Do writers have eras?

Embracing creative change

Like nearly everyone on the planet, I surrendered to the Taylor Swift global phenomenon and watched the Era's Tour on Disney Plus. So I figured I would give you my review: It was GREAT. Not just because it was an impressive show with all the bells and whistles, excellent music, fun costumes, but because she was clearly having so much FUN. It was infectious. And intimidating - cycling through album after album of hits - a lifetime collection of her creative sweat and tears laid out before us to see and really understand who this artist is and what she's all about. 

And like I do whenever I witness the creative accomplishments of others, I had to step back and take a moment to think about me (I'm the problem, it's me). Think about my creative life and who I've been, who I am as an artist up to this point. What are my ‘eras’? Do I have eras?

And can i rock a glitter body suit?

I've decided, yes. We all have eras. Picasso had the Blue Period. The Beatles went through multiple sounds over their career. Justin Timeberlake had the boy band days. My dad took up snowboarding in his 50s. We all have eras.

Even writers. I love the breakneck pacing of Stephen King's writing in the 70s and 80s - Carrie, Cujo, Pet Cemetery. Louisa May Alcott, famous for Little Women, apparently wrote pulp fiction first. 

The more I thought about it, the more I realized I am actually at the dawn of a new era in my own career. I've been in it for some time and just didn't really realize. It probably started when I started this newsletter - when I decided to combine my writing and drawing lives and stop trying to do them separately. My Authorstrator era!

And realizing this, I suddenly became panicked. Because creatives have been told ad nauseam to package themselves up succinctly. I've talked about this before. Brand yourself! We're told. Make who you are easily recognizable and understandable for a viewer in a two second glance at an Instagram post. Perfect your personal pitch in one pithy sentence. 

If I've been a middle grade fantasy writer for the last few years, are readers who enjoyed my series, and editors I've worked with, even going to know what to do with what seems like a sudden pivot to writer/illustrator? And maybe I'm not as focused on fantasy anymore. I have two on the go, but my other projects are very not fantasy and definitely more comedy. Am I throwing anyone who knows me in any professional capacity for a loop by trying something new?

But then I look at Taylor Swift's Eras concert - so many different phases, styles, sounds across her career. All of them different, but at the same time, distinctly TAYLOR.

And I think that's why I enjoyed watching it so much. The whole show is a testament to following your creative gut, embracing the muse and not being afraid of where it takes you just because that path deviates from the narrow category of a spotify playlist or an in-store influencer pick-of-the week table.  The people who love what you're doing will trust you enough to embrace the change you bring to your art. Because what connects it all, no matter the style, the tone, the themes, is YOU.

So I'm embracing my Authorstrator era, and trying not to stress about what it means for my past. I think I might be more myself as an artist now than I've ever been, excited to push my projects to new places. Excited to grow and change and develop.

I just have to keep my nerve, and always be ready to push through to the next era. Also I guess I’m a Swiftie now?

Doodle

A compilation of doodles! - this was for a work thing and thought it turned out fun so figured I would share :)

 What I'm Working On

HANDS - my new favourite way to draw hands is to pick a character from a favourite movie and just draw their hands! Here's Ian Malcolm from Jurassic Park:

And Winifred Sanders from Hocus Pocus:

Paid Subscribers, your exclusive post is coming April 1 and we'll be looking at my messy sketchbooks - seeing the scribbly nonsense nothing doodles and how they compare to the final illustrated pieces. It's all about embracing mess and the creative process!

Like this but MESSIER

What I'm reading

I picked up Yellowface by R. F. Kuang because I had a gift card and everyone is talking about it and the back blurb sounded delicious.

Stacks to Share

Jacob Souva

‘s newsletter has quickly become one of my favourites. Not only is he a talented illustrator but a great writer and he makes me laugh every post. This one about comparison and jealousy in writing was excellent.

Animation Obsessive Staff

blowing my mind again with this fascinating post about cell animation! I’ve long been curious about cell animation and this post offered an exciting glimpse at its history and how it works.

What are you reading!