DWP 2.0 Submission Guidelines and FAQ

**Kel Nuttall** · 05-10-2010, 03:34 PM

This thread will contain information and answers to questions that pop up, I'll update it as needed.

BASIC SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Pages need to be in traditional comic format... tall, not wide. ((Standard 6.875"x10.5" Bleed / 6.625"x10.25" Trim / 6"x9.5" Live)) That way we're all set for any print applications of the work. For submissions we only need low-rez JPGs. Look at it on your own screen, can you read it without getting two inches from your monitor? Good. Are the files at least less than 200KB? Good.
I would say a MINIMUM of three sequential pages AT LEAST tightly penciled and lettered* with a concisely written paragraph laying out the whole story (including the ending) would suffice. But the more you show, the easier it will be to sell us on the greatness that is you. Ultimately, color and lettering will be just as important as everything else. If any of this changes it will only be us wanting more, not less... so you're safe to get started. *(Submission lettering doesn't need to be publishing quality, it just needs to be good enough that we can read along with the art.)
All stories should be self contained.... unless it's a serial. But a serialized story, when taken as a whole, needs to be self-contained as well. Doesn't mean you can't revisit the setting or characters again later we just want the reader to feel like they got a complete story. Stories or chapters of a serial should be around 8 pages. Even for shorts, you GOTTA tell a story.... SOMETHING interesting has to happen.
Content is fairly open. Keep it PG-13 or lower and we're open to pretty much anything from crime to space rangers to dragon slayers. For the time being we'll look at superheroes (I mean FIST OF JUSTICE got his start in DWP!) but you need to hit us with something DIFFERENT. "Well, he's just like Superman except he got his powers from being bitten by a radioactive comic book" ain't gonna cut it. (I personally am a sucker for things with a sci-fi angle... crime, horror, robots, superheroes, whatever with a strong sci-fi element. That doesn't guarantee acceptance... but it's like giving me an extra scoop of ice cream on my pie. And Lordy do I loves me some pie and ice cream.)

Your best bet is to try and team up with someone(s) from here at DW or elsewhere and present us with the above mentioned sequential pages. Artists, if you have trouble finding a writer with a story you really like I WILL take art submissions and try to team you up with someone. There are some DWP alums who've already spoken to me who will be looking for artists. (FULL DISCLOSURE: At some point one of them will be me.) Writers, just like elsewhere in comics, you have a tougher hill to climb. We just don't have time to read scripts. If you can come up with some really clever way to get and keep my attention to look at your proposal without sequential art, I'll look. But I make no promises. There are forums all over the internet, including RIGHT HERE at DW, where writers, pencilers, inkers, colorists and letterers hang out. Get out there and find your creative soul mates! (Holy crap! Where did that new agey junk come from?!?!)

You can contact me at DWPresents(at)gmail(dot)com with questions (or feel free to post them on the forums here) and submissions. I would PREFER if you are able to post pages up on a webpage or an online gallery and send a link but if you must send attachments remember what I said up top about file size.

Artists, if your just putting your hat in the ring to be paired up, please just send links to your website or Deviant Art or something rather than send attachments.

**Kel Nuttall** · 05-10-2010, 04:12 PM

ANSWERS TO SOME FAQ

DWP 2.0 will initially be published digitally thru an app for online, iPad, iPhone, etc. We do plan to pursue publication and distribution of a print collection of some or all of the stories.
Zuda people - You're more than welcome to submit your Zuda stuff to DWP if you're not happy with the changes in Zuda. However, keep in mind everything said about the lengths of story we want, physical format and that it needs to be self-contained.
This is a COLOR production. B&W might be considered for thematic or storytelling reasons.
"Around 8 pages" is a guideline, not a rule. A little shorter, a little longer... if it's good I'll find a place for it. I would say, in general anything beyond 10 would be really pushing it though. Bigger than that and you might as well make it a two-part serial, right?
Serials... chapters should be "around 8 pages" and total length should be 3 chapters MAX. Exceptions may be made for something really boffo. However be aware that I don't want to just load the book with serials, I want a variety of people and projects rotating through DWP, so serial and especially longer serials may mean waiting longer for your spot. There's always a chance that you could tell more of your story later... "The Continuing Adventures of...." but you don't want to count on it. We don't to leave readers feeling like we left them hanging.
You retain all rights to your story. I will ask that you refrain from publishing it online or in print for one year from first release in DWP. (Excluding LIMITED previews and promotions on your blogs, forums, Facebook, etc) One of the nice things about digital is similar to one of the nice things about TPBs and GNs... "shelf life"... it's going to be sitting right there ready to buy the same 8 months from now as it is tomorrow. It's not going in a quarter bin, it's not stuffed in a box in the back room, it stays right there shouting "BUY ME!"
Deadlines... the only "deadline" is THE SOONER THE BETTER. The sooner we get submissions approved and, in turn, stories completed, the sooner we can start releasing the book. Once up and running I'd love to be able to release issues every 4-6 weeks but that's just going to depend on you creators producing the work.

