Comic self publishing...

[Weeto]

I'm considering going into the world of comic self publishing and by self publishing, I don't mean the normal route of going to a big printer and getting them to print my book but actually for me to personally print everything on a moderate scale.

If this works out but it would be fantastic to be able to produce comics as my small printing company is coping OK but I could do with some other revenue stream.

I might even be able to do some sort of deal with an indie comics creative team to produce a title for my company. Not right this instant but in a few months or so. I'll probably do a small test run on a title produced entirely by myself if I can do so, even if it is purely to show production values rather than content.

I'm no conman as I would pay anyone who worked for me but I just have to make sure everything is in place first.

[RachelEvil]

Good luck. Self-publishing is a tricky thing to get into, but I hear it can be pretty rewarding (I've not had the financial ability to do it myself).

[FanboyStranger]

If you get a chance, you may want to check out Steve Bissette's blog over at http://www.srbissette.com. Self publishing is a reoccurring topic for him, and this year he's had in depth conversation with Dave Sim, Colleen Doran, and Mark Oakley (Thieves and Kings) about their experiences with self-publishing.

[Tim Simmons]

I'm considering going into the world of comic self publishing and by self publishing, I don't mean the normal route of going to a big printer and getting them to print my book but actually for me to personally print everything on a moderate scale.

If this works out but it would be fantastic to be able to produce comics as my small printing company is coping OK but I could do with some other revenue stream.




Wait-- you have your own Printing Company? Or am I misunderstanding?

The one thing I'd be sure to put some stock into, considering you're an indie guy right now, is the digital stuff.
Get a foothold going with that right now, because that's where things will be in 5 years, or so.
By no means am I saying to ignore print-- but I think if you're self-publishing at this point, getting a firm grasp on the digital stuff is paramount right now.

[DungeonMasterJim]

Weeto, you might want to consider becoming the UK version of Ka-Blam or Comixpress. What they do is get the print ready materials of small press/indie/vanity press guys and print their stuff. I'm thinking they have a lot of work since they often seem to have fairly long print turn-arounds unless a guy ups his money for express printing.

Not that you can't also print your own stuff as well...


DM Jim

[Weeto]

I do own a small printing company and the idea of printing comics for independent creators is something I'm interested in. I had been thinking more of being a small time comic publisher rather than being a printer for comic creators but either method could work. Either I could pay the creator for their work or a percentage towards the rights or I could just print the books for the creators.

[ever_seeking]

Good luck with it and don't be shy to show excerpts from the work you come to print of your own and others.

[Tom Stillwell]

I do own a small printing company and the idea of printing comics for independent creators is something I'm interested in. I had been thinking more of being a small time comic publisher rather than being a printer for comic creators but either method could work. Either I could pay the creator for their work or a percentage towards the rights or I could just print the books for the creators.

I really suggest you flesh out your business website a great deal, especially if you're billing yourself as a graphic designer. There is nothing on your site that would inspire me to use your services.

Being a comic printer has the potential to be profitable. Being a comic publisher at this level, given your resources, would not. You have to decide what you want to do: Make money or publish comics. You can't do both at this point. Very few small press publishers ever turn a profit and it takes a ton or work and a lot of years.

[AndrewG]

Good luck to you. I've done it a few times in the past with a magazine and some mini comics but last year really started to put my heart and soul into it. There's something very rewarding about doing it yourself but it is a lot of work.

[Weeto]

I really suggest you flesh out your business website a great deal, especially if you're billing yourself as a graphic designer. There is nothing on your site that would inspire me to use your services.

Being a comic printer has the potential to be profitable. Being a comic publisher at this level, given your resources, would not. You have to decide what you want to do: Make money or publish comics. You can't do both at this point. Very few small press publishers ever turn a profit and it takes a ton or work and a lot of years.

Don't worry about the website just this second as it is only a template based thing which is a stopgap until my own personally designed site goes online shortly. The one I have now is pretty awful.

