Just Some Random Thoughts & Observations
Here I am, wondering about comic books.
I just sent out a submission package for Bullet Time. Well, call it a submission inquiry. Hopefully, it goes well enough that I can finally get an artist onboard and thus, finish the series. Three issues to go on it. I’d like to have a deal in place first, before starting to look for an artist on a back-end deal. In order to finish it, that’s as good as it’s going to get for now.
And to tell the truth, I’m not looking forward to it. When I was looking for an artist for Lionman, I got in some truly wretched artists who were charging something like $10/page. NOPE! Not going to work. I think that if you pay an artist, you get what you pay for. However, I also believe that some of these artists bumped their damned heads with what they wanted to charge.
So, I think some artists overcharge for their ability.
I think most writers undercharge for their work. Oh, don’t get me wrong. There are a LOT of writers who are just starting out who don’t know how to write a decent script at all. Don’t know how to write it, and are too damned lazy to take the time to really learn the medium. But for the ones who are putting in the work, honing their natural talent? I think they’re underselling themselves because it’s a buyer’s market, and few companies need to buy what the writers are selling.
There are hundreds of writers that are trying to tell thousands of stories, but only a few dozen jobs are available. And when I say jobs, I mean companies that are actively looking for new voices. Basically, Marvel/DC. There are those writers out there who turn their noses up at Marvel/DC, but I personally think they don’t have a real clue as to what they’re talking about. Let’s see: non-selling arthouse work that keeps your artistic integrity but no one will hear about it, versus writing Iron Man and getting your name known, so you can then sell your arthouse comics?
Marvel/DC truly IS the Promised Land, because there are damned few that actually make a living in the indies.
I made a declaration a few months ago about going around the barriers and doing it my own way. Self-publishing on the web and owning my own stuff. Something of a hardline stance, but I still think that it’s valid. Doors are closed left and right to writers, and few are willing to put in the hard work to get their work known.
I write my Bolts & Nuts column every week. It’s about to be 15 months, nonstop, and still LOTS more to go and talk about. And I’m talking quality stuff. How many writers can say that they’ve been writing something weekly for a year? Most can’t even seem to write weekly for a month! And then when it comes to creation…
Writers whine about how they’re not given chances to tell their multi-title universe spanning crossover that will forever change their mostest favoritest character ever. They’ve gotten outlines and subplots and stuff for years worth of continuity, but they’ve never sat down to write an actual script from start to finish.
Laughable.
The barriers of entry are there to keep out most of the dreck. Notice I said most, because it’s definitely not all. Some few sneak in and tell their clunkers, and then go back down to the bottom of the barrel. It happens. But, they have that writing credit!
I’d love for writers to stop whining and start writing. There are some over at The Proving Grounds, because they know how I am and they still submit things in to me to go over. Nice, right?
I was just talking with my wife about reputations. She said she thinks my reputation precedes me as being something of a hardass. I think that’s generally fair. I AM something of a hardass, but I don’t know if I have a reputation that precedes me about it.
I think it’s funny that I have a “reputation” at all. Who am I? I’m no one important. I can’t give or take away jobs. I can’t recommend people for paying work. All I can do is tell what I see, and try to help those willing to listen. If that gives me a reputation, so be it.
I’m looking forward to a change in my fortunes, though. And that will hopefully be in the new year. If things go the way I want, I’m going to be busy as hell next year. I’ll have Lionman in full swing, I’ll have a book moved from the back to the front burner, I’ll be finishing up Bullet Time, I’ll have another couple of books with my name on them out, and I’ll be moving forward with the Bolts & Nuts book. Busy. It’s going to be beautiful, if it happens the way I want.
I have to set myself up as an LLC. I bought a book on it, and am going through it, and once I get some questions answered, it’ll be spectacular. I’ll have to redo my cards,though. Not extremely happy about that. I have roughly a thousand cards that will be virtually useless once I do it. Ah, well. But the LLC needs to be done. I hope to have the book finished by the end of the week, have my questions answered by the end of the month, and then move forward with it by the middle of November, and be done with it by the end of December. I think that’s a realistic timeframe. Then, people will hire the LLC, and things will be created through the LLC, and everything’s protected.
I think it’s win-win.
Yes, I’m formulating the questions I need to ask that the book doesn’t answer. It’ll be fine.
Fighting a bug. Finally on the winning end of the battle, which is good. I have to go in to work tonight.
Hungry now. Have some more writing to do, but that will be after I eat. Will write while I watch The Great Vampire Killers. You should, too.
I LOVE this time of the year!
-Steven
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