Wonderfunders Document

A work in continual development since 2011

Independent Comic Book Project – self-published by an author, self/crowd funded

By Jim Lynch with input from Wonderfunders Membership Group, especially Brian Germain

1. Brainstorm- have or otherwise create an idea for either a character or a story

2. Plotting- develop a plot outline
3. Characterization- develop character profiles and model sheets
4. Scripting- write a script (Or get someone that is decent to write it for you)
5. Editing- edit (Not just for grammar, other things like story flow, consistency, voice etc. Not
usually optimal to self edit. This is vital if you are serious about breaking in and being taken
seriously.) 5.a. (optional early planning) Have penciler or
yourself do rough thumbnails for the pages so you have a vague idea of how all this will
actually work in the final draft.
6. Manage- Hire/become Production Manager (This might be a much earlier step to be taken
by some)
7. Pre-print- determine initial proposed print run - if it is small run POD each book will be
insanely more costly than full web press gang run. (This can and will often be subject to
change but you need to have an idea where to start.)
8. ISSN or ISBN - Figure out which applies to your book then obtain the proper one and make
sure it goes into the pre-press for the cover. For serials the ISSN is free and it essentially
does the same thing as an ISBN. For an ISBN it will cost you a good amount your best bet is
to buy them in bulk straight from the ISBN vendor for 1,000 ISBN's it costs $1,000 or a buck
a piece. however for one ISBN it's About $125. Remember that digital versions and print
versions of the same work require different numbers.
9. Distribution- plan / begin to arrange distribution (Diamond info if that is your
path)http://vendor.diamondcomics.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=2&s=247&ai=3
6237
10. Delegate- Hire and negotiate rates/schedules with production staff and make sure they know
who is doing what. Legal Contracts between all parties should be signed at this point. The
most common comic jobs include but are not limited to: Writing-Editing-Pencils-Inks-Flats-
Colors-Letters-Publishing.
11. Escrow- (Optional) open escrow if applicable.
12. Promote- create a promotional package that contains no less than 3 to five promo pinups/
pages might help sell the idea to advertisers. Compare your packet to others packets and
see if there are other things you can add to a promo packet to make yours more attractive to
prospective customer and advertisers as well as art staff. 11.a. (Now start using
those promos as advertiser bait and interest buzz on blogs, facebook, twitter, myspace,
tagged, or whatever other social/ business networks or forums your involved with and
possibly get involved with more.)
13. Advertising- start seeking advertisers, and places for you to advertise as well some will
want only to "swap" ads but that is good for you too, some will actually be willing to pay to
advertise in your book(s) keep your rates low but reasonable as well.
14. Market- continue to develop distribution plan (Remember your distribution plan should
involve getting your work to as many places as possible for the cheapest rates possible if
diamond is your only avenue perhaps think digital distribution)
15. Finance- (optional) Somehow you have to pay for all this so if per chance you don't get
advertisers perhaps create a funding pitch for Wonderfunders and/or other crowdfunding
 sites like Kickstarter or Indiegogo. This is a complete process in and of itself, for an overview
please read http://comicbook.com/blog/2012/12/06/wonderfunders-co-founder-james-
lynch-interview/
16. Finance Part 2- once you have all your crowd funding ducks in a row, go live with your
funding pitch and don't spam it but promote it enough that others know you are serious.
17. Artwork- begin artwork in earnest (Repeat step 11.a. The more artwork people see from/
about your title the more they will begin tor recognize or remember and possibly tell others
about it.)
18. Lock down initial print run. (**I have no idea why this is here or what it really means, if it were
me I wouldn't complete this step until after I had a completed book or very close to it or at the
very least was fully financed.)
19. Post Production- coordinate book layout (Much of this should be done during the scripting
phase so finish it up here. Again there will be much mor post production and book layout
once you have the final book ready to go to pre-press.)
20. Legwork- continue seeking advertisers (and those willing to promote you feel free to do
interviews send out pitches for people to check out. and exhibit any of the finished artwork or
nearly finished artwork to the people that can get you good positive exposure.)
21. Pencil- start pencils (May need additional rewrites before starting. There are just some
things that are impossible to draw as static drawings... not many but some... for instance you
can't fit a half hour of film animation into one panel. You could also optionally start thumbnail
pencils as soon as you have a script. See 5.a.)
22. Review- review pencils
23. Fix- pencil adjustments (**Don't be too much of a stickler if you are an indy guy chances are
your penciler is an indy guy unless you are shelling out alot of bux already and shelling out
that much more for changes then chances are you are just ticking your artist off with every
"free" change you request. if it isn't really hurting the book leave it alone this is likely your first
book so know when to cut and run. On the same token you are requesting work for a book
that you are planning to have published and representing you or your company in some way
don't be buffaloed by your artist either, know when it's crap and when it's just you being knit-
picky)
24. Ink- start inks (unless the letter is doing hand lettering and needs to lay them out in pencil
before inks are applied.
25. Review- review inks
26. Fix- ink adjustments (See pencil adjustments)
27. Color- Begin colors/flats
28. Review- review colors
29. Fix- color adjustments (See pencil adjustments)(also if these are not digital colors there may
not be an easy way to adjust them.)
30. Lettering- Begin lettering
31. Review- review lettering
32. Fix- lettering adjustments
33. Editorialize- write editorial (**this is what I would regard as an optional step and it can really
be done at any point in the process. the reason many, [myself included] do this near the end
of a project is because you might want to include hiccups pitfalls and triumphs over obstacles
along the way.)
34. Pick up the pieces- advertisers art submitted- The earlier you can get this the better
obviously
35. create Indicia - the fine print. Research here http://bit.ly/1cDXpk6 some examples may be
viewed here http://www.comicbookdb.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1298
36. Pre-Press- digitize for print if not digital in creation . Assuming that in some way shape or
form your stuff is going to at some point wind up in a digital print ready format you should do
 all your pre-press or have someone do it for you in advance this way it will save you tons of
money in art and/or pre-press fees.
37. Pre-Sales- Pre-sell/promote
38. Make arrangements with printer (Some of our members recommend local printer so that
you can do press check. Alternatively order 1 POD)
39. Print- most of the work is out of the way now let your printer do their job.
40. Distribute- arrange distribution (really have this somewhat arranged back on the earlier step
about Distribution) - This is a good idea but depending you may want to have the
groundwork laid for the distribution as soon as you have some production ready art (see step
9) Some of our members recommend 3 promos and 3-5 pages of sequential art at that
stage.
41. Advertise, Market, Promote, and Sell- Sell, sell, sell! If people aren't buying then you're
either not trying hard enough or you are doing something wrong or you have failed on one of
the previously mentioned steps. By this point a ton of people should have interviewed,
reviewed, advertised, promoted, recognized, heard of, and patiently awaited your product.
Now maybe its not the amount you wanted or hoped for but maybe its far more. You never
know until you go.
42. Legitimize your operation If you are going to operate as a legitimate business and self
publish then you should consider getting a business license, business bank account,
bookkeeping software or service, and have legal contract forms for talent you hire or
collaborate with at the ready including clear declarations of IP ownership, profit sharing if
any, responsibilities of all parties concerned, etc.. There is a great deal of detail required to
operate correctly as a business

Rinse and repeat