If you’re a writer who wants an artist to work for free- for the love of god, at least have examples of your work and don’t expect professional quality

Just boggles my mind when we're on a website with NOVELS on it but I guess they don't want to write one of those? Like you write, go...go write stuff. No one is stopping you. Saying this as someone who has posted both a comic and a novel to this site, it is so much freakin faster to post an entire novel than to draw an entire novel.

I have flashes of inspiration from time to time.

I think the main thing here is a lot of writers are very young and inexperienced. They don't simply understand the concept of how much time goes into sketching, linear, flats, shading, text, etc. I won't lie, I was like that too. But I've changed.

I think if a writer and artist are willing to collaborate, with each understanding that this will not be easy, then I understand.

However, when we see writers who come along with very little experience, no finished works, and gives legit no description of a story ... it's hard to be sympathetic.

Also, please, writers gave to realize there should legit be no deadlines. Don't expect artists to work as if it is a full time job. This is a hobby. A side project. Something they do in their free time.

Again, if an artist and writer come together and know what is to happen and the amount of work it takes to produce a comic, even a short one, then that's fine.

For example, I'm saving funds to produce a longer comic, maybe 25-30 full episodes being 50 ish panels. It's not long compared to many other comics, but it certainly isn't something I would post to ask for a collaboration. I've learned from that. And unless an artist is truly looking for a project like that, it is inappropriate to ask that of an artist.

Idk, just my thoughts on it.

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What about the people that show their work? The people like me that tells the full concept and shows the work they are trying to put toward it, admits there is a dream here and is not trying to guilt trip you or make you feel like your getting something out of it.
There is a large group of people who claim to be writers, so when I post something it gets washed to sea. I show scripts detailed summary's of what I want to work on. How the story will be paced even documents of how I plan on communicating on character deign and the reason why they wear these clothes or look the way they do.

It really shows as well, I'll get the I'm surprised you have this much info there, but no one will be willing to do this work for few (be that very few). That is completely understandable, I don't have the simple romance story with a twist, or the "oh shit I'm in another world now, ain't that whacky?", I created a complex story that's too ambitious to get for charity work.

Just please don't look down on the people who try, the people that post their links to there work https://forums.tapas.io/t/shonen-manga-artist-collab/688064 for example does this seem like I'm doing what was said here ("provide an example of your scripting work which can show your skills in creating scenes, character acting and dialogue? Just saying your idea won't show the quality of your work- people need to see the execution.")

There is a large amount of people who claim they have a story it even annoys me, but they barely put in the work to create the world, characters, power system, clothes, time period, weapons, relationships, sub plots, emotions. They won't put in that much work, [I know because I'm the guy they get to help build it up]. I'm ranting to a bit it seems but, sometimes not everyone can pay and wants to fulfil a passion. Working their hardest and still learning to do better and get to their goal.

Edit: Yes, I know I can make it into a book. I choose not too I have other books being worked on about stories I want into a book. I want certain things to be visual, artist vision, if you know.

THIS. So my best friend is a somewhat popular artist. The amount of people who comes at him asking for free work and the phrase "You'll get exposure if you help me" is ridiculous. It honestly makes me cringe.

Yeah I get the sense that a lot of posters asking to collab are young teens (just a guess) with no idea how much effort longform comics take to produce, and no idea how art careers work. That's not a dig; I remember being young and oblivious, but I learned a lot by doing. The ideal collab for these writers would probably be another young artist with lots to learn and no bills to pay.

When a writer rolls up asking for free work and they're clearly an adult who should know better, that's when I judge them lol.

As for myself, I'm haggard old professional artist, so while I don't mind doing a free sketch here and there, I'm absolutely not interested in picking up a long-term unpaid job working for a faceless stranger, no matter how great their idea is.

I always assume theyre kids and have never written anything or worked with comics before
so they don't know how draining and time-consuming it can be and how much work goes into not just creating the art but scripting as well.
the people who ask for free art, I assume are just going off an idea, their characters aren't developed yet and neither is their world or plot.

My advice to them would be to learn how to draw. because if their story is good people will typically look past the art. and making comics is really the fastest way to develop your art.

Not to mention if its your FIRST comic, its just not gonna be good by default, so their writings probably not that good to begin with

I do wonder why there isnt some kind of rule against asking for free work though.

I would hesitate to assume most of them are kids, TBH. Some definitely are, and some state that upfront, in which case I will laugh a little but I won't judge them too harshly. But I'm reasonably confident that A LOT of people going around looking for artists are people who have jobs or are in college (many even state as much), in which case they should absolutely understand the value of time. In fact the WORST offenders when it comes to entitlement and general butthurt were definitely all adults, at least by legal definitions (kinda hard to take someone seriously as an adult when they're throwing childish tantrums about not getting free labour).

My advice to any writer looking to partner with a "good" artist but absolutely cannot afford one - get published in prose first. No they're not the exact same skill set, but IMO (as someone who writes both prose and comics) writing prose is more difficult since you actually have to do the artistic side of the writing and not just the technical. You can always learn how to adapt your writing to comics, but it's much harder to go from comics to prose. So go and demonstrate that you do know how to write. Write a novel. Sell it. Show that you are indeed a professional writer. Set a few hundred dollars aside from your advance/royalties to pay for sample pages. I guarantee you will have a MUCH easier time finding both an artist and an audience for your work.

"But wait!" you say. "Getting published is actually really really hard!"

Yes. But so is learning how to draw at a professional level.

I wanted to say something about this for a while but i never did because i'm not artist so i thought it isn't my place to speak, but i do see wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy more "ideas" that need artist than i see artists wanting story idea ( i saw i think one or two, but they wanted to practice and said so)

Yeah it's not really one needing the other it's the fact that one is "easily accessible than the other". By easy people think putting some words and name to a document makes it a story.

Same with good art = good story which is not true. Some artist do gain a superiority thing where it turns to you need me I don't need you.

Learning to draw and write well are hard and amazing skills to have. Through out all of history these two things have worked together and will continue to create beauty.

Thank you, I found someone to help with character sheet concepts they adore the story. However I might hit a road block when it comes to the actual manga. I believe you can do it as well man, someone with common interest will come out there. Saying no one is willing to is already an injustice to yourself, it is not a guarantee. Some times it takes two and they'll be someone out there who would love to help. Both sides an artist can point out story things to the writer and vice versa. Their art style doesn't have to be as breathtaking and wonderful as Kentaro Miura. I still learn to draw, Why? just make money and pay someone right?

I have visions so vivid and bright it's painful I can't draw them like I wish too, so I practice and I keep working art takes time. PEOPLE MUST LEARN THAT, the art of story telling takes time.

"Writers", jump to making comics to fast, same as artist, I said it ounce I'll say it again. So what you have some characters, you have a vague storyline. What are you trying to say with your story what makes it special.

People constantly crap on works, mha, jojo, demon slayer, one punch man, naruto, attack on titian the list goes on. They aren't these gods of story telling, the use tropes as well. It's how they structure things and misdirect you or even sometimes giving you what you expected. Most of all it's the passion put behind the creators.

Over and over I tired to help people on comic teams who I thought were passionate like me about being a mangaka. It was all fake, the realize the process then dash, they don't take it seriously or most of the work is being carried by me. They treat the artist paid or not like they are just tools, same can go for the other way around. If I'm working with someone I want someone who appreciates nd is willing to input and give ideas.

I am extremely ranting right now and I am sorry about that to wrap this up. Art and story work in harmony. Don't doubt your work but take criticism, and try it even if you think it won't work who cares. you try and keep trying until you can. Give people a reason too choose you.

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