The Paper Trail

Featured in embedded form on Joeldueck.com and Word put Well

9.27.2011 How to be Permanently Beloved as an Artist of Any Kind

Produce writing, music, or artwork targeted at young children. Indulge in an atmosphere of optimism, playfulness and innocent wonder, and quietly inject adult sensibilities where appropriate.

Be sure to make friends with children who enjoy your work. Respond to their letters, pose for their photographs, do them nice favours.

Spend an intermediate period of time out of the limelight while your original audience goes through puberty. This is your “naptime,” the siesta of your career — enjoy it while it lasts.

Enjoy a new wave of adult attention as the kids who grew up with your work rediscover it and are able to see far more of its meaning now that they have some maturity and experience.

Have a blast making friends with more children, as parents begin introducing their little ones to your work partly as an excuse to vicariously re-experience it for themselves.

Always use your powers for niceness.

Notes