Indy Comics Writer

This month has been a good example of what a rollercoaster it can be as someone trying to make a splash writing for the comic-book industry. There was some good, some bad and a whole lot of in-between.

First, the good: The second issue of GEARZ — search for it at HeavyInk.com — came out. That’s my first published comic mini-series. Issue three, by the way, comes out tomorrow, with the fourth and final issue coming out in the last week of September. This is obviously a thrill, seeing a real-live comic book that I wrote on the shelves. Of course, looking over the first two issues, there are some things I would do differently. I tended to be a bit wordy, for instance, something I think I’ve gotten better at avoiding with the subsequent series I’ve done with Bluewater Productions, the comic company that’s given me my first break in this industry.

That brings me to the second good thing this month. I finished writing my fourth mini-series for Bluewater, and have begun seeing completed pages. The art is amazing. This is one series — which I can’t say much about until Bluewater officially announces it — that I’m thrilled about.

Third: A prose short story of mine received an enthusiastic acceptance letter from the publisher of a comics anthology. (The anthology prints a mix of comics and short stories.) Again, I’ll have more details about this when everything is official. The editor even offered to get me in touch with a writers group in the Midwest. Nice guy.

Now for some frustration. I started working earlier this month with an artist on a possible Web comic. I wasn’t too thrilled with the artist’s story idea, but I went ahead and wrote out a synopsis and plot structure. Unfortunately, it looks like this project is dying on the vine. That’s bad because as a writer who can’t draw, it’s essential for me to develop good relationships with as many artists as possible.

Second bit of frustration: Still no takers on the comic project nearest and dearest to my heart, Morgan Underground. I’ve had two independent comics company accept my script for this teen-oriented adventure story. Unfortunately, neither company pays any advance. That means I’d have to shell out thousands of dollars up front to the artist who put together the submission package for me. Right now, with a new baby in the house, I just can’t justify spending that kind of money for a project that, if it’s not published by a comics company with the right marketing budget and approach, might not return any profits.

So there you have it; That’s just a sample of what August has brought so far. Overall, a pretty good month, I’d say. Here’s hoping that September, October and the rest will be even better.

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