Many novice comicbook writers are eternally frustrated by the challenges of finding an artist with whom to collaborate. Unfortunately, those writers who don't hook up with artist partners will find it extremely hard, maybe impossible, to break into the comicbook industry.
Many writers want to break into this field. Publishers, then, are often swamped with scripts from writers who'd love to create the next Spider-Man or Batman. Problem is, comicbook editors are busy people. They don't have the time to look over long scripts from writers they've never heard of.
Most writers trying to break into comicbooks, then, will end up with scripts sitting unread in a slush pile somewhere. Or, even worse, the scripts they may have slaved over when be quickly deposited in an editor's trash can.
The Search for the Right Artist
Here's a sad truth: New writers, with few or no comicbook credits, are going to have a difficult time finding a topnotch sequential artist who wants to work with them.
There's a reason for this: Writers don't offer much to an artist if they've never proven themselves in the field.
Of course, if new comicbook writers pay an artist a fair page rate, this all changes. Now they have something to offer: money. Unfortunately, most writers new to the industry don't have a lot of money to throw around. And hiring an artist isn't cheap. Even reasonable artists will charge $100 a page to pencil, ink and color panels.
What About Writers who can't Pay?
Those writers who can't pay will more than likely have to work with artists who are just as unproven as they are. This can be tricky: Many artists new to the comicbook field have little experience with sequential art. They may not have the talent or the dedication to work with comics.
However, it is possible for writers to find artists without much comicbook experience who are still talented, hardworking and reliable.
There are several Web sites that can connect writers to comicbook artists. Digital Webbing and Penciljack are two of the best.
It's best for writers to approach an artist by e-mail. Writers should spell out exactly what type of comic on which they are working and what style they are looking for. They should also point out upfront if they are not able to pay any money upfront. If this is the case, writers should then explain that they are willing to split any profits from their comics with whatever artist they work with.
If there are Problems
Even after writers have found an artist to work with, potential problems can come up. For instance, artists may disappear after drawing two or three pages. Other times, writers and artists will discover, after working together on several panels, that the relationship, for whatever reason, is not working.
It's best in these situations to sever the working relationship quickly and certainly. To not do so can lead to other problems in the future.
Finding an artist is one of the biggest hurdles that new comicbook writers face. But if they are persistent, writers can find the ideal artist partner.
Dan Rafter - I'm a freelance writer with more than 15 years experience covering the residential and commercial real estate industries. Of course, this ...
