We recently connected with Brittany Long Olsen and have shared our conversation below.

Brittany, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you’ve thought about whether to sign with an agent or manager?

I found my literary agent through mswishlist.com, where editors and agents can describe the types of stories they want to represent. It was a great way for me to connect with an agent who was as excited about my project as I was. In the years since that first pitch, my agent has been incredibly supportive in helping me sift through ideas and develop stories that we both want to share with readers.

Brittany, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I got my start in making autobiographical journal comics. I love the storytelling that’s possible when combining words with pictures. After self-publishing several books of journal comics, I wanted to dive into fictional comics too, specifically for middle school-aged readers. I was a voracious reader as a kid, so like many other comic creators, I like to think I’m making books that I would have loved at that age. I’m interested in stories about female friendships, kindness, and a little bit of magic.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

There’s a lot of pressure on students in high school and college to choose a “sensible” career path that will guarantee them a stable job. A stable paycheck is not a bad thing to want, of course! But when schools and parents push STEM and business fields to the exclusion of the arts, they send the message that art should be a hobby and isn’t a “real” job. They forget that every movie they’ve ever seen, every song they’ve listened to, every painting or even magazine ad they’ve looked at had an artist behind it. Art is part of what makes us human and what makes life so enjoyable. We should be encouraging young people from an early age that the arts are as viable career choice as any.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

The number one thing I hear from people looking at visual art is “I wish I could draw!” (and as a follow-up: “I can’t even draw stick figures!”) What they really mean without realizing is usually “I wish I could draw like this immediately and with no practice!” They see the final result and may not think about the hours and years of practice and training that typically go into visual art. Drawing or painting is like any skill—you start out doing it poorly, and then you keep working at it as you slowly improve. When people say to me, “I wish I could draw!” I tell them, “You can! You just have to practice!” There are so many community resources, online and in person, to learn a new skill if you have time and patience, so go for it!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://brittanylongolsen.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/brytning
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/brytning