**Kel Nuttall** · 05-12-2010, 08:38 PM

"First-run" in describing digital refers to it being original digital content. Most comics on apps right now are "second-run" or "reprints" of existing material. Not to be confused with "first printing rights" as used in other areas of publishing.
The way to look at it, the way DWP has always been, is it's a collaborative effort with a little bit of money involved if and when it makes some. It's a place for creators to "get their feet wet" or test-drive characters... and as we've seen in the past it's also a place to prove to editors at the large companies that you're serious and can actually produce the work. We've never gone the digital app route before, we have no idea how this will work out, we just want to help get more creators their chance to be seen. That's what it's always been about.

**Kel Nuttall** · 07-01-2010, 08:21 PM

COVERS
For anyone interested in subitting a cover: Send us links to some of your cover/pin-up samples along with at least a thumbnail of your cover idea.
( DWPresents -at- gmail -dot- com )

Covers not related to any accepted story should fall into a general adventure - action theme. Scifi, steampunk, barbarians, aliens, robots, jungle adventure, etc... and of course macho men and (let's be honest) gorgeous gals never hurt any. Also see the image below for notes on layout.

**Kel Nuttall** · 07-15-2010, 07:34 PM

ATTENTION DWP CONTRIBUTORS (Present & Future)

I've hit some snags lately and it's necessitated a clear public statement of policy.

I am the Editor-In-Chief of DWP. I have an editorial panel who's opinions and judgements I trust greatly but I'm the final word. The only person who can pull rank on me is our publisher, Ed. Barring his intervention, what I say goes.

I love the collaborative spirit of DWP and that's why I asked for this responsibility at a time in my life that was and is already pretty stressful. However, the reason DWP worked in the past when other similar ventures have floundered or been reduced to simple vanity projects is because someone is in charge. Someone gets the unpleasant task of saying "Nope, sorry, that's not good enough." That's me.

One area that is always trouble is lettering. As many of you might remember, it simply got to a point where Ed lettered everything and that was that... with a few exceptions of people who's work he knew and trusted. Such as myself. I am reinstating that policy. If you submit a story and it is accepted, I or someone I choose will be lettering it (unless you really impress me). In this situation I do not work for you, I am not part of your team. My job is making the best book possible and that most often seems to mean finishing the job myself. Think of it this way, even if I'm lettering your story I work for DWP not you.

Second, I am not a kindergarten teacher, I try to be friendly but I will not blow smoke. I don't give a rats behind if I like you or not... or vice versa... I care about the comics. If I tell you something and you don't like it, it's not personal. If you give me grief and I don't sugar coat the response, guess what, welcome to big boy town. Nothing I say to you in an email is something I would have a problem saying to your face or on the forum so don't bother threatening to "go public" with something you imagine is some great scandal. Anyone who is willing to take advice and criticism and put in the work will get as much of my time and help as I can manage. Part of DWP for me has always been everyone helping everyone else learn how this comic thing works. If you think you're going to bull your way through me and get things your way... well, you don't know me very well. No EIC or publisher at any other outfit would take it and neither will I. I will be as open and collaborative as I can be until it reaches the point it starts to interfere with getting the job done and done right.

Now, that's all clear from here on out... LET'S GO MAKE SOME COMICS!

**Kel Nuttall** · 08-13-2010, 08:13 PM

If you are trying to sign up for the forums
and have not had your account approved, please
send me an email at DWPresents(at)gmail(dot)com
and let me know. Please include the name and/or
email address you used for signup so
I can find you in the system.

