Hi I'm Mark I'm 17 and I write. Now I know a lot of you probably hit back as soon as you read "I'm 17" but please hear me out. I'm looking for artist to do sample pages. Nothing serious just so I can get into the swing of working with an artist. I also need them to show to other artists I want to work so they won't think I'm a hack. I can draw but its hard to be good at both so I picked writing, I can also get more work out this way as well. it just accrued to me that you might think I'm a hack. I'm not and if you want see my stuff PM me and I'll it where ever is good for you. Yeah so if your interested comment below or PM me either is cool.
Oh as stated in the title this is unpaid. Its just something to get me use to working an artist as I said before.
(was that good?)
Writer looking for artist for sample pages (unpaid)
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MarkTheSecond
- Forum Member
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Oct 29, 2014 8:02 pm
advice
Hi Mark,
I've been around the block a bit here at Zwol. I started scripting when I was around 18 (I'm 25 now) and I've been writing since 14. I have no comic credits but will soon be starting a website and have been working with artists off and on for a good six years. I welcome you to comics, however there are a few things you should know.
I'll start this out by saying that you're going into this with the wrong mentality. This is not a "help me" sort of site nor is it that way on any other forum when looking for an artist to help you for free. The truth is, even the most amateur artists are looking for a writer that can pull his own weight. If you portray yourself as knowing nothing and needing training wheels than you make yourself look bad. Not to mention as I said before, it's the wrong mentality.
As a newcomer to the field stating that you're new isn't such a bad thing, in fact it can help you find an artist willing to work with you who's either on or willing to compensate for your skill level. However, no one wants to work with someone who's simply around to be helped. You are going to, like any other writer looking for an artist, prove to us that you are competent or even more important, that you have the drive to become competent. That's what's needed here, to know that you are a dedicated writer looking to make up for his short comings.
Most of all though you're going to need to prove yourself as a writer. Look at how scripts are written and write a script. Think up some ideas and show them to us in your looking for artist post. Pitch to any interested artist that you're ready to take the next step and become a scripter worth working with. And not only just a scripter, someone who has ideas and has a game plan. Pitch yourself to us!
Here's perhaps the most important thing though and arguably the biggest flaw of this post. Why would an artist want to work with you if you're going to drop them for another artist? Here's the thing, you are not in a position to ask for something as precious as free art. If you're going to get an artist you're going to have to work for it and get to the point in your relationship that what both of you want is in the process of being attained. It's a partnership. You are not in the position as a nonpaying writer to order anyone around, you're going to have to form a bond with your artist. This may mean that your artist will have significant say in the story and how it's told. It may also mean the story will be something the artist will chose with or without you. Writers are a dime a dozen here and artists are relatively small in number, thus more precious.
As a starting writer you will need to put the artists needs and wants before your own in many cases. My first gig as a scripter was not what I had in mind either. I had a partnership with an Australian artist who was being very slow and I knew I had the time to do another gig. The Australian artist would never finish her project, the other artist however started a long partnership with me in which we did many comics together for his site. How did I do this? I responded to his call to edit a crime comic already drawn to compensate for his third language English. I did so well that he suggested I continue to work with him and create my own plots. Everything started there and I learned a lot from working with him.
So in the end you will indeed have to be desperate and very accommodating to an artist. He may be as new as you or draw very infrequent, but remember you are starting at the bottom and getting experience. Working on simply a portfolio for you to get other artists isn't a very appealing prospect. Here's what you do instead, request to do a short comic with someone to boost BOTH of your portfolios. The only way you're going to get what you're requesting in your post is if you pay, and I assume you are not willing or able to do that. Think of what the artist wants and remember the artist will only do what he or she wants to do. He or she will most likely be doing this for fun and the moment it stops being fun they will stop. Play to what your artist wants to do and take any project you can as I mentioned. Realize also that a simple 8 page script can take a year to make with a non paying amateur artist! This is not an easy field to break into and you will not much patience.
So give us a riveting, admirable post and show us you have what it takes!
One more piece of advice, you say you draw. There's on rule of the amateur I've hinted at that you should know, if you get an artist he or she will work far slower than you can possibily imagine. There's a rule of three here, you can get a quality, quick and paid artist or sacrifice either quality, speed, or both. Most likely you will get a slow artist. A VERY good way to get around this is to draw it yourself! There are plenty of amazing artist/writers especially in the webcomic world. In fact most of the webcomics I've seen are helmed by artist/writers! It is by far the easiest way to get a project off the ground. If you have artistic interest or even talent take advantage of this! You will get the experience you need as a scripter much more easily this way and your art skills will help you as a scripter in the long run due to a knowledge of how things are done. Once you have done enough work by yourself and have attracted interest in other artist THEN I recommend specialize as a scripter. It is said that artistic and writing skill together occur once in a blue moon, if you have both don't sacrifice one! Most likely the artist you'll get as an amateur will be on your artist skill level anyhow.
