How to Sell Your Small-press Book to Retailers Part 3 – 21 Tips from Actual Comic Book Retailers
21 tips on selling your small press books to retailers… from the mouths of retailers themselves!
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A Simple Email Tip
When you’re emailing someone you don’t know, be sure you state what it is you want from them. It sounds silly and basic, I know, but there are times when I get emails from creators whom I don’t know, and I have to guess at what it is they want from me. It can be […]
Lessons In “North Bend”
It’s been a while since we’ve had an entry here in the Trenches. This time around, we’ve got Ryan Ellsworth talking about his project North Bend, and the lessons learned with it. Related Posts:Flatting, With Herve St-LouisA “Super” KickstarterTPG Week 281: The End Of An EraTPG Week 279: Choose Your Own LoD!TPG: The End
The Truth
Honesty is always the best policy. It’s been said that I’m harsh because I don’t sugar-coat what I see as the truth. Bad is bad, and I say it without qualms. When pussyfooting around, the message can get lost. People hear what they want to hear. In not saying what needs to be said, the […]
TPG Week 242: Different Mistakes, But Still Nothing Happens
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds! This week, we have another entry from Brave One Solomon Steen. We have Liam Hayes in blue, I’m the guy in red, and we’re all going to see what Solomon has learned in Related Posts:TPG Week 273: Missed Opportunities On GeorwellTPG Week 258: […]
Vampires
Everyone makes fun of Twilight, because of the sparkly vampires. Related Posts:No Related Posts
Recent Columns...
TPG Week 274: Learning In A Resubmission
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The ProvingGrounds! This week, we have something of a treat: a resubmission! It doesn’t happen around here that often, so I’m always happy when a writer resubmits something. It lets us all see what they’ve learned and how they’ve grown. This week, our resubmission comes from […]
TPG Week 273: Missed Opportunities On Georwell
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds! This week, we have our own Brave One Liam Hayes stepping in! Liam hasn’t submitted anything in a while, so it’ll be interesting to see what he has for us. We also have Steve Colle going back to his notes in blue, we […]
TPG Week 272: Treading Water Is Not Good
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds! This week we have Arjun Ramesh returning as our Brave One! We also have Steve Colle in green, Ryan Kroboth with the pencils, and I’m the guy in red. Let’s see what kind of surprise Arjun has for us all with Fireworks In […]
TPG Week 271: Lots ‘O Green & Red
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds! This week we have a new Brave One in the person of Jason Menard. We also have Steve Colle back in green (he’s missed all of you!), we have Ryan Kroboth wielding the mighty pencil (he may break it on this one), and […]
TPG Week 270: Burying the Lede?
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds! This week, we have Sean Ian Mills returning as our Brave One! We also have a special guest: Steve Colle has returned for a special engagement this week, and is again in his customary green. Of course, we have Ryan Kroboth with […]
TPG Week 269: Settings Are Necessary (I Shouldn’t Have To Say That)
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds! This week, we have a new Brave One in Michael Gonzalez. (I wanted to spell that with an s . I sometimes wonder about the spelling of surnames. I’ve seen Gonzalez spelled both ways, and have always wondered why. Are you less of […]
Other Recent Posts
TPG Week 268: It’s A Race!
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds! This week’s Brave One is Greg Thayer, back for more. We also have Ryan Kroboth with the pencil assists, and I, of course, am the one in red. Now, lettuce (get it?!) see what Greg has learned with Just Another Story Related Posts:TPG […]
TPG Week 267: Gumption, But No Story
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds! This week’s Brave One is Anh Diep. Aside from me being the curmudgeon in red, we also have Ryan Kroboth with the pencil assist. Now we’re all going to see what Ahn brings us with Related Posts:TPG Week 275: More Notes Than ScriptTPG […]
The Choice Is Yours
You can either stay at the level you’re at, or you can do the work to raise your game, get noticed, and be hired for projects. Related Posts:The Back-UpPractice Makes Perfect?Dead No (Yawn) MoreA Simple Email TipWhat Do You Want?
The Back-Up
There are times when you need to perform simple maintenance on your files. Related Posts:The Choice Is YoursPractice Makes Perfect?Dead No (Yawn) MoreA Simple Email TipWhat Do You Want?
TPG Week 266: I Wish This Were On The Shelves
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds. This week, our Brave One is Galen Schulz. Aside from me being all crusty and cranky in red, we also have Ryan Kroboth with the pencil assists. Now, let’s see what Galen has learned as he presents us Related Posts:TPG Week 281: The […]
Practice Makes Perfect?
Practice makes perfect is misleading. Related Posts:The Choice Is YoursThe Back-UpDead No (Yawn) MoreA Simple Email TipWhat Do You Want?
