleting Instagram app from my phone, trying to schedule a day per week to check in and perhaps post a thing or two. But I find it really difficult to meet the one-day-a-week goal, as the addiction pulls me in immediately. Lots of pondering to do on my side too. Thank you for sharing your experience ❤️
The sketch of Goose is beautiful. I'm glad you two found each other. (Thinking about it just makes my eyes welled.) And I'm glad you found the love for writing and drawing again. Yeah I wish I could leave Instagram. It's a shame that book promotions are built around social media these days.
Thank you. I think Goose and I were destined for each other. Poor little bean, he’s a little bald in places, with fighting scars.
Yes it really is a shame there’s a pressure to be on insta for our books. When most editors and designers hardly use it. But I do feel it’s a platform that’s dying. Slowly.
This really resonated with me, Polly - I took instagram off my phone a month ago and occasionally look at it on my ipad - and my mind feels so much quieter! Enjoy your cat companionship time x
I think all of us are probably feeling the weight of years of pressure to keep posting to stay relevant and it is exhausting. Posting just when I feel like it seems like a solution that suits me and I don’t really fret about engagement - but maybe that’s because I’m starting to feel detached from the picture book world… more on that soon!
I can't wait for your Sub Jane! I think I'm at my happiest making books now because I don't make them to sell to publishers.. I make them for myself and can't be bothered to bend my voice/art into a pitch thats not authentic to me anymore. ironically, they are the ones that get taken up. I think not caring about outcome, is very freeing and I'm a gal that has always loved my freedom and sticking two fingers up when needed! I am my maverick mother's daughter 😂
That’s just it Jane posting to stay ‘relevant’. How has it come to this? I remember being a picture book maker in the late 80’s early 90’s and it was so much nicer back then! New books were found and savoured in the bookshop and not with pre order pushes and pre publication razzmatazz. It was a kinder more thoughtful industry back then. Artists were not forced into marketing roles if they didn’t want to.
Yes, we’re all tired of the relentlessness of Insta. I admire the souls able to push on, let alone the time and confidence to post three times a day or everyday!
I’m looking forward to your thoughts on the picture book industry.
Just had another thought! The very same industry that is still profiting from 60s classics like The Very Hungry Caterpillar/Where the Wild Things Are etc. is not remotely now prepared to take a chance and create the conditions where books like that can emerge - everything has to be a proven commercial success before it even starts. Which was very much not the case back then. Ursula Nortstrom's memoirs, 'Dear Genius' are so interesting about this lost, nurturing age.
Yes! I remember when the jewel in the crown publisher started in 1978 with ethos of nurturing talent, unusual and exciting books, sadly that publisher has lost it's trademark 'look' these days too. I would recognise one of their books even up to a few years ago, not anymore. Gone very commercial and I guess the sales team has a bigger say even more now. Ultimately its a big business that needs to make money. Natalia O'Hara sent me a really interesting article about the state of publishing generally now, post a big court case over a merger of two publishing houses that ultimately got blocked by the courts. It makes for a sobering read. Successful back lists heavily mentioned in it. I'll re post it on my Substack.
oh I'd be very interested in reading that!
it all just feels like such hard work, doesn't it! I wish I'd been a picture book maker back then, or even in the 60s would have been fun. It's not fun any more, just steadily demoralising. More thoughts coming soon!
The weight of years seems about right. I think everyone is also getting complacent with likes because we are weary of time spent there, a decades worth, and it’s proved itself impossible to keep up with the many thousands. I also think art practices aren’t something that should be on a conveyer belt. Rolled out impromptu like a rolling out another factory carpet. It takes time to grow, to think, often in quiet contemplation over long periods of time. Sadly lost. It is a devil and the deep blue sea conundrum. Breaks are so important. Numbers are not.
