Posted by Paula Richey on October 4, 2012 at 3:40pm
So for fun I was poking around with some ideas for promoting my work after reading an article on Comixtribe that was supposed to be about distribution, but instead ended up being about the utter futility of getting into Diamond. Well, given that I'm doing something different than Diamond is selling.Okay, I could bust my butt to get my work crammed in the back of 2500 or fewer comic shops geared to people who aren't likely to see or care about my work, or I could do every crazy thing I can think of to get my name and ideas "out there" to people who don't read comics. Wow. "Out there" is terribly vague. Maybe what I mean is "in publications which people (who care about the same issues this book deals with) read."One, blog about what I really think of the church, Jesus, and redemption. Write articles for faith-based magazines on entertainment for teens, discernment, relating to new Christians, when is violence necessary, fantasy and science fiction for the Christian life, etc. How to use God-given talents (by honing them, not resting on them! Incidentally, tips are appreciated - I don't know enough to write an article yet).Write for secular magazines and websites about depictions of women and Christians in media, about trafficking, about the need for decency and forgiveness. For instance, today I was shocked by all the negative comments a blog post about "25 Ways to Communicate Respect to Your Husband" garnered. Really? A woman actively trying to be respectful to the man she stood up in church with and literally promised God and everybody she'd do her best to be a good partner for him, is somehow demeaning herself by showing him respect. A. What kind of lout do these people assume she married? B. Why get married if you don't intend to be kind, supportive, and respectful? C. Should she not trust the guy she picked out to treat her right? D. I just.... Okay, off track here, sorry :)Interview other creators at CCAS :)Get my central website up! Find a good way to link to deviantart (need to upload a portfolio... I've been so slack!), LJ, Pinterest, Zazzle, and articles. Plus I may need to run it as a webcomic, so that needs a website. I could do this for free on any number of blogging/networking sites, but they would have the right to shut my hard work down.I really, really ought to send out some short fiction. I keep getting these incredibly kind rejections - positive comments and "please send more" notes. This is supposed to mean I'm close to breaking through.My art is doing well lately - not hitting my target audience for my comic, though. Still, I could probably do some pieces more relatable to the comic. When I have some final art done I might show that. Ooh! Had an idea for a book trailer and scribbled down a script: Book trailerBlackout between still images. Pen's voice (Voiceover) starts out quiet, a bit hoarse maybe.Back view of Pen, shadowed. Light falls across her shoulder, illuminating her tattoo: ACID in caps.VoiceOver: For ten years...(Scene changes to show Pen as a little girl, huddled beside her mother's still body, focuses on her frightened, upturned face. )VO: You trained me, terrorized me, (Changes to scenes of her training, mostly in the dark to show her flashy plasma lightning attacks.)VO: You owned me. (flat, bitter tone) (flashes back to Pen's tattoo, which is changing - lines lengthening and curving.)VO: but now I have something better to live for (louder, defiant voice)(Pen walking into white room -laboratory, probably)VO: I have hope (a bit happier, still defiant)(Pen's tattoo, halfway changed, her smile visible in profile)VO: I have purpose(Pen wearing prototype uniform)VO: I have a future!Pen's tattoo finishes changing to a cross, unrecognizable from how it started. VO: And nothing on this earth is going to drag me back to you! (Louder, defiant, challenging voice)Pen, horrified expression, facing an alien landscape. BlackoutText: PENANCE COPPERText slowly emerges beneath: (um... Oh yeah, I need a logline... Well, whatever it is can go there.)Thoughts? Caveats? Additions? Critiques?
Discussions and expressions like this are why I enjoy this site. It reinforces my drive, gives expression to some of the frustrations of expressing the passion, allows me catch both ideas and hope. Maranatha!
Hi Candace! I'm still finalizing my character designs too :) but I tend to work on things inside out and backwards. I think this post grew out of some half-gelled thoughts on building a "platform" which I picked up as a freelance writer. Nonfiction platforms are simple - get your name out as an expert in your topic. But how to do a platform for fiction?
The function of a platform is to make your name and style familiar to your target audience, some of whom will appreciate it and look for more of your work. So these ideas serve that function. And they all take time, and are varied enough so I might work on them concurrently. So if I'm a bit tired of art or fiction one day, I can do a nonfiction article, or at least a draft of one, so I can see how my stance becomes refined over time.
