As a project manager and writer of comics and graphic novels i often get people asking if it is that easy to write a comic and get an artist to paint it. i always say there is a bit more to it than that. here is a step by step process that the guys over at Wonderfunders facebook group put together Independent Comic Book Project - self published by an author, self/crowd funded Brainstorm- have or otherwise create an idea for either a character or a story Plotting- develop a plot outline Charaterization- develop character profiles and model sheets Scripting- write a script (Or get someone that is decent to write it for you) Editing- edit (Not just for grammar, other things like story flow, consistency, voice etc. Not usually optimal to self edit. This is vital if you are serious about breaking in and being taken seriously.) 5.a. (optional early planning) Have penciler or yourself do rough thumbnails for the pages so you have a vague idea of how all this will actually work in the final draft. Manage- Hire/become Production Manager (This might be a much earlier step to be taken by some) Pre-print- determine initial proposed print run - if it is small run POD each book will be insanely more costly than full web press gang run. (This can and will often be subject to change but you neeed to have an idea where to start.) ISSN or ISBN - Figure out which applies to your book then obtain the proper one and make sure it goes into the pre-press for the cover. For serials the ISSN is free and it essentially does the same thing as an ISBN. For an ISBN it will cost you a good amount your best bet is to buy them in bulk straight from the ISBN vendor for 1,000 ISBN's it costs $1,000 or a buck a piece. however for one ISBN it's more like 100 bux a piece. (About $125 more accurately). Distribution- plan / begin to arrange distribution (Diamond info if that is your path)http://vendor.diamondcomics.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=2&s=247&ai=36237 Delegate- Hire and negotiate rates/schedules with production staff and make suire they know who is doing what.The most common comic jobs include but are not limited to.-Editing-Writing-Pencils-Inks-Colors-Letters Escrow- (Optional) open escrow if applicable. Promote- create a promotional package that contains no less than 3 to five promo pinups/ pages might help sell the idea to advertisers. Compare your packet to others packets and see if there are other things you can add to a promo packet to make yours more attractive to prospective customer and advertisers as well as art staff. 11.a. (Now start using those promos as advertiser bait and interest buzz on blogs, facebook, twitter, myspace, tagged, or whatever other social/ business networks or forums your involved with and possibly get involved with more.) Advertise- start seeking advertisers, and places for you to advertise as well some will want only to "swap" ads but that is good for you too, some will actually be willing to pay to advertise in your book(s) keep your rates low but reasonable as well. Market- continue to develop distribution plan (Remember your distribution plan should involve getting your work to as many places as possible for the cheapest rates possible if diamond is your only avenue perhaps thing digital distribution) Finance- (optional) Somehow you have to pay for all this so if per chance you don't get advertisers perhaps create a funding pitch for Wonderfunders and/or other crowdfunding sites Finance Part 2- once you have all your crowd funding ducks in a row, go live with your funding pitch and don't spam it but promote it enough that others know you are serious. Artwork- begin artwork in earnest (Repeat step 11.a. The more artwork people see from/ about your title the more they will begin tor recognize or remember and possibly tell others about it.) Lock down initial print run. (**I have no idea why this is here or what it really means, if it were me I wouldn't complete this step until after I had a completed book or very close to it or at the very least was fully financed.) Post Production- coordinate book layout (Much of this should be done during the scripting phase so finish it up here. Again there will be much mor post production and book layout once you have the final book ready to go to pre-press.) Legwork- continue seeking advertisers (and those willing to promote you feel free to do interviews send out pitches for people to check out. and exhibit any of the finished artwork or nearly finished artwork to the people that can get you good positive exposure.) Pencil- start pencils (May need additional rewrites before starting. There are just some things that are impossible to draw as static drawings... not many but some... for instance you can't fit a half hour of film animation into one panel. You could also optionally start thumbnail pencils as soon as you have a script. See 5.a.) Review- review pencils Fix- pencil adjustments (**Don't be too much of a stickler if you are an indy guy chances are your penciler is an indy guy unless you are shelling out alot of bux already and shelling out that much more for changes then chances are you are just ticking your artist off with every "free" change you request. if it isn't really hurting the book leave it alone this is likely your first book so know when to cut and run. On the same token you are requesting work for a book that you are planning to have published and representing you or your company in some way don't be buffaloed by your artist either, know when it's crap and when it's just you being knit-picky) Ink- start inks (unless the letter is doing hand lettering and needs to lay them out in pencil before inks are applied. Review- review inks Fix- ink adjustments (See pencil adjustments) Color- Begin colors Review- review colors Fix- color adjustments (See pencil adjustments)(also if these are not digital colors there may not be an easy way to adjust them.) Lettering- Begin lettering Review- review lettering Fix- lettering adjustments Editorialize- write editorial (**this is what I would regard as an optional step and it can really be done at any point in the process. the reason many, [myself included] do this near the end of a project is because you might want to include hiccups pitfalls and triumphs over obstacles along the way.) Pick up the pieces- advertisers art submitted- The earlier you can get this the better obviously create indicia (**Does anyone know what this really is. Let's put it in terms for people to read and understand what the heck it is we're trying to say. This could mean Logo's, barcodes, postal marking, who knows.) Pre-Press- digitize for print. Assuming that in some way shape or form your stuff is going to at some point wind up in a digital print ready format you should do all your pre-press or have someone do it for you in advance this way it will save you tons of money in art and/or pre-press fees. Pre-Sales- Pre-sell/promote contract with printer (Some of our members recommend local printer so that you can do press check)(** I am kinda lost on what this means personally I wouldn't open up with a contract with a printer for my first book unless it is just speaking of a single run single issue contract in which case it's a lil silly but yeah whatever, just make sure you see a proof, BEFORE it goes to full print. If not feel free to kick yourself later.) Print- most of the work is out of the way now let your printer do their job. Distribute- arrange distribution (really have this somewhat arranged back on the earlier step about Distribution) - This is a good idea but depending you may want to have the groundwork laid for the distribution as soon as you have some production ready art (see step 9) Some of our members recommend 3 promos and 3-5 pages of sequential art at that stage.N Advertise, Market, Promote, and Sell- Sell, sell, sell! If people aren't buying then you're either not trying hard enough or you are doing something wrong or you have failed on one of the previously mentioned steps. By this point a ton of people should have interviewed, reviewed, advertised, promoted, recognized, heard of, and patiently awaited your product. Now maybe its not the amount you wanted or hoped for but maybe its far more. You never know until you go. Rinse and repeat