Talent Search

[Sundown_7]

I feel as though I've recently come across a large number of artist talent searches (like the one mentioned in Steven's column this week), but I have yet to really find a writer talent search. Has anyone come across one before or know of one now?

I realize the best thing a writer can do (after writing, of course) is to hire an artist to make the comic happen, but if you do not have the cash to do such, are you just outta luck?

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

I realize the best thing a writer can do (after writing, of course) is to hire an artist to make the comic happen, but if you do not have the cash to do such, are you just outta luck?

If you're a good enough writer, and a nice enough guy, with some scripts already, you may be able to convince an artist to draw free of charge, or at least do some character designs/pages for you for a pitch.

[davidbovey]

If you're a good enough writer, and a nice enough guy, with some scripts already, you may be able to convince an artist to draw free of charge, or at least do some character designs/pages for you for a pitch.

Depends on the quality of work you are looking for. Don't expect pro caliber work if you can't pay. Don't expect an artist to stick to any kind of deadline or treat it very seriously if they are working for nothing.

You could probably find someone to collaborate with you but that process can be difficult. They may like the project but if something comes up and the artist has to deal with other commitments that pay, or even if they just have something pop up in every day life... your project will take a back seat.

[Inkthinker]

I urge people to think of a "collaboration" like a marriage, or at least a partnership. If you want someone to work for nothing, then basically what you want them to do is invest of themselves into your dream, which means at the very least they're going to feel a sense of ownership over their contribution.

Now it's not just "your" project, it's a project you own jointly alongside the person with whom you've collaborated, at least so long as they're not compensated or they can make the argument that the project's success is determined as much by their visual design as the written script. Assuming (as we all like to do) that your idea becomes the next big superhit, you could concievably be involved with this artist for the rest of your life (or at least the life of the project, which in ideal terms lasts beyond your lifespan).

Even if you don't pay your artist, you won't get something for nothing. The advantage to work-for-hire is that once the contract is completed, the relationship can be as well, if you like.

[Sundown_7]

Thanks to everyone for the advice and insight. I appreciate that. I'd also like any answers to the first part of the question, though, before I let the thread die. Any info on talent searches for comic book writers?

It's an interesting trend that seems to be coming into play, where companies are very willing to support fresh new talent in art, but writers must be well established (sometimes in other mediums) before they are even given a second glance...

[Steven Grant]

Mainly...

It's easy to see pretty much at a glance whether an artist will do or not.

Writers... You can't really tell writing from a couple pages of samples. The only way you can tell whether someone can write - for anything, though comics have extra levels on top of it - is if you have a full story, or script, in front of you. Art in comics is just a completely different - and in some ways far less complex - discipline.

I can give an artist a snippet of a plot, as I did, and the artist can feed me back everything I need to know to judge the work. Beyond the problem that judging writing is far more time consuming because it can't be immediately internalized but has to be interpreted, I can't feed you a plot, which you then turn into a full script, because then there's no way to tell if you can plot or not. If you write a full story featuring a character I own, I can't read it because of potential plagiarism issues - even if you sign a waver. If you work with a concept of your own creation, I'm in a similar situation, etc. The only really satisfactory way around this is if you give me already published work to read, because that bumps you into a different category.

Blame it on lawyers, partly. And lawsuits.

Anyway, the best way to tell if an artist is capable of drawing comics well is to see them draw a couple pages. The best way of seeing whether writers can write is to read a whole story, and the best way to see if writers can write comics is to see a whole comic they've written.

- Grant

[mattx110]

this might be stupid and redundant, but i thought i'd add, when picking a writer to work with as an artist, look for plot ideas and skill in writing dialogue because you can help with the inbetweens, every time i stare at a blank page in ms word, i need a visual or everything i write feels like crap, plus, it's the marvel way (or was anyway). this way everyone can learn on the job without it getting in the way of the work.

oh, and i'm so completely non-professional in comic work, so any advice i give is either from limited limited experience or stolen from someone who knew what they were talking about.