I’ve entered contests before. Just last year I entered a blog writing contest where I had to write a blog on the contest’s topic. I was dancing on clouds when I was chosen as a finalist. Then when I didn’t even place, I cried. I tried very hard not to base my feelings of self worth on that contest lost. Eventually I picked up, moved on, and it no longer hurts anymore.
Today I was on the other side of that experience. Thirteen artists submitted pictures in hopes of being selected for my book project. At first I was delighted and flattered that so many people would care to work with me. So many people looked at a few lines of text and trusted that the rest of the book would be good. Each set of pictures was accompanied by an email filled with hope. I realized that each of these artists was in the same position that I was in with the blogging contest. Each hoped to be selected and have their art reaffirmed. I exchanged several emails with some of the artists. I came to know them just a little. In the end, only one artist could be used for the book. I had to write 12 emails which I knew would disappoint the recipients.
The judge in the blogging contest rambled for several sentences about how difficult it was to choose and how she wished she could choose everyone. As one of the unchosen, I felt like she was just being polite. But now I know she was telling bare truth. It is hard to choose. I wish I could choose everyone. Each of the artists who submitted was fully capable of illustrating a children’s book. There were things that I liked about every one of them. In the end, one set of images just clicked with me and with the spirit of the story I wrote. This does not mean that the other submissions were faulty. They just didn’t click for me as strongly as the one artist I selected.
This coming Friday Howard will be blogging about all of the artists who submitted. Hopefully this will send some exciting projects in the direction of the artists. I see no reason that everyone can’t win from this. I now have contacts with artists and writers both. Hopefully I can help facilitate connections between the two worlds.
For the record, Sandra made this decision on her own. I resisted all her efforts to get me to review submissions, and only looked at the materials when she said “I think I’ve found the one I want.”
She definitely picked the right artist for this story, but that doesn’t mean the other artwork wasn’t up to snuff. I look forward to sending some traffic to all the submitters — their work is worth looking at.
–Howard
For the record, Sandra made this decision on her own. I resisted all her efforts to get me to review submissions, and only looked at the materials when she said “I think I’ve found the one I want.”
She definitely picked the right artist for this story, but that doesn’t mean the other artwork wasn’t up to snuff. I look forward to sending some traffic to all the submitters — their work is worth looking at.
–Howard