Greg Pizzoli is an author, illustrator and screenprinter.He is the author of Good Night Owl, a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor book, Templeton Gets His Wish, Number One Sam, and The Watermelon Seed, which received the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award.
In this episode, Greg walks us through his writing process, how his method can help you develop your story ideas, and shares advice on creating brevity in your picture books. We discuss the importance of standing out in the publishing market by highlighting your personality and getting your artwork noticed in the industry by sending out postcards of your illustrations to editors and art directors.
We also get into the nitty gritty about preparing your portfolio to be successful at writing conferences, what a picture book dummy is and how it can help you showcase your work to editors and publishers, and how to approach query letters in the picture book world.
Further into the episode, we discuss why diversification is the key to earning money while supporting your storytelling dreams and how Greg creates silkscreen style illustrations.
Happy listening!
Xo,
Yin
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“I definitely try to make things a little funnier and play with your expectations a little bit.”
-Greg Pizzoli
“You’re just sort of filling a pantry with skills and with these skills you’ll be able to pull them out at certain times throughout your life and make use of them.”
-Greg Pizzoli
What You’ll Learn From This Episode:
- How Greg fell in love with illustrating and writing children’s literature
- Tips on focusing on brevity in your picture books
- A look into Greg’s writing process and how his method can help you develop your story ideas
- The importance of standing out in the publishing market by promoting in a way that authentically shows your personality
- Getting your artwork noticed in the industry by sending postcards of your illustrations to editors and art directors
- Why diversification is the key to earning money while supporting your storytelling dreams
- Ways to prepare your portfolio for success at writing conferences
- What a picture book dummy is and how it can help you showcase your work to editors and publishers
- How to approach query letters in the picture book world
- Actionable steps to help reach your writing and illustrating goals
- How Greg creates silkscreen style illustrations
About “The 12 Days of Christmas”
In THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS, Greg Pizzoli’s pitch-perfect humor gives this classic carol new life. As more and more gifts show up in the story, fans of Greg’s previous books will love identifying familiar animals. This hilarious interpretation with festive foil on the cover makes for a perfect holiday gift. Elephant is delighted to get a gift, but as the twelve days of Christmas continue, presents pile higher and higher! A partridge in a pear tree? Cute! But soon, her dad despairs. Two turtle doves? THREE French hens?! And just what are they supposed to do with ten lords a-leaping?
Kids will love each silly spread in this raucous take on the classic carol that is perfect for reading aloud around the fireplace during the holiday season.
Learn More About Greg Pizzoli
Greg Pizzoli is an author, illustrator, and screen printer. He is the author of Good Night Owl, a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor book, Templeton Gets His Wish, Number One Sam, and The Watermelon Seed, which received the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award. Greg celebrates Christmas every year with his two cats, one dog, and his wife, who would like a pear tree.
Books & Resources Mentioned in Greg’s Episode:
New York Foundations for the Arts
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
