Thinking Out Loud #1

On being a "part-time" illustrator

I think a lot. I think while working, walking, watching Netflix and even while dreaming. Can’t help it. My head is full of thoughts. So I’ve decided to launch a new series of irregular, very self-indulgent posts where I share what’s on my mind lately (mainly on art, books and being an author-illustrator). My hope is to give you food for thought or spark a discussion. So feel free to leave comments!

So here we go - my first Thinking Out Loud post!

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A Thought Trigger

Recently multiple people describe me “prolific”, and they couldn’t fathom how and why I still have a semi full-time (four days a week) day job.

When I signed my first book deal in 2018, I naively thought I would be a full-time illustrator and I could leave my day job in TV within three to five years. Fast forward seven years, I still work in TV.

I used to feel embarrassed to tell people I was a part-time illustrator. I felt I wasn’t a proper illustrator unless I could made a living solely by making art or books. I thought “part-time” meant that I wasn’t good enough.

But I’m not so sure about that any more.

Past seven years, I’ve learned that only a handful of authors/illustrators are living comfortably by making just a couple of books a year. The sad reality is that book jobs don’t pay well unless you’re a super best-selling author/illustrator or a celebrity. (If you want to have a glimpse of the reality, I recommend

Simon Philip

’s newsletter, Authorly Honest, especially “My Author Earnings” series.)

I’ve published 12 books and co-editions in 16 different languages so far, and three more picture books are ready to be published and I’m about to start a new book. But all these still don’t give me the stability to leave my day job (living in one of the most expensive cities in the world doesn’t help). That’s my reality.

Here are what I’ve gathered from my friends and acceptances in the children’s book industry. Without a BIG and steady passive income (e.g. royalties) or a franchise (e.g. TV/film adaptations or merchandises) to keep their head above the water, majority of authors and illustrators do:

• Make a LOT of books every year, including they’re not so passionate about,

• Run up and down (and sometimes in and out) the country to do a LOT of paid events,

• Have side hustles (e.g. online shops, markets, teaching creative courses),

• Have a partner (or parents) with good and steady income,

• A combination of the above,

Or

• Have a day job (or two), like me

My friend A illustrates about five picture books a year. I don’t know how she does it. (It varies from illustrator to illustrator, but a picture book generally takes about four months to illustrate.)

Illustrator B keeps illustrating an US book series because it pays well, although he doesn’t want to.

A couple of my friends’ marriages have been on the rocks due to their unstable incomes.

I thought being a full-time illustrator would be a walk in the park. Sob.

I still dream to be a full-time illustrator (whatever it means) though. But I don’t want to be in the situation I constantly worry about money or I drive myself to a burnout.

I don’t have a family to support but I have an elderly cat whom I love dearly. She got very ill and needed big surgeries four years ago. Thanks to the combination of pet insurance, crowdfunding and saving from my TV job, I could pay for the surgeries. I don’t want to think what would have happened to her if I hadn’t had my day job. And she continues to cost me (she’s literally the most expensive thing in my possession).

My precious

And, if you like it or not, rainy days will come. In April, my printer broke. In May, my washing machine broke and the cost of replacing it just snowballed. Also in May, my cat, who already has CKD and IBD, got a new health issue that required a new (expensive) medication (for the rest of her life). I was almost sure I was cursed or my bank account had a blackhole. I’m dreading the day when my fridge or oven or, god forbid, boiler finally break… And who knows? Maybe I break one day.

Also, having a decent and steady income from the day job gives me the luxury to say “no” to projects I’m not interested. It’s nice to not have the pressure to grab all the projects that come my way.

So for now I choose to be a part-time illustrator.

I no longer romanticise the word “full-time”. The word “full-time” (or “part-time”) is neutral to me. It is neither positive nor negative. Being “full-time” or “part-time” is simply a practical choice. Whatever floats your boat, right?

“Part-time” doesn’t mean I’m less of an illustrator. It means I’m sensible (and have a cat who costs me fortune).

What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Momo x