My Advice: Tips for the New Year

By Lizzie Stafford

Two weeks in to the start of January this year I signed a lease on a new shop. The year before was a bit of a ‘nothing’ year, and when I got to the start of January it was one of those moments when you think ‘Right, what is actually going on here.’ I sat at the kitchen table with coloured pens and a sheet of poster board and decided it was time to get real. I wrote down my ‘resolutions’. They had to be possible, but still challenging, and about doing ‘good’ rather than ‘lose 5 kgs’ or ‘get better hair’. Then I just wrote things I really, really wanted to do in large capital letters, like OPEN A SHOP, and I kept the poster visible so it was staring me in the face whenever I went near my desk. For the first time ever, I actually managed to come through with my resolutions. (Okay, most of them, anyway. Nobody’s perfect).

Normally I wait until the end of January to start to do anything, because everyone is on holidays, or it’s too hot, or I have the rest of the year to do it. And then before I know it it’s December and I’m adding it to next year’s resolutions. But I found getting motivated from the very start, and ticking off as much as I could in the first month, gave me the momentum I needed to keep me going for the rest of the year.

Of course, everyone’s different, and there is nothing wrong with taking time out in January to reflect and recharge. That’s the advice of one of the creative women when I asked about what she does to get motivated in the new year, and a trip to Europe sounds pretty darn inspiring to me.

Nick off overseas!

Elizabeth Bull, photographer and owner of One Fine Print

My first knee-jerk-reaction response when asked about tips for the new year, about getting motivated and making the most of new beginnings was: nick off overseas! As that's what I am doing on the 1st of January next year. It's a completely self-indulgent trip I've decided to take right in what historically has been quite a busy time for me! It was also what I did last January. So I thought, really am I the best to comment on this?

But then I thought about it and considered how time away from the business is actually what I've always done to prepare myself for the new year. Very early on in my business I did something that has now become my end of year activity that sets me up for the year ahead and something I look forward to and feel keeps me grounded for the busy year ahead. I go down to the beach for a few days, I sit around in a deck chair and do nothing much. It feels like a great relief after a busy December and year gone by. It really gives me the ability to just sit and think, and to discuss and play with ideas that have been swimming around in my head.

Now don't get me wrong; I travel and take breaks all the time. But rarely do I do the relaxing, sit around holiday. But when I do the “sitting around and relaxing” thing in December, I come back in January refreshed and ready to go. Over that period I think about my goals and what I've achieved in the previous year. I re-evaluate and think about what I really want out of the next year. Not in a New Year’s resolution type of way; more like a to-do list of what I'd like to achieve and how I could go about doing it.

A couple of things I've found help me clarify my thoughts during this time:

1) We completely shut down. It's the only time we do. No email correspondence; just a nice “see you in the New Year” auto responder. This time away from the computer helps me think and have real clarity without any distractions. (I don't even like cats, why am I looking at this cat video!). I guess it works for me the same way as why the best ideas always come to you in the shower.

2) Don't put pressure on yourself to "figure stuff out". Sit back and relax, and the good stuff will come to you. Surrounding yourself with people who you feel inspire and challenge you helps as well because you can bounce those thoughts around and talk them out.

3) Put your thoughts and goals into a to-do list that is achievable and manageable. Break down your ideas into small tasks so that when you are back at your desk in January you don’t become overwhelmed and disheartened.

Set the intent but leave the specifics of it open-ended.

Karina Sharpe, conceptual artist and product photographer

At this time last year I was in the process of a big decision. I had been working at my jewellery design business Karina Jean, part-time amongst motherhood, for a number of years and had just had my biggest success with a design called The Pencil Necklace. Yet in the midst of filling all the beautiful Christmas orders, I was feeling a calling to switch paths. It wasn’t an entirely new calling or an entirely new path as I had been making imagery of one kind or another, alongside the jewellery, for some time and had spent much of the previous 12 months feeling torn between the two endeavours.  I knew at my core that I couldn’t actually do both with any noteworthy success. I realise now that sometimes it takes success in something to really test your love of it, and I found my love lay elsewhere. So in January this year I began to make changes from a product-based selling business to an image-based service business / artistic practise. And much of the rest of this year has been about putting things into place and finding my niche.

For me, 2015 feels like a time for cultivation and creative exploration. In January I will make some plans for the New Year. I don’t really do New Year's resolutions in the traditional sense. I don’t go “I’m going to get fit and join the gym”, “I’m going exhibit my art” or “I’m going to make more money”. I choose to phrase things in a way that is based more on the concept or the feeling of the things I want more of in my life, rather than them being fixed goals. So instead I will say things like “I’m going to feel happier in my body”, “I’m going to make beautiful progress with my art” and “I’m going to feel richer in all areas of my life”.

