本書講述瞭作為自由撰稿人和插畫傢的作者寺田剋也，在30年的職業生涯中如何思考、如何創作、如何堅守自己這份事業的過程。在本書中，

作者真誠講述自己在繪畫時種種思考方式及做法，列舉瞭豐富的插畫實例，總結瞭提高技藝的方法和訣竅，

為想要以插畫作為職業的人士帶來參考價值和靈感。   

正式訪談前的閑聊······························· 6

01 電車大叔的肖像畫· ···························· 10

02 畫畫為什麼那麼麻煩呢· ························· 24

03 不要阻礙想象力······························ 42

04 老爺爺的立體模型· ···························· 70

05 什麼是美人································· 92

06 魔法道具和立刻學會的魔咒· ······················· 96

07 樹立起自己的招牌· ····························· 124

08 現場畫幅工作用的畫（畫稿篇）· ······················· 142

09 現場畫幅工作用的畫（上色篇）· ······················· 164

10 觀察畫畫和講述································ 174

11 現場畫畫· ·································· 196

12 享受畫畫· ··································202

13 以漫畫和插畫暢談人生· ···························· 210

14 賣畫· ···································· 236

15 作為畫傢能做的事· ······························ 258

16 以畫畫維持生計································ 274

17 運氣很重要··································302