14 replies to this topic

[THE REAL SCOTt]

I've decided to take the slow and steady approach, build up funds, and release at least a book a year. I already have 7 books in various stages of completion. If anybody wants in on these books or wants us to release you book in the coming years, please email me.

[THE REAL SCOTt]

Oh, yeah, my email address is Scott @ ReconditePictures . com . I like to tell stories that might not set the world on fire, but might set a kid's imagination into overdrive. No publishers seem intent on publishing such stuff, so I'm going to focus on producing really strong physical objects that will make impressions on the imagines of tomorrow. The more people want to get behind this idea the better. I know there are more talented people than me out there. Cheers!

[James L. Sarandis]

I've decided to take the slow and steady approach, build up funds, and release at least a book a year. I already have 7 books in various stages of completion. If anybody wants in on these books or wants us to release you book in the coming years, please email me.

What do you mean by 'wants in'? Are you talkin' Co-writers or are you just interested in artists? Cheers.

[garjones]

Speaking of publishing, has anyone looked into that new service that Graphic.ly have started providing? They take your stuff and package it into digital formats and get it listed on Amazon and Nook etc.

Was wondering how much it costs.

[Daniel Bell]

To get on anything commercial like Amazon or Kindle will cost about $110 if I remember correctly. You can do it for free through Graphicly's own 'reader'.

I've got my comic on there but a few people have said that the directed viewing thing is a bit rubbish.

It's here http://graphicly.com...omics/psircus/1

[Jim Ohara]

At this point I think the best model for startups is Kickstarter. It's an incredibly neat business model.

[Will Carper]

With Kickstarter, you don't get to keep the money if you don't reach your goal, though, right? There are other sites that let you keep whatever amount is pledged. Kickstarter's got the most prestige, though.

[Stephen Galvin]

Speaking of publishing, has anyone looked into that new service that Graphic.ly have started providing? They take your stuff and package it into digital formats and get it listed on Amazon and Nook etc.

Was wondering how much it costs.

Gar, I wouldn't use Graphicly myself for the simple reason that any revenue earned by your offering is routed through them, and they have already shifted their modus operandi in response to a failure of viability. If they go down in flames, they take your revenue with them. So I am waiting to see how that goes for them. Smashwords are similar, but are in it a longer time, so they would be a possible if you wanted wide distribution, though they tend to focus on prose.
A person with a graphic product can self publish on Amazon for free using their Kindle format and formatting guides. The revenue is 30% to the creator because the high bandwidth charges make it more sensible to go for that royalty option and you can then offer a 42 pager for 10 cent a page.
I have two out with them already.
Pervy Pam http://www.amazon.co...k/dp/B007X6KEIM

and Voyuer, Maybe. http://www.amazon.co...k/dp/B007XI0TVM


I am keeping an eye on KOBO, as they are starting a self-publishing arm shortly, and I will go with them too.
As I only do sexy stuff, sometimes outright erotica, I stay away from ipad, but ordinary work can be put out on ipad right now without too much trouble.

If any one wants any advice on how to get this done on amazon themselves, PM me.
Also, a friend of mine has just put the first chapter of his zombie comic up, because he realised that if I can do it, any comics creator can.
His name is Mark Ledford, and his comic is here http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0089ZLTV2
Shameless plug, I know, but it shows that things are changing in comics publishing.

Oh, forgot to mention. Formatting for kindle does not preclude anyone reading your work on your ipad as there is a kindle app.
You also have the option of using a digital goods distributor if you want to keep the bulk of the revenue to yourself regardless of format, and just because you format for Kindle does not mean you have to sell through Amazon. (There's an interesting one).
You can also put PDF format up on Drivethru, like we did with Ashcan Oddities. That has sold about eighty issues last time I checked, which is small I know, but it was more an experiment to show guys what could be done than a commercial project.

[Jim Ohara]

With Kickstarter, you don't get to keep the money if you don't reach your goal, though, right? There are other sites that let you keep whatever amount is pledged. Kickstarter's got the most prestige, though.

Sure but that tells you about your product and the market demand. It's the perfect consumer driven engine - you're essentially getting pre-orders that can fund your print run. I think every project should start low, and from there you can always increase your goal. The comic book 'The Order of the Stick' raised over a million dollars for their print run. That's a spectacularly large amount of money - perhaps eclipsing any major publisher for a traditional graphic novel.

[Stephen Galvin]

Sure but that tells you about your product and the market demand. It's the perfect consumer driven engine - you're essentially getting pre-orders that can fund your print run. I think every project should start low, and from there you can always increase your goal. The comic book 'The Order of the Stick' raised over a million dollars for their print run. That's a spectacularly large amount of money - perhaps eclipsing any major publisher for a traditional graphic novel.

I'm inclined to agree with Jim here. The comfort of knowing the book is a success before you even print it is amazing. It can't be long before this is the model for speculative printing. i.e. That publishers only print to pre-orders.
Low risk, low waste, and it keeps local comic stores in the loop if they are part of the recognition drive.
Add in a digital facet and it gets even more interesting.

[craggy]

You can also put PDF format up on Drivethru, like we did with Ashcan Oddities. That has sold about eighty issues last time I checked, which is small I know, but it was more an experiment to show guys what could be done than a commercial project.

80 issues sold is not that small. It's not huge, of course, but for an unknown title, I think it's pretty good. Congrats!

[garjones]

Gar, I wouldn't use Graphicly myself for the simple reason that any revenue earned by your offering is routed through them, and they have already shifted their modus operandi in response to a failure of viability.

It's okay, my publishing days are way behind me, I was just curious how it worked and if it was a good deal. Thanks for the info.

[stuperrins]

80 issues sold is not that small. It's not huge, of course, but for an unknown title, I think it's pretty good. Congrats!

yeah, 80 issues is pretty good i think!

[ditta]

Hold on, that means...I'VE SOLD 80 COPIES OF MY SORT STORY!

That bad boy's going straight onto my writer's CV

[Scott the Writer]

Yeah, writrs, artists, colorists, letterers, inkers and everyone else are all invited. We are building up capital, both creative and financial, to release new FUN comics. Today's comics just aren't too fun, and we mean to make fun, exciting, new, strange comics. Each issue will be a revelation.

My next book was listed on DCBS, but had to pull it back and re-evaluate our plan.