This is the Pitching Comics presentation I did at Staple in Austin (http://staple-austin.org) on 3/8/15. Some folks in the audience wanted it as a resource, so here it is! Enjoy.

1. Art of the Pitch
by Janelle Asselin

2. Art of the Pitch
✤ How to formulate a solid pitch
✤ Choosing a company to pitch to
✤ Methods of pitching
✤ Unsolicited submissions
✤ Emailing editors
✤ Meeting editors
✤ Contacting Marvel and DC
✤ Q&A

3. Writers!
✤ Prepare the following:
✤ Logline (1-2 sentences that sell your project)
✤ One-sheet (One-page plot description)
✤ Story outline
✤ One full issue script
✤ Intro paragraph for yourself

4. Loglines
✤ 1-2 sentences that describe your project to pull editors in. Think solicitation
copy.
✤ Use clear, concise writing. This is not the time to prove how good your
vocabulary is. The plot should be the most important point.
✤ Describe your lead character(s) + what their arc will be + what they’re fighting
against + what makes your story unique (as best you can in a short bit of
copy).
✤ But don’t try to tell the WHOLE story in 1-2 sentences. This is a tease!
✤ Practice writing loglines for different movies or comics you like - see if you can
distill down the idea of successful stories into a solid logline.

5. One-sheet
✤ If you’re pitching an ongoing, describe your first arc in
detail along with your more general ideas for what else
will happen.
✤ Have a realistic idea of how long you imagine being able
to tell a coherent story with this project (and if it’s only 6
issues or one graphic novel, say that).
✤ Don’t hold back - give the full plot. This should give the
editor everything they need to know about your story.

6. Artists!
✤ Your writer will need to put together the written materials to go with your art.
If you are the writer, you obviously have to do both!
✤ You’ll also want to prepare:
✤ At least 5 inked pages
✤ Possibly 5 colored pages
✤ 5 lettered pages
✤ Other art samples (5-10 pieces)
✤ Don’t forget cover samples if you want to do the covers for your book!

7. Choosing a company to pitch to
✤ Only pitch to companies where your project would seem natural. Do
research before pitching.
✤ Also research the companies’ editors to know who works on what.
✤ Pitching to multiple companies via unsolicited submissions = okay.
✤ Pitching to multiple editors at a different or the same company = less
okay.
✤ Know if you can financially handle publishing with the company you’re
pitching to.

8. Methods of pitching
✤ Unsolicited submissions
✤ Emailing editors
✤ Meeting editors in person
✤ Sharing samples with Marvel and DC

9. Unsolicited submissions
✤ Follow submission guidelines TO THE LETTER.
✤ Only submit what is listed in guidelines (don’t submit
10 pages if they say only 5).
✤ Prep your materials by working with others to review
them.

10. Emailing editors
✤ Pick up cards at conventions or you can often just guess their emails. A lot of comic
companies just use standard email conventions like firstname.lastname@company.com.
✤ Email the editor who works in the genre you’re writing.
✤ Your email should include:
✤ If you’ve met before
✤ Who you are (paragraph mentioned earlier)
✤ Work they edit that you enjoy
✤ That you have a pitch you’d like to share (NOT the actual pitch).
✤ Signature with a link to your website, email, phone number, and social media (if you use
it professionally).

11. Meeting editors in person
✤ Be respectful of the editor’s time. You’re probably meeting them at a con, which means they’re probably stressed out
and exhausted.
✤ Try to schedule your meeting beforehand. Be very clear on date, time, and meeting location. Con floors often lack cell
service!
✤ Bring printed pitch materials but ALSO have a low-res digital PDF of your pitch prepared. Email it to them right after
your meeting.
✤ You can always meet editors at their company’s booth. Make sure you know who you’re talking to and what books
they work on before trying to pitch, though.
✤ After panels is an easy way to find an editor BUT know they may be on their way to another panel or meeting.
✤ Prep a spoken presentation version of your one-sheet pitch. Should be clear and concise and play to your strengths!
✤ Be ready for any questions about your project!
✤ DO NOT try to pitch to editors at the bar!
✤ Bring your collaborator if you have one. Practice pitching together.

12. “Pitching” to Marvel and DC
✤ Like a few other companies, Marvel and DC do not
accept unsolicited submissions.
✤ DO NOT send your pitch in anyway. It’ll be thrown out
immediately and your name will be remembered.
✤ Just because you can’t pitch to them out of the blue
doesn’t mean they can’t ask you to pitch!
✤ Submitting samples is where it’s at! Do it and do it often!

13. Sample tips!
✤ Prep a low-res PDF or collection of JPGs. Should total less than 1MB.
✤ Each file should include your name and email in a header somewhere.
✤ Credit your collaborators and be sure to be clear about what work you did on
the samples.
✤ Sample emails should be similar to pitch emails to editors except you shouldn’t
mention you have a pitch. Say you are available for hire and have a few ideas for
their company’s properties. Don’t push the pitching thing.
✤ Most people at DC were hired not because they pitched but because someone
liked their samples and they were offered a particular project.
✤ Remember to follow up!!!

14. Q&A!