I like to set the intent but leave the specifics of it open-ended. That is because I believe if it is up to me personally to set the specifics of the outcomes, I can really only set them based on how big I can imagine them to be and that can really only be based on a reasonable extrapolation of what I have already experienced. If I leave things open-ended for the Universe to deliver in its own way then the outcome can be beyond what I could have imagined for myself and things seem show up in amazing, random, and wonderful ways.

Use charts and lists and schedules, broken down into three simple questions.

Amalie Wright, director Landscapology

Charts and lists and schedules come pretty easy to me, but to know what needs to go on all those charts and lists and schedules for 2015 I’ll be taking time to answer three deceptively simple questions:

1) What is the big aim for this year? This sets the broad parameters for all other decision-making on a yearly, monthly and daily basis.

2) Who were the most inspiring, engaging, talented and fun people I worked with last year, and how do I get to do more work with them, or people like them, this year?

3) What are the things I need to do less of this year, in order to achieve numbers 1 and 2?

Lizzie Stafford is a lifestyle and entertainment writer and owns and runs Künstler, a magazine and bookstore in Winn Lane, Brisbane.

My Advice: How to deal with competition

By Lizzie Stafford

I’ve always experienced some form of jealousy when it comes to my career and that of those around me; I think you have to be pretty confident not to. It’s almost impossible not to compare your achievements (or perceived lack thereof) with those of your peers when social media was basically invented for bragging. For artists, it can be seeing people doing ‘better’ than you, or work that is very similar. For writers, it’s seeing people getting their byline everywhere; and don’t they ever sleep?

Recently I experienced a terrible bout of anxiety when a business very similar to mine opened on the next block. For months before they opened I worried that I would never survive. I oscillated between wanting to be their friend and wanting very much to egg their shop (not even kidding… I didn’t, and the feeling was only fleeting. I’m just being brutally honest here). So it was with open ears and much anticipation that I awaited the response of these three women whose businesses I greatly admire, and whom I was sure had experienced something similar but handled it much better than myself. I was right.

And in case you are waiting for the end of my story; my shop is still going, I am indeed friends with the other business and, as it turned out, we are different and great in our own way. Competition is a very good thing if you know how to use it right.

Stay true to your values and don’t get too caught up in what other people are doing

Daniele Constance, Suitcase Rummage founder and arts practitioner.

When I was asked to write about dealing with competition, I think I felt my blood boil a little! In my work and practice I have had many ideas borrowed, collaborated with, copied, stolen and all of these experiences have had a different impact and brought with it varying emotions.

In general, I think a bit of a competition is good; it's healthy. It keeps you motivated to push your ideas, push your practice further and I think it's really important not to get complacent - particularly if you're starting to do well and seeing some success. Learn from other great ideas, great thinkers, get inspired, and put all of that into your own work.

While I am a big advocate for collaboration and finding ways to work with and support others, it is important to stay true to your values and not get too caught up in what other people are doing. Facebook and social media can be so valuable, but I've also found it to be crippling. I've spent hours trawling through photos, posters for events, blog posts, reviews .... but it's only as useful as you make it. Don't get caught up worrying up about what other people are doing, if their work is better, more successful (whatever the list is). My Dad always used to say to me, "Don't worry about what other people are doing. Focus on yourself." And he makes a good point. You can't control what other people are doing and how successful their businesses will be, but you can control yours.

More recently I have had the experience of others repeatedly using IP and branding that doesn't belong to them, and I think that is really wrong on so many levels. I'm not sure what it's like for other people, but for me it feels like the biggest betrayal. I'm not sure that I deal with it in the best way, but as artists and creative people we're always going to have that happen to some degree. And to some degree, we've all done it, whether we're aware of it or not. It's an excuse on some level for those out there who clearly can't think for themselves (and god I hate it when someone says, 'imitation is the best form of flattery'), but it's also realistic too.

I think my way of coping with it is to write the angry email I want to send, but keep it in my drafts. I come back to it a few hours later and edit it - or write a fresh one that leaves the emotion out. I've also found it useful to seek advice from lawyers and other creative business owners in how they deal with IP and copyright issues (almost everyone has their own story about it).

At the end of it all, it's about finding a balance, a place where you can use the competitive nature of business to move you forward, not backward. That's how I try to think about it, anyway; even when the emotions and stakes are high!

