My first SCBWI experience was the 2014 NY winter conference during my last semester of grad school. As inspirational as it was, I also felt overwhelmed and intimidated. People I met couldn't have been kinder or nicer, but I couldn't help feeling small and sensing that the door to publishing was tightly shut. Everything changed though when I started interning at a publishing house after graduating and finally saw behind the curtain. I joke that I took the job to steal (or let's say, learn) industry secrets so I could publish my own books. It's only half a joke. That was genuinely my intention when I started, but I fell in love almost immediately. The collaboration, the process of making books together, being part of something bigger—it was exhilarating. I learned so much from artists and coworkers alike. Witnessing the entire journey of each book—from before the beginning to after the end—and seeing how different every process was mind-blowing. A decade flew by working on both sides of the industry before I made the leap to focus on making books full-time. That was exactly a year ago.
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| A view from the Macmillan Children's Publishing Group office where I worked for seven years. This was from the Flatiron Building before they moved to the current Financial District in 2019. Macmillan offered a tour of the office to those who signed up during the winter conference. |
Working on books is often lonely. You might think everything will be better once you sign your first contract, but you quickly realize the loneliness persists. Sometimes it feels like no one cares about your book except you, that your editor/art director/agent doesn't respond quickly enough, and even when your precious book is finally out in the world, it doesn't get the attention it deserves.
These are all common feelings. However, I'd like to share what I've learned from my not-too-long-but-not-too-short career working on both sides of the publishing table, hoping to ease some of that frustration creators feel.
1. There is a whole team behind you and your book. Creators typically communicate with just one or two people—your editor or art director. But there's an entire team working on your book: copy editors, production managers, sales, marketing, and publicity folks. (And that's not even counting the warehouse workers, reviewers, booksellers, librarians, educators, and your readers!) People want you to succeed. Even if you don't see them working, know they're there cheering for you and your book.
2. Collaboration and communication is key. Always communicate. Be open and direct about your needs. I often hear illustrator and author friends frustrated about not hearing back quickly enough. I can relate! But they'd be surprised to hear that publishers have the same issue with some creators. Over-communication is better than under-communication. Don't be afraid to ask questions, ask for what you need, and let them know when you need more time.
3. Work on several projects simultaneously. Because waiting is inherent in publishing, it's best to juggle multiple projects so you can always focus on something else while waiting to hear back. That way, you're not too emotionally tied to one project. Plus, we've all experienced needing to step away from a project to return with fresh eyes, right? Always have something else cooking.
There are many downs in this journey, just as there are ups. Go through it with dignity. Seek community—you'll discover you're not alone. Keep calm and tell your stories.
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Aram Kim is an award-winning author and illustrator of many acclaimed picture books, including the Yoomi, Friends and Family series. Aram's work has been recognized by the Junior Library Guild, Bank Street College of Education, the Mills Tannenbaum Award for Children's Literacy, and more. Raised in South Korea and now living in Queens, NY, she creates stories that bridge traditional Korean culture with universal childhood experiences. Find more about Aram's work at AramKim.com.
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