Perfectly timed! I got two no's last week. 🤪 It's a rite of passage in this career. And even if you don't get the job, I figure it's a good opportunity to showcase your professionalism to a potential client. Just because it didn't work out this time doesn't mean it won't work out later. Having a client end a rejection with, "I love your work. I hope we get to work together on another project," is still a win!
Neither of these no's required a sample, but a big HELL YES to paid samples only! In addition to the fact that we all need to be paid for our work, I expect you have a much better chance of getting a gig with a paid sample. Just imagine how many people they're considering if they don't have to narrow it down to a set budget?! Maybe you're one of twenty, while with a paid sample, perhaps you're one of 2-4.
Oh definitely a rite of passage, I've had a good few no's along the way!
You're so right about the opportunity to showcase professionalism, and think of those who reject you as a potential client in the future. I always make sure to send a polite thank you after a rejection because of that excellent talk by Neil Gaiman where he says talent is less important if it's always a delight to hear from you 💕
Nanette, you bring talent, passion, AND wisdom to this space! Kudos. Only thing I would add, even tho’ you implied it: Believe in your work, and know that your “no’s” are temporary, but long term will better help you find those better-aligned “yes’s”!
You're absolutely right Dale! Carrying on in the face of all those temporary 'no's' is the real trick/challenge. With enough persistence the better-aligned 'yes' comes along eventually!
Ahhh, thank you Teresa! It's easier to be composed when I'm writing about it at a distance, there's plenty of being less intelligent when I'm right in the moment of rejection!! 🤣 🤣 🤣
Thank you for your honesty Nanette! It's such a good reminder to not take rejections personally, it's all part of the journey of being a creative freelancer!
Also, such an important note about being paid for samples. I got stung on this when I was not long out of uni and eager for validation! And by a promanent publisher who should have known better! 🙄 It was a horrible experience which really set back my confidence and I avoided submitting work for ages after that. Knowing what I know now, I would never do samples for free again.
Blimey, a big publisher should definitely know better! I'm sorry it knocked your confidence. It's hard to explain how easy it is to knock an illustrator's confidence, I'm so pleased we've got spaces like this to share those bruises and know we aren't alone!
At the time it surprised me that payment wasn't offered but I was so overwhelmed at even being asked by this publisher to submit a sample I pushed down those uneasy feelings. Key learning: ALWAYS trust those uneasy feelings!
Yes, it's so good to have places like Substack where we can share and it's worth the embarrassment of telling these stories if it saves just one other illustrator from getting caught out.
I loved this post! You're so right, sometimes a job is just not for you. And there's that little inner voice that knows it from the beginning... every time I've ignored my instinct, it's been a bad working experience.
Yes! It's so important to get paid! There are plenty of clients who happily pay for samples, but there are also plenty who seem to think you should be grateful for the 'opportunity' to sample. I think it's important to spread the word that getting paid should be the norm, when I was starting out I definitely did unpaid samples thinking I was just lucky to be considered!
Thank you so much for this important message, Nanette. I'm a huge pushover and people pleaser, so I needed this! I've done a free sample or two before and then they asked for edits. For free! It made me never want to make a sample again except for my own stories.
I know exactly what you mean Beth! I've done free samples before too, it's so easy to just feel grateful that anyone is considering working with you! We're a sensitive bunch, illustrators!
Yes! There are plenty of clients who understand and are happy to pay for samples. Equally there are those who don't and won't. I do think it's important to gently educate the client that you're a professional and should be treated as such - but that does take self-confidence (that I definitely lacked early on in my career!)
Love this read and your illos . Also good to know , I’ve not been asked to do any samples … yet …. But it’s great to know you should be paid for them .
Perfectly timed! I got two no's last week. 🤪 It's a rite of passage in this career. And even if you don't get the job, I figure it's a good opportunity to showcase your professionalism to a potential client. Just because it didn't work out this time doesn't mean it won't work out later. Having a client end a rejection with, "I love your work. I hope we get to work together on another project," is still a win!