Dead No (Yawn) More
Lots of hash is being made of the Dead No More thing that Marvel Comics are doing. Related Posts:The Choice Is YoursThe Back-UpPractice Makes Perfect?A Simple Email TipWhat Do You Want?
What Do You Want?
Here’s a question to ask yourself every day when you get up: What do you want? Related Posts:The Choice Is YoursThe Back-UpPractice Makes Perfect?Dead No (Yawn) MoreA Simple Email Tip
A Sad Time For DC
Oh, look. DC is headed off in yet another new direction. Related Posts:The Choice Is YoursThe Back-UpPractice Makes Perfect?Dead No (Yawn) MoreA Simple Email Tip
You Will Be Judged
As a creator, you will be judged. This is why we put things out in the world: so they can be judged (and hopefully liked). Related Posts:The Choice Is YoursThe Back-UpPractice Makes Perfect?Dead No (Yawn) MoreA Simple Email Tip
TPG Week 265: Don’t Turn The Reader Off
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds! This week we have a new Brave One in the form of Riccardo Martino. I’m going to be by myself this week when it comes to editing. There was a surprise that had been lined up for all of you, but it fell […]
Success
We all measure what we think of as success differently, and that’s great. But whatever you think success is, you should move those goalposts when you feel you’ve achieved it. This will keep you always moving forward and striving for something better. Go forth. Be successful. Measure it. Then be more successful. You can only […]
Your Visibility
Your visibility is a very important thing. You can’t continue to get work without it. That being said, you should always ask the question: How is the project going to be published? This is the only question that really matters. Yes, you can ask questions about ownership and money and printing and terms and limits […]
What’s Your Plan?
What’s your after-comics plan? Reality-check: the overwhelming bulk of us will not be able to make a living off of creating comics, and as healthcare gets better, we’re living longer than ever. The likelihood of you as an individual being relevant to comics in 5 years is slim—if you’re ever there at all. So you […]
Buck Up
There are times when you just need to hear this. Related Posts:The Choice Is YoursThe Back-UpPractice Makes Perfect?Dead No (Yawn) MoreA Simple Email Tip
What’s Your Story?
What’s your story? Before you approach any tale you want to tell, be it visually or with words, this question should be asked. The answer should inform how you approach the telling of the tale. #simpletenets Related Posts:The Choice Is YoursThe Back-UpPractice Makes Perfect?Dead No (Yawn) MoreA Simple Email Tip
TPG Week 264: Give A Damn
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds! This week, we have Gene Patrick as our Brave One. We also have Liam Hayes back in blue, Ryan Kroboth with his sharp pencils, and I’m the dullard in red. Related Posts:TPG Week 256: Same Problems, Different ScriptTPG Week 222: Writing Challenge […]
Your Time
Time. Time management, to be more precise. Time management is about prioritizing what is and isn’t important to you—what has to be done right now versus what can wait a bit. Related Posts:The Choice Is YoursThe Back-UpPractice Makes Perfect?Dead No (Yawn) MoreA Simple Email Tip
Challenge Yourself
How often do you challenge yourself in your work? I mean, really push your limit? There’s an annual challenge called 24 Hour Comic Day. The goal is to create a 24 page comic in 24 hours. Related Posts:The Choice Is YoursThe Back-UpPractice Makes Perfect?Dead No (Yawn) MoreA Simple Email Tip
Vacation’s Over
We’re practically at the end of the second week of the year. It’s now time to get off our collective asses and start to do something about the stuff we didn’t do during the holidays. Stopped working out? Time to get back on the horse. Stopped creating? Time to get back on it. The […]
TPG Week 263: Evolution Underway
Welcome back, one and all, to The Proving Grounds! This week’s Brave One is no stranger here: we have Schuyler Van Gunten! It’s just going to be me this week in red, and we have Ryan Kroboth with the pencil assists. Now we’re all going to see how far Schuyler has come and see if […]
Is LinkedIn Useful For Comics?
