Free Comic Book Day 2009

It’s that time again – FREE COMIC BOOK DAY. As a creator, this is by far my favorite event in all of comicdom. San Diego Comicon is indeed a great time, however, it has grown so large over the years, the intimacy factor has all but been removed. The ability to talk with an existing fanbase, as well as any and all incoming readers is something that is missing from most events. Not so with Free Comic Book Day.

In case you are new to this whole Free Comic Book Day thing, here is a brief description of the event from www.freecomicbookday.com :

“Free Comic Book Day is a single day – the first Saturday in May – when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely FREE* to anyone who comes into their stores.”

This year I have been invited back to ATOMIC COMICS! In Phoenix, AZ by store owner Mike Malve. I will be among some of the best in the industry including: Geoff Johns, Ethan Van Sciver, Sterling Gates, Patrick Sherberger, and several others.

See you there.

Creating comics, so simple… right?

“Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts. And never hope more than you work.” – Rita Mae brown

Creating comics, such a simple thing. An idea is translated into a medium of sequential art incorporating pictures and words. A script is written, the pages are drawn, along comes the inker, she hands it over to be colored, the letterer throws some words into balloons, you wrap a cover around it, slap a staple in the middle, and voila, you have yourself a comic. See what I mean? Simple. Or is it? After all, if it were so simple, why on earth do so many that are not merely content with just reading comics but want to actively pursue injecting their creativity into the world of comicdom struggle day in and day out to bring their ideas to the printed page. It seems as if the process to create such a simple, innocuous thing is almost a war of attrition for those striving to do so.

It’s true that just about anyone can create a comic book. And yet so many creators are out there wanting to bring their ideas to life only to run into obstacles that prevent them from doing so; be it time to work on their creation, finding a reliable group to work with, or the necessary funds to make it a reality – the latter quite often being the biggest hindrance. Although it is the same for just about any artistic medium, comics present their own unique challenges.

Lets take a look at a few of those challenges that I mentioned above:

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Independent Excellence

“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.” – Proverbs 22:29

Do you strive for excellence? The word excellence means outstanding, of exceptional quality. It begins when we know that being “good enough” just won’t do. It is the stand one takes that allows for performance that surpasses what was previously possible, defies previously established limits and maps out new territories. So I ask again, do you strive for excellence?

At one time or another I am sure you have had moments when you succeeded at something seemingly without effort. Times when you performed superbly and gracefully, you hit the mark on your very first attempt. Unfortunately, you’re never quite sure how it all came together, how it happened, or if a repeat performance is even possible. This my friend, is what excellence tastes like. A taste once acquired… Read more

Where in the world is Jonnie Allan???

That was a question I received in the comments section of this BLOG. And you know what? It’s a great question. So instead of simply posting a reply I thought it better to address as an entire post. There’s a lesson in it that applies to everyone.

First and foremost let me take a moment to apologize for the lack of content. I began Creating Comic Success with the intent of having at least 2 posts a week to help aspiring and professional creators alike understand the marketing side of the industry. As a trusted source for marketing in the comic book world, I take this self-appointed task to provide you with the very best information available very seriously.

Here’s what happened: Read more

Creating Comic Success: Time Management | Having a Plan

“It’s all… part of the plan.” – Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Happy New Year to you and welcome to the first post of the New Year. Now that 2009 has arrived, and bringing an end to procrastination and better prioritization skills are at the top of your resolution list, it’s time that we dive right in and talk about your plans. Experts will tell you that the most important component of managing your time is the planning stage. Failing to plan is planning to fail.

Quite often when I meet people at conventions that tell me they want to create, or are creating, a comic book, I will ask them what their plans are? More often than not I will either get a “deer in the headlights” look or a confused remark like, “Um, my plan is to create a comic.” No, no, no, I mean what are you planning on doing after you create it? How will the book be printed – Offset Press or Print on Demand (POD)? Will it be printed? Will it be digital? How are you planning to market? Who are you planning on marketing to? What are your plans for distribution? Will you be exhibiting at conventions? Which ones? You see, by answering these questions – i.e. making a plan – you will be ahead of 90% of everyone else attempting to enter into the comic industry – including a lot of those already here. It is staggering to see how many people in the world of comics walk blithely around with no game plan whatsoever. The last thing you want to be is one of them. So how do you prevent that?..

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Creating Comic Success: Time Management | Prioritization

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.” – Abraham Lincoln

When it comes to creating comic books personal time management skills are essential and the very catalyst for success. Individuals from all walks of life who practice these techniques routinely are the highest achievers within their respective fields: from business to public service, sports figures to musicians, animators and comic creators. Learning to develop and apply these skills will improve not only productivity but functionality as well. The more you organize, the easier it will be to accomplish your goals.  We begin organizing by prioritizing.

Last post we talked about Procrastination and how it is the Scourge of Success.  Prioritization is the Nemesis of Procrastination.  As the saying goes, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”  So let’s get better acquainted with prioritization…

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Where to begin??? Part Two…

Now that you have a better understanding of your motives behind your desire for creating comics, let’s talk a little bit about the creative process – assuming that is that you answered the questions in the previous post.

No matter what your skill set is, it is imperative that you acquire a new one – the skill of acquiring skills…

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Where to Begin??? Part One.

A question often asked by those wanting to produce and publish their own comic is, “Where do I begin?” Be it at conventions, behind the booth or while sitting on a panel, comic shop signings or via email the majority of aspiring creators want help finding that ever-elusive place where all comics begin. Pardon the pun, but… where do I begin?..

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