We’ve final reached the third and final part of our interview with Jamila Rowser about writing good comics scripts! In parts one and two we focused on all the work necessary for working with a single artist, but in part three we tackle the possibility of a large creative team, mainly editors and sensitivity readers. This interview was focused on a small, indie collaboration but we also touch briefly on working with a publisher to ensure they properly credit that full creative team. Finally, we’ve got a gift just for you! Rowser is frequently asked how to find artists, and had a pre-compiled resource list that she graciously shared with me to reproduce here, at the end of the interview.
Alenka Figa: If you’re just going into the comics business yourself, do you recommend that writers still work with a larger creative team? In terms of scripting but also for illustration, is it important to try and also have editors and letterers?
Jamila Rowser: If possible, always work with an editor, whether you’re starting out or not, but especially when you’re starting out. You’ll learn a lot more about writing comics by working with an editor. It just is helpful to have another eye on your script and be able to see things that you wouldn’t have seen. Based off your budget, if you can’t have an editor work with you on the entire process, from the writing part to the final art being complete, at least see if an editor can look over your script so the script is in as good of a place as possible. Find out their hourly rate and see if you can pay for an hour for them to look over the script and give you some advice.
As far as the larger creative team, if you know who the artist is that you’re working with, I think that would be a good conversation with the artist to see what they would be interested in. Would they want to create the whole thing? Maybe they hate coloring and they’d rather have a colorist on the team or they’d rather not do the lettering. If it’s a very long book then that’s definitely something to consider — having a larger creative team so it is less work on one person.
I don’t think we’ve talked about sensitivity or cultural readers.
I would definitely recommend that even if you’re part of that community, or you’re a part of the larger community, but maybe not that specific subculture and you don’t have that direct experience. It is always helpful to have somebody who has expertise in that area to read your work, especially the script before it even gets to the artist.
When it’s illustrated, it’s also important for the cultural sensitivity reader to see how things are visually depicted. I’ve done that for a comic I don’t have out yet. I had to find cultural readers who were experts in the topic, and I worked with two different people because I wanted to make sure I was really accurate and not offensive, and I got valuable information from both of them.
If you can’t afford to pay somebody, maybe you have friends that are part of the community or subject that you’re writing about that you want feedback on, and you can ask them. Don’t assume you’ve got it right, especially if it’s something that is a sensitive topic or could easily be offensive no matter your intention.
If you put something out that people are offended by, listen to them. Be sincere with your apology. You probably didn’t intend to be offensive unless you are a bigot — in that case you succeeded. Say, “I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to do that. I will learn and do better. Thank you for your feedback.” Don’t be mean. Don’t be rude. Learn and do better next time.
I’m stealing this wording from Cathy G. Johnson, from their podcast Drawing a Dialogue: cultural readers or sensitivity readers bring more experiences into your work, and more experiences is always good.
Stepping back and accepting you’re not an expert about your story is somewhat about ego, and I want to talk about ego more directly. If you are writing a comic and you’re gonna collaborate with another person or a team, part of that is letting go of that feeling, “this is mine.” If you can’t let go of that, maybe you should write a book?
Hello! This is not for you, yes.
I think you had a good point about taking like a fangirl approach or a fan approach. Do you have other advice on how you let go of your ego and be a better collaborator?
Gosh, yeah. You know, I think a lot of that starts before you write the comic. It’s something you should know and value even as a reader. If you’re reading a comic created by a writer and artist, know that it is created by both of them. One is not more important than the other. When you decide to become a comic writer, it is absolutely necessary that you go into it with the intentions of being a good collaborator. Because, it will be collaborative; you can’t get this done without the artist. So the better collaborator you are, the better the comic will be. You may have written the story, but the artist is visualizing that story and also telling that story. Remember why you love comics; it’s not just the writing. A lot of people will be like, the writing can be great, but if it doesn’t look good I’m not gonna read it.
Just let go of that ego. Once you finish the script, know that it is still something that is not just yours, and that is amazing. I think it’s a beautiful thing that you’re working to create something with somebody else. You probably love artists, so remember that and trust their instincts.
