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Writing Creator Owned and Indie Comics
Kick-start your indie comic endeavor.
Step 1: Choose Your Project
Step 5: Run a Crowd Funding Campaign
Step 6: Print Your Comic
- Keep a journal of your story ideas, fragments, et cetera.
- Examples of ways to generate story ideas:
- Try Something New
- Keep a Journal
- Write Down Dreams
- Meditation
- Exploration
- Mash-Ups
- Write a general ad, casting a wide net to put on a forum such as Reddit.
- Write a specific email that you send to someone you'd like to work with. Be sure to tell them what, about their style, you think would be good for the book.
- Factors to consider:
- Character Designs
- Page Rates for:
- Inks
- Colors
- Lettering
- Printing Cost
Step 5: Run a Crowd Funding Campaign
Step 6: Print Your Comic
- There are two main kinds of printers:
- Digital:
- Flat cost (but potentially high) per issue.
- Can be purchased for your home.
- Changes can be made along the way.
- Offset:
- Uses CMYK plates for each of the four colors.
- Setting up plates is an expensive flat cost.
- Typically requires at least a 1,000 copy run.
- The more issues you print, the lower the cost.
- Higher quality than digital printing.
- Vet multiple printers, ask for samples, and compare prices.
- Be wary of shipping costs, which are typically at the buyer's expense. Order in advance.
- Digital:
- How much institutional support will you have at that publisher?
- What kind of a marketing budget do they have?
- How well known is the publisher in the industry?
- Will you have creative control?
- Creator owned:
- Ownership is limited to this comic run, and does not constitute future control of related media.
- Creator controlled:
- The creator has control over merchandise, spinoffs, publications, potential sequels, and so on.
- Creator owned:
- Is the publisher focused on comics or accruing intellectual property?
- Do they pay per a page rate or is pay based on backend sales? What amount must the publisher recoup before they start to pay you?
- What kind of staffing infrastructure do they have? is there an editor? Is there a marketing team? Who is responsible for retailer outreach?
- Red flags to watch for:
- The publishers rights to your book never expire.
- Typical expiration is after 3 to 5 years, or as long as the book remains in print.
- If they ask for rights that are outside of their traditional delivery channels (e.g., foreign language rights, video game rights, etc.).
- If they expect you to pay for printing.
- Especially if they are paying you on the backend after they've earned their expected profit, which requires you to assume all the risk.
- If you're asked to pay money to pitch to them, it's a scam.
- if the contract allows them to pay you nothing, which is common, but you should still try to change the terms.
- If they have no clause that allows you to audit them.
- The publishers rights to your book never expire.
- Your pitch should include:
- Your name and contact information.
- The name of the project.
- What makes your comic different? Convey this through your one sentence synopsis.
- The pitch itself should be entertaining.
- Convey the beating heart of the pitch. What is the theme? Why should the reader care about this story?
- Provide the story arch with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
- Pitch with art attached (unless this is a springboard pitch).
- Buy a table at comic conventions.
- Consider sharing a table to reduce costs and have coverage if you need to step away for a restroom break.
- Give some thought to signage and setup, which can have a significant impact on selling.
- Consider purchasing a banner that includes your name and a snippet of artwork from one of your projects.
- Make your comics visible on the table with stands. Stack books as the perception of volume will increase sales.
- Have different merchandise available at numerous price points to hit a wider market.
- Have signs that clearly articulate the price without people having to ask.
- Use a tablecloth.
- Bring water, snacks, and sharpies.
- Either prioritize selling your comics, or networking, but not both.
- Consider foregoing a table, but attending the conference with a pro pass, if your goal is networking.
- Have your elevator pitch (one sentence synopsis) ready to go.
- Keep going!