Independence Day, Part Two
One more thing that needs mention this Independence Day: it’s my third anniversary as a full-time book designer. It was three years ago today that I declared independence from the corporate life and determined to make it on my own.
It hasn’t always been easy, especially with the divorce mussing plans pretty badly — but I don’t regret it for a minute.
Part of that is the realization that I’m best described as an artist, not as an “employee.” I’m not creative from nine to five, like my bosses in the corporate world wanted me to be. I’m not always in the position to think creatively, honestly; sometimes, no matter what I do, it just doesn’t work. So, sure, a significant part of it is freeing myself to work when the creativity’s at its best — often in the middle of the night. (My clients know well that they’re much more likely to catch me at my desk at nine in the evening than nine in the morning, for instance, something some appreciate more than others…;)
But more than that, it’s independence from your creativity being the property of a huge conglomerate like PepsiCo, feeding the bosses’ fat salaries — and the choice, at least hopefully, of who you’re working with. By and large, I’ve done pretty well; the publishers I’ve worked with over the last three years have, for the most part, been helpful and appreciative — and usually accept conditions, like specific credit lines (as in credit for your work), partial invoicing, and the like.
It’s also the reason for my recent obsession with photography. I’ve realized that there’s a huge available market of photographs that aren’t offered from Getty, et al, but from real people — and that’s inspired me to not only work closely with them and learn as much as possible, but to take something that was a serious hobby into something that I regularly use in my work. It’s very comforting to know that with a few emails or a few hours’ work, I can get exactly what I want, instead of something close. (It usually doesn’t even cost the client any extra — bonus.)
All this is only available to me because of the internet, because I’m willing to get up here on this virtual street corner and use my little megaphone, because I’m willing to work the internet for connections in photography (and illustrations) for my book covers, because I’ve studied and learned from others’ work through the internet, because I’ve been willing to post work, good and bad, for feedback, because folks out there send me great stuff to look at and post about, because, because, because. The list is nearly endless — truly, we have passed the point in the design and production of books where the players all need to be in the same physical space.
That independence is fantastic, in every sense of the word.
In the last three years, the changes and growth brought about by becoming “independent” have really been unequaled in my life. I’m tremendously grateful to the people I’ve worked with — and to you all, who have come together into a virtual community where we can all learn and grow together.
I’m looking forward to what the next three years will bring. I’m excited about bringing projects that are just ideas or plans to fruition, I’m excited about photography, I’m excited about book design, and I’m glad that I — we — get to share it, grow with it, and learn from it instead of “working for” it.
Here’s to independence.
