Jake Parker, the creator of Inktober and World Art Drop Day, has worked on everything from animated films to comic books to picture books. 
In today's episode we talk about Jake's forthcoming picture book, Little Bot and Sparrow, and the many forms it took on it's long road to publication. 
We also discuss the difference between self publishing and traditional publishing, and one important key to succeeding in either market… 
Listen to 'Stories Unbound' Episode 8: http://traffic.libsyn.com/oatley/SU008_JakeParker.mp3 
[ download the mp3 ] [ subscribe in iTunes ] 
 Awesome Links: 
Jake Parker's Website 
Little Bot and Sparrow 
Inktober 
World Art Drop Day 
SkyHeart Kickstarter 
Society of Visual Storytelling 
Music by Ryan Keith and Wes Cepin 
What Do You Think? 
Jake explains how he trained to climb the tallest mountain in Utah by going on many short hikes. 
He compares these short hikes to the small projects we need to do that will eventually shape our larger career goals. 
What are the mini hikes” you've taken on your creative journey? 
The post Interview with Jake Parker :: Stories Unbound #8 appeared first on The Oatley Academy of Visual Storytelling.

Interview with Jake Parker :: Stories Unbound #8

Your Guide To The Growing World Of Kidlit and Children's Book Publishing

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In today’s conversation with Jake Parker (Author/ Illustrator of Little Bot and Sparrow, Creator of Inktober) we discuss different ideas for promoting your picture book: 
- When should you start growing an audience? (Sooner than you think!) - Why trust is essential for growing an audience. - Should your project have its own website? - The importance of school visits. - …and Shawna shares her personal tip to avoid overwhelm! 
Listen to 'Stories Unbound' 20: http://traffic.libsyn.com/oatley/SU020-JakeParker-BookPromotion.mp3 
[ download the mp3 ] [ subscribe in iTunes ] 
Awesome Links: 
Jake’s Website 
LittleBotAndSparrow.com 
Brunhilda’s Backwards Day 
Jake’s Little Bot Tour 
Interview with Jake Parker :: Stories Unbound #8 
Music By Ryan Keith and Wes Cepin 
How About You? 
Most artists have a love/ hate relationship with social media… 
…but Jake Parker loves it. 
What stops you from posting? Did any of Jake’s advice help? If so, which part? 
Please share your thoughts in the comments below… 
The post How To Promote Your Picture Book with Jake Parker :: Stories Unbound #20 appeared first on The Oatley Academy of Visual Storytelling.

How To Promote Your Picture Book with Jake Parker :: Stories Unbound #20

I have an urgent (but awesome) announcement! 
Our new Visual Development Workshop is finally open for enrollment! 
To learn more, listen to the audio announcement via the media player below… 
Listen To The 'First Flight' Announcement: http://traffic.libsyn.com/oatley/FirstFlight-OatleyAcademyArtCast-Announcement.mp3 
[ download the mp3 ] [ subscribe in iTunes ] 
*Banner Image Credit: Detail from a Character VisDev painting by Sarah Marino for Book Of Life (Fox/ ReelFX). 
Announcement Transcript: 
Chris Oatley here with an urgent (but awesome) announcement! 
Our new Visual Development Workshop is finally open for enrollment!  
You can go now to http://OatleyAcademy.com/go/ff/ to learn more and register. 
For those of you who aren't able to visit the website right now, I'll share a the teaser – accompanied by the new score written by Seth Earnest: 
Sarah Marino (Nickelodeon) and Jenn Ely (Dreamworks, Laika) will join Maike Venhofen (Director, The Storytellers' Summit) and me for an emotional, inspirational, educational experience unlike anything available online or offline… 
First Flight: How To Create Your New Career In Visual Development is a five-week online workshop that will help you launch a new career in Visual Development for Animation. 
With the information-rich lessons, fifteen hours of real-time Visual Development Demos / Q&A Sessions and personalized guidance you’ll find in our Group Coaching Sessions, you will: 
- Create a Visual Development Portfolio and corresponding web presence that meets industry standards while rising above the competition. - Form the professional mindset and focused work habits that will help you reach the high levels of artistic skill required by the animation industry. - Choose an area of specialization and expand your versatility. - Avoid the Top Ten Visual Development Career Killers! - Know whether you’re “good enough” to get hired now and, if not, what you need to do to reach that level of quality with your work. - Strengthen your skill in the three main areas of Visual Development – Character Props and Environments – and make a plan for ongoing practice. - Overcome the fears and bad habits that prevent aspiring Visual Development Artists from landing their dream job. - Understand how an Animation Art Department works. - Prepare for your first week as a professional Visual Development Artist. 
If you're interested in a career as a VisDev artist for animation, it would be amazing to have you join us… 
You can get all the details at http://OatleyAcademy.com/go/ff/ 
…and you'll also be able to read about How A Boring Illustration Job Changed My Life Forever. 
We gave a sneak peek to some of our current students. 
Here are some of the many fantastic reviews: 
“I'm so excited to be starting First Flight!  Already watched the first two videos and love it so far!  I'm still working through Magic Box and Storyteller's Summit and thrilled to add another OA class to the mix.  OA's seriously my favorite place on the internet.  :D”  
– Veronica 
“I was impressed by everything the course contains. By the second video I already felt my confidence boost.”  
– Vismaya 
“I'm already feeling the love. Really like the attention you guys are putting into developing a good atmosphere and attention to the students. Looking forward to learning, growing and adding new friends in my life.”  
– Carlos 
“First Flight is the Voltron of OA Courses” 
– Chad 
“What I like most about First Flight is how honest and clear it is about what both you and your work need to be like to be successful, and what mindset you need to achieve that. Would definitely recommend it, just the first few videos have been so mind-opening for me!”  
– Mari 
“First Flight lifts ...

