Panel 9: Reaching Out

Hey guys! Welcome back to How NOT to Write Comics! This week we're not so much going to talk about actual writing but something else that you will inevitably have to deal with anyway... approaching an artist. I've seen some laughably bad proposals from mass messages to multiple artists to what more or less ends up being a demand to draw a book. And, no, that last one was not a joke.

Let me start off by saying this. Do your research on artists. Look for someone who fits your story... if you're telling a gritty crime noir tale you probably don't want someone with an overtly cartoony style and visa versa. If you're looking for good places to find artists, there are a variety of options... comic book message boards, Deviant Art (though it can be notoriously hard to navigate when looking for specific styles or people not doing just pin-ups), but my favorite and the one that has definitely worked best for me is comic conventions. It's a wonderful way to meet new artists... just take a trip down artist alley and you'll definitely find an artist, if not a great number of them, that you'll want to work with.

Now you've got to actually approach them. I do not recommend doing this at a con. Folks at a con have more than enough on their minds without having to worry about proposals from someone they've never met/never heard of. I know that sounds pretentious, but seriously, cons are insane for those of us behind the table and we may not even remember who you are if you do it this way. If you find an artist you dig at the con, I recommend getting their business card or buying one of their books so you can track them down later online. I recommend emailing them directly if it all possible, you can also get in touch via Facebook, but I find that way less reliable. 

Now here's the fun part, you have to write to each artist your approaching individually... let me be perfectly, utterly, clear here... in the most polite, professional manner possible. I cannot stress this enough. I've seen so many poor emails that range from way too casual to down right rude. Here's a simple little letter should give you a rough idea of what you should be saying.

Dear xxx (You can use first names here. Most of us in the comics industry aren't that formal.)

My name is xxx (Use your full name here... they may decide to Google you to see if you've published something before or just to see if you're a creep. Don't be a creep.) I'm a comics writer seeking an artist for my book, xxx (your title here). It is a (put genre(s) here) comic and I think you'd be a wonderful fit for the series. I was curious to see if you'd be interested in working on this with me. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerest Regards,
(Your name again)

Okay, mind you, that's a super basic letter that you will want to tweak accordingly. Things you may want to mention include how you became aware of the artist, if you've read any of their work, things of that nature. You really want to make this as personal and professional as possible. You really don't want to make the artist feel like they're one of a hundred people you emailed.

Now, here's something that may surprise you (though it shouldn't... I say that a lot, don't I?) Most artists do not work for free or back-end deals (profit splitting) especially since you're probably a newbie and odds are, you aren't going to sell that many books. And don't you dare utter/type the words, "It'll be great for your portfolio!" Those are words that get writers killed by artists' psychic rage powers. 

Page rates range widely depending on the artist, their skill, reputation, time in the business, etc. so have a rough idea of what you're getting yourself into. Most of us don't have $1000 up front to drop on an artist (unless you have a damn good job), but that's why things like Kickstarter and Indie Go Go exist. These are excellent tools to help you raise money not only to pay artists but also to cover printing costs.

Also, please, please, please have script samples available for the artist. Nobody is going to sign on with you if they can't read your writing before hand. I've heard horror stories about great pitches with terrible scripts. It happens way too often. So have a script ready!

Okay, so I lied earlier... this is the hardest part... you may get rejected. This could be for a great many reasons. The artist may be busy, your comic may not be their cup of tea, or, believe it or not, your script may just not be up to the same standard the artist is used to working on... aka your script isn't very good. This sucks, I know. I've been in this seat more than once, believe me. The key is to not take it personally... even if it's for that last reason. It's not that the artist things you're a bad person they just can't draw your comic. Accept it graciously and move on. Seriously. Turning into a self-righteous, whining jerk is not going to help your case and is going to hurt your reputation professionally.

Well, that's about all I have to say. Hope this helps you folks out and keeps you from embarrassing yourselves when it comes time to approach a writer. Have a nice week and we'll see you next time!