Trying to start a webcomic

Maybe check out places like TWCL (The WebComics List) -- read the sticky threads in "The Dogpile" forum and look at some of the "wanted" ads.

Many comickers request and receive guest art, you might see a style you like in TWCL's "Check out my comic" forum, and consider approaching the artist(s).

-Derek

mostlylegit said:

I am interested in starting my own webcomic this year after writing for another site I created for just over a year now.

I have the name, concept, characters and have been noting down ideas for strips/story arcs for a few weeks.

My plan is to start a search for an artist/partner soon and I wanted to ask the guys in here who maybe in a similar situation what's the best way to go about starting a webcomic and looking for a partner.

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Finding an artist is difficult. Artists have their own stories that they want to tell.

My advice would be to look at the amateur webcomic forums. I know that the ComicGenesis Forum has a section specifically set aside for matching writers up with artists. I imagine that DrunkDuck has a similar forum. But I can't help you convince the artists you'll find there. That's up to you.

Better advice would be to draw it yourself. You might have to do it stick-figure style and you may not get a lot of readers, but you will learn a lot more about the craft of making a comic. Give it a try, you might find it very rewarding.

In my opinion as a long time lurker and hobby artist with friends for whom art is a source of income, two of the most important things you need are patience and respect.

Paying your artist is best, because, as mentioned, a lot of artists have their own stories to tell and would rather work on those rather than with a stranger for no pay. Also, the number of writers seeking artists vastly outnumbers artists looking for writers. So even if someone does agree to work for you for free, should a paying job come up chances are that will take priority over your unpaid one.

However, that doesn't mean that's the only way to find an artist to partner with. Multiple sites have areas specifically for no pay jobs. Just be up front right away that it's a no pay job, and don't say it'd be great for experience or exposure. Most artist I know dislike when compensation details are left out and are told, "But it'll look great in your portfolio".

Go to places like DigitalWebbing, Jinxworld, Millarworld, Gutterzombie.com, and Conceptart.org. Zuda.com, and Twitter, look around, familiarize yourself with the posting rules, and get to know the people there. The last is important in my opinion, because you're much more likely to find a partner if they know you to some degree rather than if you just pop on and post "Hay, I want to start a webcomic!" Moreover, in your post be willing to elaborate upon your idea. It's a peeve of mine when writers expect artists to show portfolios and submit samples but are very tight lipped about their own experience and skills out of fear that someone will steal their amazing idea. The artist has to judge whether you're a right fit for him too.

Finally, know your chosen artist's strengths and weaknesses.

And know the strengths of the artist you're writing for, not to mention your own strengths and weaknesses, they offered. "You don't want to call shots for the artist," Parker said. "If you can't draw, don't say, 'Use this angle and blah blah blah, and go for this approach.' You have to find an artist you can trust."

For instance, Coover said of Parker, "He doesn't write airplanes into my scripts. He'll write pretty, cute girls going shopping or at the beach."

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25255

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Pay varies a lot depending on skill level and what kind of comic you have in mind. Is it a simple three panel B&W? A Penny Arcade style color strip? Something more epic perhaps? I've seen it as low as $20/page, but most good artists I've come in contact with, not pro but talented, would pass over that page rate unless they really like your idea or think you're a worthwhile kind of person to help out. Some people offer back end pay, i.e. promises of royalties if or when the project is sold to a publisher for example, but that's typically considered the same as no pay since it's based on the possibility of money one day.

Once again, you don't have to pay. I don't want to scare you away with "RAR! MUST PAY ARTIST OR NO WEBCOMIC FOR YOU!" There are artists who like to do this kind of project for fun, though keep in mind you typically get what you pay for. Going to someone who does fabulous CG work but offering $20/page will get you labeled naive at best and insulting at worst. A good comic artist can command $100/page while a pro can get more, especially if they're doing it all: pencils, ink, color, and lettering; i've seen past ads seeking artists for Zuda around $60 to $80/page.

