Wondering what's next, Zoom problems, and the tools I use!

Sunday, August 15, 2021

Hello! Just like at the CDC, things haven't been going as planned over here lately. So, this newsletter, which usually has a few new colorful doodles, will be a little different — more words, less doodles.

Below, I ponder the title and direction of my book — a collection of my doodles about the pandemic that I was going to call "Quarantine Chronicles" — amid the resurgence of COVID. I need some help!

Maybe it's hard to work on now because I'm SO over COVID ... and Zoom. So, I'm also sharing an old doodle you may not have seen before about Zoom problems. And I finally share a blog post I mentioned I would write back in April about the tools I use for DID.

Hopefully, you can help me and some of this will help you!

Enjoy!

Note: I'm likely skipping the next two weeks because I'm going to a Jewish weekend sleepaway camp and then I'm moving! I know, SO MUCH doodle inspiration. Don't forget about me while I'm away!!

If you're new to Danielle in Doodles, welcome! I publish this newsletter of my latest doodles most Sundays, and you can see archives here.

4 times Zoom got too real

Let's start with a laugh! I made this last year. If I make the book, this would definitely be in it. These are all based on my real experiences.

The COVID Carousel and my quarantine book conundrum

In April I had the idea to create a book compiling my many pandemic doodles (like the one above). I would call it "Quarantine Chronicles." This summer, I'm moved slowly, scanning all of them, creating an outline, and compiling the copy. I even made a list of other artists whose art I'd also like to include. I'd been meaning to announce it on social media for months and finally got to it this week.

The narrative that was taking shape was about the craziness of this pandemic, followed by cautious hope while we muddled our way back to our "semi-normal" lives. It would publish in September while we all celebrated being over this weird time and tried to remember how to behave in an office and socialize again.

At the same time, my dad was working on a production, too. He'd been wanting to produce a concert for a while, and thought he finally had a shot this summer. He booked it for August 12.

I maintain an editorial calendar and kept bumping the book announcement on social until I made a cover. I finally did it, scheduled it in, and announced my book this week, but I felt lackluster about it. I reached out to artists to collaborate with me and no one responded. Similarly, my dad said hundreds of people visited the landing page for his concert, and no one signed up.

Why? The story of the narrative is changing so fast, and it's really not aligning with our production schedules or creative processes! We thought COVID and masks were coming to an end, and it turns out that's not the case. What we can be really excited about one day can feel silly the next.

I realize the timing of my announcement was probably off, and maybe so is the tone. People are scared again, not triumphant. No more delta denial (that was a doodle, too!)

Now, I'm asking myself several questions:

• Should I even make this book?
• Should I work on a different project ... and what would it be? 
• What is timely?!
• Should I make a funny collection of dating doodles? Is that overdone?!
• Maybe I stick with my original idea and change the title! What about:
  • COVID Carousel
  • Coronavirus Carousel
  • COVID Forever

What do you think?!

Tools I use to produce DID

In an April newsletter, I asked if anyone was interested in knowing the tools I use to produce everything related to DID. It's more than you think! During all my questioning, this was something I was still sure I wanted to produce and it was almost already done. So, "As a content creator with an e-commerce platform, these are the 8 essential tools I use and why" is finally published. Read it here and email me if you have any questions! (reply to this email or hi@danielleindoodles.com).

Thanks, as always, for reading. I'll see you in a couple of weeks ... or ... poll: Should I send a "best of" doodle newsletter next week or just take off?

xo

Danielle (in Doodles) Brody

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