Come up with fresh ideas and stick to your own game.

Jess Barty, owner, Sunday Social

If I’m being honest, I can say that I used to struggle a lot with competition. But one day the penny dropped and I realised that worrying about it wasn’t doing me, or my business, any good.

Nowdays I don’t compare my business to others. Sunday Social has always been about being unique and fashion forward, so I just try to keep coming up with fresh new ideas and stick to my own game. I guess it keeps me on my toes and ensures I do my best!

You better check yourself before you wreck yourself – Ice Cube.

Jenica Smith, founder of Notely and Design Montage, and graphic designer

I recently finished reading #GirlBoss by Nasty Gal founder Sophia Amoruso. She has an excellent quote that really stuck with me with regard to competition. “Compete with yourself, not with others. Judge yourself on what is your personal best and you’ll accomplish more than you could ever have imagined.”

It can be really overwhelming flicking through Instagram and seeing all the gorgeous photos in your feed. I started noticing myself getting down about how nice everyone’s photos look. This led me to get into a habit of only going on there when I have something planned to post. Even though that sounds hard, if I have a day or two, or even just the day to consider my post, then when I do jump on there to post, I feel really excited about participating as I’ve done mine for the day.

The same trap can happen with reading blogs. You could read blogs all night long and then not actually write or plan any articles for your own blog. Perhaps if you are feeling affected by the rabbit warren of social media, then have a couple of days or a Monday to Friday week away from it to get back to your own thoughts.

Another quote I like to remind myself with is Ice Cube’s “You better check yo' self before you wreck yo' self.” Even writing this it makes me laugh! If I notice that I’m being more fleety and trying to check my Instagram or Facebook too often, I like to move those apps to the last app panel in my phone so it’s too hard to keep flicking to them to be able to check them on impulse and to see what everyone else is doing.

Lizzie Stafford is a lifestyle and entertainment writer and owns and runs Künstler, a magazine and bookstore in Winn Lane, Brisbane.

My Advice: Getting a creative business baby-ready

By Lizzie Stafford

My sister has just had her first baby, so my entire family has babies on the brain – hence the topic of today’s My Advice column. For my sister, taking a year’s maternity leave was a reasonably straightforward task: apply for leave, granted leave, leave and not have to think much about work for a year. Of course, going back is already a daunting thought for her as her job is challenging, high stress and long hours – but there wasn’t much work preparation needed in the lead up to having her baby.

For me, and anyone else who works for themselves or runs a small business, it’s a different story. Your business won’t keep running without you unless you put a lot of thought into how you’re going to manage. I couldn’t ignore the advice of Tess McCabe, publisher, designer and CWC director, about how she made it work. Tess had her first child in 2012 and made the transition look easy (I’m sure it was anything but). Amy Constable, founder of Saint Gertrude Letterpress, had her baby in April and her advice is simple but oh-so important: relax. Illustrator Alarna Zinn made some big changes to her business-life and shares some thoughts about the transition into working creatively post-bub. Thanks for your honesty and sage advice, ladies.

Pray for a sleeper, prepare for a screamer.

Tess McCabe, publisher, graphic designer and director, Creative Women’s Circle

"My mantra when I was pregnant with my son was 'pray for a sleeper, prepare for a screamer'. I basically lowered my expectations down to getting absolutely nothing done work-wise (being running CWC or my graphic design work for clients) for the first four months of his life. Why I settled on 4 months I am unsure... perhaps I thought naively that everything would be sorted routine-wise by then - ha!.

After that, I told my clients I would be on an indefinite break, and I did a few things in preparation to ensure that despite my mini absence, tumbleweeds wouldn't blow across CWC's cyberspace presence. I hired a trusted colleague to take over some of the basic CWC admin for a short time, such as preparing weekly blog posts and keeping up with social media enquiries. I prepared CWC events to be held just before he was born (with a backup plan in place should he have arrived early!) and then a few months after, so that the flurry of activity associated with an event day wouldn't coincide with those precious early weeks.

After those 4 months, and much deliberation about when I would be 'back' taking on client graphic design work, I had to relent that my 'many pots on the stove' career just wasn't going to cut it being at home with a young'un: a baby and deadline-driven client work AND another small business just didn't mix well for me. So I focused just on what I a) enjoyed and b) offered me the most flexibility and the least stress, and that was maintaining CWC."

Relax.

