Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc From: [d--a--k] at [netcom.com] (David Hawkins) Subject: Rough Draft: Breaking into Comics Date: Mon, 21 Jun 1993 19:42:55 GMT Rough draft: post suggestions/corrections/etc. or email them to [d--a--k] at [netcom.com] How to Break Into Comics - Writing/Drawing/Inking/Coloring 1. It's simple. If you know what you want to do, write to the publishers (addresses below) and include a letter asking for their submission guidelines. You can also ask for a catalog of what they publish in some cases. Enclose a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope). Your letter can be as simple as: [change date, address, and name, of course.] May 31, 1993 Submissions Editor DC Comics 1325 Avenue of the Americas NY, NY 10019 Dear Editor: Please send me the submission guidelines. I'm enclosing a SASE. Thank you. Sincerely, Aspiring J. Talent 2. Within a couple of weeks responses will come pouring in as each publisher says what they want and how they want it. THEN YOU FOLLOW THEIR SUGGESTIONS. If you want to write for DC, and they ask for a one page storyboard, then send them a one page storyboard. 3. What Do the Suggesions Include? The following were all mentioned one or more times - sometimes with great emphasis - in the submission guidelines I collected: Use a SASE - don't expect them to address and stamp an envelope to get in touch with you or return your material. It goes in the trash if you don't include a SASE. Read Eisner's book, _Comics & Sequential Art_, available from a number of sources, including Eclipse, Bud Plant, Poorhouse Press. Submit a one page story board. (DC). [Writers] Don't force material on editors at cons - hard to evaluate material in that setting. Be professional: neat, submissions typed, spell-checked. Don't call. They'll get to your submission when they can. Demo only one talent if you're trying to get work as an artist, letterer, inker, etc. Read what the editor publishes and submit accordingly. You can get samples from some publishers. Put name, address on each page of submission. Don't staple pages. Don't drop by the office. The odds are against you - roughly 100 to 1. Do not send originals of your material. (I think every publisher said that one.) Be realistic. 4. My Suggestions For Writers (I know nothing about how to get started as an artist): Get the misc.writing FAQ for information. Read lots of comics and learn to spot different styles. Write something every day. Get all six "Swords of Cerebus" and read Dave Sim's comments on how he does Cerebus. It's amazing to watch how he got better over the first 24 issues or so. Read Dave Sim's ongoing column in Cerebus about getting started. Read the Eisner book and Scott McCloud's "Understanding Comics" Remember that publishers do need writers. The idea is to write what they need. 5. Suggestions in General: There are two kinds of people: those who like to start projects and those who like to finish them. Figure out which one you are and learn to compenstate. I like to start projects and can have a bunch going at one time, but at some point I have to finish a project and declare it over. Those who get a reward out of finishing a project are sometimes slow to start new one projects to work on. 6. Publishers Addresses Caliber Press 621 - B. S. Main St. Plymouth Mi. 48170 Dark Horse Comics 10956 SE Main Street Milwaukie, OR 97222 DC Comics 1325 Avenue of the Americas NY, NY 10019 Defiant 232 Madison Avenue New York,NY 10016 Eclipse Books P.O. Box 1099 Forestville, CA 95436 Fantagraphics Books 7563 Lake City Way, N.E. Seattle, WA, 98115 Image Comics 2400 East Katella Avenue Suite 1065 Anaheim, CA, 92806 Kitchen Sink Press No. 2 Swamp Rd. Princeton, WI 54968 Malibu Comics 5321 Sterling Center Dr. Westlake Village, CA 91361-4613 Marvel Comics 387 Park Avenue South NY, NY, 10016. RUNAWAY GRAPHICS P.O. Box 39051 Sarasota, FL 34238 Valiant (Voyager Communications) 275 Seventh Ave. New York,NY 10001