[Udiguhgudibuh]

I succeeded at "self publishing" a hugely successful line of workout videos, but I had two absolutely mandatory advantages over the competition (Jane Fonda): (1) a superior workout system that got results 3 times faster, and (2) higher production values than Fonda.

If you have immediately apparent superiority over the competition, go for it. Otherwise? No.

Highly successful film director Peter Bogdanovich (Paper Moon, The Last Picture Show, etc.) tried to self-distribute, and failed. "Whatever made me think I could self distribute?" said Bogdanovich, "That was crazy."

Beyond publishing comes marketing and distribution. Clearing those two hurdles require great critical reviews, which requires product superiority that is quickly apparent. Simple as that.

[michealdark]

The internet is the best way to self-publish right now. It's cheap and easy. Printing 200 books and trying to sell them out of the back of your car or trying to sell them to your shop, let alone get in touch with Diamond and see if they'll cary it in Previews (which I guess they never do anymore) seems like both an exciting adventure and a huge pain in the ass at the same time. The internet you can post stuff up and see if you get any reaction to it. Then you can take that positive buzz and print up your work.

[Udiguhgudibuh]

The internet is the best way to self-publish right now. It's cheap and easy. Printing 200 books and trying to sell them out of the back of your car or trying to sell them to your shop, let alone get in touch with Diamond and see if they'll cary it in Previews (which I guess they never do anymore) seems like both an exciting adventure and a huge pain in the ass at the same time. The internet you can post stuff up and see if you get any reaction to it. Then you can take that positive buzz and print up your work.

That makes sense, michealdark. The financial outlay clearly lower. Then the problem is how to attract people to the site-- then how to produce income.

[Weeto]

That makes sense, michealdark. The financial outlay clearly lower. Then the problem is how to attract people to the site-- then how to produce income.

The issue is that I'm far more skilled at designing stuff on computer and then printing it out but I'm awful at putting stuff on to the internet. That is the main reason I don't have a good website at the moment as I can design the thing but I can't make it appear on the internet properly.

[Udiguhgudibuh]

The issue is that I'm far more skilled at designing stuff on computer and then printing it out but I'm awful at putting stuff on to the internet. That is the main reason I don't have a good website at the moment as I can design the thing but I can't make it appear on the internet properly.

Two choices: (1) Upgrade your computer skills, or (2) partner with someone with skills complementary to yours. (If you partner, make sure you have a very clear understanding and written contract.)

[michealdark]

There's Deviant Art.

[Weeto]

I have to be honest and say that I am only interested in getting involved in printing comics to boost my printing business by being able to use comics as a marketing tool and a demonstration of my best printwork and the digital side is secondary at the moment, although I am a big fan of digital comics.

If I was running a company that had a major comic output then I would definately get involved in the digital side as some of the iPhone / iPad apps are great and I have a lot of digital comics on my iPod Touch.

[Udiguhgudibuh]

I have to be honest and say that I am only interested in getting involved in printing comics to boost my printing business by being able to use comics as a marketing tool and a demonstration of my best printwork and the digital side is secondary at the moment, although I am a big fan of digital comics.

If I was running a company that had a major comic output then I would definately get involved in the digital side as some of the iPhone / iPad apps are great and I have a lot of digital comics on my iPod Touch.

You've defined your goals. Good. My advice is to stick with what you know and love-- printing. Hire or partner with someone having Web expertise, and make your contract with them very precise-- or they will come back to bite you if you succeed. "Partner" gives them the specified percentage of your business forever. "Work made for hire" gives them no ongoing claims on your business profits or copyright interest in what you print.

In addition to someone with Web skills, you need someone with a comic to print-- and there are people interested in self-publishing on this site, at this moment. As you know, 85% of all businesses fail in a few months. That's why publishers reduce their risk by taking on several properties-- hoping that at just one of them performs. Spread the risk around by betting on more than one comic.

Everyone pitching a comic has total faith in it. How are your editing skills? Division of labor is a proven rule of economics. Stick with what you know. Find others with expertise that complements yours-- and have both a clear understanding and a contract that clearly defines their interest in the venture.