Amy Constable, founder and creative director, Saint Gertrude Letterpress

"Work as long as you feel fit and capable, but once that baby is born: clear your schedule! You have no idea what kind of baby you will have. Will they be laid back or clingy? Good sleeper or bad? And what kind of mummy will you be? Maybe you’ll be cool leaving your new baby to be looked after, maybe you’ll struggle to let go. These things can’t be predicted and it takes a good few months to work this stuff out. The last thing you need is work commitments, or a looming return to work date while you’re dealing with a baby behaving unexpectedly, not to mention your own hormones.

You won’t be left behind. It might feel like it as you check out all the cool things happening on Instagram while you're chained to the couch covered in spew, but the world won’t move on if you just take a little time off to get to know your new bub and your new life. In fact, people are pretty likely to say things like “that went fast!” when you do return to work. So relax, put an out-of-office on the email, and come back on terms that work for both of you."

Take things as they come and adjust if need be.

Alarna Zinn, illustrator

"We probably should have thought a little harder about what decisions would need to be made but it really is something you can never be prepared for. My husband and I both owned our own businesses, which took up a lot of our time and in the end we just decided having children was something we wanted to do. There was never going to be a 'perfect' time so we decided that we should just jump in and work things out as we went along! Firstly, I decided to close down my physical shop (Little Jane Street) in Brisbane's Winn Lane when I was about halfway through my pregnancy - which I was more than happy to do in exchange for daytime naps! After Ada was born, with a slightly heavier heart I also decided to close down my business completely as I just didn't feel like I could give it 100% anymore, which was important to me. A lot of pressure was lifted and I have been able take some time off and I actually feel like I have become more creative (not productive!) working on limited freelance jobs and personal projects around taking care of Ada.

You can certainly make plans for what you would like to do - things like when you would like to start back at work, get child care etc, however things don't always work out that way. In our family we tend to just take things as they come and re-adjust if need be to best suit everyone involved. It really is such a fleeting moment in time that they are little and if I am feeling frustrated with things not going to plan, I just think that I won't ever get this time again so I might as well just enjoy it because in a few years I will have all the time in the world to follow my dreams.

[Since Ada, my creativity] certainly isn't the same. For me, it is like my brain works on half power because the other half is trapped in the mundane everyday tasks and exhaustion of looking after a tiny person and that can sometimes be limiting. There is nothing inspiring about dirty nappies, food preparation, cleaning or entertaining a toddler. When I take all that away, I think the creativity is still there laying dormant but it is important to have that time to yourself to reconnect and tap into it. I definitely do not have lots of ideas popping into my head like I did before I had Ada. I find that I need to take the time away to do simple things - like explore the city, walk in the park, be by myself, read a book - to get inspired by something outside of our home. I am getting back into illustrating (very slowly) and I hope to do more this year as Ada spends a couple of days a week with our Nanny - this has been and important step for me to have assigned time to work so I will see if that creative drive comes back!"

Lizzie Stafford is a freelance writer and editor and owns and runs Künstler, an independent magazine and bookstore based in Winn Lane, Brisbane. She is the Brisbane events coordinator for CWC.

My Advice: Finding Inspiration (when you're in a rut)

By Lizzie Stafford

{Photo by Emily Nelson}

It seems fitting that it took me a while to get started on this introduction, and that in the meantime I had to get up and make a cup of tea. A creative rut can strike at any time, whether you're writing a blog post, starting a painting, composing a song or mere hours away from a client deadline. I asked an illustrator, painter, musician and creator how they find inspiration when they're having 'one of those days'.

Allow it.

Helen Franzmann, musician, McKisko

"I am stuck in a creative rut. I have been for some time. I've never been the kind of person who can turn songwriting on. I respond negatively to external pressures and I'm stubborn. I know what I need to do but sometimes the desert that is the rut becomes so consuming I avoid even picking up an instrument. So, to give advice on how to shift this is confronting for me because I'm in it and my biggest obstacle is myself.

Generally I... Allow it. Read. Look at art books and go to exhibitions. Draw. Play. Hang out with people that inspire me. Write in the mornings when I'm still a bit dream struck. Don't expect everything to become something. Actively listen. Take good notes. Avoid social media and internet wormholes.

Wish me luck."

Move, do and observe details.

Jade Suine, creator, Forget Cake

"Creative inspiration is a sum of everything I have taken in and the connections I make between it all; it sets me abuzz when it catches me off-guard but kick-starting creativity on cue can be oh-so daunting. There are 3 things that prove almost fool-proof for me however: moving, doing, and observing details.

Whether it’s walking to my day job in the morning and thinking of script ideas or scrawling notes while I’m on the train or in an aeroplane, I find the act of moving, or more so, going somewhere, to be very conducive to creating. During my creative thinking studies I’ve even had to admit that exercise helps. Perhaps while the primal part of our brain is ticking over in rhythmic motion other parts of our brain are free to produce the esteemed juice!

