Three Tips from Don Tate

"In the face of our greatest adversities, people can still do great things using their innate God-given gifts. Regardless of the circumstances, work hard, be persistent, believe in yourself, and never give up." 

~Don Tate

 

The Fabulous Don Tate and writing peeps.

By Janie Reinart

I too am a lover of words. I had the great fortune of meeting and listening to author/illustrator, Don Tate at the WOW Retreat. Don's words encouraged me and it was a delight to see his process.

As a child, Don preferred drawing to reading. When Don illustrates a manuscript, he begins by doodling in the margins all the images that come to his mind as he is reading. 

One of my favorite books Don Tate wrote and illustrated is Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton.  Don said he became a lover of words after he wrote this book. Find a teacher's guide here.

Don said, "I began by writing and revising the manuscript many times. Then I began to sketch, which affected the words. Revised the words, which affected the sketches--it was like a moving target."

The last page of Poet reads: “Words made [George] strong. Words allowed him to dream. Words loosened the chains of bondage long before his last day as a slave.”

Three Tips from Don Tate:

1.  Draw, read, and write everyday.
2. Make your scenes visual and engaging to the reader--be a visual storyteller.
3. Work hard, be persistent, believe in yourself, and never give up.