There are all kinds of social things out there. Ways to communicate whatever it is you want. Related Posts:The Choice Is YoursThe Back-UpPractice Makes Perfect?Dead No (Yawn) MoreA Simple Email Tip
Follow Through
The most important aspect of any plan or initiative is the follow-through. Saying I’m going to accomplish this means nothing if you don’t follow through. Want to get somewhere in comics? Follow through. #simpletenets Related Posts:The Choice Is YoursThe Back-UpPractice Makes Perfect?Dead No (Yawn) MoreA Simple Email Tip
Your Voice, Your Ego
You’re creating because you have something to say. Using your voice is important. Just don’t let your ego write checks your talent can’t cash. #simpletenets Related Posts:The Choice Is YoursThe Back-UpPractice Makes Perfect?Dead No (Yawn) MoreA Simple Email Tip
Not The Enemy
Editors aren’t the enemy. They’re there to help make you look good. If you aren’t ready for editing and the changes that go with that, then you aren’t ready for publication. #simpletenets Related Posts:The Choice Is YoursThe Back-UpPractice Makes Perfect?Dead No (Yawn) MoreA Simple Email Tip
Love What You
Love what you do. It will show up in the work. Don’t hate what you do—that will show up in the work, too. #simpletenets Related Posts:The Choice Is YoursThe Back-UpPractice Makes Perfect?Dead No (Yawn) MoreA Simple Email Tip
Strengths & Weaknesses
What are your creative strengths? What are your creative weaknesses? When creating, you should always try to play to your strengths. However, on the side, you should always try to work on your weaknesses, shoring them up so that they could conceivably become strengths. Related Posts:The Choice Is YoursThe Back-UpPractice Makes Perfect?Dead No (Yawn) MoreA […]
The New
New year, new stuff to think about, new plans to make, new goals to hit. Related Posts:The Choice Is YoursThe Back-UpPractice Makes Perfect?Dead No (Yawn) MoreA Simple Email Tip
TPG Week 262: New Year’s Opening Salvo
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds! This week starts the sixth year of this column here at ComixTribe. Six years. That’s a lot of scripts to go through. Related Posts:TPG Week 212: Pause To ThinkTPG Week 278: Things Changed, But Nothing LearnedTPG Week 265: Don’t Turn The Reader OffTPG […]
Maybe It’s Me…
I don’t know. Maybe I’m jaded. Maybe I have a dour outlook on life ( life meaning comics ). It’s quite possible that it’s me. I’m willing to accept that as a possibility. Related Posts:No Related Posts
Happy Birthday To Us
Happy birthday to us! Today marks the end of five full years of the existence of ComixTribe. Related Posts:No Related Posts
TPG Week 261: Christmas Rewrite
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds! This week, we have Troy Bowen as our Brave One. We also have Liam Hayes in blue, Ryan Kroboth with the pencils, and I’m the idiot in red, doing this on Christmas Eve. Related Posts:TPG Week 73: Another Copyrighted Character!TPG Week 72: Starting […]
TPG Week 260: A Better Resubmission
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds! This week, we have a resubmission from Sean Mills, all the way back from Week 248. Liam is off this week, leaving Ryan Kroboth and I to do the heavy lifting with pencils and the red pen, respectively. If you want to […]
TPG Week 259: Not Bad For A 1st Timer
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds! This week, we have a brand new Brave One in Arjun Ramesh. We also have Liam Hayes in sacre blue (roll with the jokes, folks!), and we have Ryan Kroboth with the pencil assist. I’m the guy in red, crying in the corner […]
TPG Week 258: When The Rewrite Is Still Bad
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds. This week, we have Brave One Galen Schulz returning with a rewrite! It doesn’t happen often, so here’s the link to the original, and we’re going to go through this and see what’s what. Liam isn’t with us this week, so it’s going […]
TPG Week 257: Bad Taste Makes Me Stop
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds! This week, we have Brave One Jave Galt-Miller with us. We also have Liam Hayes in blue, Ryan Kroboth with pencils, and I’m the guy in red. This week, we’re all going to see what Jave brings us in Related Posts:TPG Week […]
TPG Week 256: Same Problems, Different Script
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds! This week, we have a new Brave One in Jay VanVeen. We also have Liam Hayes in red, Ryan Kroboth with the great pencil, and I’m the guy wondering about my lot in life in red. Together, we’re all going to see what […]
TPG Week 255: Once More Unto The Breach!
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds! This week brings us Brave One Solomon Steen once again. We also have Liam Hayes in blue, and Ryan Kroboth with a pencil assist. I’m the one in raging in red. Let’s all see what we have in Related Posts:TPG Week 262: […]
TPG Week 254: Complete Waste Of Time
Welcome back, one and all, to another installment of The Proving Grounds! This week we have Shawn Milazzo! The last time he was here, there were many jabs and body blows to my sanity. We have Liam Hayes back, and we also have Ryan Kroboth with a pencil assist. We’re all going to see if […]
TPG Week 253: Still Nothing Learned
Welcome back, one and all, to The Proving Grounds! This week, we again have Solomon Steen. Liam Hayes couldn’t join us this week, so I’m going to be the lone guy in red, gibbering, but we still have Ryan Kroboth rocking the pencils! Related Posts:TPG Week 218: Writing Challenge Entry 3TPG Week 196: Blackenstein […]
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