Thank You, Colleen Doran!
Colleen Doran is a talented writer and artist who is perhaps best known as the creative force behind A Distant Soil, a comic-book series published by Image but owned by Colleen. Her artwork has also graced a variety of other titles, including Sandman and Book of Lost Souls. Her other credits are too numerous to mention in the space and time I have at the moment.
Colleen has decided to run a contest through her blog to encourage anyone engaged in any sort of artistic endeavor. She is calling for readers to submit their creative projects for consideration via her blog. She will feature the top 3 projects in her blog and will award a $250 grant to the creator whose project most tickles her fancy. The deadline for submissions is September 15.
Wow. I needed a kick in the ass to get me back on the road to productivity, and this was it. In the last couple of days I’ve done more work on The Victory Streak than in the last six months! Even if I don’t make the cut, I am going to benefit from the attempt.
I’ve decided to challenge myself by publicly announcing, both here and over at Colleen’s blog, that by midnight on Saturday, August 25, I will:
- Redesign my Web site, www.billmyerscreations.com;
- Post a revised script for the first issue of The Victory Streak;
- Post character sketches of The Victory Streak.
Furthermore, by midnight on Saturday, September 8, I will post at minimum one fully penciled page.
Somewhere along the line, I lost my way. I forgot that first and foremost, I am an artist at heart and always will be. Colleen’s contest has re-ignited my passion for writing and drawing, and I intend to fan those flames into a roaring conflagration.
Come back on Sunday, August 26, to see what kind of coolness I’ll have available for y’all.
August 19th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
I knew ya had it in ya. This is gonna be good.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:25 am
Sean, I appreciate the encouragement. I was, however, also hoping you’d recognize this as an opportunity for you as well. I know you have completed at least one screenplay, and have produced some videos as well. If you don’t have your own Web page, I’ll set aside some real estate on mine for you.
Bill Mulligan, I’d also like to see you submit some of your work for Colleen’s consideration.
August 21st, 2007 at 10:44 am
Since I saw this, I’ve been trying to decide which of my things to send over. Appreciate the vote of confidence!
August 21st, 2007 at 8:00 pm
I love Colleen’s work (we were briefly in the same apa once, may years ago) and I’m surprised I missed this–need to get over to her blog pronto.
August 22nd, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Billee I need yoo too submit my storee. I kant find it butt I no yoo have it sumware. Dont try too cheet mee, I no my storee is better then yoorz. Mine haz kats.
August 22nd, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Bill, you might be able to RENT that spider…you know, to take care of that kitty problem. Then you could shoot it.
Just sayin’, after all.
August 23rd, 2007 at 10:51 am
I had best finish something up to get on line soon. May have to get a new scanner.
August 23rd, 2007 at 11:35 am
Sean, I believe you can send more than one thing.
My sister told me something troubling. She claims that some publishers view putting something on the net as self-publishing, and this might affect their willingness to consider publishing work posted on the net. This is something to think about.
I was considering posting the two first chapters of my extremely unfinished story. But my sister’s warning worries me. I realize that talking about publishers is very presumptuous of me. I don’t want to seem arrogant, but a guy can dream.
I could post those two story synopses I sent you Bill, but it feels a little dishonest of me, since I’m not actually working on them right now or am likely to do anything with them any time soon.
August 23rd, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Micha,
I think that it’s a ‘sometimes yes, sometimes no’ kinda deal. I’ve heard people in the fan press say that, but I have seen otherwise as well. The Broke Diaries started life as online blog postings and David Wellington’s novels started out as posted chapters on his site. There are a number of others out there that I’m aware of, but I just can’t get the brain to work at the moment.
I think the deal with online posting of an individual’s work is going to be a lot like the old vanity presses of yesteryear. If the book is good and gets a following, then you can be sure that a major publisher will come after it or the author rather then holding it against the work.
August 23rd, 2007 at 8:40 pm
I think Jerry’s right. Colleen Doran’s “A Distant Soil” is a prime example. She began by self-publishing the series for a few years until it was picked up by Image. She still owns it, by the way. But now when she releases an issue it has Image’s brand recognition and muscle behind it.
ADS isn’t the only example. “Bone” and “Strangers in Paradise” were self-published books that were later picked up by Image. Both of those books, however, “reverted” to being self-published .
There are enough challenges a creator faces day-by-day without adding to the burden by speculating about problems that may or may not occur down the line. Even if self-publishing a particular work “taints” it in a publisher’s eyes, if said work generates enough buzz that publisher is going to want to know what else you’ve got.
Everyone, don’t forget: the mechanism for submitting your work is Colleen’s blog. If it’s not posted in the “What Are You Woring On?” thread in her blog, it won’t count. And again, don’t forget that submission deadline of Sept. 15.
August 25th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
OK Jerry and Bill, you’re right. I’ll set was my worrying personality aside.
August 25th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Micha, ultimately the decision about whether or not to submit your work for Colleen’s consideration is a personal one. Do what makes you the most comfortable.
You’re not necessarily wrong to be concerned. Creators all-too-frequently jump at any opportunity to get published without considering whether the terms are beneficial to them. When the answer is “no,” it can be devastating. But I don’t think we’ve much to worry about in this case.
August 26th, 2007 at 9:38 am
Thanks Bill. I’m actually looking forward to posting the first two chapters of my story (recently re-edited, and probably not for the last time). In fact this opportunity and your words have given me an extra push to try harder with the editing, and it has been going reasonably well. So maybe chapter 3, and even 4 will also be ready. I hope so, since part of 2 and all of 3 is mostly talking. In any case, I doubt that these few chapters would cause much harm to whatever future prospects I may have.
Meanwhile, good luck to you, Sean and Jerry (?), in your projects. It sounds to me like you’re on the right track Bill. I’m certain it will be appreciated. And I also like the new design for your blog. Nice use of the lense flare filter.
September 15th, 2007 at 6:59 am
I posted my attempts at creativity and my recommendations about the work of others on Colleen Doran’s site. Victory Streak was of course on the top of my recommend it list, but I am planning to find the time for some more thoughtful and detailed comments.
September 15th, 2007 at 6:59 am
I posted my attempts at creativity and my recommendations about the work of others on Colleen Doran’s site. Victory Streak was of course on the top of my recommend it list, but I am planning to find the time for some more thoughtful and detailed comments.
Anyway, thanks for bringing this blog to my attention. I’m also considering reading some of her comics, since she seems to be an amazing artist.