Creative Team Assemble!

[Danger_Slater]

I would tell my builders to get that house up quick because it's starting to rain and we can all go inside.

Over the past few days I put up an ad in this forum and three others. It was the same ad in all of them. I tried to make my ad interesting and funny and enticing. I put my email and website in there, and let me tell you:
I got a TON of hits on the website and a dozen or so emails - 3 of which were decent artists. Now I've just started talking to these people and don't know if we'll exactly gel in the way I would want to with an artist, but still, this seems like a promising start. Personally, I don't mind taking the long route, getting to know people, finding the right one. Sure I could find a "pro" to pay to draw up my book, but that's the thing: he'll be drawing my book, not our book. And I feel that that lack of passion, that lack of soul, that lack of connection to the subject, will show up in the artwork. I know, as a writer, that NOTHING WORTH DOING IS EVER EASY. Sitting down to write is never an easy endeavor, for me at least. It's full of frustration and self-doubt and procrastination. Even when it comes somewhat easier, it still takes an emotional toll. But I still do it, everyday. Why? Am I a masochist? No! There are weird moments of joy, and excitement. There are moments I feel like a genius, or like I'm taking a peek behind life's veil, experiencing the world on a deeper level than non-writers....

.....I sound like such a pretentious jackass, don't I?

My point is, I'm going to treat my idea, my story, my comic script with respect. And I only want people handling it who equally respect it. And, in the case of a partnership, that means I have to let a little piece of go and belong to somebody else so that it can grow into a living, breathing thing.

My baby boy! You're so beautiful!

I don't know. It's really late and I'm tired and I'm not even going to proofread this post so I'm probably making no sense.

D

[Carl_Shinyama]

Sure I could find a "pro" to pay to draw up my book, but that's the thing: he'll be drawing my book, not our book. And I feel that that lack of passion, that lack of soul, that lack of connection to the subject, will show up in the artwork.

I know exactly what you mean.

P.S. Sounds like you've discovered the power of posting an ad on digitalwebbing.com and a site like this one. Your e-mail will get flooded.

[amadarwin]

Oh, you'll get hits, of that I have no doubt. A metric ton, possibly. However, the quality pool of skill level you want will be small--as I see you've already found out, in only liking 3 applicants. Trying to find the one that won't flake on you shrinks the pool further. Finding the perfect partner...even further.

Having an artist that is as much invested in the work as you are is tough. Tougher if he comes aboard to find the script already written. Unless you are willing to scrap any or all of the script and start over (which a lot of us aren't), his input is worthless for what's already on paper.

I wish there was some sort of artist/writer 'dating' site to make the search easier.

[Night Robin]

I wish there was some sort of artist/writer 'dating' site to make the search easier.

...genius.

[My name is Tommy]

@D.S.: I won't get mean, as I think you have a decent attitude about the whole thing honestly. I haven't seen you call anyone else out on their approach, so I won't do it either. Especially as I don't think there's a wrong way to do it. I will say that, while I follow your logic, it is unfair to assume that someones heart will be less in it because they require payment. There was a guy I was talking to who loved the project at hand, but the is he has bills to pay. I'm not saying writing isn't hard work, but it definitely takes far less time to write a comic than to draw it. Had I the funds to pay him, I have no doubt that he would have talked ideas at no extra charge. But the thing is, as Amad said, if the scripts already written it's pretty set in stone. I have no doubt that you'd be willing to make compromises, but if you're willing to make all out changes to a script based on the artists thoughts and what they want to draw, you're a way better partner than I am haha. Anyway, this is not me judging your way of thinking, or especially not your approach to get things done. As I said, I have a guy working on something for free, so said people are out there.
In regards to telling the builders to build the house so you could get out of the rain, that's assuming they don't have other houses to go to as well, though. If they're good enough to publish, they can find pay. Pretty much, you can't be building a house, you have to have prints for a cathedral. something a builder would want to make simply for bragging rights just to be able to say they took part in it's creation. Otherwise, why not just find any old house to build that pays them to do it?
These analogies are fun btw.
P.S. It says in the post that you are a professional novelist. Could you recommend any of your stuff? I'd like to check it out. Also, it might bet a good idea to let the artists in question know of your work. You can talk about the comic all day, and even if you're right, that's what all of us writers do. If you can show them you can write, and that you've been published, interest will go up and you may have an easier time finding the right partner.



@everyone in general: And in regards to the artist/writer dating site, let it be known that I enjoy long walks, but absolutely NOT on the beach.

[Danger_Slater]

Really, I have no idea what I was blabbering about last night. I passed out about 3 minutes after hitting the post button.

I guess what I really want is to find someone who feels like they have as much to prove as I do. My writing doesn't pay the bills. Not most of them, anyway. So there's that fire to keep striving to be better and pushing myself. Not saying that I hired artist doesn't feel that too, but he has a lot less to prove and therefore has a lot less to lose. And a partnership, two people working together to make it in the industry, is like having two heads and four arms - looking a lot more places and reaching all over the place. Now, I obviously don't know the formula for success. I'm sure there is no formula. So I'm going to be patient and do this my way. I'm gonna find myself a partner (or partners. Why not, right?) It may take a month. Or a year. Or forever. Who knows? All I know is I've got to try.

Oh, and @Tommy

I obviously recommend ALL of my stuff (ha!) If you're interested here's two links for ya:
http://dangerslater.blogspot.com/p/published-works.html A list of links to everything I've gotten published, most of the shorter stuff you can get online for FREE.

And of course, my novel LOVE ME on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Love-Me-Danger...ref=pd_ys_iyr1

[Ugga Bugga]

The problem for writers on boards like these is simple supply and demand.

Every writer has the next great idea, no money to pay the artist. Only a small percentage actually have the talent they think they have (that in no way is meant as a swipe at anyone posting here).

The best advice I can give is to forge relationships with artists. Get involved in community projects here on PJ or elsewhere. Find an artist you like, and offer to write a short script for them for free. Tell them there is no obligation for them to draw it, but you would just like to write it for them. If they ask what you want to write, ask them what they want to draw.

Provide feedback on artists posts. Even though you may not be an artist, you still can help out.

Hope this helps.

[Carl_Shinyama]

@everyone in general: And in regards to the artist/writer dating site, let it be known that I enjoy long walks, but absolutely NOT on the beach.

It would never work between you and I.

[My name is Tommy]

@D.S.: I'm a firm believer in there only being one right way to do something: Your way. Maybe you'll come around to another way of thinking, maybe not. As it is right now, I'm too poor to do it anyway but yours haha. Also, I'll be checking out your stuff ASAP! :]

@Carl: based on where you live, probably not haha. If it makes a difference my reason for that is because I am actually allergic to the sun and am supposed to spend as little time in it as possible. That's got to make me more interesting on some level right? People like their writers all kinds of odd haha.
Side note: I checked out your art. You got skills, brother. If you're ever in need of a guy to string a story together for your art feel free to shoot me a line. I may be willing to make an exception to the whole no beach thing, I'll just have to load up on the SPF 120.


@Everyone: Funny you should mention a writer/artist dating site. I just found this site last night in the bullitens and it looks pretty close to that haha.
http://www.thecomicboards.com/universe/