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