The reality of writing is that it’s almost always subject to the whims of other priorities. Despite putting in full-time hours to make a comic book career work, I still work a full-time job. I not only have to write and edit each book, but staff it, market it, sell it, and distribute it. Personal life, you ask? It barely exists. What social life there is exists during sleepless convention weekends where I go out to dinner with colleagues after the show.
I rush write this in Queens, NYC, just a few hours before my flight to San Diego. I’ve got a hectic-ass week ahead of me, so it’s imperative that I crank through some work prior to the absolutely crazy convention ahead. Before I get to sunny California, I still have to:
Promote the Kickstarter
Finish up a RISE script
Get cracking on an outline for a secret project
Provide notes on a script for a consultation
Yeah, take care of yourself and all. Important. But, this life is an absolute grind—especially as an independent creator. Keep that in mind: success is hard fought. If you’re doing it all like myself and many others, it requires a re-engineering of time. I’m particularly atrocious at sticking to schedules, so it’s always an uphill battle for me. A necessary one, though. One tactic that has helped is creating feedback loops in my life to avoid wasted time. In the age of social media, it’s SOOOO easy to let a 5 minute Instagram check-in balloon to an hour long mindless scroll fest. There are a lot of little ways you can scrape spare time back, whether you realize it or not. And that’s how you go about making a career in comics work.
Unless I’m doing something specific on social media, I’ve started setting 5 minute timers to hold myself accountable. I’ve started doing so with most everything, really. At first it’s a shock to the system, but it’s amazing how much is lost when it doesn’t have to be, and equally, how easy it can be to reclaim/reallocate your time to push toward your goals. It doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy, but I guarantee you that the time can be found to create if that’s what you want to do despite a hectic life.
We’re now funded, and RISE issue 5 is a guarantee! Thanks to your support, we’re now on the hunt for stretch goals, which would incur FREE UPGRADES to your rewards when you support the pre-order. At our first stop, $10,000, the wraparound variant will get a cool UV Spot Gloss finish added to the cover. We’ve had the privilege of making this upgrade for all the previous wraparounds, and I’d absolutely love to keep the trend alive!
Just like Mr. Brian Cabra, you too can get drawn in as a character in this latest issue! This tier not only includes this unique opportunity, but my entire comic book catalogue on digital, all 4 covers to RISE #5, an art print, an Executive Producer credit on the book, and a video call with the creative team of the book.
YES! You can own an original page of inks—a ONE OF ONE piece from the production of RISE. We only offered two pages for this campaign and one of them has already been claimed. Now’s your chance to grab yours!
We’re back for the biggest comic convention of the year! ARE YOUUUU READY? Find me in the SMALL PRESS area at table P-11 slinging comics, signing them, and giving away some cool swag!
Free Vinyl Sticker for all RISE #5 backers
Free Pocket Watch Press Tote Bag for purchases $75+
Free HEAVY Art Print when you purchase a copy of HEAVY #1 with any of our other comics offerings.
$5 11x17” or 11x14” RISE Art Print when purchased with a full set of RISE
Come chat with me and a collection of other professional comic book creators in a “speed dating” event just off-site at the Marriott Marquis!
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.