Weekly newsletter: Getting started

This is an email update from Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

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Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for subscribing to my weekly newsletter! I've been delaying the first issue because I hadn't quite decided exactly what direction I was going to take but then I thought, JUST GET STARTED.

And you know, that's one of the lessons I've learned over the years: that while it's good to do some prep and planning, be wary of when this crosses over into procrastination or fear of failure. Possibly both.

I had promised to include some tips on finding joy as well as time management in these newsletters. Here's the first:

Learn how to say no.

Sounds obvious and clichéd, but knowing when and how to say no is a skill I'm still learning. Saying no is harder for some people than others. I strongly suspect it's more of challenge for those of us who have grown up always wanting to keep everyone happy, who hate conflict.

I'm not talking about cases where saying NO is obvious. I'm talking about times when someone you like or admire or fear asks you for a favour you don't really want to do but are worried about the fallout if you decline.

Or times when you're invited to go places and do things that you WANT to go or do, but start accepting so many that you get sidetracked from your original goal.

There are exceptions, of course. I originally focused on writing but letting myself get sidetracked ended up being a good thing.

I have discovered, however, that learning how to say no has greatly helped in my time management as well as overall happiness.

I've posted new comics on Writer Unboxed and Inkygirl, followed the fallout from "Against YA" column in Slate, updated my list of children's/YA book editors and editorial assistants on Twitter, read an inspiring article about how people thanked a 22-year-old student who subdued a gunman and how Calvin & Hobbes creator Bill Watterson temporarily came back to comics.

As thanks to those who have been saying nice things about my Found Object Doodles, I've put together a two-minute slideshow of some of the doodles I've created in the past six months.

I'm also working on a mini-site with tips for young and not-so-young artists about creating found object art. When it's ready, I'll be pointing the DebbieOhi.com/LookAgain URL to that site.

NAKED! came out in April: Browse my blog tour report with photos, The New York Times review and my Cynsations guest post about illustrating the book.

Also out in April/May earlier this year: Atheneum chapter book reissues of Judy Blume's Freckle Juice, The One In The Middle Is The Green Kangaroo and The Pain and The Great One with my illustrations. Read my Nerdy Book Club guest post about the process.

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See my FAQ for basic advice for aspiring writers and illustrators, promo and career inquiries. To contact me, please use this form, thanks.