This is what this post was supposed to be named: Stuff the graphic novels industry lacks or seemingly lacks...
I’m at the very start of writing my comic one-shot / graphic novel script and I’ve started to research some possible publishers for my labour of love.
I knew that my best bet was to check out independent publishers (Not DC, Marvel, Image, or Dark Horse), but I didn’t know where to start. Well, actually, Dark Horse is a pretty good bet.
There are some publisher lists on the net, but these are either devoid of detail or hopelessly out of date, often listing many historical but defunct publishers. In addition, there aren't any live links to active publishers on these lists
This is where my experience as a reader and wannabe writer of short fiction has spoilt me: Speculative short fiction has market databases like Ralan and Duotrope that are not only updated regularly, but tell you which publisher / publication is interested in which genre or sub-genre at which length. In addition, links to submission guidelines are added to each publication listing.
As far as I know, there aren’t any comparable websites for comics and graphic novels. As far as I know.
In the meantime, I’ve slogged m way through a few outdated lists just to get started and have found some potential publishers. Still, would be nice to do a refined search, such as superhero comics only.
Okay, this is where this post was supposed to stop...until I discovered Caleb Monroe's Submission Help page. It is awesome to have all those links in one place. Thank you, Sir.
EDIT: There's also dragonberry.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
You might've already seen these, but here's some more links I found:
ReplyDelete"Submission Guidelines for Every Comic and Manga Publisher in the Universe:" http://www.optimumwound.com/the-submission-guidelines-for-every-comic-and-manga-publisher-in-the-universe.htm
http://www.avatarpress.com/submis.htm
http://www.darkhorse.com/Company/Submissions#writers
http://www.dccomics.com/dccomics/about/?action=submissions
http://www.imagecomics.com/submissions.php
And one caveat. Did you know you're embarking on a dangerous endeavor?:
http://sfscope.com/2009/05/comics-artist-mark-sable-detai.html
Oh, and this site had some good advice. Scroll down to "Writing:"
ReplyDeletehttp://www.topcow.com/inside/jobs
Thank you for all the links and, yes, I was aware of most of them but not all. In the post was referring to the optimumwound post and other comicvine posts, but of those I must admit that the optimum wound one is the best. It’s great to have the link in this comments post, not just for me but for some of the lurkers around.
ReplyDeleteThe sfscope link I did not know about. So, I can never travel with my script for ‘S.H.I.E.L.D: Final Annihilation in Washington’, because there are no superheroes in it?
It’s really cool that this guy has based a comic on the Sigma think tank (or similar think tanks). My thoughts on sigma were perfectly mirrored in a post by Jeff Vandermeer in which he wrote that some of the Science Fiction writers involved are actual scientists, but that some are also giant bullshitters. I think Jeff may have actually joined it himself since that (I could be wrong about this).
The topcow link I’ll check, because I’ll read anything by anyone who is associated Marc Silvestri. Anything. Even grocery shopping lists.
To answer your questions in another comment:
The norm is to submit with art, because most companies don’t have to budget to hire extra creative staff. That, and the art actually carries the comic. The art is also the first factor in making the unfamiliar/undecided potential buyer to make the comic buying decision. We are visual creatures.
Publishing my “masterpiece” as a Webcomic is second prize. I'd like to have something I can touch, but on the other hand many peeps can read webcomics.
Self-publishing on the web would be my last resort.
Thanks again for your effort.
Could it be possible to self-publish it in print? That might be costly, but having something physical to had out at conventions might be worth it.
ReplyDelete