CHRISTIAN COMIC ARTS SOCIETY :: A NETWORK OF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP FOR COMICS FANS, PROS, AND AMATEURS

Forum

Greetings from a comics writer

Posted by Matt Yocum on January 2, 2012 at 12:21pm in INTRODUCTIONS

Greetings to all at the start of 2012.  By day I'm a miltiary officer, by night a writer of comics, novels, nonfiction, and whatever else I can pen.  I've got two novels published through Kindle Direct Publishing, The Calling, a science fiction adventure, and HONOR, a military conspiracy thriller set at my alma mater, the Air Force Academy. 

I've been reading comics for over 30 years, and I've been writing them for about 6 years.  I was one of the fortunate few whose first ever comic sold was to Marvel, a short story that went in Giant-Size Avengers Special#1.  That led to a few other stories, including one in Wolverine #900 and Astonishing Tales#6. 

The work that keeps me busiest now are the various independent comics I do for the site www.ComicCritique.com.  I've got several comics already in release at the site, including the horror series Devolution, the science fiction series The Rift, and the Christian fairy tale adventure ClosetWorld.  I'm also developing several new series such as Redo, an indy super hero project, and new pitches The Chosen, a military/sci fi piece, and The Forgotten, a fairy tale that's a cross between ClosetWorld and the Sandman series. 

Although not definite, I've also got a few possible irons in the fire with Marvel, but those are too early to talk about and may not materialize in these difficult financial times.

This spring and summer while deployed to Iraq, I knocked out a screenplay of my horror comic Devolution, and I'm in the process of submitting it to various respected contests and searching for an agent.  I'm new to the screenwriting world, so it's a learning process at the moment.

I'm also developing a nonfiction book proposal called Alive that deals with embryonic stem cell research and embryo adoption (also called snowflake adoption).  I'm in the research phase right now of this project, reading through some of the more difficult but educational books out there and working on an outline.

So my plate, as you see, is full for 2012, but it's a great thing for a writer.  I'd rather have too much to write about than be sitting here waiting for the next inspiration.

God bless and keep you all.

Matt Yocum

 

Site: www.MattYocum.com

Comics: www.ComicCritique.com

Novels: www.Amazon.com

CW_no2_14.jpg

You need to be a member of CCAS - Christian Comic Arts Society to add comments!

Join CCAS - Christian Comic Arts Society

Email me when people reply –
Follow

Replies

  • Matt Yocum January 6, 2012 at 5:23pm

    Buzz,

    I meant to tell you thanks for taking the time to write and share with me your insights, experience, and the invaluable links and lists.  This will go a long way to helping me.  I have  a lot to learn, now that I've got the screenplay in hand.  Thanks again!

    Matt
     
    Matt Yocum said:

    Buzz, many thanks for all the insight.  I'll defintitely take my time on this, and you've pointed me in some good directions.  There's no hurry for me on this project, so I'm debating possibly waiting until I see the results of various contests I've submitted to.  Although no guarantee I would place, if I did it would certainly help pad the resume for Devolution.  And like you said, having it as a comic so they can see what I'm talking about should help.  I have print digest-sized ashcan comics of everything I make in comics so that I can send it to publishers or to hand out at conventions, so that might help.

    You've definitely opened my eyes to what route I should begin to pursue, so many thanks for that.
     
    Buzz Dixon said:

    Yowza!  Where do you find the time?  I envy you for your discipline!

    re screenplays:  You don't >absolutely< need an agent but it is helpful to have one (or at the very least a recognized literary / entertainment attorney who can handle negotiations for you).

    I've had several agents and not one of 'em ever found work for me (one, in fact, underbid me with another writer even though I was the writer the producer specifically asked to see).  Other people seem to have much better luck.  (Not to brag, but I didn't do all that shabbily on my own.)

    I know most agents and producers would want to know (a) what your story is about (b) what scale budget it can be made for (c) are there roles for well established actors / stars.  Surprisingly, bigger budgeted films are easier sales than lower budgeted films, particularly in today's media environment when almost anybody can make a technically professional feature for just a few thousand bucks (& a lot of favors from friends, but that's another story).

    The Writers Guild of America has an approved (i.e., havn't been banned for ripping people off) list of agents that even non-members may access.  I would suggest finding producers who make films in the genre of Devolution (and there are specific sub-genres of horror), see who their writers and directors are, find the agents for those people (for writers you can contact the WGA and ask who represents them; I suppose the same is possible for the Directors Guild, too), then contact those agents with your script.

    You might also look at the various screenplays on The Black List and see who represents them.

    You have an advantage in that the comic can serve as a storyboard for agents and producers to help them better visualize what the film should look like.  Since many agents are "packagers" (i.e., they represent the writers, director, stars, and often many of the technical crew), a good script that can employ several of their clients is always of interest.

    Or you can, if you think your script is more suited for a lower budgeted indie film company, contact those companies & producers directly.  They usually have someone in their office who reads & evaluates scripts for them.  Write a short letter describing yourself, Devolution, perhaps giving links to the comics, and tell them you will be willing to sign a release form if they so desire.

    It's a tough row to hoe (spec script to completed film ratio is something like tens of thousands to one), but you sound like you've got the perseverance for it.  Good luck, and thank you for your service.

