Read part 1 here or keep reading to learn how I found and reached out to beta readers, and shared my all-ages graphic novel before it was published. Finding Beta Readers It might be somewhat easy to find people online who want to read a book for free, but I figured I would need to…
Read on to learn more about: Creating my 224-page rough draft in 3 weeks while stuck in bed Finding beta readers to proofread my graphic novel Setting up surveys and forms to gather feedback from beta readers Using reader feedback to revise my graphic novel Hi! My name is Jess Smart Smiley. I’m an author/illustrator…
I teach comics workshops to children, teens, and adults. Most of my students are new to writing and/or drawing, and come with equal parts excitement and anxiety. I feel like my role is to make the creation process fun and accessible, while allowing the students to pursue whichever styles/genres/approaches interest them most. Week-long comics workshops…
I’ve only been using the Robinhood investment app for 2 weeks, but I’ve already seen a $5 increase on my $222.29 in free stocks and $11.06 in paid investments. I’ve already recuperated almost half of what I spent! In my post titled Micro Investing (Part 2: Robinhood App Basics), I walked through my experience in…
Hi! My name is Jess Smart Smiley and I work as an illustrator and graphic designer. I’ve created 18 books for young readers (including picture books, a #1 bestselling comics activity book, a hidden object book, chapter books, and graphic novels), and I have helped thousands of children, teens, and adults in creating their first…
Check out these stunning photos of Cormorant fisherman Lao Huang by photographer Peter Yan. His last name is Huang, and he is 86 years old. The locals call him Lao Huang (meaning old Huang in Chinese). He told me he’s been a fisherman ever since he was a kid, and both he and his brother…
Can You Draw the X House? Draw a square base with an ‘x’ inside and a triangle roof on top, using a single continuous line (no retracing existing lines). Do not lift pencil until finished. How many different ways can you draw the x house? Now Do It Again. And Again! I wish I could…
THIS MUSIC IS SO GOOOOOOD!!