YA Books V.S. Illustrations
Decisions to be made about Illustrations
This blog is about:
YA Books V.S. Illustrations, we will explore the benefits and cons of adding illustrations to these type of books.
Let’s start off with a fun fact:
My first book was a Children’s book. Which had full page and spread page illustrations. When I plunged into this new YA book, I had a hard choice to make. Should I add illustrations in this book series or not? In short I decided to add illustrations to my book. Which I love! However, there is a price to pay for this.
YA books: recap!
In the last 2 blogs we read that YA Books can include illustrations. We also read that the author can decide not to have illustrations. It all depends on what the author desires.
Illustrations can benefit a book tremendously. In YA books, think of illustrations as frosting to a excellent moist cake. A perfect topping. With illustrations the story an author spent many hours creating turns into a visual delight for the reader.
Authors who choose to add illustrations into their YA books have many benefits to reap.
Benefits of adding
Illustrations to YA books
Visually!
The cover grabs your attention, then once opened the illustrations pull you in deeper.
Everything comes to life!
Your audience will be able to peer into the authors world and see the characters they created in more depth.
Creativity!
Illustrations give the author an extra chance to show off! Elaborate characters, elegant gardens, towering cities of old. What kind of illustrations does the author pick? Take a look at the illustrations, what do they tell you about the author?
Experience!
Adding illustrations to a YA is not exactly the same as a children’s book. There are some similarities, and yet a vastly different experience for the author. Some do their own illustrations, other authors hire artists. Many things shift depending on what the author chooses.
Author Tip:
If you, dear author, are in the middle of deciding for or against illustrations, pick up a few YA Books. Ones with and without illustrations. Put yourself in the audiences shoes. Will illustrations benefit your readers? Will you be able to capture the story in illustrations?
Cons of adding
Illustrations
to YA books
Let’s start with the biggest factor. Money. It’s a true pain in the tush. However, let’s be real here, some of us have less money than we would like to admit. We need to be money conscience simply because there are many, MANY, moving parts to making a book. Remember the goal authors! To write and finish a book.
Money!
Book creating is expensive. I’m not gonna lie. It hurts sometimes. Which is why having a book budget is vital! If you are creating a YA book and you want illustrations, check your book budget. If you cannot afford it simply move on without them.
Time consuming!
Unless the author is extremely efficient doing everything themselves, and loaded with money, creating illustrations is an entire world of its own. Planning out the style of illustrations. Who will be the illustrator? How many there will be in the book. Many questions must be answered before an illustrated YA book can effectively be produced.
Research!
There are many factors as we have already stated. Research! Research, and more research!
Expertise!
If the author does not illustrate, they must find someone with the right experience to take the job.
Roll with the punches!
I hear you back there. The authors who have a limited money and a determined spirit. You want illustrations no matter what. Lean into that determination, it will serve you well as an author.
Why? Because I was in your shoes just under a year ago. Determined to have my illustration and very aware of the lack of money. Leaning into my determined spirit lead me to happy middle ground.
Here’s the plan.
Authors, pull out your budget and see how much you can spare for a few illustrations.
Remember YA books are not Children Books. They do not require page to page illustrations. In fact in a YA you can have as many or as few as you desire. Or in our case, as many as we can afford.
Don’t loose heart yet. Just because we have to be aware of our budget does not mean our illustrations have to suck. Thankfully in our modern age we have great opportunities all over to take full advantage of.
Speaking as an author who has been there, it is hard work. Finding an illustrator with the art style you love, at an affordable price. Negotiating how many illustrations can be done within the budget. It takes determination.
Here are a few apps I highly recommend for Authors (new or not).
The Best App to use for hiring an Illustrator.
(In my humble opinion.)
Upwork
This app is my particular favorite. Simply because it is where I made a connection with my illustrator Tanya. Tanya has been the illustrator in both of my books. She is an extremely talented artist.
Important facts to know about Upwork:
You do need to make an account. it’s free so budget friendly.
Always be aware that you need to keep your information professional. Upwork is a big artist app. People are there to hire or be hired so keep things professional.
There is no off app messaging. This one caught me off guard at first but it’s really a safe way to work. The artist once hired can only communicate with you via the app and same for you.
Loop hole: once the artist is hire by you, if they chat you, your gmail will get a message and you can reply to that message on gmail.
The author controls the price tag. Since you are the one asking for an illustrator you get the privilege of deciding on the price. Which also helps narrow down what artists will apply for your book.
You must add your bank account to your account on Upwork in order to pay or get paid. I have been using Upwork for over 2 years now and thankfully have never had any issues with the app, security wise.
Be sure to prepare for some sweet, but possible bitter experience. This goes with everything. Authors looking for illustrators need to be clear on their time frame.
Hiring is a timing game. You might find the perfect illustrator, and tell them that you want to hire them in 3 months or 3 days and the illustrator agrees, but they are not hired quite yet. Then you get a chat from your illustrator saying they took another job and won’t be able to help you or something like that. Sometimes life happens, the illustrator, if not under a contract with you in Upwork, can get hired right from under your nose. It’s not personal, it’s business.
I know how that feels. It happened to me while I was looking for an illustrator for this book, Lily’s Guide to Releasing Antique Spirits. An illustrator and I had chatted and she had accepted my price for the illustrations. I’m feeling confident and getting my money in order so we can start the contract soon. Later that same week I get a chat from the illustrator basically saying she had a huge project come up and is declining my book project after all. This threw the entire week off. My plan was gone, now I would need to start all over again and keep searching for a new illustrator, all over again. Many prayers were said that week for a new illustrator to be found quick.
As much as this pains us when and if things like that happens. We must realized it’s all part of the process. Yes, it sucks. But, we can’t let that stop our book so we must soldier on.
That being said, lean back into that determined spirit and roll with the punches. Keep moving.
Authors, check out the Upwork app and see if you love it as much as this author does.
This blog is about:
YA Books V.S. Illustrations, we will explore the benefits and cons of adding illustrations to these type of books.
Thank you for reading until the end. As a new blogger any and all support is appreciated and welcome.
Write on~
Cecilia