05-10-2010, 03:34 PM	#1
Kel Nuttall DWP EIC & BMF Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 2,221	DWP 2.0 Submission Guidelines and FAQ This thread will contain information and answers to questions that pop up, I'll update it as needed. BASIC SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Pages need to be in traditional comic format... tall, not wide. ((Standard 6.875"x10.5" Bleed / 6.625"x10.25" Trim / 6"x9.5" Live)) That way we're all set for any print applications of the work. For submissions we only need low-rez JPGs. Look at it on your own screen, can you read it without getting two inches from your monitor? Good. Are the files at least less than 200KB? Good. I would say a MINIMUM of three sequential pages AT LEAST tightly penciled and lettered* with a concisely written paragraph laying out the whole story (including the ending) would suffice. But the more you show, the easier it will be to sell us on the greatness that is you. Ultimately, color and lettering will be just as important as everything else. If any of this changes it will only be us wanting more, not less... so you're safe to get started. (Submission lettering doesn't need to be publishing quality, it just needs to be good enough that we can read along with the art.) All stories should be self contained.... unless it's a serial. But a serialized story, when taken as a whole, needs to be self-contained as well. Doesn't mean you can't revisit the setting or characters again later we just want the reader to feel like they got a complete story. Stories or chapters of a serial should be around 8 pages. Even for shorts, you GOTTA tell a story.... SOMETHING interesting has to happen. Content is fairly open. Keep it PG-13 or lower and we're open to pretty much anything from crime to space rangers to dragon slayers. For the time being we'll look at superheroes (I mean FIST OF JUSTICE got his start in DWP!) but you need to hit us with something DIFFERENT. "Well, he's just like Superman except he got his powers from being bitten by a radioactive comic book" ain't gonna cut it. (I personally am a sucker for things with a sci-fi angle... crime, horror, robots, superheroes, whatever with a strong sci-fi element. That doesn't guarantee acceptance... but it's like giving me an extra scoop of ice cream on my pie. And Lordy do I loves me some pie and ice cream.) Your best bet is to try and team up with someone(s) from here at DW or elsewhere and present us with the above mentioned sequential pages. Artists, if you have trouble finding a writer with a story you really like I WILL take art submissions and try to team you up with someone. There are some DWP alums who've already spoken to me who will be looking for artists. (FULL DISCLOSURE: At some point one of them will be me.) Writers, just like elsewhere in comics, you have a tougher hill to climb. We just don't have time to read scripts. If you can come up with some really clever way to get and keep my attention to look at your proposal without sequential art, I'll look. But I make no promises. There are forums all over the internet, including RIGHT HERE at DW, where writers, pencilers, inkers, colorists and letterers hang out. Get out there and find your creative soul mates! (Holy crap! Where did that new agey junk come from?!?!)* You can contact me at *DWPresents(at)gmail(dot)com* with questions (or feel free to post them on the forums here) and submissions. I would PREFER if you are able to post pages up on a webpage or an online gallery and send a link but if you must send attachments remember what I said up top about file size. Artists, if your just putting your hat in the ring to be paired up, please just send links to your website or Deviant Art or something rather than send attachments.

05-10-2010, 04:12 PM	#2
Kel Nuttall DWP EIC & BMF Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 2,221	ANSWERS TO SOME FAQ DWP 2.0 will initially be published digitally thru an app for online, iPad, iPhone, etc. We do plan to pursue publication and distribution of a print collection of some or all of the stories. Zuda people - You're more than welcome to submit your Zuda stuff to DWP if you're not happy with the changes in Zuda. However, keep in mind everything said about the lengths of story we want, physical format and that it needs to be self-contained. This is a COLOR production. B&W might be considered for thematic or storytelling reasons. "Around 8 pages" is a guideline, not a rule. A little shorter, a little longer... if it's good I'll find a place for it. I would say, in general anything beyond 10 would be really pushing it though. Bigger than that and you might as well make it a two-part serial, right? Serials... chapters should be "around 8 pages" and total length should be 3 chapters MAX. Exceptions may be made for something really boffo. However be aware that I don't want to just load the book with serials, I want a variety of people and projects rotating through DWP, so serial and especially longer serials may mean waiting longer for your spot. There's always a chance that you could tell more of your story later... "The Continuing Adventures of...." but you don't want to count on it. We don't to leave readers feeling like we left them hanging. You retain all rights to your story. I will ask that you refrain from publishing it online or in print for one year from first release in DWP. (Excluding LIMITED previews and promotions on your blogs, forums, Facebook, etc) One of the nice things about digital is similar to one of the nice things about TPBs and GNs... "shelf life"... it's going to be sitting right there ready to buy the same 8 months from now as it is tomorrow. It's not going in a quarter bin, it's not stuffed in a box in the back room, it stays right there shouting "BUY ME!" Deadlines... the only "deadline" is THE SOONER THE BETTER. The sooner we get submissions approved and, in turn, stories completed, the sooner we can start releasing the book. Once up and running I'd love to be able to release issues every 4-6 weeks but that's just going to depend on you creators producing the work. Last edited by Kel Nuttall; 09-12-2010 at 12:24 AM.

