How to get a great idea to the big boys?

[RAMORE]

Ok i've been reading comics a long time and used to dream of being an artist...i'm now older and realize I am never going to be good enough. But i'm a much better writer than I thought. I have a great story for DC but no place to send it.

As I understand it most companies if they take submissions they only take art how do you get on as a writer? Or if you have a bloody brilliant idea how do you pass it on to someone who can do something about it?

Any thoughts?

The story involves Conner Kent, Tim Wayne, and Bart Allen.

 

[CConn]

Easiest way is to create an original comic book character and team up with a really good artist. Create a kind of demo issue (or a few of them) all on your own and submit it to Image comics. If it's any good, they'll pick it up.

Hopefully, after putting out a few years of comics, Marvel or DC will take notice of your good writing ability and offer you a job as a writer.

Of course, you could also just make it big as a writer in TV or movies and then go to DC and see if they're interested in you writing for them.

Or you could rub two sticks together.

 

[RAMORE]

I'll take option D how long do I have to rub and should the sticks be any particular length?

 

[Mr. Earle]

I think you should go to a writers school first. There is more to writing that fanfiction and cool scenes. You need to learn how to write, how to set your plots, evolve your characters, set up cliffhangers, themes, and various techniques.

If you think you write well enough and you want to get a job in the industry, you should start low. Apply for a smaller company, prove your worth and then slowly make your way up. Dont expect DC to hire you and let you write Batman.

 

[RAMORE]

Ok granted still some work to do to be taken seriously. But I have this idea in my head for those three heros that seriously won't leave me alone.

 

[CConn]

You really only need to go to school for writing if you suck at it. Creative writing degrees are generally not much use.

 

[Mr. Earle]

Its not the degree, its learning how to write properly. Like how you can teach yourself to draw and become the next Liefield, or go to a school and properly learn how to draw.

OP, you could also try webcomics. There are millions of them out there so its hard to make a difference, but if you do, you'll be able to make money off it and the companies might hire you.

 

[CConn]

Both art and writing aren't things you particularly need to go to college to learn. While they can help if you don't know how to do it, I know plenty of very talented writers who never went to college for it. Writers who've done everything from fantasy, to news publications.

Rob Liefield's a bad example, because he didn't just learn how to draw on his own, he learned how to draw the wrong way on his own. If he actually devoted time to learning how to draw properly, there wouldn't be a problem.

I'm not saying college is a bad idea necessarily, just it's not something that's like you'll never be able to become a writer ever if you don't go.

 

[Mr. Earle]

I agree, but getting some instructions and reading a lot of books to learn from good writers is definitely necessary.
Anyone can write a Batman story about him beating up thugs and not solving the mystery (Loeb you suck), but not everyone can reach Morrison's technique or Johns enthusiasm.

 

[CConn]

I agree with that. Simply put, search out as much education and knowledge on writing as you can. Whether it be through extensive reading on the techniques of it, to actually taking courses.

 

[Hush]

Or go to a con and capture Didio and force him to make the "right" phone calls for you.

 

[Mr. Earle]

I think that someone who wants to be great should have a mentor, a teacher or go to some college. Even if you read the greatest books ever written, you'll need someone to explain to you how to read them, to underline the various techniques and teach you how use them yourself. You can read Hitchcock for example and get it, but you'll definitely not get all the little details.

 

[Hush]

Enless your Oh I dont know....smart?

 

[CConn]

No you don't.

Granted, I'm not a English Literature professor like Earle is.

 

[CConn]

Or go to a con and capture Didio and force him to make the "right" phone calls for you.

Or he could try seducing him.

 

[Mr. Earle]

No you don't.

Granted, I'm not a English Literature professor like Earle is.

What? I never said i was. I even said that i dont feel good enough to even analyze other people's books, imagine how i feel about writing one myself.

 

[Hush]

Or he could try seducing him.

With pitches of dead 70's and 80's characters comming back to life?

 

[CConn]

I was thinking with the pleasures of the flesh...but that works too.

 

[Keyser Soze]

You should read these columns:

http://www.projectfanboy.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=79

As an aspiring comic writer myself, I found them to be incredibly useful, and they really helped me refine my style.

 

[Harlekin]

Just want to get the idea through to the DC boys?

Write a letter.

 

[SuperMonkey]

This is a question that has gotten me doing a lot of thinking recently, and I've come to the opinion that Marvel and DC (and, to a lesser extent, Dark Horse) are severely limiting their talent pool by waiting for writers to prove themselves by making money for other companies. What they're basically doing is telling you to do is "go work for someone else for a while, then we'll talk." Well, what if I don't want to work for someone else? What if I can tell my best stories using pre-existing characters that I've read about for years?

I honestly feel that the Big Two should look into pulling in talent from the online fan fiction sites, many of which feature better writing than the average Marvel or DC book.

-- FunBob

 

[Harlekin]

Except you're not a very good writer if you can only work with pre-existing characters.

 

[Bruce Malone]

This is a question that has gotten me doing a lot of thinking recently, and I've come to the opinion that Marvel and DC (and, to a lesser extent, Dark Horse) are severely limiting their talent pool by waiting for writers to prove themselves by making money for other companies. What they're basically doing is telling you to do is "go work for someone else for a while, then we'll talk." Well, what if I don't want to work for someone else? What if I can tell my best stories using pre-existing characters that I've read about for years?

I honestly feel that the Big Two should look into pulling in talent from the online fan fiction sites, many of which feature better writing than the average Marvel or DC book.

-- FunBob

I know its just like when you apply for most jobs they expect you to have worked somewhere else before pshh come on right?

 

[SuperMonkey]

I'm not saying they should immediately give unproved writers and artists jobs, but if they want to keep their talent pool growing and healthy (which it obviously isn't right now) they shouldn't have stopped taking submissions, if only to have on hand to gauge someone's abilities for potential future projects.

If evey company in the publishing business had the same opinion that Marvel and DC did, no one would ever be able to break in to creating comics. I suggest you look into the past histories of many great comics writers (Jim Shooter, Stan Lee, Geoff Johns, etc.) who had no prior work published in any other medium or by any other comics company. In the case of Jim Shooter, he began writing for Adventure Comics at the age of 14, having sent repeated writing submissions along with art layouts to DC. They were accepted on the basis of talent alone, without regard to his success in other fields.

If they are going to close off their talent pool, there's a good chance it will drown them.

-- FunBob

P.S. To aspiring writers, I suggest you check out Dirk Manning's "Write or Wrong" column at Newsarama. Also, google "Writing for Comic Books with Joe Edkin". He is a published writer who gives advice on breaking in to comics, on story structure, and on script formats.

 

[RAMORE]

Just want to get the idea through to the DC boys?

Write a letter.

And send it where? I thought about writing a synopsis and sketch up my idea and send off but to who?

I agree wtih Supermonkey about the short sighted nature of the big boys these days. Develop some damn talent why don't you. Any who thanks for the links and thoughts guys.