This week I started writing my next book, The Business of Freelance Comic Book Publishing. It’s a follow-up to my 2020 book The Business of Independent Comic Book Publishing and with any luck, the first draft will be finished by New York Comic Con 2022.

 

The research and the outline for the book are done. This is the table of contents I’ve developed. It is subject to change, so if anyone has any ideas, opinions, or thoughts on how to improve it, please let me know.

 

I.                 Introduction

 

II.                Foundation

1.      Chapter 1: What is Freelance Work?

2.      Chapter 2: What are Comics?

3.      Chapter 3: Why Do You Want to Work in Comics?

4.      Chapter 4 What is the Ideal Shape of a Freelance Comics Career?

5.      Chapter 5: How Are Comics Published?

6.      Chapter 6: What Freelance Jobs Can You Do in Comics?

7.      Chapter 7: How Do You Acquire the Skills to be a Freelance Comic Creator (FCC)?

8.      Chapter 8: How Much Money Do You Need to Establish Yourself as an FCC?

9.      Chapter 9: How Do You Make Money as an FCC?

10.   Chapter 10: How Can You Acquire the Funds to Establish Yourself as an FCC?

11.   Chapter 11: Do You Need to Set Up a Company to be an FCC?

12.   Chapter 12: Developing a Business Plan

13.   Chapter 13: How Do You Manage Time as an FCC?

 

III.              Find

1.      Chapter 14: How Do Clients Find You?

2.      Chapter 15: How Do You Use a Portfolio for Your Marketing?

3.      Chapter 16: What Channels Can You Use to Find Work?

4.      Chapter 17: How Do You Negotiate Deals?

5.      Chapter 18: Do You Need a Contract?

6.      Chapter 19: What is a Contract?

7.      Chapter 20: What is a Work for Hire Contract?

8.      Chapter 21: How Do You Reject a Bad Contract?

9.      Chapter 22: How Do You End a Contract?

 

IV.              Fee

1.      Chapter 23: Who Gets Paid for Your Work?

2.      Chapter 24: Where Does the Money Go?

3.      Chapter 25: When Do You Make Money as an FCC?

4.      Chapter 26: How Do You Deal with Payment Issues?

5.      Chapter 27: How Do You Pay Taxes as an FCC?

 

V.               Finish

1.      Chapter 28: How Do You Deliver Work in Comics?

2.      Chapter 29: What is the Impact of Time on Comic Book Publishing?

3.      Chapter 30: How Do You Work with Your Clients?

4.      Chapter 31: How Do You Manage Your Workflow?

5.      Chapter 32: How Do You Work with others to Publish a Comic?

6.      Chapter 33: How Do You Manage Freelance Talent?

7.      Chapter 34: How Do You Adapt to Changing Circumstances?

8.      Chapter 35: What Do You Do When the Project is Over?

9.      Chapter 36: What Do You Do After You’re an Established FCC?

10.   Chapter 37: What Did You Learn in This Book?

11.   Appendix

12.   Reading List

The Professional Comics Creator Blog is sponsored by The Comics Publishing Institute. If you want the best business and legal perspective for your comics, use code pcc2021 for a 20% membership discount. Have newsletter sponsored by CPI and offer a 20% discount on membership.

Check out the introduction video or go to https://bit.ly/comicspublishinginstitute to join.

If you have questions about the business or legal aspects of your comic book publishing and you'd like a free consultation, please contact me and we can set something up that fits in with your schedule.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS BLOG POST IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEGAL ADVICE. IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH YOUR COMIC PROPERTY, DISCUSS IT WITH A QUALIFIED CONTRACT ATTORNEY OR CONTACT C3 FOR A FREE CONSULTATION