The trick is going to be keeping my priorities straight and finishing the book itself. That's the cake, the rest is just frosting.
And hi, Gerard :)
I think you have more experience than I do, and possibly a more linear thought process. Even your "nonsense" series makes sense ;)
I was shocked at the feeling of disconnect I had when reading that article. I kept thinking, "But that's not what I care about..." "Wow, that's a lot of effort for not much return..." "But that would mean I had to compromise on X..." and "Seriously? This is 'The Dream?' Somehow I thought it'd be more satisfying...." Not mention saying out loud, "Oh, that's why comics aren't finding a wider audience." So, no, pursuing Diamond isn't worth it. Maybe after I do my other promotion and platform work, if I get a publishing deal and the publisher wanted Diamond to list it - but I'm not changing my story to fit their precious catalog.
I'm cringing a bit at the thought of pursuing secular markets. I do think there are going to be a lot of people like that lady in the UK who was outraged to discover, after she and her child packed a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child, that OCC is a Christian organization that spreads the Gospel. (Read this years ago, and she is apparently burned into my brain.) I mean, isn't it obvious in ALL their materials? And the word CHRISTmas?
But, how do I reach people if I don't go where they are? And combat the Christian = half-baked and hokey perception? Acceptance by secular audiences in spite of and because of a Christian worldview... I don't think I can carry it off, mind, but if I'm led to, like you said, I must. It's one of those things that I'm glad is pretty far in the future. I have time to get used to the idea.
I'm building a file of article ideas and drafts now so I'll be prepared to "speak" once I'm closer to finishing the book. I want to be sure I have my theology on straight :) I'm trying to keep up on reading, too - thanks for reminding me about rsquaredcomicz, too. I've read one or two.
Thanks for the input on the trailer. The whole idea is redemption. She had a terrible master, and she's making the choice to follow God now. I think one of her big issues is trust, which writing out the script helped me pin down. She isn't doing things any less dangerous once she's a Christian, in fact she's in more personal danger and bigger situations, but the difference is that God loves her. Now, how to boil that down to one catchy phrase that won't be a big scary turnoff to people inundated with lies about God?
Here are some reaction I had to your post. I'm sorry I don't have much experience to back this up, these are just ideas. Since you are multi-gifted, I think you are on the right track using blogs and short fiction to establish a foot hold. Christian fiction seems to be thriving, all kinds of genres. There have been stories converted to graphic novels like Ted Dekker's stories, which might not have seen print if they hadn't been very successful novels first? Find some Christian magazines to submit to. I'd forget about Diamond personally, they serve Mammon and you serve God. Don't be unequally yoked if you can help it.
My bout with Facebook Depression really drove home that we are not only all sinners, but that we all have a sin nature, and without the Holy Spirit, we embrace and indulge it. The hardest lesson I have learned is that we aren't trying to be good people. The vast majority of humanity has no interest in that. People argue not for the sake of truth but willfully spin lies and spew poison on message boards to try to further their agendas of self justification or even just randomly attack Christians and blaspheme God with every other breath. Taking your Christianity into secular publications will make you a target, but if you feel led to, then you must do so.
But I like your idea about writing articles and fiction for Christian magazines or various types and such. I've seen Christian magazines about living, family, music, teens and pop culture, even magazines about Christian fiction. Establishing yourself by writing for these sorts of magazines sounds like a great way to promote your art and comic in the long run, as well as a great way to present your fiction and articles.
Interviewing Christian authors and artists sounds like a great way to network and fellowship as well as providing interesting articles. Have you been following Justin's interviews on http://www.rsquaredcomicz.com/ ? They are very interesting!
I like your 'Penance Copper" trailer, it's message of hope feels magnetic and attractive to me, and so different from a lot of what I see nowadays:)
Anyways, just my thoughts, I will pray that God inspire you and make you feel led to pursue the media avenues He has in mind for you in this season of your life.
Comments
Discussions and expressions like this are why I enjoy this site. It reinforces my drive, gives expression to some of the frustrations of expressing the passion, allows me catch both ideas and hope. Maranatha!
