Jo Watson and the process of writing
Jo Watson is a writer, artist and all-round creative person who grew up and still lives in Melbourne. Before settling down to work in television as a writer, she did lots of different jobs: waitressing, movie popcorn maker, chambermaid, bar tender to name a few.
We chat to Jo about her writing, the creative process, and the Kickstarter campaign for her delightful picture book ‘Larry Leadbeater.’
How did you get into creating picture books?
Looking back, I was always a writer. In primary school, I wrote huge stories and drew the pictures for them. But somewhere along the way, I took on the idea that writing wasn’t a sensible pursuit. Fortunately, I found work in television, where you get to be creative and collect a pay check. I lucked out with “breaking in” in Melbourne. I went to L.A. to work in the television industry there and found breaking in impossible. That experience definitely humbled me and knocked me around a bit. But I learned so much about how to sell myself, how to verbally pitch a story and how to create stories that are specific enough to have universal appeal.
It’s taken me a weirdly long time to realise I’m a creative person. The thing that finally hammered it home was learning to draw. I love being a beginner at things -- I find that early learning curve really exhilarating. I stopped drawing in grade 3 and started again when I was 39. I had a lot of catching up to do! I was one of those people who said “I can’t draw to save myself”. But there’s a difference between “can’t draw” and “don’t draw”. Drawing is a skill you can learn just like writing, cleaning toilets or making popcorn. I spent a year studying foundation visual art subjects at Melbourne Polytechnic. After that, it was a lot of practice and a lot of YouTube. Screenwriting is often referred to as a visual medium. So I’ve found moving into picture books a natural and joyful progression.
You’ve just kickstarted a campaign for a new children’s story ‘Larry Leadbeater’. Can you tell us a bit about it?
Sure. Larry Leadbeater is an adorable but rather fussy fairy possum who seriously needs a new home. After losing his 300 year-old tree, Larry’s in quite a pickle. Fortunately, he’s not alone. A trip to the city and a new friend - the bold and resourceful Clementine - set Larry on a course to change the world… in a most surprising and unconventional way!
Although it’s a work of fiction, the story’s based on the real-life travails of the critically endangered Leadbeater’s possum, affectionately known as the “fairy possum”.
Where did you get the idea for Larry, and what made you decide to tell that story?
The year I started working on Larry Leadbeater, my kids were coming home from kindergarten with a burning desire to do what they could, in their own way, to improve the planet. They really led by example and got me thinking about how I could use my skills as a writer and an artist to have a positive impact. I was and still am inspired by young people, around the world, stepping up to safeguard our planet. I wanted to write a story that captures their undaunted enthusiasm and sense of purpose.
Are the characters inspired by anyone/ anything in real life?
Clementine got her name from a girl who went to my son’s kindergarten. I really liked her drawings.
What inspires you to write?
I find writing extremely difficult. I’m not sure what drives me to keep doing it! I have gotten better over the years at discerning which ideas have enough “va voom” behind them to keep me engaged over the long haul. Sometimes it’s a really interesting character flaw, or it could be the concept or something that sparks a strong emotional response. In the case of Larry Leadbeater, it was the ridiculous irony of Victoria’s state animal emblem being pushed to extinction by state-sponsored logging activity. From there, the work was making sure the story stood up without the message. It was very important that the plot and characters be just as engaging as in a purely entertainment-driven story.
One other important reason I write is to get ideas for the next story. I find writing begets ideas. It’s probably my brain going “ooh, this is hard, let’s think of something else shiny and new instead”. I write down those ideas in different folders I have labelled for different mediums – television, film, books or picture books. I always like to have more material than I can possibly use.
Tell us about your creative process.
The nuts and bolts of it are: start early, take regular food breaks, exercise 3 times a week. What I do outside of the writing is just as important as what I do when I’m at my desk. If I force myself to overwork (which I do, often, and it’s rarely a good idea) the quality of the work declines and my mental health goes to bits.
I like to finish each day by writing down one or two really specific, microtasks to be resumed. For example, if I’m writing it might be: “brainstorm 3 settings for this scene, pick one”. If I’m illustrating it might be: “add texture to the rocks”. It helps the next day, when I sit down, to know exactly what I’m supposed to be doing. It eliminates a lot of anxiety and lost time because for the first few minutes, I’m not thinking, I’m doing. Then the thinking part comes naturally. I recently heard someone call this strategy “parking on the hill”.
What has been the most challenging/ rewarding aspect about this project?
The method I chose to use for rendering the illustrations was incredibly time intensive. I thought it would get quicker as I went along. It didn’t. So logging the hours and trying not to get impatient was tough. The rewards are all the new tricks and techniques I’ve learned – far too many to list here. I got a kick out of learning to edit and sound engineer a video for the Kickstarter campaign.
What made you decide to use Kickstarter?
Because Larry Leadbeater is sort of a social enterprise, in that I want to direct a lot of the profit toward conservation organisations, it made sense to publish in a way where I had more control over the profits. Publishing independently means financing the cost of production yourself. It’s more work but it also gives you greater control. Kickstarter is one piece of the finance puzzle. It’s a great way to get the book out there, start selling and finding an audience early.
What has been the response so far?
Fantastic! The project is now 140% funded and steadily climbing with 2 weeks to go. I researched crowdfunding best practices before I created my campaign. I made sure my campaign content ticked all the boxes as best I could: things like quality video, a compelling “why” and good photography are all really important. Another key element is trying to get your campaign 30% funded in the first week. I did a lot of groundwork, telling people about the project, emailing people and so forth and was able to get the project 30% funded in the first three days. Larry Leadbeater has been selected as a “project we love” by the Kickstarter platform, which helps send more traffic my way. The response has been overwhelming. I feel very fortunate.
What’s next on the horizon?
I have another picture book story that I’ll start pitching around. I want to set up an online store for my artwork. And next year I’ll be getting ready to exhibit Larry Leadbeater’s artwork at the Gallery at the Dock in Melbourne’s docklands. Another learning curve for me!
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to break into the industry you are in?
Put as much effort into showing your work as you do into refining your skill or craft. Also, being a creative professional has many challenges… so don’t feel guilty about enjoying the perks. If you need to have a nap after lunch, do it!
To see more of the book visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/larryleadbeater/larry-leadbeater
or follow Jo on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/see.jo.watson/