I also find that good ideas can become spectacular through doing; decent work can only grow into something sensational through actually making it. As hard as it can be to get started, iteration and experimentation are at the heart of creating, they are the framework, fuel and the fun part!

While doing all this moving, testing and doing, I try to make sure I observe. Exploring through my camera, sketching an amazing shape I see, noting down the something that can potentially be a starting point for the next project or a better version of what I’m already making."

Make a mess cleaning, tidy it, then go for a short walk.

Carolyn O’Neill, artist

"The act of starting on a painting can sometimes be daunting.  I generally start one by cleaning out my paint bowls and making quite a mess, but it’s my starting point. When stuck for inspiration I might tidy up the studio, go for a short walk to clear my head, taking in the scenery around me. Coffee breaks are good too, as sometimes you just need to get out of the studio.

Quick sketches on paper also help as does swapping your dominant hand to paint or draw. Holding the end of the brush so you have less control and writing down thoughts and ideas can be useful. Background music can set the mood for inspiration."

Break the problem down into smaller steps.

Emily Nelson, illustrator

"Working from home and freelancing full time means that I have to stay motivated and switch my creative brain on even if I’m not in the mood. When I’m having trouble creating new work, I set up a nice clean space, a cup of tea, and maybe some music and write down all of the things that I like at the moment in a notebook. I write down objects, colours, descriptive words, themes, anything that I’m interested in. Then I find that ideas start to emerge from my lists and I can start to draw little sketches and form ideas for new art works. Sometimes if I’m really stuck, I look through old notebooks and pick up forgotten ideas. I also make cheesy, motivational art works and display them around my studio as a reminder to stick at it.

When I’m working on a commissioned project and I hit a creative brain freeze, it’s usually because something is challenging me. I often freeze up when my work becomes hard and I don’t know how to solve a problem. When this happens I always break the problem down into smaller steps and it becomes much easier to manage. For dealing with stress related brain freeze, I take a long walk in the morning before I start work and take tea breaks when my work gets tired, which helps me to regroup and find clarity. My brain gets cluttered and needs some space to think sometimes! It may sound like procrastination, but de-cluttering my studio really helps me to get into a creative mind set. My studio gets really messy during a project and when I’m finished I clean up and start fresh for the next project. And in the case of an emergency creative brain freeze, I jump in the shower. I usually come up with lots of ideas in there."

Lizzie Stafford is a freelance writer and editor and owns and runs Künstler, an independent magazine and bookstore based in Winn Lane, Brisbane. She is the Brisbane events coordinator for CWC.

My Advice: Going freelance

By Lizzie Stafford

Going freelance means giving up a steady income, sick leave, holiday pay and the security of knowing where you’ll be or what you’ll be working on tomorrow, next week or a month from now. But it also means more creative freedom, flexibility, independence – and being able to nap during the day. We asked four freelancers – a graphic designer, a writer and editor, a consultant and collaborator and a creative director – for some advice on how to make the transition into working for yourself.

Be practical.

Jo Hoban, freelance editorial consultant and creative collaborator

"I made the shift to freelancing when I had young babies, and it suited me—I knew I wouldn’t have a wealth of time to work anyway, but I managed different projects when I could, and now that the kids are a bit older, I’m finding it more natural to increase my workload.

Starting to freelance is like bungee jumping—it’s scary, but you know you’re tied to something, so hope for the best! Exhilaration aside, you need to be practical. It’s sensible to know that you have a ‘bread-and-butter’ client or two who will flick work your way (thanks, old employer!). And if you share your finances with a partner, you need to know that they’re in a position to shoulder your financial responsibilities should your work contracts be on the lean side. Once you’ve got the basics covered, you can learn as you go, and slowly grow your business. I’ve found that if you just keep chugging away, gradually you’ll start to gather more momentum.

Some useful advice I’ve received along the way has been to stay calm and make time for everything, even if you feel like a job is consuming you. Be organised with your admin and allocate some time for your marketing, or seeking future work—how much depends on how busy you want to be and how many existing clients you have. It’s worthwhile to do some kinds of work for free, to help build your portfolio and feed your creativity. And you never know what other opportunities might come from it. Gather testimonials as you go and connect with your collaborators and clients through social media sites. And finally… once you’ve made the decision to go freelance, back yourself! If you know that you can provide a valuable, high-quality service, be prepared to summarise that when an opportunity arises."