[Announcement] New Visual Development Workshop Now Available!

Orli Zuravicky is a Senior Editor at Scholastic and the author of the forthcoming Happily Ever Afterlife middle grade novel series. 
In this interview we talk about: 
- How an Editor chooses an Illustrator. - How to approach an Editor at a conference. - How being an Editor helped Orli become a better writer. - Why manuscript submissions get rejected. - Why there are more opportunities in Kidlit now than ever before. 
Listen to 'Stories Unbound' Episode 19: http://traffic.libsyn.com/oatley/SU019_OrliZuravicky.mp3 
[ download the mp3 ] [ subscribe in iTunes ] 
Join Us On The Storytellers’ Summit: 
Whether you write children’s books, screenplays or novels… 
…or draw storyboards or comics: You are a storyteller. 
…and every storyteller understands that turning our lofty thoughts into a finished work often feels like an uphill climb… 
The Storytellers’ Summit – an online course at The Oatley Academy – will provide guidance from some of the entertainment industry’s best teachers. 
We’ll help you master fundamental concepts like: 
- Developing your protagonist - Building a believable world - Constructing a compelling plot - Finding your voice - Fighting writer’s block 
Your story is waiting. 
Join The Storytellers’ Summit today! 
Awesome Links: 
Orli Zuravicky 
Scholastic Publishing 
Happily Ever Afterlife (Shawna's Affiliate Link) 
Connect with Shawna on Twitter 
Music by Ryan Keith and Wes Cepin 
Share Your Thoughts: 
Today Orli helped us understand what it’s like to be an Editor at a major publishing house. 
What did you learn about the Editor’s role that you didn’t know before? 
The post Interview with Scholastic Editor Orli Zuravicky :: Stories Unbound #19 appeared first on The Oatley Academy of Visual Storytelling.

Interview with Scholastic Editor Orli Zuravicky :: Stories Unbound #19

In part one, we talked about query letters and how to submit your work to an agent with Jennifer March Soloway, Associate Agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency. 
Today in part two we talk about: 
- Beginning writer? Learn more on how to get started! - What makes a great Critique Group – and why you need one. - Why you should learn to think like an Editor. - What Jennifer looks for in a writing submission. - Important things to consider before signing with an Agent. 
Listen to 'Stories Unbound' Episode 18: http://traffic.libsyn.com/oatley/SU018_JenniferMarchSoloway_part02.mp3 
[download the mp3] [subscribe in iTunes] 
Join Us On The Storytellers’ Summit: 
Whether you write children’s books, screenplays or novels… 
…or draw storyboards or comics: You are a storyteller. 
…and every storyteller understands that turning our lofty thoughts into a finished work often feels like an uphill climb… 
The Storytellers’ Summit – an online course at The Oatley Academy – will provide guidance from some of the entertainment industry’s best teachers. 
We’ll help you master fundamental concepts like: 
- Developing your protagonist - Building a believable world - Constructing a compelling plot - Finding your voice - Fighting writer’s block 
Your story is waiting. 
Join The Storytellers’ Summit today! 
Awesome Links: 
Connect with Jennifer on Twitter 
Andrea Brown Literary Agency 
Connect with Shawna on Twitter 
Music by Ryan Keith and Wes Cepin 
Learn More: 
Building Your Kidlit Career: Agents 
Launching Your Kidlit Career (Part 2): Critique Groups 
How to Gather Healthy Critique Groups and Collaborators 
What Do You Think? 
Jennifer talks about how giving feedback to others can help you become a better writer. How has giving feedback to others helped you with your own writing or illustrating? 
Share your thoughts in the comments below! 
The post Interview with Literary Agent Jennifer March Soloway (Part 2) :: Stories Unbound #18 appeared first on The Oatley Academy of Visual Storytelling.

Interview with Literary Agent Jennifer March Soloway (Part 2) :: Stories Unbound #18

Jennifer March Soloway is an Associate Agent at the reputable Andrea Brown Literary Agency. 
In this interview: 
- How to pitch your story to an Agent. - What’s a query letter? …and how to write one. - Why it’s important to keep revising, rewriting and resubmitting your story. - What is the Big Sur Writing Workshop? …and why you should go. - What do a Toy Inventor Liaison and a Literary Agent have in common? 
Listen to 'Stories Unbound' Episode 17: http://traffic.libsyn.com/oatley/SU017_JenniferMarchSoloway_part01.mp3 
[download the mp3] [subscribe in iTunes] 
Do You Want To Make Children’s Books? 
The Stories Unbound team is cooking up something new here at The Oatley Academy. 
…something special, made just for children’s book creators. 
Join the early notification list to get sneak peeks and a special price when we launch… 
Awesome Links: 
Connect with Jennifer on Twitter 
Andrea Brown Literary Agency 
Word Count Dracula 
Big Sur Writing Workshop 
Connect with Shawna on Twitter 
Music by Ryan Keith and Wes Cepin 
Learn More: 
Building Your Kidlit Career: Agents 
What Do You Think? 
Jennifer talked about how her job as a Toy Inventor Liaison was a stepping stone in helping her become a literary agent. 
Have you ever done work or learned a skill that seemed totally unrelated to writing or illustrating, but ended up helping you make better art and stories? 
Tell us about it in the comments below! 
The post Interview with Literary Agent Jennifer March Soloway (Part 1) :: Stories Unbound #17 appeared first on The Oatley Academy of Visual Storytelling.

Interview with Jake Parker :: Stories Unbound #8

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