I keep hearing about never making any money self-publishing and part of me knows this to be true but part of me really thinks that companies like Image are really going about it the wrong way to. If they stopped publishing every Joe who had a finished black and white book then I think they would have a bit more respect from people like me. And maybe even some sales. I’m really not impressed with their business structure and I think it’s running itself into the ground.

On the other hand you have European publishers who are paying their artists upfront to create books. They fully back them and they fully market them (unlike Image). Anyway, enough of my venting about Image. I liked them in the 90′s.

We definitely should talk more about this all. I really need to figure this part out. I’d love to see a link to your book/site once you get it up and running.

I’ve heard of the Comic Book Sunday thing too. Maybe I’ll have to swing by there. We can talk about it more over coffee!

I had a good long talk with one of my other publishers a week or so back. He’s a guy that has stuff published through both DC and Dynamite– and a few other. Plus he’s a big Hollywood guy. Anyhow, talking with him, he was showing me some of the metrics on printing/trades/floppies etc– to go at it alone (self publishing) is madness…If companies like Image are barely turning a profit, then the odds on us (as individual indie-types) are monumentally stacked against our favor.

Along with that, when I told him how much I was willing to sell 50% of my IP to cover production costs, well– he slapped me. It hurt. (I’m kidding of course, but he did highly advise against it)

The truth is, if you’re going to bankroll your own comic, the actual physical production and distribution are going to kill you financially and you really aren’t going to turn a profit…adding to that, you (and I) aren’t going to be in a position to print off 100,000 copies– so, we’re looking at a limited audience with limited distribution.
Pairing up with a publisher solves that, but then you’ve lost at least half your IP– and god knows what else they might have snuck into that contract.

Everyone that I’m talking to on the indie side is going icomic at this point. I think within this year you’ll be seeing a lot of noise on that front. It’s gonna be interesting, to say the least.

Hey, I noticed you work for Dreamworks– are you in LA? If so, we should grab a coffee sometime– also, (if you don’t go already) you oughta come hang out at Comic Book Sunday– big gathering of comic/animation folk once a month…It’s at Titmouse Studios in Feb. Good times.

Among your points, I never knew that blogging on non-update days was a good thing. I just knew that I wanted to fill my blog with useful content so it was my only option. But this is great to know that it’s a good approach.

I do have a twitter account but I just rarely use it. Now that you mention it I guess I should put a twitter link on my site too. Thanks for the suggestion.

I’d love to hear more things that you’ve found useful in webcomics!! Thanks again!

I’m dipping my toes into the webcomic world after my comic ran into…let’s just call a contract disagreement…with our publisher. The rights reverted back to me, but left me without a publisher. I started talking with a number of my indie (and not so indie) friends who are all pushing to webcomics at this point.

From everything that I’ve learned thus far, you’re making all the right moves. WordPress/Comicpress, check. Project Wonderful, check. Blogging on non-update days, check.

Oh, also, you’ve got great art and a fun story– let’s not forget that!

So, kudos. You’ve won me over and I’ll be checking back in!

–oh, about the only thing I’m not sure I saw: Do you have a twitter account that you’re promoting with?

Thanks for dropping by and letting me know! This is great information.

Yeah, I started bidding on the Phoenix Requiem lately because I’ve been reading it and I really like it. She’s a pretty amazing artist and to think that she does a page in about 4 hours (from what I read). Thanks again!