Show up, show up, show up, and after a while, the work shows up, too.

Madeleine Dore, freelance writer and editor, Extraordinary Routines

“Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too.” - Isabel Allende

"In the beginning of building a career as freelance writer, I think it’s important to put your hand up for as many things as possible. Find an internship that will sharpen your skills, build your portfolio and give you a valuable contact in the industry who can vouch for your writing. Ask friends if you can help write content for their website, short bios, or press releases.  Pitch features to your favourite publications and volunteer to write the first one for free if the editor is not familiar with your work. Start a blog or writing project to showcase your writing. Make your name known. Show up, show up, show up, and after a while, the work shows up, too."

Take naps often.

Lara Stephenson, creative director, The Grazing Elk

"Something I have learned through being a freelancer and now owning my own business would be: take frequent naps. If you’re tired or frustrated – just check out. Have a nap, watch a movie, read a book, go do something nice for yourself, have fun... and come back to your project, your business, or your work when you are feeling better, inspired and uplifted from the good things you have just done.

It is only recently I have heard this from other people, but I have found it is one of the easiest and nicest ways to feel good again, get inspiration (my website idea came to me in a dream), and you feeling good, confident and loved is the first step of everything. Being a freelancer, you have this freedom to take time out, have a nap and do something fun.

You will return to whatever you were doing before on a completely new level and fresh inspiration."

Stay busy.

Jodi English, freelance graphic designer

"Recently, I've been constantly coming back to some advice from Andrew Denton at the recent Semi Permanent conference in Sydney: “Be busy. Be Hungry. Be silent. Be bold. Be prepared to fail. And persevere.”

Over time I've come to realise it's so much more important to stay busy, not only on commercial work, but personal projects. This allows you the freedom to explore different mediums, different ideas, learn different skills and gives you a platform to continually experiment. Whilst freelancing offers you a degree of freedom, you are responsible with your time and it's important to stay organised, be proactive and explore new and exciting opportunities that keep you motivated.

For me, being hungry is having a constant curiosity, not only about design but about travel, people, food, ideas and the world around us. I believe we can gain inspiration from the most unexpected places so it's important to always be a sponge!

I find it so easy to constantly be thinking about your current projects, next week's plans or getting caught up in your Facebook timeline or Instagram feed. Recently, I've been making a conscious effort to just sit down, relax and enjoy some quiet time away from my phone/computer and read my latest books and magazines. Surprisingly, some of your best ideas actually come when you don't intend!

I believe being bold is about being confident in your own abilities, believing in yourself and having the willingness to put yourself out there. At times, I think we all struggle with this and often compare ourselves to others. It's important to believe in your work, embrace your individual style as a freelancer and remember the real value of your work. Be open to meeting new people, getting involved in your local community and collaborating with other creatives.

More than anything else, work hard, stay humble, hopeful, patient and never give up! Oh and make sure you keep money aside for tax!"

Lizzie Stafford is a freelance writer and editor and owns and runs Künstler, an independent magazine and bookstore based in Winn Lane, Brisbane. She is the Brisbane events coordinator for CWC.

My Advice: Getting Published

{Photographs by Natalie McComas, published in Frankie Magazine}

By Lizzie Stafford

Getting your work out there is one of the most important aspects of being a creative practitioner, but everyone knows getting published isn't easy. So how do you approach an editor? How do you let them know your work is good enough or the right fit for their magazine, blog, book or website? Here, a photographer, a stylist, an editor/writer, an illustrator and a blogger/author/crafter offer their (invaluable) words of advice.

Have an up-to-date, clean and easy-to-navigate website.

Natalie McComas, photographer

"I feel that every photographer's journey into the publishing world can be a different one.

For me, it's been a combination of editors contacting me via my website, networking with other creatives, submitting article ideas and folios, photographers referring me for jobs and also knowing the right people at the right time.

I'd definitely say that having an up to date, clean and easy-to-navigate website, with all the right key words for search engines, to be a pretty important part of not only getting work, but also getting published. It is, after all, your 'shopfront' available 24/7 for browsing. I've had international magazines contact me to shoot for them just from Googling photographers in my area. Once, I was asked by an editor in London to shoot an interior story for their magazine - even though I didn't have any interior shots on my site. They liked my style, saw I had credentials and knew I'd be able to do the job the way they needed it done.

If you are submitting work, firstly, do your homework to make sure it is not something that has been featured elsewhere recently! It is best if the pitch is succinct and with all relevant links/ facts/ accompanying photos to make it super easy for your contact to look through and evaluate.