If you have any questions don't hesitate to pm me! I welcome you to the world of comics but bring with me vital warnings and tips to make clear to you what you will need to do. You have a long road ahead of you whether you chose helming a project yourself or taking the far more difficult road as an unpaired scripter. The best advice I can give you is to be patient. It will take a while for you to advance your skill, make connections, and gain an audience. I tip my hat to you for starting this journey and wish you all the best.
Sincerely,
Ruyei
I've been around the block a bit here at Zwol. I started scripting when I was around 18 (I'm 25 now) and I've been writing since 14. I have no comic credits but will soon be starting a website and have been working with artists off and on for a good six years. I welcome you to comics, however there are a few things you should know.
I'll start this out by saying that you're going into this with the wrong mentality. This is not a "help me" sort of site nor is it that way on any other forum when looking for an artist to help you for free. The truth is, even the most amateur artists are looking for a writer that can pull his own weight. If you portray yourself as knowing nothing and needing training wheels than you make yourself look bad. Not to mention as I said before, it's the wrong mentality.
As a newcomer to the field stating that you're new isn't such a bad thing, in fact it can help you find an artist willing to work with you who's either on or willing to compensate for your skill level. However, no one wants to work with someone who's simply around to be helped. You are going to, like any other writer looking for an artist, prove to us that you are competent or even more important, that you have the drive to become competent. That's what's needed here, to know that you are a dedicated writer looking to make up for his short comings.
Most of all though you're going to need to prove yourself as a writer. Look at how scripts are written and write a script. Think up some ideas and show them to us in your looking for artist post. Pitch to any interested artist that you're ready to take the next step and become a scripter worth working with. And not only just a scripter, someone who has ideas and has a game plan. Pitch yourself to us!
Here's perhaps the most important thing though and arguably the biggest flaw of this post. Why would an artist want to work with you if you're going to drop them for another artist? Here's the thing, you are not in a position to ask for something as precious as free art. If you're going to get an artist you're going to have to work for it and get to the point in your relationship that what both of you want is in the process of being attained. It's a partnership. You are not in the position as a nonpaying writer to order anyone around, you're going to have to form a bond with your artist. This may mean that your artist will have significant say in the story and how it's told. It may also mean the story will be something the artist will chose with or without you. Writers are a dime a dozen here and artists are relatively small in number, thus more precious.
As a starting writer you will need to put the artists needs and wants before your own in many cases. My first gig as a scripter was not what I had in mind either. I had a partnership with an Australian artist who was being very slow and I knew I had the time to do another gig. The Australian artist would never finish her project, the other artist however started a long partnership with me in which we did many comics together for his site. How did I do this? I responded to his call to edit a crime comic already drawn to compensate for his third language English. I did so well that he suggested I continue to work with him and create my own plots. Everything started there and I learned a lot from working with him.
So in the end you will indeed have to be desperate and very accommodating to an artist. He may be as new as you or draw very infrequent, but remember you are starting at the bottom and getting experience. Working on simply a portfolio for you to get other artists isn't a very appealing prospect. Here's what you do instead, request to do a short comic with someone to boost BOTH of your portfolios. The only way you're going to get what you're requesting in your post is if you pay, and I assume you are not willing or able to do that. Think of what the artist wants and remember the artist will only do what he or she wants to do. He or she will most likely be doing this for fun and the moment it stops being fun they will stop. Play to what your artist wants to do and take any project you can as I mentioned. Realize also that a simple 8 page script can take a year to make with a non paying amateur artist! This is not an easy field to break into and you will not much patience.
So give us a riveting, admirable post and show us you have what it takes!
One more piece of advice, you say you draw. There's on rule of the amateur I've hinted at that you should know, if you get an artist he or she will work far slower than you can possibily imagine. There's a rule of three here, you can get a quality, quick and paid artist or sacrifice either quality, speed, or both. Most likely you will get a slow artist. A VERY good way to get around this is to draw it yourself! There are plenty of amazing artist/writers especially in the webcomic world. In fact most of the webcomics I've seen are helmed by artist/writers! It is by far the easiest way to get a project off the ground. If you have artistic interest or even talent take advantage of this! You will get the experience you need as a scripter much more easily this way and your art skills will help you as a scripter in the long run due to a knowledge of how things are done. Once you have done enough work by yourself and have attracted interest in other artist THEN I recommend specialize as a scripter. It is said that artistic and writing skill together occur once in a blue moon, if you have both don't sacrifice one! Most likely the artist you'll get as an amateur will be on your artist skill level anyhow.
If you have any questions don't hesitate to pm me! I welcome you to the world of comics but bring with me vital warnings and tips to make clear to you what you will need to do. You have a long road ahead of you whether you chose helming a project yourself or taking the far more difficult road as an unpaired scripter. The best advice I can give you is to be patient. It will take a while for you to advance your skill, make connections, and gain an audience. I tip my hat to you for starting this journey and wish you all the best.
Sincerely,
Ruyei
-
MarkTheSecond
- Forum Member
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Oct 29, 2014 8:02 pm