Episode 3: What do you like better: writing or illustrating? with Jarrett J. Krosoczka
*Please note that these episodes were all all recorded pre-pandemic!
Welcome to episode 3! What do you like better: writing or illustrating? Join us with Author Jarrett J. Krosoczka!
TRANSCRIPT:
Grace Lin: Hello. I'm Grace Lin, children's book author and illustrator of many books, including the middle grade novel Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and the picture book A Big Mooncake for Little Star. Today I'm here with Jarrett Krosoczka, the author and illustrator of the Lunch Lady graphic novels and picture books like Peanut Butter and Jellyfish. Hi Jarrett.
Jarrett Krosoczka: Hey Grace, how are you today?
Grace Lin: Good. Okay, are you ready for today's question?
Jarrett Krosoczka: Bring it on.
Grace Lin: Okay. Today's question is from a girl named Marie and she asks, "What do you like better, writing or illustrating?"
Jarrett Krosoczka: Oh, Marie. So here's the thing. As an author and illustrator, the words and pictures are so intertwined. It can be hard for me to separate the process of writing the words and drawing the pictures. But I will say this, I need a different environment when I'm writing versus when I'm illustrating. So when I'm writing, I can't listen to music or podcasts or audio books. Sometimes I might have music that doesn't have lyrics, so maybe jazz or classical music, but still the tempo from the music might affect my writing. I also tend to feel like when I'm writing I need no distractions because that's the point where I'm really making something out of nothing and I need to be more disciplined.
Jarrett Krosoczka: Now, when I'm creating the art for the book, a lot of the creative decisions have been made for the story. I've probably already sketched everything out and now I'm sitting there and I have a lot of long hours where I have to be at my drafting table to create the art. Now in order for me to stay focused, I like to listen to podcasts and audio books because that activates one part of my brain while the other part of my brain and body can sit there in making the art. And then I'll go back and forth between listening to audio books and then maybe listening to upbeat music to get me going.
Jarrett Krosoczka: So do I like one more than the other? Nope. They're just very different things and they very much rely on each other. So I guess that was a roundabout way of not really answering the question Marie, but I hope that gives you a better insight on my creative process.
Grace Lin: Yeah. I would say the same thing for me too. It's really hard to say what I like better because a lot of the times it depends on the story too. And it depends on if I'm writing a novel, if I'm writing a picture book, if I like the writing better there or the illustration better. But it is similar where when I'm writing, I need to really focus and I have to put all my energy and focus just on the writing. It has to be silent. But when I'm illustrating, it's almost like I want it to be more instinctive, so it's almost better if I'm not focused on my art and I can let just the instincts take over and I'm listening to a podcast or listening to music or something like that. So it's much more relaxing. So I guess it depends on my mood. If I feel like I really need to relax, I like the illustrating better.
Jarrett Krosoczka: Yeah. For me, writing feels much more like work and the art just feels more like I can just have time to just create the art and it seemed more relaxing. And that doesn't mean that I like one more than the other because there is something very gratifying about pushing through the story problems and getting to that point.
Grace Lin: Yeah, that's what it is. I love relaxing, but there's also something so satisfying about doing something and making something. And then when you're all done, you're like, "Wow, I created this."
Jarrett Krosoczka: I did it.
Grace Lin: Yes. And so that feeling is so good that it's hard to say which one is better.
Jarrett Krosoczka: Yeah. Yeah. It's kind of like, okay, we're on, we're on a podcast radio here so you can't see what I'm doing, but I'm taking my left hand and my right hand, I'm spreading out my fingers and I'm interlocking them together. And that to me is what writing and illustrating is.
Grace Lin: Yes, definitely. And I agree. Well thanks so much Marie for your really great question. That was awesome and thank you Jarrett.
Jarrett Krosoczka: Well, thank you both.
Grace Lin: Bye.
Today’s book review comes from Violet and she is reviewing the book Guts by Raina Telgameier.
Hi, my name is Violet and I’m going to talk about Guts, by Raina Telgemeier. Guts is about a girl name Raina who has anxiety. She’s sick alot and has to stay home from school and her friends are being mean to her. Raina Telgemeir is an amazing author and I’ve read Guts so many times. It’s really good. Thank you for having me on your show, bye!
More about today’s guest:
Jarrett is a two-time winner of the Children's Choice Book Award for the Third to Fourth Grade Book of the Year and is the author and/or illustrator of more than twenty-five books for young readers. His work includes several picture books, the Lunch Lady graphic novels and Platypus Police Squad middle-grade novel series. Jarrett has given two TED Talks, both of which have been curated to the main page of TED.com and have collectively accrued nearly two million views online. He is also the host of The Book Report with JJK on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live, a weekly segment celebrating books, authors and reading. His work has been featured on the front page of The Boston Globe and on NPR's All Things Considered. Jarrett's books have also been recommended by national publications such as Newsweek, The New York Times and USA Today. His Punk Farm picture book and Lunch Lady series are both currently in development as feature films. Jarrett lives in Western Massachusetts with his wife and two daughters, and their pugs.
Grace Lin, a NY Times bestselling author/ illustrator, won the Newbery Honor for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and her picture book, A Big Mooncake for Little Star, was awarded the Caldecott Honor. Grace is an occasional commentator for New England Public Radio , a video essayist for PBS NewsHour (here & here), and the speaker of the popular TEDx talk, The Windows and Mirrors of Your Child’s Bookshelf. She is the co-host of the podcast Book Friends Forever, a kidlit podcast about friendship and publishing (geared for adults). Find her facebook, instagram , twitter ( @pacylin) or sign up for her author newsletter HERE.
Thanks to the High Five Books & Art Always Bookstore and Ms. Carleton’s 2nd grade class at Jackson Street School for their help with our kid questions and reviews.
