Submission Guidelines We at GIRAFNetwork and Native Ink Studio want to explore the art of storytelling with as many people as possible on both sides of the process…storytellers and experiencers. Having said that, we also wanted to share some sound advice we have found on the web from other resources that also apply to the trek you are about to undergo by submitting to our non profit organization to get your work published. First and foremost, we are about getting you the needed exposure of your work to help encourage you to succeed. So here we go … In order to make it to the promised land of comics, you'll have to contact editors at the companies and introduce them to your stuff. This is a trying process that requires iron resolve, stubborn determination, and incessant phone calls. There are 5 standard steps: 1. Request submission guidelines 1. Request submission guidelines Most of the major companies have submission guidelines for artists and writers. These are written instructions on how to format your submitted materials. Since many companies won't consider submissions that don't follow their guidelines, we suggest you play it safe and do what they say. Many companies have submission guidelines on their websites. You can also try to contact editors directly, though you'll have to do a bit of research to find their names and contact information. Most editors can be found listed in the credits of their company's books, and an email to the company's offices could lead you in the right direction. 2. Apply After you receive the submission guidelines, start putting together your samples. Your samples should be photocopies of your best work and should accurately reflect your range of ability. Be sure to include a cover letter (explaining your intentions in a brief and courteous manner) and your contact information. Package your materials up and send it off to the appropriate editor. Then wait. 3. Deal with positive feedback If you receive an encouraging response in the form of a phone call or a letter, great! But don't break open the champagne yet. Chances are you won't be hired right away, but at least you attracted an editor's attention to your work. Your work will probably be placed on file (and even better, you'll be on the list of candidates for potential jobs in the future). If you're really lucky, though, you'll be called in for an interview immediately. In this case, bring your original portfolio (duh!). 4. Deal with rejection If, on the other hand, the response you receive sounds more like a rejection, don't fret - it's not the end of the world. All it means is that, in the editor's opinion, your work is not a good fit for that company at that time. So just send your stuff to other companies, and even feel free to try the same company further on down the road. Don't take it personally. 5. Remember the small press Keep in mind that the larger, more established companies are harder to crack than the smaller independent publishers. Though these books may be less glamorous because of their smaller distribution and tighter budgets, they can be a stepping stone to landing an assignment with the bigger companies. Some of the most celebrated comic books in the industry today were published independently: Bone, Understanding Comics and Strangers in Paradise, just to name a few. There are tons out there, so start applying. |