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here’s what I learned so you don’t have to<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Extremely rough sketches with coffee stains included (the coffee was necessary for me to think these looked good)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
What I Learned About Thumbnailing the Hard Way<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
After self-publishing my first book, <\/span>A World Within<\/span><\/em>, I was on cloud nine! It was doing great on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. People were leaving amazing reviews, and the feedback was incredible. I thought, <\/span>Okay, NOW I’m ready to write a book for literary agents. This is my moment!<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
So, what did I do? I grabbed my notebook and started sketching! And let me tell you, those thumbnails were ROUGH. Like, embarrassingly rough! But I didn\u2019t care because I was having a blast playing with cool perspectives, dramatic angles, and interesting compositions. I was in my creative zone!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
The only problem? I had absolutely no story. Just a bunch of cool-looking pictures with no emotional arc, no character journey, and no real message. But I didn\u2019t realize that yet.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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POV: You think you’re onto something big (you’re not, but you’ll figure that out in about 3 weeks)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The Project That Taught Me Everything<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
I kept going! I pieced together these rough sketches, drew cleaner versions on paper with 9 horizontal rectangles, and started writing copy to fit the visuals. I called it <\/span>Portals<\/span><\/em>\u2014a beautiful concept about how we can change our outer world by changing our inner world first.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
I showed it to a few people. The feedback was… mixed. Some thought the concept was deep and interesting. Others were like, <\/span>“Where’s the character? Where’s the arc? What’s the beginning, middle, and end?”<\/span><\/em> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
But I was already in too deep! I had started illustrating three of these spreads\u2014full detailed sketches, scanned them, brought them into Procreate with all my new favorite brushes, the whole deal. And you know what? <\/span>I’m SO proud of those illustrations!<\/span><\/strong> They\u2019re some of my best work. They\u2019re going straight into my portfolio, and I\u2019ll probably finish drawing the rest whenever I have time (aka never, haha). <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
But as a book for agents? It just wasn\u2019t working.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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A beautiful illustration in search of a plot (still looking…)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The Lesson I Learned the Hard Way<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
Here\u2019s what I didn\u2019t expect to learn from this “failed” project: <\/span>Thumbnailing isn\u2019t just about planning your illustrations. It\u2019s about testing whether your STORY actually works before you waste time drawing it.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
I had done it completely backwards! I came up with the images first, then tried to force a story around them. And that\u2019s exactly why it didn\u2019t work. After stepping back, I realized: <\/span>It doesn\u2019t matter how beautiful your illustrations are if the story doesn\u2019t make someone feel something.<\/span><\/strong> If there\u2019s no character to root for, no problem to solve, no “aww” or “wow” moment… you\u2019re just making pretty pictures.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
My New 3-Step Process (That Actually Works)<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
So, I started over. Twice, actually! I wrote two completely new books. But THIS time, I did it differently:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Step 1: Figure Out the Story FIRST<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n\n
\n\nWho\u2019s the character?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\nWhat\u2019s their problem?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\nHow do they try to solve it but fail?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\nWhat\u2019s the turning point?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\nWhat\u2019s the lesson learned?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
Step 2: Write the COPY<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n\n
All of it! Before I even touch my sketchbook. Every single word needs to be there so I know exactly what emotion each page needs to convey.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Step 3: THEN Thumbnail<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n\n
When you thumbnail AFTER you have a solid story, everything clicks! You\u2019re not just drawing cool scenes\u2014you\u2019re illustrating emotional beats. You know exactly what each page needs to communicate because the story is already there.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Key Takeaways (So You Don’t Make My Mistakes)<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
1. Thumbnail Early and Thumbnail Rough<\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
Your first sketches should be MESSY! You\u2019re testing ideas, not making art yet. Don’t be precious about it.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
2. Story Comes First, Always<\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
If you can\u2019t summarize your book\u2019s emotional arc in 2-3 sentences, you\u2019re not ready to illustrate. Period.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
3. “Failed” Projects Aren’t Failures<\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
Those Portal illustrations? They\u2019re portfolio pieces now! They taught me SO much about my process, my style, and what NOT to do next time. And they\u2019re going to live on my website and help me land clients.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
4. It\u2019s Okay to Start Over<\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
I know it feels like you\u2019re “wasting time” when you scrap a project, but you\u2019re not! You\u2019re learning. Every sketch, every mistake, every pivot makes you better.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
What I’m Working On Now<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
I\u2019m currently working on two new books that I\u2019m genuinely excited about! This time, I started with the story. I made sure there\u2019s a character people can relate to, a problem they want solved, and an emotional journey that makes you feel something.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
THEN I thumbnailed. And honestly? The difference is night and day! One of them is called <\/span>Luna and the Breathing Stars<\/span><\/em>, and it\u2019s about a little girl who learns to manage her anxiety through breathing and connection. The other is <\/span>Cruffy and Moost<\/span><\/em>, a story about a high-energy dog and an introverted cat who become housemates and learn to respect each other\u2019s boundaries while staying true to themselves.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
Both books have everything <\/span>Portals<\/span><\/em> didn\u2019t: clear characters, emotional arcs, a beginning-middle-end, and messages that resonate. And because I started with the story first, the thumbnailing process has been so much smoother and more intentional.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
I can\u2019t wait to share them with you all!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Final Thoughts<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
If you\u2019re working on a children\u2019s book right now, I challenge you: Before you draw one more finished illustration, write out your story! Make sure someone can relate to your character. Make sure there\u2019s a clear problem and resolution. Make sure it makes you FEEL something.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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