Whilst making submissions do not get discouraged if you don't get a reply straight away. Sometimes I've heard back from editors three months later from when I actually pitched the idea. If you don't hear back or if you are rejected, don't take it personally. Keep your chin up and think about how you can make your next submission a little better."

Know your magazines.

Lyndel Miller, stylist

"I still get a kick out of seeing my work grace the pages of a magazine. As I start writing this I am reminded that there is a lot to know about this process. I am a published cookbook author, have produced and styled books for others and am now writing my second cookbook/styling book for release in 2015. I love books! I equally love magazines and love to encourage others.

There is a process for the stylist when looking to get published. There is one for the photographer and one also for the writer. This is also a collaborative process. I think the single most important thing to take on board for all parties if you are dreaming of photographing, styling, or writing for an interior editorial is to know your magazines. It's the best place to start.

Really know them. This might be stating the obvious, though I find those I mentor are not always attuned to this. Subscribe to the ones you would like to submit to.

Ask yourself: Who is their audience? What style of homes are they constantly featuring? What is the writing style? What is the style of photography?

Look beyond the gloss on pages to the formula. Read them! Know your editors, read their work. They are the essence of their magazines. Then look at whether your style and your crew you have chosen to collaborate with can cater to this.

An editorial submission is not just about you and your work but that of a photographer, and perhaps a writer if you decide to team up with one and offer a magazine the whole package.

Not all photographers are the same. Not all writers are the same. This applies to stylists also. Choose to work with those that exhibit talent for the field you wish to pursue. A like-minded team is very important. Ideally, team up and collaborate with a crew that already has contacts in the industry. This can be very helpful. Collaboration is key! A photo stylist cannot showcase ones work without a photographer. Building a relationship with a photographer is paramount."

Pitch often and pitch well.

Emily Lush, freelance writer/editor

"When you’re trying to get published, rejection is inevitable but feedback is invaluable. Pitch often and pitch well - not only will it improve your chances of getting published, but pitching is a great way to access feedback. Whether it’s an auto reply or a thoughtful piece of constructive criticism, take every rejection letter you receive and learn something from it.

No matter how many leads you’ve chased, interviews you’ve transcribed or background research you’ve enveloped yourself in, no idea is ever wasted, and no time you invest in a story you’re passionate about is ever wasted time. Getting published might be your end goal, but professional writing is a process. One of the first feature articles I ever wrote was shot down in flames by the magazine I pitched to - so into the desk drawer it went. When I had the opportunity to revisit the subject for a different publication several years later, I already had the knowledge, so I was able to build on my original ideas, reconnect with old contacts and write a stronger feature. Better still, my initial awareness on the topic had subconsciously forced me to pay attention to every little tidbit of information I came across in the interim. The story that I eventually published took a few days to write, but it had been in development for three years - becoming richer and more refined with every passing day.

There’s nothing wrong with recycling your old ideas or contacts - the best stories take time to produce. Now that I work on the other side of the desk sorting submissions (at Peppermint Magazine), I often see writers come back again and again with ideas they’ve polished or new ones they’ve pursued. Showing a publication that you’re willing to persevere - and to learn and bounce back from rejection - proves that you’re committed.

Once you have momentum, keep it rolling. I highly recommend using an online portfolio or blog to catalogue your published and unpublished work. If you use a blog, you can track your progress as a writer and curate your own content, which can be a helpful motivator if you’re struggling to get your ideas noticed. An online portfolio is also a great way to store your ideas and inspirations - return to them again and again, make links between old and new, and keep creating."

Get ready to hear the word no.

Amy Borrell, illustrator

"I first started freelancing as an illustrator a few years ago and in the beginning, getting my work out into the world and published was all a bit of a mystery. But through a fair bit of trial and error I've learnt a few tricks that will hopefully help increase the chances of your work being seen - and commissioned! - by the right people.

Do good work! It sounds simple, but if you don't like your own work, chances are noone else will. Identify potential publications with a similar aesthetic to your own. Reaching out to likeminded people will increase the chances of a response.

Try to find the Art Director's name of said publication so you can contact them directly. Be personal, polite and straight to the point. Clients are generally busy people, so you have to give them a reason to read your email over the hundreds of others that may be lining their inbox. Use their name at the beginning, a clear subject line and a short cheery email introducing yourself with a link to your online portfolio.

Get ready to hear the word no - or nothing at all! It happens a lot when you're first starting out, but with a little perseverance you'll stumble upon people who will genuinely love and support your work!"

Be innovative, surprising, authentic, fresh!