ConceptArt.org and PanelAndPixel.com have multiple threads on this issue, so search the forums before posting any wanted ad. Also check out past ads posted, what info they provided, what pay was offered and the forum response. See what artists you like and who isn't too busy to take on a new project. Your best bet, in my opinion, is to find someone you personally know (or get to know on one of the aforementioned sites) and sell them the idea of collaborating with you.

Bicyclefish said:

Pay varies a lot depending on skill level and what kind of comic you have in mind. Is it a simple three panel B&W? A Penny Arcade style color strip? Something more epic perhaps? I've seen it as low as $20/page, but most good artists I've come in contact with, not pro but talented, would pass over that page rate unless they really like your idea or think you're a worthwhile kind of person to help out. Some people offer back end pay, i.e. promises of royalties if or when the project is sold to a publisher for example, but that's typically considered the same as no pay since it's based on the possibility of money one day.

Once again, you don't have to pay. I don't want to scare you away with "RAR! MUST PAY ARTIST OR NO WEBCOMIC FOR YOU!" There are artists who like to do this kind of project for fun, though keep in mind you typically get what you pay for. Going to someone who does fabulous CG work but offering $20/page will get you labeled naive at best and insulting at worst. A good comic artist can command $100/page while a pro can get more, especially if they're doing it all: pencils, ink, color, and lettering; i've seen past ads seeking artists for Zuda around $60 to $80/page.

ConceptArt.org and PanelAndPixel.com have multiple threads on this issue, so search the forums before posting any wanted ad. Also check out past ads posted, what info they provided, what pay was offered and the forum response. See what artists you like and who isn't too busy to take on a new project. Your best bet, in my opinion, is to find someone you personally know (or get to know on one of the aforementioned sites) and sell them the idea of collaborating with you.

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Bicyclefish has some good advice. I would take into consideration if you want to collaborate or own your creation.

If you want to collaborate, then I would make this known when you approach or market for any artists. Some may find that a deciding factor on whether to work with you or not. Plus, if it is a collaboration, then the payment factor may be less of a matter for the artist since you two will be working together to make the project a success. However, if you want to own your creation, then you really have no alternative but to pay the artist as if he or she was an employee and treat the working relationship as such.

If you decide to hire an artist, I would suggest paying them according to their experience. If they have actual professional experience, then you have to be ready to pay for it. If they don't have any, then I think $20 to $50 tops per page is reasonable. Again, this also depends on their skill level.

Hope this helped and good luck with things!

Wesley

When starting a webcomic, the advice is always that you have a few weeks worth of strips backed up so that if something happens in real life, you can continue to post regularly, and therefore set you up as someone with a reliable schedule (this is, of course in addition to producing more comics at a regular rate, so that you always have a buffer).

If you're paying an artist, this could become quite costly very quickly.

If you are going the stick figure route, make sure that you have something distinguishing, so that you aren't just viewed as another xkcd ripoff. xkcd, Order of the Stick and Cyanide & Happiness are all stick-figure comics, yet each has a different degree of detail (OotS a lot less stick than either of the other two, of course), and each very unique and memorable in their own way.

If you are looking for a partner - possibly someone who will work for the love of the project, or because they are bored, or want something long-term to put on their resume, consider this: what can you offer them. What are they getting in return for the use of their artistic talents. What sort of marketing campaigns have you considered (if any), what sort of market are you going to aim at, where are you going to be hosted, do you know anyone who will be immediately linking to you, or pimping you on their blog, have you planned to attend any conventions with a table in artist alley, to drum up interest in your comic, etc, etc.

Or are you simply planning on uploading the comic the void and assuming the audience will come?

I am not trying to sound harsh here, but I have known people willing to work for free...but have declined because of the lack of planning on the writer's part. If they will get no money, no exposure and no popularity out of it, they really are better off working on their own art, and pimping themselves through devArt, making $5 on another Naruto fanart commission.

I clicked through to your site, if I may ask, how long have you been running it? Archives go back to early last year - have you been using that theme for the whole time, or is it something fairly recent - I ask, because your ad boxes just get a 404 error - I was trying to see if there was any indicator for how much traffic you receive - since the information isn't there, I'll ask you, what kind of numbers do you get with your existing site? Any idea how many of your readers would follow you if you did a webcomic?