self publishing
Any creator who publishes their own material with even minor success is sure to be asked for their advice on self-publishing from time to time. I receive general queries on a regular and frequent basis, but it is a question far too complex to answer in a few lines.
Self-publishing has a wide definition; it can encompass anything from tens of copies of a photocopied eight-page mini-comic given away to friends, to tens of thousands of a $35 original graphic novel sold through bookstores worldwide like From Hell.
Advice on self-publishing can include the creative and psychological processes, the tools of the trade, reproductive processes, distribution, promotion, legal and business requirements, web design and that's just for starters.
I will attempt to collect together various resources for the potential self-publisher and post them on this site, but this should be considered merely an introduction to the concept. I highly recommend that you do your own research at your local library, or online. But like driving a car, you may find that you will only really start to learn once you are out on the road by yourself.
I include initally an article I had written in response to an editor's request, a question-and-answer forum, plus a newly compiled bibliography.
I will be happy to attempt to answer any queries as time allows. Your question and my reply may be posted on this site or otherwise published for the benefit of all potential self-publishers. I will of course be happy to post any contributions from other self-publishers. Send your queries to gary@millidge.com
Good Luck!
-Gary Spencer Millidge June 2002Self-Publisher's Forum
Gary attempts to respond to questions about self-publishing. Send any queries you may have to gary@millidge.com and Gary will do his best to respond to them here.Funding Fun
Especially commissioned for this site! A new article by Sean Michael Wilson, the writer of Angel of the Woods, detailing his experiences in getting funding for his comics and movie projects (Dec 2003).Sunday Self-Publishing
Especially commissioned for this site! A new article by David Hitchcock, the creator of Whitechapel Freak, reflecting on his experiences of self-publishing (June 2002).Getting It Right
Millidge's original article on self-publishing as published in Comics Forum #10 (Spring 1996).
Gary had only been self-publishing Strangehaven for a year when he was asked to write this article.Bibliography
Further areas of research for the serious potential self-publisher including web links.Disclaimer: Please note that the articles listed above may contain outdated information. The comics industry is a particularly fast moving industry and any article written on it is likely to be out of date before the day is out. They contain much advice which remains valid and may be useful to the budding self-publisher, but also some information which may be outdated, superceeded, irrelevant, useless or any combination of these. Checking facts like addresses, whether the company or personnel is still current and suchlike is strongly recommended.