The function of a platform is to make your name and style familiar to your target audience, some of whom will appreciate it and look for more of your work. So these ideas serve that function. And they all take time, and are varied enough so I might work on them concurrently. So if I'm a bit tired of art or fiction one day, I can do a nonfiction article, or at least a draft of one, so I can see how my stance becomes refined over time.
The trick is going to be keeping my priorities straight and finishing the book itself. That's the cake, the rest is just frosting.
And hi, Gerard :)
I think you have more experience than I do, and possibly a more linear thought process. Even your "nonsense" series makes sense ;)
I was shocked at the feeling of disconnect I had when reading that article. I kept thinking, "But that's not what I care about..." "Wow, that's a lot of effort for not much return..." "But that would mean I had to compromise on X..." and "Seriously? This is 'The Dream?' Somehow I thought it'd be more satisfying...." Not mention saying out loud, "Oh, that's why comics aren't finding a wider audience." So, no, pursuing Diamond isn't worth it. Maybe after I do my other promotion and platform work, if I get a publishing deal and the publisher wanted Diamond to list it - but I'm not changing my story to fit their precious catalog.
I'm cringing a bit at the thought of pursuing secular markets. I do think there are going to be a lot of people like that lady in the UK who was outraged to discover, after she and her child packed a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child, that OCC is a Christian organization that spreads the Gospel. (Read this years ago, and she is apparently burned into my brain.) I mean, isn't it obvious in ALL their materials? And the word CHRISTmas?
But, how do I reach people if I don't go where they are? And combat the Christian = half-baked and hokey perception? Acceptance by secular audiences in spite of and because of a Christian worldview... I don't think I can carry it off, mind, but if I'm led to, like you said, I must. It's one of those things that I'm glad is pretty far in the future. I have time to get used to the idea.
I'm building a file of article ideas and drafts now so I'll be prepared to "speak" once I'm closer to finishing the book. I want to be sure I have my theology on straight :) I'm trying to keep up on reading, too - thanks for reminding me about rsquaredcomicz, too. I've read one or two.
Thanks for the input on the trailer. The whole idea is redemption. She had a terrible master, and she's making the choice to follow God now. I think one of her big issues is trust, which writing out the script helped me pin down. She isn't doing things any less dangerous once she's a Christian, in fact she's in more personal danger and bigger situations, but the difference is that God loves her. Now, how to boil that down to one catchy phrase that won't be a big scary turnoff to people inundated with lies about God?
Here are some reaction I had to your post. I'm sorry I don't have much experience to back this up, these are just ideas. Since you are multi-gifted, I think you are on the right track using blogs and short fiction to establish a foot hold. Christian fiction seems to be thriving, all kinds of genres. There have been stories converted to graphic novels like Ted Dekker's stories, which might not have seen print if they hadn't been very successful novels first? Find some Christian magazines to submit to. I'd forget about Diamond personally, they serve Mammon and you serve God. Don't be unequally yoked if you can help it.
My bout with Facebook Depression really drove home that we are not only all sinners, but that we all have a sin nature, and without the Holy Spirit, we embrace and indulge it. The hardest lesson I have learned is that we aren't trying to be good people. The vast majority of humanity has no interest in that. People argue not for the sake of truth but willfully spin lies and spew poison on message boards to try to further their agendas of self justification or even just randomly attack Christians and blaspheme God with every other breath. Taking your Christianity into secular publications will make you a target, but if you feel led to, then you must do so.
But I like your idea about writing articles and fiction for Christian magazines or various types and such. I've seen Christian magazines about living, family, music, teens and pop culture, even magazines about Christian fiction. Establishing yourself by writing for these sorts of magazines sounds like a great way to promote your art and comic in the long run, as well as a great way to present your fiction and articles.
Interviewing Christian authors and artists sounds like a great way to network and fellowship as well as providing interesting articles. Have you been following Justin's interviews on http://www.rsquaredcomicz.com/ ? They are very interesting!
I like your 'Penance Copper" trailer, it's message of hope feels magnetic and attractive to me, and so different from a lot of what I see nowadays:)
Anyways, just my thoughts, I will pray that God inspire you and make you feel led to pursue the media avenues He has in mind for you in this season of your life.