    Greetings from a comics writer
    Greetings to all at the start of 2012.  By day I'm a miltiary officer, by night a writer of comics, novels, nonfiction, and whatever else I can pen. …
  • Matt Yocum January 3, 2012 at 1:41am

    Steve, thanks much.  It's nice to be home for Christmas, along with the others I was with in Iraq.
     
    Steve Crespo said:

    God bless you, Matt. Happy new year.

    ...And thank you for your service. Shalom!

    Greetings from a comics writer
    Greetings to all at the start of 2012.  By day I'm a miltiary officer, by night a writer of comics, novels, nonfiction, and whatever else I can pen. …
  • Matt Yocum January 3, 2012 at 1:40am

    Buzz, many thanks for all the insight.  I'll defintitely take my time on this, and you've pointed me in some good directions.  There's no hurry for me on this project, so I'm debating possibly waiting until I see the results of various contests I've submitted to.  Although no guarantee I would place, if I did it would certainly help pad the resume for Devolution.  And like you said, having it as a comic so they can see what I'm talking about should help.  I have print digest-sized ashcan comics of everything I make in comics so that I can send it to publishers or to hand out at conventions, so that might help.

    You've definitely opened my eyes to what route I should begin to pursue, so many thanks for that.
     
    Buzz Dixon said:

    Yowza!  Where do you find the time?  I envy you for your discipline!

    re screenplays:  You don't >absolutely< need an agent but it is helpful to have one (or at the very least a recognized literary / entertainment attorney who can handle negotiations for you).

    I've had several agents and not one of 'em ever found work for me (one, in fact, underbid me with another writer even though I was the writer the producer specifically asked to see).  Other people seem to have much better luck.  (Not to brag, but I didn't do all that shabbily on my own.)

    I know most agents and producers would want to know (a) what your story is about (b) what scale budget it can be made for (c) are there roles for well established actors / stars.  Surprisingly, bigger budgeted films are easier sales than lower budgeted films, particularly in today's media environment when almost anybody can make a technically professional feature for just a few thousand bucks (& a lot of favors from friends, but that's another story).

    The Writers Guild of America has an approved (i.e., havn't been banned for ripping people off) list of agents that even non-members may access.  I would suggest finding producers who make films in the genre of Devolution (and there are specific sub-genres of horror), see who their writers and directors are, find the agents for those people (for writers you can contact the WGA and ask who represents them; I suppose the same is possible for the Directors Guild, too), then contact those agents with your script.

    You might also look at the various screenplays on The Black List and see who represents them.

    You have an advantage in that the comic can serve as a storyboard for agents and producers to help them better visualize what the film should look like.  Since many agents are "packagers" (i.e., they represent the writers, director, stars, and often many of the technical crew), a good script that can employ several of their clients is always of interest.

    Or you can, if you think your script is more suited for a lower budgeted indie film company, contact those companies & producers directly.  They usually have someone in their office who reads & evaluates scripts for them.  Write a short letter describing yourself, Devolution, perhaps giving links to the comics, and tell them you will be willing to sign a release form if they so desire.

    It's a tough row to hoe (spec script to completed film ratio is something like tens of thousands to one), but you sound like you've got the perseverance for it.  Good luck, and thank you for your service.

    Greetings from a comics writer
    Greetings to all at the start of 2012.  By day I'm a miltiary officer, by night a writer of comics, novels, nonfiction, and whatever else I can pen. …
  • Matt Yocum January 3, 2012 at 1:36am

    Brien, I've got to be honest, I've only now learned that since you retain all rights for e-published books, you can publish on many more than just Kindle.  I'm now working to publish my novels on Barnes and Nobles' Nook as well as through a site called SmashWords.com, who can distribute to others including Sony and Apple's iBookstore.  For Kindle, just google Kindle Direct Publishing, and it has a great step-by-step guide that helps you publish with them.  Same for Barnes and Nobles' Nook and SmashWords.  Hope that helps.
     
    Brien Sparling said:

    I'm new to publishing, and interested in how you published through Direct Kindle publishing.  Why did you choose them over other e-publishers.

    Thanks in advance for your time.

  • Matt Yocum January 3, 2012 at 1:34am

    Thanks much!  I wish I could draw, but don't have that gift.  I've found my artists through a variety of means, mostly from digitalwebbing.com through the forums section, and some by posting want ads through the site.  I've loved working with artists of so many different styles!
     
    Alika Parsons said:

    By writing, do you mean drawing the comic along w/ scripting the books or's this separate. only sayin' cause'm diggin' the artwork. Regardless, all the blessings to you mang keep up the good work and stay safe! Looking forward to more inspired works, more like this the better.

  • Brien Sparling January 2, 2012 at 6:17pm

    I'm new to publishing, and interested in how you published through Direct Kindle publishing.  Why did you choose them over other e-publishers.

    Thanks in advance for your time.

  • Alika Parsons January 2, 2012 at 6:10pm

    By writing, do you mean drawing the comic along w/ scripting the books or's this separate. only sayin' cause'm diggin' the artwork. Regardless, all the blessings to you mang keep up the good work and stay safe! Looking forward to more inspired works, more like this the better.

  • Steve Crespo January 2, 2012 at 3:01pm

    God bless you, Matt. Happy new year.

    ...And thank you for your service. Shalom!

This reply was deleted.