In my years as art director, I threw away 99% of the postcards I received.

That may come across as disheartening. Until COVID19, illustrators were often advised to send a postcard with their work to art directors, agents, and editors. The postcard was, arguably, the most effective form of self-promotion. As an illustrator, you may have taken that advice. You may have spent good money on hundreds of cards. And now, a former art director of one of the largest collections of imprints tells you that he threw virtually all of them away. The good news is, you didn’t waste your time and money. Allow me to explain.

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