As an artist, I may be a bit biased, but for me, the art is the thing.

Illustrations are more than just pictures attached to words. Ask anyone what they remember about the stories they read (as well as those that were read to them) as children and they will recall the pictures.

They will remember the faces, the colors; they will remember the fantastic elements that make the stories leap out and grab you. People will remember not only the big elements in the pictures, but also the quiet moments. Remember the way the moon shone through the trees as Max and the monsters danced in Where the Wild Things Are? Remember the texture of the cut paper in all those collages in The Hungry Caterpillar?

When you think about your favorite children's book, you don't just think about the passages you loved or the names of the characters, you think about the pictures. I know I always do.

I think you do, too.

Christopher Donovan

Illustrator for

Legwork Team Publishing

Phone: 631 944-6511
Email: Yvonne@legworkteam.com
Website: www.legworkteam.com

Graphic Design Blog

 So you’re ready to write the

GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL

By The Little Worker Bee

 

O

nce upon a time, only a select few were lucky enough to get a chance to tell their story in published words.  Today, with technology available to just about everyone, publishing your story is easier than ever!  However, just because publishing resources are at your fingertips, doesn’t mean you could or should ignore the basics of graphic style and design as they apply to printed pages.  With an understanding of type style, layout and graphic devices, your story will posses a professional polish, regardless of your genre.

 

It is true that now-a days, you can just write your book and move it forward for publication in basic manuscript format.  But why would you want to.  Your final product will be a page-after-page drone that will be static, uneventful and difficult to read.  A book needs to be laid out and designed.  With this in mind, there is a short list of devices that should be considered, then applied.  These devices will make the reading experience less fatiguing, and your story easier to follow.  Finally with a vision, imagination and a degree of embellishment and you can turn you lovely tome into a jewel that may help attract the interest of major publishing houses!

Look for these layout and design devices as well as helpful tips in future blogs.  I will provide an outline, then follow up with simple rules and suggestions that you should consider when you are ready to send your words forward into the world of self publishing!

 

 

www.legworkteam.com

 

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