Pip Lincolne, author, blogger, crafter

"My advice to creatives who want to be published is this: have a blog or website where you can showcase your work. Editors not only need to be able to read your work, they need to be able to FIND you if they Google you! Be innovative, surprising, authentic, fresh! Offer your own unique self out to the world, there is nobody like you and this is your chance to show who you really are.

Be humble and thankful for any help you get along the way and promote the work of other creatives you love to build a little community around you. If you want to write a book or appear in your favourite magazine, interact with publishers either on platforms like Instagram and Facebook - or just email them a short, polite, personal email telling them about the good things you are doing. If you email a publisher or editor, keep it short and sweet and include any relevant information about your work PLUS a low res image (with a ink to a hi-res online version). Make your email short but compelling to make publication/further research easier for the recipient.

And finally work hard, be nice to people and never give up! It takes time to be successful! Don't be disheartened if it's slow progress. Slow going is better than no-going, if publication is your dream! Keep going at your craft and soldier on!"

Lizzie Stafford is a freelance writer and editor and owns and runs Künstler, an independent magazine and bookstore based in Winn Lane, Brisbane. She is the Brisbane events coordinator for CWC.

My Advice: Staying on top of admin

By Lizzie Stafford There aren’t many small creative business owners who would openly admit to loving their admin work. Tasks like bookkeeping, emails, invoices and social media build up and eventually seem to take over, so you feel like you have little time left for the actual creating. We asked three organised business owners how they stay on top of the books without going insane. In the wise words of potter Ilona Topolcsanyi: “Admin is like a leg wax: if you move quickly, the pain is minimal and the results are pretty damn sexy.”

Check your emails twice daily. No more, no less.

Bek Smith, photographer, Bek Smith Photography & Journal

"Keeping on top of admin is so important when running a business and it's sometimes easy to let the most important tasks slip past you if you don't have a productive system in place. As a photographer running my own business, the best piece of advice I have been given is to check your emails twice daily. No more, no less. This way you can tackle your inbox in two chunks and focus your full attention on each gorgeous client."

Create a routine. Schedule manageable, bite-sized tasks into your weekly calendar. 

Nat Carroll, creative director, designer & illustrator, the Seamstress

"Instead of leaving things like marketing, taxes and blog writing to the last minute, which leads to unnecessary stress and tight deadlines, try creating a weekly routine that incorporates these tasks into more manageable, bite-sized items that you can follow through on every week.

Try to stick with it, no matter how busy you might be. Block it out in your calendar. I find Monday mornings are a good, quiet time in the week to plan my goals, write posts for my blog or work on my next self-promotional piece. I also like to finish up on Friday afternoons by dealing with my finances; I'm creatively exhausted by then and need a different kind of task to carry me through until the start of the weekend.

I've found that approaching my business in this way creates more structure to my week, which helps when you only have yourself to answer to. I've also found that I am closer to my goals because I've worked at them every week, in little baby steps, instead of feeling overwhelmed by my 'to-do' list and struggling to find the time to make those things happen."

Your time is important. Regularly measure and assess the value of it.

Ilona Topolcsanyi, potter, Cone 11 Ceramics + Design Studio

"In the first few years of our business we needed to do everything ourselves because we couldn’t afford to pay someone to do it for us. As the business grew, we assessed the value of our time. We asked ourselves: “Would we be better off paying someone to do that so we can concentrate on what we do best?”

What are (my) roles and responsibilities? Can I afford to hand this task over to someone else? If not, then am I equipped with the skills and knowledge to complete this task within a reasonable time frame? Will it save me time and money to be trained?

A few simple computer programs allow a lot of the boring tasks to be automated, reducing the amount of time I need to spend tied to my desk.

I use Campaign Monitor (to manage the studio mailing list and e-newsletter). We have an ipad in the studio with a link to the subscriber page (on our website), which allows visitors to join the mailing list. Gone are the days of transcribing the long list of illegible email addresses.

For the bookkeeping we use QuickBooks and take advantage of features such as automated recurring expenses, importing electronic bank statements and issuing quotes that I can easily turn into invoices. While we can’t afford a regular bookkeeper, we also can’t afford countless wasted hours trying to figure it out. So we invested in some basic training.

For the rest of the tasks that I can’t teach my computer to do for me I allocate two mornings a month with a lovely cup of coffee, a raspberry danish from Dench Bakery and re-runs of Sex in the City."

Lizzie Stafford is a freelance writer and editor and owns and runs Künstler, an independent magazine and bookstore based in Winn Lane, Brisbane. She is the Brisbane events coordinator for CWC.