The Independent World - advice for newbies - your own self publishing experiences

[Nikita]

This an all inclusive thread devoted to indie companies and self publishing. (especially self-publishing) Feel free to share your own experiences, tips, etc.


I'm thinking of one day trying to print my own graphic novel, or starting my own web comic. But my online research, is making me realize what a daunting task this is going to be and how far I still have to go.

I spotted a great magazine at the bookstore the other day called ImagineFX. The May issued focused on comic art and even had an interview with Alan Moore. I have to say though, the more comic art I see (especially since so much of it is "tweeked" on computers now), the more disheartened I feel about my own work with so much competition out there these days.

There's a comment in this magazine by an independent self publisher named Liam Sharp which rang so true:

"If you've decided to go down the self-publishing or indie route, then you need to be very honest with yourself, and you need to know how unbelievably hard it is to get your stuff seen and sold right now. It's never been so easy to create comics and produce printable files, it's never been so cheap, and subsequently never have there been so many people doing it."


That's the problem isn't it? While I think it's fantastic that we can more easily and cheaply produce our own books these days, there is so much more competition, how do we produce something that stands out? Lots of work and dedication I'm finding. I've been realizing lately, that if I truly want to get my work out there one day, first, I need to improve my own artwork skills much more, and second, I'm going to have focus much more of my free time on pursuing this.

Needless to say, I know I can draw ok, but compared to so much of the competition out there, my stuff might as well look like it was done by a 3rd grader. I may need to seriously start looking into going back to school.

If you've succeeded in self publishing, or perhaps a web comic, feel free to share your advice, or just your overall experiences self publishing.

I personally, am thinking of taking the web comic route since I have very limited funds. I realize self publishing of any kind, is not going to make me money. I have to do it for the love of it. It could be years before I ever see any return on my projects.

What have been your personal experiences with indie companies or self-publishing so far? What "surprises" did you run into after getting hit with the reality stick as you worked on your ideas for yourself, or for a small indie company? I'm just personally curious about everyone else's experiences in the indie Or self-publishing world so far. Feel free to share whatever you want.

[Matt_Stevens]

Interesting questions. Self publishing is something I looked at but decided against because it is too financially demanding.

The sensible route is to find someone to work with. If you are an artist, find a writer. You like to wrote? FInd an artist. Work together and come up with something. Something good.

Then do seven inked and lettered pages and submit the sucker to Image and the rest if you truly believe it to be worthy of publishing.

Me, I am a screenwriter and have loved comic books since I was a little twerp who was introduced to the format when G.I. JOE #21 was released to newstands back in the mid 80's. I was instantly hooked.

Finding an artist has proven impossible though. I am in NC and that is burden #1. Burden #2 is that the good ones won't work with you on spec. They want money up front, lots of it and don't care a wiz about rights, movie rights, making much more money later. They need the money now. Period. Penny short, pound foolish and believe me, as a writer I can understand that.

[Nikita]

The reason I personally like the idea of self-publishing is creative freedom. (I personally don't care about money right now. I just want to get my stuff out there)

I was wondering what kind of experiences some of you have had with indie publishers compared to the big guys if you've tried both.

[Gary_B]

I have had the pleasure of watching David Petersen get his career started in comics and he went the self publishing route with Mouse Guard. He self published it through Comixpress in black and white. I think he had something like 200 printed at first. He was very active on the Hellboy forum (and still is) and I think he intended to give them to friends when went to SDCC in 2005. He ran into someone he knew there who was from his home state of Michigan and that guy suggested that he show it to Archaia Studios. Archaia really liked it and suggested that they publish it as a 6 issue story and told him that they wanted to see it in colour. Mouse Guard has been a big success for David but it wouldn’t be out there if he hadn’t self published it at the beginning.

[ChadtheH]

The reason I personally like the idea of self-publishing is creative freedom. (I personally don't care about money right now. I just want to get my stuff out there)

I was wondering what kind of experiences some of you have had with indie publishers compared to the big guys if you've tried both.