I remember when Facebook and Twitter were prolific. I also remember walking away from them, shutting my accounts without a backward glance. I also remember a new ‘star’ of the picture book world who had massive followings on both. He worked very hard to build up his accounts for his career. No one looks at them now (obviously now Twitter/X is too toxic to touch) and his insta which he only recently fully embraced is small. I think there’s a warning here, things change and don’t rely on a platform. The grim reaper will surely come for Instagram. And yes, likes numbers are now meaningless because as you say no one is really looking properly now. I’m just stunned at how quickly two weeks off it has made me disconnect.
Instagram is flooded. Pause and you don’t miss the noise.
I still wonder why we all put up with it? It’s proven to be addictive, unhealthy and in some cases very harmful, yet we stay. In terms of kids publishing there’s a real pressure remain for our books but I’m not sure I can.
So many of us feel like this. It’s the addiction and feeling like you need to be there for your book(s). I had an analogue phase - short lived. I’m with you. But then I also have huge show-off phases!
Show-off phases are allowed Zoe. It’s the daily ones that are not 🤣
Hi Polly, I absolutely agree with your thoughts on instagram, I love being out the loop. I feel the pressure to post to promote myself- even with an agent we are encouraged to do that. I also want to cheer on my friends, so maybe a private account would allow me to do that. The way in which we feel about sharing our worlds/ work is definitely changing. I love the idea of returning to posting out things. Much more personal. I think the fact we’ve all been pushed online (more so since Covid) that we are all craving more human contact and real interactions. Maybe this is how we can beat AI. Lots to think about. Thank you for discussing x
A private acc is a lovely way to keep in touch with friends and feed other interests. I can log in without being blasted by posts/images/ etc from the picture book world which, when one is developing books can be really distracting. I love that my private acc is just that! Though I rarely look, it's nice to know I can in a protected way. I do think, if one has an agent, it's easier to step back and not fret about exposure. Let the agents do their jobs and get our work seen! Let the publishers promote our books too. Posting on Insta is so tricky now, too much and it irritates folk, too little and we get dropped by the Insta Gods.. personally I'm enjoy my third week in blissful ignorance, though I did pop on to congratulate Kate Rolfe for her Carnegie. Thats a huge achievement, and we don't know each other, but it's nice, as you say to cheer people on and their achievements.
This year I've deleted all my personal accounts from social media and removed the apps from my phone to making it 'boring' too. I can still access my work accounts on socials from my laptop - I do still need them, but this boundary means that I don't check them in the evenings or at weekends. And I don't scroll endlessly. I'm probably missing some stuff but I actually don't care. I feel less scattered, more creative and for the first time in ages, I can hear myself think.
Interesting to read you've done the same with your apps and phone. Less scattered sums it up well. Along with 'hearing yourself think', it's a good feeling isn't it. And yes, missing stuff is a small price to pay for regained creativity and feeling grounded.
100%
I can SO relate to your feelings. I'm regularly deleting Instagram app from my phone, trying to schedule a day per week to check in and perhaps post a thing or two. But I find it really difficult to meet the one-day-a-week goal, as the addiction pulls me in immediately. Lots of pondering to do on my side too. Thank you for sharing your experience ❤️
I feel your pain!! I am almost tempted to leave Insta and perhaps for once I'll be ahead of the game. Or even cool!! Haha
The sketch of Goose is beautiful. I'm glad you two found each other. (Thinking about it just makes my eyes welled.) And I'm glad you found the love for writing and drawing again. Yeah I wish I could leave Instagram. It's a shame that book promotions are built around social media these days.
Thank you. I think Goose and I were destined for each other. Poor little bean, he’s a little bald in places, with fighting scars.
Yes it really is a shame there’s a pressure to be on insta for our books. When most editors and designers hardly use it. But I do feel it’s a platform that’s dying. Slowly.
I made some contents for Andersen takeover for my new book with them because they asked. But I much prefer writing about my books in depth here.
And I always look forward to your posts here. Always relevant and thought provoking.
This really resonated with me, Polly - I took instagram off my phone a month ago and occasionally look at it on my ipad - and my mind feels so much quieter! Enjoy your cat companionship time x
Isn’t it lovely to have an insta app free phone! I occasionally take my emails off too. I’m glad my post resonates too.