I am creating a Tarot - &...

[blackroseivy]

...of course, there is the BOOK. *sigh* :( Can anyone help me with this?

I was told by a psychic lady, once a VERY long time ago, that someday I would publish a book. It is looking very much as though that book will turn out to be this deck-&-book set, which is probably something I should do, tempting though it is to think of someone else doing the work, blah!! :(

Ok, so I don't even have the deck yet - BUT I know the concept, very very well; I just need to execute it. What I'd like is just, as per the "LWB": What is the structure? What needs to go into this? A little bit of suggestion from the illustrious writers here would go a long way toward getting me started. :)

[SilverClaw]

Well I am working on my tarot book right now so I could be of some help.

Basically what you need to decide is how in depth do you want the book to be. Is it going to be with your meanings, exercises a history of tarot or what? I would suggest that meditate and have a brain storming session on this and see where your intuition leads you. Once you decide on an outline and what you want to do then it is just a case writing and oraganising and in your case create the deck .


It is looking very much as though that book will turn out to be this deck-&-book set, which is probably something I should do, tempting though it is to think of someone else doing the work, blah!! :( I have seen some that do the illustrations of the cards and someone else does the book , but personally I think it would mean more if you tried to do the book.




And by the way what does LWB mean? :) Sorry tired here and not thinking straight.

[SilverClaw]

Another thing you will want to consider is do you want to self publish or get published through a publishing company to that will be an important decision that will affect alot of your work and how it is done as well.

[blackroseivy]

Little White Book!

& as far as I am concerned, it is US Games or BUST!!! :boing:

[SilverClaw]

& as far as I am concerned, it is US Games or BUST!!! :boing: Ah ok well make sure you are familiar with their guidelines then, and good luck :)

[LisaT4P]

Speaking purely as a consumer, I like the deck & book sets where the author gives you insight as to why they used the images & symbolism that they did. It makes the deck more real & personal that way.

For good examples of this see the Llewellyn deck, the Animals Divine and the DruidCraft tarot. I believe Robin Wood has a book similar to this, but her deck & book are not a set. I think the same thing holds true for the Whimsical Tarot.

[SilverClaw]

I like the deck & book sets where the author gives you insight as to why they used the images & symbolism that they did. It makes the deck more real & personal that way. Yep I like the book sets to I love the details. When I get my decks done I will have them each with their own book since they are to different to have just one book for all. ( hope that made sense)

[blackroseivy]

Ugh, looks like I have some HEAVY writing to do!!!! :( Ah well, I will write to USG yet again, asking what guidelines they have for deck-accompanying books...

[aranarose]

I too prefer to have the book to go along with the deck. I recently bought the Celestial Tarot as a set, and am so glad that I have the book to go along with it. The cards are gorgeous, but the LWB does not go into the symbolism chosen nearly enough to help me understand WHY Draco was chosen for the Nine of Wands!

[dragoncrone]

The Crone is putting in her two cents worth, not only as a reader and collector of tarot cards since the 1960s, BUT as a graphic artist, publisher and author.

The MOST important aspect of publishing a tarot deck is the ARTWORK. If it's schlock or kitschy, NOBODY will buy it.
The images, details and colors must blend together to produce a magickal experience for every person who encounters the deck.
I believe that the deck itself should come first, and the book based upon the images.

Be brutally honest with yourself, in your creative space: are you an outstanding artist, with publishing graphics experience? If not, your primary objective will be to find an artist and collaborator with whom you can work. You may even need two: one for art work and another for graphics skills.

Some details to consider will be: What medium will the originals be in? Will the artist retain rights to them? What size will the deck be? Will it be printed on matte or glossy stock, and how thick? How will the deck be packaged - if it will be in a carton, that is another designing job.

If you self-publish, you will make these decisions. If - woo hoo - you are accepted by a publishing house, they will in all probability have final say on the finished product - whether you are pleased with it or not.

THAT SAID... I think it is thrilling that you are planning to do this, and I don't want to discourage you in any way - just be aware of the potholes on the road to publication. Go for it!!!:tarotwitc

[SilverClaw]

Good Post DC


If you self-publish, you will make these decisions. If - woo hoo - you are accepted by a publishing house, they will in all probability have final say on the finished product - whether you are pleased with it or not. That is true, that is why in my case I am publishing my own decks and books. So that no one has that say other then me. :)


So blackroseivy have you made any progress with your deck?