One thing I really wanna emphasize is crediting the artist, and making sure the artist is credited by others. If you only say, “I made it,” and never mention the artist, it is selfish and simply inaccurate. Crediting the artist is one of the most important things especially when you’re working with larger publishers, but at least when you’re self-promoting or promoting your indie comic, make sure you always credit the artist.
You talk about the artist always, always, always, always — and everybody who is a part of the creative process. Always. If you see somebody writes a blog or does a post and they only mention you, comment. Reply to them, or if it’s something that they can edit, like an Instagram post, comment like, “Oh, I’m so glad you liked our comic. Would you mind adding so and so to the caption? We created the comic together.” Don’t wait for the artist to do it. Don’t expect the artist to do it. Do it yourself. Imagine how it would feel if you spent hours and hours and hours on co-creating a comic and you’re just never credited. Your name is never talked about. It feels like shit. Writer’s should above and beyond to just prevent that from happening when you’re working with a publisher.
A lot of this happens, I think, when you’re working with larger publishers. Talk to the pub, talk to your editor and your people beforehand and say: if you see an article out there that doesn’t mention the artist, contact them and have them @ the artist.
Before the book even comes out, ask them how the artist will be credited on publisher and on bookselling sites. That’s a bit complicated because sometimes the artist will not be shown, so what they could do is have the artist be listed as an author, so both names will be shown. I think that’s for Amazon, maybe for Barnes and Nobles. That’s a big thing too, how can I make sure the artist is credited? And people can see them easily when they look at the page to buy the book.
I can, as a librarian, throw in as well. If you’re thinking about someone searching for your book in a library catalog, it should come up when the artist’s name comes up. They should be in the metadata. The better they’re credited, the more likely you’re able to see them on a search. There’s an artist I’ve followed for a long time whose work I really like, and he did some work on a big deal franchise, but it took me a while to find which exact comics he’d worked on because he was buried in the credits. I wanna be able to go into my library catalog and search your artist’s name and the book comes right up. That’s how it should be.
Whatever is in your ability to do, if you have to email journalists or reviewers directly and be like, hey, can you edit this? Can you update this? Do it, maybe it’s by accident and they didn’t know. Be polite, don’t be rude, but do it. Always do it. If somebody posts a tweet but only tags you, either reply or retweet it and make sure the artist is included.
That’s a good point, that this is a place where, even though a a lot of creators don’t necessarily have power in in the industry, if you’re working with a publisher you can say, whoa, whoa, where’s the artist’s name? Where’s the letterer’s name?
A side thing is awards. If there’s two people who worked on it, can you make two awards? Why is there one award for a comic that has two creators? Think about that, people who create comic awards.
Rowser’s Resources on Finding an Artist:
- Start following artists you like on social; you’ll end up discovering more that way.
- I suggest looking for artists who have done comics/sequential artwork in the past, versus an artist that only does illustrations.
- Looking at comics on Kickstarter and anthologies and follow artists you find on there.
- Also if you go to conventions go through artist alley and see if there are any artists you like there and get their contact info.
- Look at the exhibitors of conventions/fests that are truly focused on comics, especially indie comics; I recommend:
Script Examples
- https://www.oheysteenz.com/scs-template
- https://www.comicsexperience.com/scripts/
- https://www.makingcomics.com/2014/03/08/write-script-comic/
Databases to find artists:
Search these hashtags on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, etc.:
- #drawingwhileblack
- #drawingwhilelatinx
- #drawingwhile[insert other identity title – the hashtag probably exists!]
- #portfolioday
- #artvartist
- #visiblewomen
- #visibleNB
Books on making comics:
- Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels by Scott McCloud
- Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud
Miscellaneous Resources:
- Charlesbridge editors are offering free, 30-minute sessions to writers and illustrators who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC) to discuss your manuscript or review your portfolio. You must enter a lottery on their website for consideration.
- Elissa shared a thread on reaching out to your local bookstores as an author.
- Literary Agents of Color is a directory that aims to support literary agents of color in the publishing industry.
- Shelly Romero created a document of Publishing Industry Resources.
