Source
r/ComicBookCollabs•
artificialphantom

Writer looking for artists for very short portfolio projects

I'm a somewhat experienced but still new writer who wants to build a better portfolio. I've got two comics in anthologies, I've interned in the editorial department of a comics publisher, I've studied writing comics under professional comics writers, and I'm looking for some collaborators for short comics.

Anthologies I'm in:

  • Monster Mashup (public domain monster crossover) (read a review of the anthology and my entry, Leaving the Woods, here)

  • Dark Lady Returns (horror)

I'm looking for artists who might want to collab for mutual portfolio building, meaning this is unpaid for both of us. I'm looking to do some very short scripts. I'd be happy to write something just for you, but I also have scripts varying in length from 2-8 pages that we can use. Whatever works best for you!

If you're interested send me a message with

  • A link to your work

  • What size project you're looking to take on (probably no more than 8 pages since it's unpaid)

Please also include some info about what kind of projects you're interested in such as...

  • What genres you like

  • What part of your craft you're trying to improve

  • What skills you want to show off

  • What themes you'd like to explore, or something you want to draw

I can write something just for you (ideally), or offer you one of my existing scripts if it fits and you're interested. I'm open to all sorts of genres. Fanfiction isn't great for portfolios, that's probably the only thing I wouldn't write for you.

I'm also able to do the lettering for whatever we do, though I'm not a pro at it.

Thanks for reading all the way through! Let's make some comics! (:

Posted Jan 22, 2020, 1:31 AM UTC

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edouardbatlle•

Hi I'm interested, here's a link to my work https://www.grevillejacques.com/ . Hit me up if it's what you're looking for!

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dayungbenny•

Really dig your style, you have some really fantastic work there!

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edouardbatlle•

Awesome! And thankyou :) do you think it would fit with any of your stories?

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dayungbenny•

Absolutely, but right now I just have 1 rough script for a first issue and a ton of outlining, I am still pretty green to the actual creation process. If you have a rate, would you mind PMing it to me, I can send you some more details about what I am working on too if you are interested.

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dayungbenny•

Hey, I was looking to make a similar post like this sometime soon, however am much further behind in the experience department than you. I went to film school but currently manage a live event space and don't really know how to go about connecting with people in the industry.

Wondering if you might be able to share some insights for how you started getting your foot in the door, would love to try and move closer to where you are at while I keep working on my project.

Sorry this is not an answer to your request, I just really want to connect with someone with more knowledge than myself!

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artificialphantomOP•

Hey! I've been pretty lucky in that the university I went to has a Comics Studies certificate, ties to a well-known comics publisher, and professional comics writers and editors teaching courses. From what my instructors and their guest speakers have said, the best way to network is cons. Post your work online, take handmade samples of your work to cons (make sure it has your portfolio social media on it so people can find you) and hand it out to other creators.

I'd also recommend reading as much as possible about making comics, and (especially if you can't draw) make something totally by yourself. Don't just learn your job, learn what you're asking your collaborators to do! As a writer, make yourself as useful as possible to your team, like doing lettering as well.

I got practice writing scripts for the comics writing courses I took, but I also learned a lot about the medium itself. I had to write, draw, and produce a mini-comic and hand a copy to each of my classmates (this doing it all yourself thing was stressed by many different instructors, and even though I did stick figures it was a great exercise as a writer). After practicing some scripts for class I began to seek out anthologies to write for. If you can't pay an artist, see about getting into anthologies and offering the page rate to the artist. That's worked for me so far.

Beyond that, just keep at it and read a lot. There are precious few books on comics, but luckily comics function similarly to writing a screenplay, which is right in your wheelhouse probably. Script formats are different (in fact very different, I'd recommend looking at some comic scripts by professionals), but both use visual storytelling.

Some book recommendations:

  • Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud

  • Making Comics by Scott McCloud

  • On Directing Film by David Mamet (great for "placing the camera" for panels)

  • The Elements of Style by Strunk & White (will help reduce wordiness, which is a struggle if you come from prose. Remember in comics every word will hide some of that beautiful art!)

  • The Anatomy of Story by John Truby (this is a book I'm actually reading right now; I've found it to be a great process for developing stories)

  • Words with Pictures or whatever it's called "by" Brian Bendis (not really by Bendis but compiled by him. Tons of industry professionals talking about their part of making and publishing comics. Includes folks like editors as well. I haven't actually read the whole thing, but that's mostly because I found a lot of the info repetitive from coursework)

  • Panel One by various/I forget. Has many different examples of comics scripts by professionals including Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman.

  • Comics and Sequential Art by Will Eisner

I believe Jim Zubb also has a lot of blog posts that are worth looking at, and Mark Crilley has a playlist on the writing aspect of comics on his YouTube. I've found the Zubb stuff pretty good, and the Crilley stuff hit-or-miss, with some nuggets.

I've put a lot of time into learning comics and getting the experience I have, and it's still honestly not enough to do much with. The last piece of advice I can give you is go small. Sure, work on that big project. But while you develop the big thing make a lot of small things. Put something new out every year at least, even if it's an 8 page anthology submission.

Also sorry for vomiting a ton of resources at you. Take it with a grain of salt, but I hope some of it it useful! Best of luck! (:

5
dayungbenny•

Dude.

Thank you soooooo much for this answer. Not just for myself, but all of the other people that are inevitable going to read it and take a lot from this post.

I am honestly so touched that you would take the time out of your day to compile this, I could not have imagined a more though out answer, this is like one of the most thoughtful things an internet stranger has ever done for me.

My neighbor is a screenwriter/novelist as well and he preaches Anatomy of Story as his writing bible and keeps telling me to pick it up. Did Mamet in school, love the idea of revisiting it.

If you have not read Allen Moore's book on writing comics, I would recommend adding that to the list. Its super short and concise while still having some really great insight.

Good call on the shorter stuff, I was thinking it might be easier to collab with others if I have some more 2-4 pagers in my pocket instead of big ideas.

You have got me feeling inspired! Hope you have a great day and would love to read some of your stuff if you want to PM a way to check it out!

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artificialphantomOP•

Hey, glad you find it helpful! I'll definitely check out Alan Moore's book! Though I've seen his scripts and I'm shocked he can write something short and concise lol!

Anatomy of a Story was revelatory when I started reading it. It's extremely useful, and it expanded upon and deepened some things I already included in my writing process, so I'm really into it. Still haven't finished it, I think I'm on the last few chapters though.

You can make a full paper comic issue out of a single sheet of paper folded into quarters. 8 pages, 4 after taking covers (inside, outside, front, back) into account. Mini-comics are great for handing out, cheap and easy to make once you figure out the folding, cutting, and binding. Look into it once you've got a 4 pager drawn! It's so cool to hold a comic you made in your hands!

If you want some advice on anything else in comics I'll help the best I can. Feel free to message me if you like. Best of luck! (:

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Elgranlebowsky•

Hi!!, I am a comib book artist!! my portafolio https://www.deviantart.com/dominicpinto/gallery

You can contact me through e-mail: [email protected]

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