iFanboy's "Make Comics" Podcast, Episode #40 on "The Pitch"

A new episode of the iFanboy Make Comics podcast is available!

In Episode #40, Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt and iFanboy host Josh Flanagan discuss "The Pitch."

As they said over on iFanboy, "In this episode, Josh and Andy talk about what goes into a good pitch for a comic book, whether it be as a writer, or a series to a publisher."

Take note! The Make Comics Podcast has moved to its own feed, which you can subscribe to in iTunes, or here manually.

Check out the new episode, plus all of the previous ones on iTunes, or follow the links right here:

Listen to Episode #40, "The Pitch"

Listen to Episode #39, "Production"

Listen to Episode #38, "Endings"

Listen to Episode #37, "Writing Dialogue"

Listen to Episode #36, "Character Design"

Listen to Episode #35, "Comic Book Art Training and Education"

Listen to Episode #34, "Mailbag"

Listen to Episode #33, "Collaboration"

Listen to Episode #32, "Kickstarter with Tyler James"

Listen to Episode #31, "Breaking In Through the Side Door"

Listen to Episode #30, "Story vs. Page Count"

Listen to Episode #29, "Graphic Designers in Comics"

Listen to Episode #28, "Find Your Voice"

Listen to Episode #27, "Self Review"

Listen to Episode #26, "Act Structure"

Listen to Episode #25, "Photo Comics and More"

Listen to Episode #24, "Running a Convention Table with Mike Dawson"

Listen to Episode #23, "Make Digital Comics"

Listen to Episode #22, "Be the Letterer"

Listen to Episode #21, "Question: From Editor to Writer"

Listen to Episode #20, "Page Turns"

Listen to Episode #19, "Where Should I Live?"

Listen to Episode #18, "Comic Book Coloring with Chris Sotomayor"

Listen to Episode #17, "Art Portfolio with Robert Atkins"

Listen to Episode #16, "Conventions and Critique"

Listen to Episode #15, "Pitching"

Listen to Episode #14, "Making Time for Making Comics"

Listen to Episode #13, "Story"

Listen to Episode #12, "Marketing"

Listen to Episode #11, "Artist Portfolio"

Listen to Episode #10, "Inspiration"

Listen to Episode #9, "Online Networking"

Listen to Episode #8, "Building A Page"

Listen to Episode #7, "Professionialism"

Listen to Episode #6, "The Comic Book Script"

Listen to Episode #5, "Convention Networking"

Listen to Episode #4, "Good Feedback"

Listen to Episode #3, "Long Stories or Short Stories?"

Listen to Episode #2, "Finding Collaborators"

Listen to Episode #1, "Start Writing"

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook

"Pitching for Professionals" - Notes from the NYCC 2012 Panel!

Hey, did you miss the Comics Experience panel on pitching, held at NYCC 2012?

Well, if you did, you still don't have to miss out on all the tips.

Louis Falcetti provided his notes from the session in a report filed on Bleeding Cool on October 20, 2012, so it's almost like you were there!

Click here for the full report:
Article: Pitching For Professionals At NYCC

And here's the description of the panel from the NYCC 2012 program:

Pitching for Professionals
Thursday, October 11
2:30PM - 3:30PM
Location: 1A04

Speakers: Andy Schmidt, Bob Schreck, Nick Lowe, Paul Allor

When you finally have an editor willing to hear your ideas, will you be ready? From tips on how to succeed in a "bake-off" competition to how to present ideas cold, this panel will help you and your project get the green light it deserves! Listen in as former Marvel and IDW editor Andy Schmidt, Marvel Editor Nick Lowe, writer Paul Allor (TMNT Micro-Series, Clockwork), and Bob Schreck, Editor-in-Chief of Legendary Comics and former DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and IDW Publishing editor, discuss the ins-and-outs of pitching!

We hope to see you at the next convention!

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook

Panels for Comic Creators at NYCC 2012 -- & CE Folks Exhibiting!

Don't forget! TOMORROW, October 11, 2012, Comics Experience will be putting on TWO panels at New York Comic Con 2012!

Our panels this year will be during the "pro hours" portion of the convention -- moderated by Andy Schmidt, Comics Experience founder, and former editor and writer at Marvel and IDW!

Pitching for Professionals
Thursday, October 11
2:30PM - 3:30PM
Location: 1A04

Speakers: Andy Schmidt, Bob Schreck, Nick Lowe, Paul Allor

When you finally have an editor willing to hear your ideas, will you be ready? From tips on how to succeed in a "bake-off" competition to how to present ideas cold, this panel will help you and your project get the green light it deserves! Listen in as former Marvel and IDW editor Andy Schmidt, Marvel Editor Nick Lowe, writer Paul Allor (TMNT Micro-Series, Clockwork), and Bob Schreck, Editor-in-Chief of Legendary Comics and former DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and IDW Publishing editor, discuss the ins-and-outs of pitching!