Neither of these no's required a sample, but a big HELL YES to paid samples only! In addition to the fact that we all need to be paid for our work, I expect you have a much better chance of getting a gig with a paid sample. Just imagine how many people they're considering if they don't have to narrow it down to a set budget?! Maybe you're one of twenty, while with a paid sample, perhaps you're one of 2-4.
Oh definitely a rite of passage, I've had a good few no's along the way!
You're so right about the opportunity to showcase professionalism, and think of those who reject you as a potential client in the future. I always make sure to send a polite thank you after a rejection because of that excellent talk by Neil Gaiman where he says talent is less important if it's always a delight to hear from you 💕
Nanette, you bring talent, passion, AND wisdom to this space! Kudos. Only thing I would add, even tho’ you implied it: Believe in your work, and know that your “no’s” are temporary, but long term will better help you find those better-aligned “yes’s”!
You're absolutely right Dale! Carrying on in the face of all those temporary 'no's' is the real trick/challenge. With enough persistence the better-aligned 'yes' comes along eventually!
That's sounds a very intelligent (and right) way to deal with rejections Nanette 💛 p.s.- congratulations for the new book project 😊
Ahhh, thank you Teresa! It's easier to be composed when I'm writing about it at a distance, there's plenty of being less intelligent when I'm right in the moment of rejection!! 🤣 🤣 🤣
Thank you for your honesty Nanette! It's such a good reminder to not take rejections personally, it's all part of the journey of being a creative freelancer!
Also, such an important note about being paid for samples. I got stung on this when I was not long out of uni and eager for validation! And by a promanent publisher who should have known better! 🙄 It was a horrible experience which really set back my confidence and I avoided submitting work for ages after that. Knowing what I know now, I would never do samples for free again.
Blimey, a big publisher should definitely know better! I'm sorry it knocked your confidence. It's hard to explain how easy it is to knock an illustrator's confidence, I'm so pleased we've got spaces like this to share those bruises and know we aren't alone!
At the time it surprised me that payment wasn't offered but I was so overwhelmed at even being asked by this publisher to submit a sample I pushed down those uneasy feelings. Key learning: ALWAYS trust those uneasy feelings!
Yes, it's so good to have places like Substack where we can share and it's worth the embarrassment of telling these stories if it saves just one other illustrator from getting caught out.
What a lovely positive take on something every illustrator has to go through at some point....and absolutely YES to saying no to unpaid samples!
Thank you Jane! Yes, it's just another part of the job but it can sting at times. I'm getting much better at dealing with it though!
I loved this post! You're so right, sometimes a job is just not for you. And there's that little inner voice that knows it from the beginning... every time I've ignored my instinct, it's been a bad working experience.
Exactly! I've ignored my instinct before too and those are always the jobs where things are difficult!
I was getting ready to say, but, but, you should be paid for samples. So glad you were! And love the positive end to the story, too.
Yes! It's so important to get paid! There are plenty of clients who happily pay for samples, but there are also plenty who seem to think you should be grateful for the 'opportunity' to sample. I think it's important to spread the word that getting paid should be the norm, when I was starting out I definitely did unpaid samples thinking I was just lucky to be considered!
Thank you so much for this important message, Nanette. I'm a huge pushover and people pleaser, so I needed this! I've done a free sample or two before and then they asked for edits. For free! It made me never want to make a sample again except for my own stories.
I know exactly what you mean Beth! I've done free samples before too, it's so easy to just feel grateful that anyone is considering working with you! We're a sensitive bunch, illustrators!
I'm so happy to hear you were paid for the work you did. It restores my faith!
Yes! There are plenty of clients who understand and are happy to pay for samples. Equally there are those who don't and won't. I do think it's important to gently educate the client that you're a professional and should be treated as such - but that does take self-confidence (that I definitely lacked early on in my career!)
Love this read and your illos . Also good to know , I’ve not been asked to do any samples … yet …. But it’s great to know you should be paid for them .
Good luck with your new book project 😁