It's almost time for Getting Paid to Draw!

Over the next few weeks, I’ll answer some of the big questions about illustration I’ve received over the years. 

(Do you have a question about illustration that you’d like for me to answer in a newsletter? Submit your question here.)

I’ll start with this question that I get often, 

“HOW DO YOU FINISH YOUR PROJECTS?”
(aka, How do you not lose steam?)

I love this question because it’s a problem I’ve faced a lot. You get an idea, and you are excited, but once you start working on it and get into the nitty-gritty, you lose steam and don’t finish the project.

This could be whether you’re trying to make new pieces for your portfolio, working on a book idea, or just trying to finish some sketchbook pages.

So, how do you fix this cycle? 

I set DEADLINES for myself. In fact, 

I LOVE DEADLINES.

When I was in art school, we were taught to fear the word "DEADLINE."
It makes sense, right? 

The word "DEAD" is right in the name.

First, let’s define what I mean by “deadlines” in this context. Deadlines are when your assignment, or part of your assignment, is due. These stopping points could be for a concept or a finished project. After the final deadline, we (in theory) can no longer adjust or finesse this grand thing we have been working on. Here's what I've learned in my twenty-something years of working toward deadlines. 

1. DEADLINES are the ultimate motivator. 

With an impending due date, it's much less likely that you will prioritize unnecessary parts of the process. With no end in sight, it's easy to piddle away for weeks on loosely researching your topic or simply thinking about possible outcomes. I tell myself that, eventually, it will come together and transform into something fantastic. 

There may be some creative people who work like this. They lightly touch something for weeks or years until it is polished and ready to show off, but I'm not wired this way, and you probably aren't either. Without a time limit of some sort, I'm likely to rework something to death until I've lost all of that initial spark and confidence that I get at the beginning of the idea.

Sink or Swim.

Listen to this insane story. A friend recently told me he’d wanted to create a small comic for years but never got around to it. Here’s how he forced himself to do it. HE SIGNED UP FOR A TABLE AT A SMALL COMICS SHOW. And he was chosen as an exhibitor! Holy smokes! Talk about a huge motivation to get stuff done. He would show up empty-handed if he didn't get the comic done.

Well? Did he do it? Yep! 

(don’t worry; deadlines can be less stressful than this example!)

2. DONE IS BETTER THAN PERFECT.

Wait, perfect doesn't exist. 

3. DEADLINES help you pick a direction and stick with it.

There will always be a million ways to take any self-directed project. That children’s book could be a graphic novel! These screenprints could have been blue and black instead of orange! One great thing about having a deadline is that it forces you to try out or abandon directions that aren’t as clear. Pick one and roll with it.

4. DEADLINES help you give your brain a break.

Having a stopping point means you can use your brain for other ideas. Over the years, I’ve had ideas for projects without actually putting those ideas down on paper and making the thing. This meant my brain constantly ruminated on the concept, even repeating bits of it repeatedly in my head until I eventually felt exhausted.

Giving yourself a deadline means there’s a point where you force yourself to make it, and then it exists in the world, and you can stop imagining an amorphous, unknowable blob. 

5. DEADLINES are better with accountability.

Having a support system to discuss aspects of your projects can be very helpful. In college, I had a group of artist friends who would meet several times a week to discuss what we were working on. This was great because it added accountability to getting the work done. I started the Community Center as part of Getting Paid to Draw for this purpose. I wanted to create a safe place where people could discuss their project goals. But your group could be a friend who is just good at checking in. It doesn't need to be another artist! 

OKAY, LET'S SET SOME DEADLINES!

Do you have a project you'd love to work on but can't find the time?

WE ALL DO THIS.
Give it a due date. 

Here’s how:

1. BREAK IT DOWN.

Break your project into very small, achievable steps. It doesn't need to be the entire project.

IMPORTANT: SET REALISTIC GOALS

Make your deadlines reasonable and set accomplishable goals. If you make them too lofty, you’ll probably miss a deadline, which will add stress and likely cause you to abandon ship altogether. Set small, easy-to-accomplish goals that gradually become more difficult.

2. PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR

Create a calendar with dates when specific parts of the process are due. Deadline one might be a written list of concepts, deadline two might be sketches, and so on.

3. FIND ACCOUNTABILITY TO GET THINGS DONE

If you don't trust yourself to stick to your deadlines, bring in reinforcements. Let someone know about your project. You don't need to give them the full details. Tell them you're working on something, and give them the dates you've set for yourself.

4. CELEBRATE

Celebrate when you meet deadlines! 

Take your time before immediately jumping to the next due date. You hit a goal! That's big stuff. It's time to celebrate. The type of reward is up to you. It could be a small treat OR for bigger goals (like finishing a novel, completing 30 days of keeping a sketchbook, or submitting plans for a food truck); this could be more substantial.

A reward allows your brain (and body) to recover from the hard mental work often involved with meeting deadlines. It will also train your brain to focus when the project gets hard to work toward those rewards.

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submit questions and topics for future posts here.

HAPPENING SOON!

Make 2025 the year your portfolio gets a boost! Join me on Saturday, February 8, for a FREE online 10 Illustration Portfolio Mistakes Workshop. Registration is now open - sign up here!