I'm an artist so what I'm lack off is writing skill. So when I see a "writer looking for artist" thread, I would like to see their their previous/example works. And if they already have a story for the collaboration, beside the summary and genre, I would like to see the ready-to-go script of one or two first episodes. It it's click with my liking, I'll send them my art example, what I good/not good at and what I can't draw as well.
I will skip the I have this idea or dm for more detail threads.
I've made a couple of free art like covers and character design to practice something out of my comfort zone in order ro upgrade my skills. By that I mean drawing something which isn't auto approved by me by default because it's just my art but something that another person would like and accept beecause they like it, not because they paid for it. My art isn't great that's why i do it fo free and I also don't like when ppl charge 20$ for a picture worth to be hanging on their fridge exclusively.
I probably wouldn't accept an unpaid collaboration here on Tapas because a reader probably wouldn't care who drew the pictures if it's not mindblowing. Other platforms, such as Youtube and Instagram (I don't have an Instagram though), I would if they have a large audience, and if I feel like I can help them. I wouldn't collaborate with a stranger on the internet, but if I'm real friends with them in real life I'll collaborate for free.
I will only do it if we've been friends in real life for a long time and some of the characters have to be mine. My friend and I actually do have a collab series of our own.
Well, I do lack greatly on the writing side so I do search for comic collabs. So, first and foremost:
• A good writer
Be able to create a story from start to end, with good dialogue, be clear and think on details (don't be lazy! describe or use references for characters, locations...)
• A story I love (and that can be monetized)
My final goal is always to profit from the comic. I'm not working for free, this is an investment lol so I have to think this story is so awesome that we gonna get rich or smth. But till then I should at least feel entertained enough.
• A good relationship/profesionalism/respect
If I sense a disturbance in the field I will start being less and less motivated till I quit. No winning award story can make me stay if the other person is a lower back orifice.
• Fair workload, equal levels of commitment and fair pay
If the other person writes a chapter and disappears for the month it'll take me to draw it, if they're not willing to try and reduce my workload one bit, and on top of that they expect 50/50(if profits are involved) well, you can imagine...
I have a few very narrow circumstances under which I worked unpaid with a writer:
Both of the above comics were black and white with little to no toning.
So overall my rules are:
If I did unpaid labor, it would be in my freetime, and therefor ONLY if it was something I:
A) For a fandom that I loved, to help that creator
B) charity work for a good cause
C) Friends or family <3
something like that, my time is very sparse so I need to priorities
Like, my God, the things people want in lieu of money. "We have to be really really good friends and this project has to save the rainforest and also you need to come to my house and make me sandwiches."
I have to know the people I'm teaming up to a certain extent, the project has to be short (as in, a few images and that's it) and fun to do. As soon as it looks somewhat like work, then I'm out.
I've done a few collabs on Tapas and another comic website, and those projects turned out very nicely when those requirements were met.
Well yeah, otherwise if a person doesn't pay me and we don't have (or build) any relationship (or don't have anything beneficial from it to both of us), they are just throwing a script to me so I will do everything and they will sit nitpicking every little thing?
If I value what I can get in return of my time higher than that same time spent on my other activities. Could be experience/knowledge, exposure, fun, connections, peace of mind...
So limited commitment with reliable results would increase chances for me to work for free...
Maybe if they were a best friend or family member, someone with enough trust to not abuse getting free work.
I might also be open to anything tired to a charity or nonprofit, where any money earned would be going to a good cause. But it also depends on what the cause is.
Personally, I wouldn't do unpaid work. At all. Under any circumstances.
The writing I do on my own and research takes a lot of effort and time. So if I were to take work apart from that, it would have to be paid and worth the time.
There exist exceptions of course, but those are scarce and few in between.
