The one that started it all
My Ultimate Bucket list item
I knew I wanted to launch my very own Kickstarter campaign. I just didn’t know what for.
I love Kickstarter.
I mean, I really love it. I backed my first campaign back in 2014, and at the time of this writing, I have backed 243 campaigns. I proudly hold the title of “Super Backer.” I love everything about it: the community, the feeling of helping someone realize a vision, being another voice saying, “I believe in you,” to someone on their creative journey. For ages I wanted to see things from the other side, to launch a campaign of my very own. I just didn’t know what for.
I love everything about [Kickstarter]: the community, the feeling of helping someone realize a vision, being another voice saying, “I believe in you,” to someone on their creative journey.
The time I accidentally wrote a children’s book
Then in 2020 Josh and I welcomed our sweet baby, Sloane. She is the most amazing tiny human, and a constant source of wonder. She’s my muse. A little tune developed over months of snuggling and singing her to sleep, and I played with the lyrics until they were just right. While singing Sloane to sleep, I would imagine the different scenarios in the song in my favorite artist’s style. One night it occurred to me: This would make a fantastic book! The artist in question (DC Ice) and my publisher (Beaver’s Pond Press) agreed, and this accidental children’s book was born!
One night it occurred to me: This would make a fantastic book!
Choosing to publish with an indie publisher
Going through an indie publisher, particularly Beaver’s Pond Press, was the right choice for me, as DC was already an illustrator there and we both wanted to maintain as much control over the book as possible. This came at a cost, though. Literally. Indie publishing is not cheap. I saw my reason to launch my own campaign: to share my book with Kickstarter’s amazing community while getting help covering the printing costs. Bonus: simultaneously checking off a huge bucket list item!
A new interest emerges
Much the same way I accidentally wrote a children’s book, I accidentally found out I like designing Kickstarter campaigns. And I’m pretty good at it. Creating my own campaign was a labor of love, and I enjoyed showcasing the incredible illustrations while telling the story behind the story. It was exciting sharing my book with the world. About half the way through the campaign I hit my funding goal, and the backers unlocked the first stretch goal before the campaign was over. After the campaign ended, my project manager reached out to celebrate the successful campaign and asked who’d helped me with the visuals, stating she’d received a number of positive comments about it from colleagues. When I told her I’d done it myself, she was impressed and encouraged me to consider offering this service to others.
My campaign had the incredible honor of both being a Project We Love and a Featured Project.
I accidentally found out I like designing Kickstarter campaigns. And I’m pretty good at it.
Coming full circle
Reflecting on what I love about Kickstart, I decided to take a few Kickstarter campaign design clients pro bono to see what the process is like when designing a campaign for someone else. It’s rewarding to help someone tell the story behind the story with an eye-catching campaign. I love to cheer them on and watch the Kickstarter community engage and rally around them as they watch their dream become a reality. Such an honor to be part of the team. What could be better than helping someone share their project with the world?
DBLP Kickstarter campaign video, shot and edited by me, a first-timer
