Indy Comics Writer

If you, like me, are trying to make it as a writer of comic books you’ve undoubtedly realized something by now: Even if you do get published, it’s awfully hard to actually get any paychecks at all from your comics writing.

Many of the projects I’ve taken on have been back-end deals, meaning I get paid from a comics’ profits. That usually means I don’t get paid anything at all. That’s OK, for now. I’m trying to build a portfolio of work large enough to actually land jobs that do pay upfront.

That being said, it’s still a thrill when you do receive actual money. And that happened last week. I received a check, albeit it a tiny one, from an anthology publisher that printed one of my short comic stories earlier this year. Now, that check will barely buy me two meals at McDonald’s, but still, it’s something. (Actually, if I go off the dollar menu, I could get four or five meals!)

Paychecks are rare for new writers in this industry. I did receive one four figure paycheck early last year. Surprisingly, or not, that company has since gone out of business, and the graphic script I wrote for them will probably never see the light of day. Still, the check didn’t bounce, and it bought a lot more than McDonald’s.

So when you do get paid, however infrequently that may be, for actually being a comic-book writer, savor the moment. You never know when it’ll happen again.

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