Draw this under the eyes.     , at the end of each arm. If you'd like, you can create fingers or add pads.  , under the legs, using circles.

Summary: Draw a circle or other shape, depending on what your animal is. Draw two small circles in the middle of the other circle/shape, for the eyes. Draw two smaller circles in the middle of the eyes. Draw a curved line on top of each eye for the eyebrows. Draw an L shape to make the nose. Draw a curved smile/sad mouth under the nose. Draw triangle or square shapes for the teeth, and a semi-circle for the tongue. Draw half an oval under the head for the body. Draw two rectangular shapes on either side for the arms. Draw paws, etc. Draw two legs on the bottom of the body. Draw paws, etc. Draw fingers or pads if you'd like. Colour your character if desired (optional).


Add facial features like big eyes with ruffled eyebrows, a cute little nose and a small mouth.

Summary: Sketch an oval shape in the middle of the page for the head. Draw guidelines for the face on the oval head. Sketch out a few details like the ears, the crown of the head and the neck. Outline the shape of the face. Erase the sketch lines and make the contour stronger.


Both men and women are expected to dress with an appropriate level of discretion during the month of Ramadan. Show as little skin as possible, within reason. Cover your knees and shoulders, wear only modest makeup, and do not wear revealing necklines. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.  If you are female, consider covering your head with a scarf or pashmina. The stated purpose of this garb is to reduce the risk of temptation. It is most important to dress modestly if you enter a mosque or another sacred space. This holds true even when Ramadan is not in effect. People will be abstaining from all food and water from dawn to dusk each day, and they will be actively trying to resist worldly temptations. If someone is trying to abstain from a certain habit or practice, avoid doing that thing in front of them. At best, you will offend the locals – and at worst, you may find yourself in trouble with the police. Be modest and respectful, and do your best to keep the peace.  Do not play loud music; in general, do not make a lot of noise in public spaces. Do not swear in public. Ramadan is a time for prayer and spiritual reflection, and loud or vulgar noises may disturb this peace.  Fasting can wreak havoc upon a person's eating and sleeping habits, so some locals might be "hangry" or more irritable than usual. Understand that this is part of the experience. Try to be patient with everyone that you meet. Charity is a huge part of the ethos of Ramadan, and giving money to a good cause can be a great way to get into the holiday spirit. If you want to help an organization, look into the various volunteering and donating options in Dubai. On a simpler level, consider tipping service workers extra. The working hours are two hours shorter than usual during this month. In order to handle their hunger, people tend to stay up very late at night, then nap in the afternoon. All public restaurants and coffee shops are closed from dawn to sunset. Bars, clubs, and live music venues typically close down, so you may need to find another way to keep yourself busy.  Be careful on the streets. The roads will be busier, especially when the fast breaks at sundown and people are going out to dinner. Drivers are generally more tired, and the rate of UAE traffic accidents increases dramatically during Ramadan. Do not worry about finding food. Restaurants at hotels, airports, and other traveler-specific spaces tend to remain open during the day, and food and drinks are freely served in those areas. Smoking is prohibited in almost all public areas during the month of Ramadan, and you may even draw attention if you smoke in private spaces. Most importantly, do not smoke around practicing Muslims, some of whom might be trying to abstain from cigarettes for the month. Eating and drinking in front of fasting Muslims is not illegal, but it is usually considered disrespectful.

Summary: Dress modestly. Be considerate of practicing Muslims. Be charitable. Understand how business hours shift during Ramadan. Don't eat or smoke in public places.


Browse freelance marketplaces, such as UpWork or PeoplePerHour, to find potential graphic designers taking on book work. Create a list of favorites based on their relevant experience, listed availability, and the scope of your project.  Determine if you want help formatting and adding design elements to your book’s interior or just creating the cover. Most marketplaces ask freelancers to list an hourly rate. Take this number into account as you budget for your design project. If you have questions that come up about your project while you browse profiles, write those down to discuss with the designers later. Write your shortlist of potential candidates a personal message confirming their availability and describing the scope of assistance you are seeking. Based on this information, ask each designer to send you a portfolio of relevant past work that you can consider in making a hiring decision.  You might say, “I’m hiring a designer to create a cover for my self-published romantic novel aimed at older women. Do you have any past cover work you might be able to show me in this vein? It will help me decide if we are a good fit.” Some designers may self-select out of the hiring process if they feel they aren’t a good fit for your project or are too busy. If someone you really like isn’t available, you can always ask, “Do you have a trusted fellow designer who might be interested in a project like this?” Ask each of the designers if they might participate in a short test to demonstrate their design skills for compensation. You can get a feel for their work and communication style firsthand.  Ask the designers to do a test other than a mock up of your cover. The goal is not to get your project out of the test for a lesser fee but to determine the skill level of the various candidates. Give the designers a set of creative and formatting guidelines to follow for the test. For example, you could ask them to design a bookmark of specific dimensions that reflects the mood of your book. Allow them some room for creativity! Narrow your field down to 2 or 3 potential designers. Coordinate to interview each either over the phone or on a video call. This is a great opportunity to ask questions about their portfolio, further describe your project to gauge their interest, and discuss the budget.  Important questions to ask include: “How do you incorporate client feedback into your designs?” and “How do you see our collaboration working over the design process?” Ask how long a project of this scope will take them and how many rounds of feedback are included in their design fee, if there is a limit. Take note of your rapport with each designer. You’re apt to have a better working relationship with someone you get along with and can communicate with easily. Hire the designer you feel the best about based on their skills, experience, availability, and price. Include any relevant observations from your trips to the bookstore. Email your designer a copy of your manuscript to read, as well. This background information will help them execute a design that resonates with the tone of your book and the design aesthetic that appeals to you.  If you’re concerned about providing a copy of your unpublished book to the designer, ask them to sign a nondisclosure agreement. If it’s within the scope of the design project, ask your designer to double-check the formatting of your book’s interior to make sure it is print-ready.
Summary: View graphic designer profiles on freelance marketplaces. Ask for copies of past work or a portfolio. Pay the finalists to perform a small, skills-based design test. Interview multiple designers to make your final selection. Discuss your design objectives and project goals with your designer.