I am a self-publisher of four years now, and I was basically a writer who taught myself to draw, because no one would draw for me. It isn't a money-maker, and in fact sometimes you fall so far short even on selling small print runs that sometimes you wonder if anyone out there really buys anything that ISN'T owned by a major corporation. I also do a good share of contributing art and stories to Femforce from AC Comics -- and the self-publishing gave me the exposure to get other gig(s).

You're right that self-publishing gives you more freedom. The product a buyer is reading is more purely "you," you could say. A more direct expression of the artist's inspiration. But with that comes a lot of pain. The stuff I do for Femforce is fun and a lot less painful to produce (I don't pay the print costs) -- but the end result is, still you I guess, but less so -- a more filtered/homogenized version of you. So there's a trade-off in each.

Hope that helps. You can find more of my self-published works at:

http://www.etraincomics.com

[Masine]

I have a few ?'ns one is it impossible to find a artist out there? for what i have seen so far it is and i have no artistic talent at all so drawing it myself is not a option . So do you all have any other ideas for me there ? Second can you guys give me a few good self publishing sites thnx for any and all info you guys can give me

[Nikita]

Interesting questions. Self publishing is something I looked at but decided against because it is too financially demanding.

The sensible route is to find someone to work with. If you are an artist, find a writer. You like to wrote? FInd an artist. Work together and come up with something. Something good.

Then do seven inked and lettered pages and submit the sucker to Image and the rest if you truly believe it to be worthy of publishing.

Me, I am a screenwriter and have loved comic books since I was a little twerp who was introduced to the format when G.I. JOE #21 was released to newstands back in the mid 80's. I was instantly hooked.

Finding an artist has proven impossible though. I am in NC and that is burden #1. Burden #2 is that the good ones won't work with you on spec. They want money up front, lots of it and don't care a wiz about rights, movie rights, making much more money later. They need the money now. Period. Penny short, pound foolish and believe me, as a writer I can understand that.

Yeah, I can imagine it must be hard to find an artist to fit the vision you want. I personally wouldn't mind doing artwork for others for free or on the cheap (it would be good practice) but my stuff isn't professional enough looking yet. (I still have to learn inking and coloring since I've only gotten to pencils so far) The competition out there to make your own stuff stand out is so fierce.

I have had the pleasure of watching David Petersen get his career started in comics and he went the self publishing route with Mouse Guard. He self published it through Comixpress in black and white. I think he had something like 200 printed at first. He was very active on the Hellboy forum (and still is) and I think he intended to give them to friends when went to SDCC in 2005. He ran into someone he knew there who was from his home state of Michigan and that guy suggested that he show it to Archaia Studios. Archaia really liked it and suggested that they publish it as a 6 issue story and told him that they wanted to see it in colour. Mouse Guard has been a big success for David but it wouldn’t be out there if he hadn’t self published it at the beginning.

I had no idea Mouse Guard started out that way. That's a very cool and encouraging story. (I need to visit the Hellboy forum more often)

I am a self-publisher of four years now, and I was basically a writer who taught myself to draw, because no one would draw for me. It isn't a money-maker, and in fact sometimes you fall so far short even on selling small print runs that sometimes you wonder if anyone out there really buys anything that ISN'T owned by a major corporation. I also do a good share of contributing art and stories to Femforce from AC Comics -- and the self-publishing gave me the exposure to get other gig(s).

You're right that self-publishing gives you more freedom. The product a buyer is reading is more purely "you," you could say. A more direct expression of the artist's inspiration. But with that comes a lot of pain. The stuff I do for Femforce is fun and a lot less painful to produce (I don't pay the print costs) -- but the end result is, still you I guess, but less so -- a more filtered/homogenized version of you. So there's a trade-off in each.

Hope that helps. You can find more of my self-published works at:

http://www.etraincomics.com

Good points. I suppose submitting stuff to established companies helps get your foot in the door, and then they in turn, get your name out there, and that might help you get your own stuff published eventually.

I have a few ?'ns one is it impossible to find a artist out there? for what i have seen so far it is and i have no artistic talent at all so drawing it myself is not a option . So do you all have any other ideas for me there ? Second can you guys give me a few good self publishing sites thnx for any and all info you guys can give me

If you check out the Independent Forum on here, the "pinned" thread at the top of the page lists a ton of Indie companies.