When an editor is courting you and your project for publication, it’s pretty normal for them to arrange a phone call with you to have a talk. On this call, you can find out if your project is a good fit for the publisher, if you and the editor will work together well, and what…
Category: Blog
Comic Book Burnout: What To Do When You Don’t Want To Read Comics Anymore
How to Prevent Con Crud at Conventions
Con crud is a very real struggle for creators. With thousands upon thousands of people all contained in the same building, it’s easy to imagine how quickly illness can spread amongst them. Creators are interacting with guests all day long, talking, shaking hands, hugging, etc. without a second thought about it. Most creators who’ve been to…
The Freelancer’s Cookbook: Anoosha Syed’s Butter Chicken Recipe
Today’s recipe comes from cartoonist, Anoosha Syed: After I moved out and had to fend for myself, my mom started to send me voicemails of her going over some of her favourite recipes. This is butter chicken (murgh makhani), easy-breezy to make in 15 minutes, healthy and filling and cosy and perfect for busy…
The Freelancer’s Cookbook: Easy Marinara
Today’s recipe is from Ally Rom Colthoff who has kindly shared her recipe for marinara. I make this recipe a lot. Its primary ingredients keep for a long time, making it perfect for times when you’ve just gotta work with what’s already in the cupboard. It’s also extremely versatile and easy to change…
How I Do Research For a Graphic Novel (Tips and Advice)
How does a comics creator do their research for a graphic novel? Well, nobody quite knows tbh – unlike thumbnails or scriptwriting, the research process (collecting and turning information into a story) is rarely talked about in comics. Unless you hang around academic circles, or work in a genre like science or historical, you wouldn’t…
Advice for First-Time Editors of Graphic Novels
Graphic novels, especially ones for children, are a thing now. This is great news – it means more books, more diverse voices, and more public appreciation for the medium. Some of the people most excited for GNs are editors; many of whom are fans of comics and will be taking on comics projects for the…
Free and Cheap Adobe Alternatives for Creators
Quick Links for all the software mentioned here: Freeware and/or Open Source: PS: GIMP | Krita | Photopea | MyPaint | Paint.NET | Sketchbook | Fire Alpaca | Medibang Paint AI: Inkscape | Vectr IN: Viva Designer | Scribus AN: Blender | Open Toonz | Pencil 2D | Wick Editor | Synfig* LR: RawTherapee |…
Twitter Tips for Creators
Even though Twitter only gives us 280 characters to express ourselves, the social media platform has a huge reach and is a useful resource for creators who want to connect with their audiences regularly. Here are some things you can do: Be consistent with your posting. Have a schedule, whether it is daily or every…
Understanding Royalty Rates
Note: This is not legal advice and is provided for information purposes only. If you are in need of legal advice, please consult with an attorney who can provide specific legal advice to meet your needs. The royalty is the percentage amount a publisher pays to you based on sales of your book. I’m often…