Nicki’s advice

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Viewing guide

Before

Which careers have you considered?
What do you think it would be like to be a graphic novel writer?
What are the benefits of having good writing and design skills even if you don’t become a graphic novelist?

After

Nicki makes the point that most people are disappointed when their first draft isn’t perfect. Do you agree? When has this happened to you? What happens when you become too disappointed or negative about your writing?
What’s the best thing you can do to improve your writing?
In your opinion, what is meant by the phrase, ‘unwrapping new material each time you read it’.

Interviewer: What advice would you give to young would be illustrators and writers?

Nicki Greenberg: Practise I think is the biggest thing. Practise, draw and write as much as you can. Don't worry if you think, 'Oh this isn't perfect; I'm going to abandon it'. Just keep at it, keep sketch books. And really you look back over this work and you see the seeds of what you produce later and it can be really, really helpful. So, practise, practise, practise. And of course, read a lot.

Interviewer: What advice would you give to students studying the novel 'The Great Gatsby'?

Nicki: This sounds like very simple advice but I would say read the book a number of times. I've read it many times and I think I know the book quite well but I'm still getting something new from it on every reading and because it's so densely written and Fitzgerald puts so many layers, so much wonderful stuff in there that you do keep unwrapping new material each time you read it.

Interviewer: Thanks Nicki for your time today.

Nicki: Thank you.