Sign up today, once I have 100 subscribers I'll send out the first issue.

 

I’m Fran Marcellin - illustrator, journalist and lifelong creative. After decades in film and media, I’ve returned to my first love: drawing.

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But I keep feeling waves of despair for creatives after reading out so many freelancers getting laid off and panicking about survival.

 

I realised that I need to act and do something to help. 

 

I've been working as a journalist for the last 20 years, alongside my own content business, I'm also a professional newsletter writer (my clients have a 60%+ open rate) and I'm in a Fractional Chief Content Officer role for a client while I build up my freelance illustration career. I've got bylines in The Telegraph, The Standard, New Scientist, and the list goes on…

 

Yep, I'm pivoting in midlife, while looking after four kids (ages 4-12), at a time when the market is bombarded by AI and crashing out. As a new illustrator but with plenty of freelance experience on my shoulders, I'm optimistic because I've survived as a freelancer for three decades.

 

But what is really happening in the market? Are my dreams to be a full-time illustrator truly not realisable? 

 

These are questions we all probably have in some form or another and

 

I realised that actually I CAN HELP by combining my reporting skills, love for newsletter writing and passion for illustration. 

 

So, I am launching a newsletter called: 

 

Back to the Drawing Board

 

which will do everything it can to dig into what is really going on and help freelancers survive in this difficult climate. 

 

It is newsy and people focused. It will start out monthly and include:

 

1. Freelancer interview: how are they making it work?

2. AI focus: How to AI-proof your style or niche and what’s happening in the market.

3. Freelancer survival tips.

4. Five places to pitch.

5. Industry must-know news.

6. Plus I’ll share my latest collection with the process and story behind it.
    

And I have plenty of ideas on how to expand, but need to make it manageable for one person initially.

 

I’m so excited about this. Please sign up. We are resilient and we can stay creative, true to ourselves and not sell out to AI.

 

Let’s stay informed and cohesive. 

 

Sign up today, once I have 100 subscribers I'll send out the first issue.