05-12-2010, 08:38 PM	#3
Kel Nuttall DWP EIC & BMF Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 2,221	"First-run" in describing digital refers to it being original digital content. Most comics on apps right now are "second-run" or "reprints" of existing material. Not to be confused with "first printing rights" as used in other areas of publishing. The way to look at it, the way DWP has always been, is it's a collaborative effort with a little bit of money involved if and when it makes some. It's a place for creators to "get their feet wet" or test-drive characters... and as we've seen in the past it's also a place to prove to editors at the large companies that you're serious and can actually produce the work. We've never gone the digital app route before, we have no idea how this will work out, we just want to help get more creators their chance to be seen. That's what it's always been about.

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07-01-2010, 08:21 PM	#4
Kel Nuttall DWP EIC & BMF Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 2,221	COVERS For anyone interested in subitting a cover: Send us links to some of your cover/pin-up samples along with at least a thumbnail of your cover idea. ( DWPresents -at- gmail -dot- com ) Covers not related to any accepted story should fall into a general adventure - action theme. Scifi, steampunk, barbarians, aliens, robots, jungle adventure, etc... and of course macho men and (let's be honest) gorgeous gals never hurt any. Also see the image below for notes on layout.

07-15-2010, 07:34 PM	#5
Kel Nuttall DWP EIC & BMF Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 2,221	ATTENTION DWP CONTRIBUTORS (Present & Future) I've hit some snags lately and it's necessitated a clear public statement of policy. I am the Editor-In-Chief of DWP. I have an editorial panel who's opinions and judgements I trust greatly but I'm the final word. The only person who can pull rank on me is our publisher, Ed. Barring his intervention, what I say goes. I love the collaborative spirit of DWP and that's why I asked for this responsibility at a time in my life that was and is already pretty stressful. However, the reason DWP worked in the past when other similar ventures have floundered or been reduced to simple vanity projects is because someone is in charge. Someone gets the unpleasant task of saying "Nope, sorry, that's not good enough." That's me. One area that is always trouble is lettering. As many of you might remember, it simply got to a point where Ed lettered everything and that was that... with a few exceptions of people who's work he knew and trusted. Such as myself. I am reinstating that policy. If you submit a story and it is accepted, I or someone I choose will be lettering it (unless you really impress me). In this situation I do not work for you, I am not part of your team. My job is making the best book possible and that most often seems to mean finishing the job myself. Think of it this way, even if I'm lettering your story I work for DWP not you. Second, I am not a kindergarten teacher, I try to be friendly but I will not blow smoke. I don't give a rats behind if I like you or not... or vice versa... I care about the comics. If I tell you something and you don't like it, it's not personal. If you give me grief and I don't sugar coat the response, guess what, welcome to big boy town. Nothing I say to you in an email is something I would have a problem saying to your face or on the forum so don't bother threatening to "go public" with something you imagine is some great scandal. Anyone who is willing to take advice and criticism and put in the work will get as much of my time and help as I can manage. Part of DWP for me has always been everyone helping everyone else learn how this comic thing works. If you think you're going to bull your way through me and get things your way... well, you don't know me very well. No EIC or publisher at any other outfit would take it and neither will I. I will be as open and collaborative as I can be until it reaches the point it starts to interfere with getting the job done and done right. Now, that's all clear from here on out... LET'S GO MAKE SOME COMICS!

08-13-2010, 08:13 PM	#6
Kel Nuttall DWP EIC & BMF Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 2,221	If you are trying to sign up for the forums and have not had your account approved, please send me an email at DWPresents(at)gmail(dot)com and let me know. Please include the name and/or email address you used for signup so I can find you in the system.