CONTEST FOR WRITERS (and Artists)

Hi All:

A while back, in an exchange, I hinted that I might know of a comic company that would be running a contest that, rather than the norm of being open only to art talent, would have a writer section too.

This has NOT gone live yet, you guys are getting the inside scoop.

Couple of notes.

• I checked with a Mod before posting, so this is an approved message.
• I AM involved with the company and the contest, but I am NOT the person who makes the final decisions. Much as I would like to take bribes, it would do you no good.

If you enter, good luck. The is a company with a record of taking their comics into movies and TV deals and I wouldn't work with them if they weren't completely on the up and up.

Viper Comics is excited to announce The Viper Comics Talent Search ‘09!​

Are you itching to break into comics? Well don’t just sit there dreaming, get working! Viper Comics is looking for Artists AND Writers.

That’s right. Even writers. Now’s your chance to show those pencil-jockeys where the real talent in comics is.

This year we’re excited to open our search for up and coming comic talent at Comic-Con International in San Diego, California July 22nd - 27th.

GUIDELINES FOR ARTISTS
Simple. Download the sample script “Blood." You should feel free to use the panel arrangement of the script as rigidly or loosely as you want. This is your chance to show us what you can do. There’s a lot of flexibility in the script for you to show your talents, even down to what the central character looks like.

GUIDELINES FOR WRITERS
First of all, DO NOT write something original. Let’s repeat that to make sure it’s completely understood. Please do not bring us your original ideas or project proposals! Viper Comics does not accept unsolicited submissions, except at conventions and only as leave-behind material.

In order to have your writing accepted it must:

• be a self-contain story that runs no more than 5 (FIVE) comic-pages.
• be about an existing character in the comic book world.
• be presented in something resembling a professional comic book script.
• make sure you include ALL your contact information on your submission.

Both Artists and Writers should note, we will ONLY consider ONE entry per person. So make sure it’s your very best work and make sure you include ALL your contact information on your submission.

At San Diego, you can drop off a script or art at the Viper Booth #1903 ANY TIME before NOON on any day of the Convention.

CAN’T MAKE THE CONVENTION?
No problem. You can send a digital copy of your script or sample art to [email protected]. You can do that ANYTIME up until 5pm Sunday 27th July 2009 (closing time for the San Diego Comic Convention).

PLEASE NOTE: As long as you provide a valid email address we will reply to EVERY entry. If you impress us and we like what we see, you’ll be added to the roster of talent we’re compiling for some very exciting projects coming over the following year. Seriously impress us and you’ll get your own Web Comic hosted on the Viper Comics Website and if the project is successful, see the same comic in print. If you don’t make the cut this year it doesn’t mean you can’t try again next time.

TIPS

• Artists and Writers: Follow the Guidelines. Don’t follow them and we simply won’t look at your work.
• Writers: If you’re unsure what a comic script looks like, check out the sample available for Artists.
• Artists: Use the script as a guide. We know that layout will work, so feel free to follow it and just be creative with the panel content, but if you think you can do a better layout, show us what you got.
• Writers: Just because you only have five pages, don’t think you can’t tell a story with a beginning, middle and an end. You just need to be creative.
• Artists and Writers: Remember that pacing is important, when you’re writing a script, or going off script you still need that pacing.
• Writers: Don’t compensate for a lack of comic pages by writing each page with 30 panels.

FINAL WORDS
Remember to include contact information and save the original pitches for someone at the Viper Booth. And DON’T give us the ONLY COPY of your work - a good quality copy is all we need. Good luck and have fun with this. Viper Comics is looking forward to discovering some awesome new talent.

dclary said:

BRIDES?!?!?

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That mormon malarchy will get you no-where with me.

And neither will bribes.

jst5150 said:

Dale, should this be from the Viper Comics world or any of the known comics ecosystems (i.e., is 5 pages of Spider-Man okay)?

Also, on art submissions, just pencils, or the full ride (pencils, inks, colors, letters)?

Thanks!

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OK, I wanna preface what follows with this. Anything that isn't linked to legal stuff (like why NOT to submit an original character) is just my advice. Feel free to ignore it.

I'm sure that doing something from the Viper world would be well received (as long as you know the characters - they know their characters so it'll be obvious if you don't).

However, the point was really that writers don't do something original, because that'd get tossed straight away. Viper doesn't accept unsolicited pitches and a writer entering something original would be a back-door way around that. So really it can be ANY comic character in the writing sample. It's just like artists who do sample pages for portfolio reviews - they do existing characters, even rework pages from comics in their own style. Just the writers version. There are a lot of projects bubbling at Viper, and I would hate to have a writer come along and do an original 5 pager and because it's a similar concept to something being developed, feel like they were ripped off.

However, in general terms I would advise anyone doing a comic-book writing sample to pick a pretty well-known and iconic character. Now on the one hand that WILL hamper you a little, because it's hard to come up with something new for those characters. HOWEVER, you don't need panels to establish the character and can just jump into the storytelling. And that's the key - show HOW you tell a story.

For artists, they can do whatever they think best shows their talents. Primarily it IS a penciler search, but if an artist can take the page to a finished level, all the better. That said, I have seen some great pencilers who are merely OK inkers (and in some cases, poor inkers) so I'd suggest making sure you are adding value to the submission before taking the next step. But there's no need to letter. It wouldn't count against anyone if they did letter, I just know Viper has that department pretty much nailed.

Hope that answered the questions. If not, lemme know. And any other questions, shoot 'em over.

BigWords said:

Yeah, the guys at Viper are going to be thrilled at the prospect of reading a hundred Batman samples.

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Well, as one of the guys who will be reading, I'd be cool if they're written well.

But if you pick an obscure character that not many people know, it's harder for the reader to assess whether you nailed that character in the script.

While it might get old going over tons of Batman scripts, it's easy for the reader to know if you can take on an established character and maintain that character.

The flip side is that if you take one of Viper's characters, they REALLY know them, so you run the risk of not nailing it and while you miss it by a fraction, they have lived with these characters so much, it looks more off than it is.

Did that make sense?

Anyways, as I said, you can take or leave my advise. I won't be offended. T'is only my two cents and worth slightly less at the current exchange-rate.

TylerJones said:

Are submissions from writers with an agent accepted? I haven't sold my story yet, and this would be a lot of fun to enter.

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Yup.

Since the prize... in as much as it is a prize... is really a break into the comics world, it might not be that interesting an option if you have an agent, but there's really no restrictions beyond the one enter per person and the other guidelines.

Go for it.

And good luck.

The link to the official info on the Viper site is now up.

http://www.vipercomics.com/features/contest_09.asp

Like I said, you guys got a sneaky advantage.

Heitkemper said:

Just curious, is there any set date as to when we'll find out who won the contest? Thanks.

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We're going through the entries now. Culling them down, so to speak. Viper's website is about to have a major overhaul and the idea is the winner will be announced to coincide with that.

I will post here though when the winner is named.

Results soon.