I'm Confused - agents interested? - experience vs. credentials

[chan]

Ok, I trust what everyone is saying in the thread about lettering (agents not really representing graphic novelists because of the lack of money, etc.), but I'm really confused because on agent blogs I read and on agent query, etc. a lot of agents are calling specifically for graphic novels.

Also, over at the Verla Kay Blue Boards people are submitting graphic novels to agents and agents seem to be taking people on and at least requesting partials and fulls.

It seems like agents tend to cover more of the mainstream publishers--like Scholastic's Graphix imprint. Is that where my disconnect is?

I'm just confused about the different info I'm getting about agents and graphic novels.

[Chris Huff]

My knowledge of comics comes from places like Dark Horse, Marvel, DC, Oni and the like.

It could be utterly different for Scholastic and the like.

[Axler]

True, a number of agents are interested in representing graphic novels and quite a few major publishers have opened graphic novel divisions or imprints.

But I've run into a lot of agents and a whole lot of so-called graphic novel editors with have little to no idea of what a graphic novel really is.

I can tell you what it isn't...

A graphic novel isn't a 90 page adaptation of The Three Musketeers with crudely rendered line art barely above stick figures and panels copied and pasted multiple times with only the text in the dialogue balloons or captions changed.

Publishing that kind crap which won't sell will lead clueless editors and equally clueless agents to throw up their hands and bleat :"Graphic novels are dead!"

They're unable differentiate between garbage like that and say, 300.


Bernadette Baker at Baker's Mark Literary seems to know what a graphic novel is supposed to be.

http://www.bakersmark.com

[chan]

Hopefully I can get an answer without starting a new thread, but I was wondering: Is it valuable to get experience by contributing to publications or webcomics for which you won't get paid? Will that matter to anyone when it does come time to submit?

[Axler]

Well, a credential is a credential...but I wouldn't focus too much on getting work that doesn't pay. The experience may be valuable, but in the long run, editors will be more impressed with the current work you're submitting.

[Gary Clarke]

Hi Chan, I was shocked when my agent expressed an interest in my graphic novel. She had taken me on because of my YA fantasy novels and when she found out that I was also a graphic novelist she stunned me by asking to read the scripts and see the art work.

She's very keen to rep me on them apparently! I can't for the life of me understand why, as there is so little money in the graphic novel business, but there you go. i can attest to at least one agent who is repping graphic novels :0D

Saying that, she doesn't seem to take GN subs, it seemed to simply be a peripheral interest for her.

[FinbarReilly]

Originally Posted by chan

Hopefully I can get an answer without starting a new thread, but I was wondering: Is it valuable to get experience by contributing to publications or webcomics for which you won't get paid? Will that matter to anyone when it does come time to submit?

Contributing to a webcomic is different than publications; you generally contribute to a publication for the credit, whereas a webcomic is created partially as a portfolio as well as a method to possibly create a profit from (there's even a standard webcomic business model of sorts). In essence, a webcomic is seen as a way to promote yourself, gain experience, and make a few bucks, whereas submitting to a publication that only pays in copies is usually just for the credit of being published....

FR

[C.bronco]

I just sent a question to an agent who says he represents graphic novels. I asked him about the format he expects for submissions, e.g. storyline, thumbnails, fully rendered text and art etc.

I promise to share.

[chan]

Thank you. I appreciate that. Actually, I meant to share my experience with agents so far. I've submitted to 2 agents who represent graphic novels and both have requested additional materials.

Agent #1 (I don't want to give out names yet, sorry): Read my query letter and 5 pages of script, then asked for 100 manuscript pages, bios for me and an artist (if attached), and 10-15 pages of "representative art"--I don't think those pages have to all be paneled/sequential art

Agent #2: Read my query letter and 5 pages of script, then he checked out the artist's portfolio. He said he wants sample pages of art and text working together to see if the project is a good match for him.

So...that's my experience so far. Hope that helps someone.

C. Bronco, I'll be interested to see what the agent says. I really want to know how much they expect done before they take someone on as a client.

[Chris Huff]

Congratz.