Surviving Collaboration
Thursday, October 11
Time: 7:45PM - 8:45PM
Location: 1A01

Speakers: Andy Schmidt, Chris Sotomayor, Paul Allor, Robert Atkins

Comics are a collaborative medium. Do you know how to bring out the best from your collaborators? Join former Marvel and IDW editor/writer Andy Schmidt, penciler Robert Atkins, colorist and former editor Chris Sotomayor, and writer Paul Allor (TMNT Micro-Series, Clockwork) as they discuss collaborative best practices, tips for writers and artists, and strategies for handling editor feedback. Become the kind of creator everyone wants to work with!

Plus, while you're at the convention, stop by the booths of these Comics Experience instructors, alums, and Creators Workshop members who will be exhibiting!

Paul Allor (signing at ComixTribe Booth 2380, Friday 12:30pm – 2:00pm)
Robert Atkins (Booth DD8)
Sean Chen (Booth C9)
Nick Dedual (Odd Truth Inc. - Booth 768)
Rich Douek (signing at ComixTribe Booth 2380, Friday 2:30pm – 4:00pm)
Shaun Noel (Standalone Productions - Booth 2147)
Brandon Seifert (Booth R5B)
Chris Sotomayor (Booth I9)

See the full details on the NYCC website, right here, and we hope to see you there!

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook

Panels for Comic Creators at NYCC 2012 -- & CE Folks Exhibiting!

In exactly one week, New York Comic Con 2012 (October 11-14) begins!

And if you're interested in making comics or breaking into the industry, then don't miss our panels on Thursday, during the "pro hours" portion of the convention -- both moderated by Andy Schmidt, Comics Experience founder, and former editor and writer at Marvel and IDW!

Pitching for Professionals
Thursday, October 11
2:30PM - 3:30PM
Location: 1A04

Speakers: Andy Schmidt, Bob Schreck, Nick Lowe, Paul Allor

When you finally have an editor willing to hear your ideas, will you be ready? From tips on how to succeed in a "bake-off" competition to how to present ideas cold, this panel will help you and your project get the green light it deserves! Listen in as former Marvel and IDW editor Andy Schmidt, Marvel Editor Nick Lowe, writer Paul Allor (TMNT Micro-Series, Clockwork), and Bob Schreck, Editor-in-Chief of Legendary Comics and former DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and IDW Publishing editor, discuss the ins-and-outs of pitching!


Surviving Collaboration
Thursday, October 11
Time: 7:45PM - 8:45PM
Location: 1A01

Speakers: Andy Schmidt, Chris Sotomayor, Paul Allor, Robert Atkins

Comics are a collaborative medium. Do you know how to bring out the best from your collaborators? Join former Marvel and IDW editor/writer Andy Schmidt, penciler Robert Atkins, colorist and former editor Chris Sotomayor, and writer Paul Allor (TMNT Micro-Series, Clockwork) as they discuss collaborative best practices, tips for writers and artists, and strategies for handling editor feedback. Become the kind of creator everyone wants to work with!

Plus, while you're at the convention, stop by the booths of these Comics Experience instructors, alums, and Creators Workshop members who will be exhibiting!

Paul Allor (signing at ComixTribe Booth 2380, Friday 12:30pm – 2:00pm)
Robert Atkins (Booth DD8)
Sean Chen (Booth C9)
Nick Dedual (Odd Truth Inc. - Booth 768)
Rich Douek (signing at ComixTribe Booth 2380, Friday 2:30pm – 4:00pm)
Shaun Noel (Standalone Productions - Booth 2147)
Brandon Seifert (Booth R5B)
Chris Sotomayor (Booth I9)

See the full details on the NYCC website, right here, and we hope to see you there!

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook

iFanboy's "Making Comics" with Andy Schmidt Podcast, Episode #15 posted!

The fifteenth episode of iFanboy's Making Comics with Andy Schmidt podcast has been released!

In this episode, iFanboy host Josh Flanagan and former Marvel and IDW Editor (and Comics Experience founder) Andy Schmidt discuss "Pitching".

As explained over on iFanboy:

"You've got a great idea? Then you'll need to pitch it. That requires knowing who to talk to, how to talk to them, and figuring out what they want to hear."

Check out this new episode, plus all of the previous ones on iTunes, or listen to them right here:

Listen to Episode #15, "Pitching"

Listen to Episode #14, "Making Time for Making Comics"

Listen to Episode #13, "Story"

Listen to Episode #12, "Marketing"

Listen to Episode #11, "Artist Portfolio"

Listen to Episode #10, "Inspiration"

Listen to Episode #9, "Online Networking"

Listen to Episode #8, "Building A Page"

Listen to Episode #7, "Professionialism"

Listen to Episode #6, "The Comic Book Script"

Listen to Episode #5, "Convention Networking"

Listen to Episode #4, "Good Feedback"

Listen to Episode #3, "Long Stories or Short Stories?"

Listen to Episode #2, "Finding Collaborators"

Listen to Episode #1, "Start Writing"

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook

Andy Schmidt on Pitching: Get Comfortable!

In last week’s Creators Workshop live session, Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt provided tips and answered questions about pitching projects to editors and publishers.

Andy’s presentation was filled with information gleaned from Andy’s career as a comic book editor and a freelance comics writer.

And one piece of advice stood out: Before pitching a story, be comfortable and confident enough to answer any questions that come your way. If an editor asks any questions about your character, your story and your world, you should be prepared to answer them, without scrambling to fill in the blanks.

Andy noted that different writers can reach this comfort level in different ways. At the beginning of his time as a freelance comics writer, Andy would write out an “extremely tight outline” for the entire mini-series or story arc.

“It would be a scene-by-scene, and even a page-by-page breakdown,” Andy said. “Sometimes, I would even write the first script.”

The pitch itself included only the bare-bones plot and character elements. But by preparing so much extra material, Andy was confident that if editors had questions, he would have the answers.

Eventually, Andy said, he became comfortable working from a shorter outline, or notes focused on character motivation and turning points.

However, this comfort level isn’t only for writers. Andy noted that artists should also be extremely familiar with the characters and the world. Adding storytelling through character design, while creating appealing, appropriate artwork, can help a pitch stand out, Andy said. And when someone asks a question about the character designs, or the world, the artist can quickly provide an answer, sometimes with the help of a sketch.

This was just one small part of Andy’s presentation on pitching. Andy also discusses pitching in the Comics Experience Intro to Writing class. Additionally, members of the Creators Workshop often share their pitches with the workshop, to receive critiques and gain advice on making them stronger.

A recording of the entire discussion will be available to Workshop members for a few weeks, so it's not too late to check out the full session.

Comics Experience Creators Workshop live session, Adam and Comfort Love will be discussing how they make a living on the convention circuit -- attending conventions nearly year-round -- as well as answering questions about their Harvey Award-nominated comics work.

Comics Experience live sessions take place every month, giving members real-world knowledge that will help them succeed in their comics career. There’s still plenty of time to sign up before next month’s session. We hope to see you there.

-- Posted by Paul Allor

Comics Experience Panels at San Diego Comic-Con 2011

San Diego Comic-Con 2011 (July 21-24) is less than two weeks away, and if you're interested in making comics or breaking into the industry, then mark your calendar for three Comics Experience panels focused on building your art portfolio, pitching, and breaking (and staying) "in!"

Comics Experience founder, Andy Schmidt will be moderating all three panels, featuring some fantastic special guests including: artist Reilly Brown (Incredible Hercules), artist Zander Cannon (Top 10), writer Mike Costa (G.I. Joe: Cobra), and writer John Layman (Chew).

Check out the schedule and full description of each panel below.

We hope to see you there!

Breaking and Staying In

Thursday, July 21

4:00pm-5:00pm

Room 30CDE

It's well known that breaking into comics as a creator -- be it writer or artist or colorist -- is not easy. Learn how it's done from Andy Schmidt (X-Men, Five Days to Die, Comics Experience founder), who's broken in as an editor, a writer, and a teacher. Not enough? He's also going to talk about how to stay in comics once you catch that first break -- and you'll hear from writer Mike Costa (G.I. Joe: Cobra) and artist Zander Cannon (Top 10) for their tips, too!

Building Your Art Portfolio

Friday, July 22

5:00pm-6:00pm

Room 30CDE

You're at Comic-Con and you're surrounded by editors, artists, writers, and producers -- any of whom could represent a job for you as an artist. Former Marvel and IDW Editor Andy Schmidt (X-Men, Five Days to Die, Comics Experience founder), artist Reilly Brown (Incredible Hercules), and artist Zander Cannon (Top 10) discuss what to include in a portfolio, what to leave out, and how to conduct yourself to make sure your portfolio and your presentation shine.

Pitch Perfect

Saturday, July 23

5:00pm-6:00pm

Room 30CDE

Andy Schmidt (Comics Experience founder, former Marvel and IDW Editor) and panelists John Layman (Chew) and Mike Costa (G.I. Joe: Cobra) reveal the keys to creating the perfect pitch for a comics publisher: what must you have, what to leave out, and how to conduct yourself with interviews and correspondence. This might be the most valuable panel you ever attend!

-- Posted by Rob Anderson (rob@ComicsExperience.com)