Sample file Praise for :ULWHRI:URQJ$:ULWHU¶V*XLGH WR&UHDWLQJ&RPLFV “Write or Wrong is an all-encompassing account of a comic creator’s journey from amateur mistakes to professional triumph. Dirk’s experiences were an invaluable tool IRUP\RZQJURZWKDVDFUHDWRUDQG,JXDUDQWHHWKDWDOOEXGGLQJZULWHUVZLOO¿QG something of incredible value within this book.” – Joey Esposito, Senior Editor of IGN.com, writer of Footprints *** “No one breaks down the comics-writing process quite like Dirk Manning. Conversational and entertaining, encouraging but realistic, Dirk takes on the ins and outs of the practice, the process, and the life of writing in Write or Wrong. Also, awesome hat.” – 7UR\%URZQ¿HOG, Founder of Shotgun Reviews, writer of Sparkshooter and *ULPP)DLU\7DOHV0\WKV /HJHQGV *** “Dirk Manning’s Write or Wrong is packed with crucial advice for comics creators – what to do, what not to do, how to brand yourself – it’s all here! Through this engaging book, Dirk takes you along on his journey from self-publishing webcomics to becoming a pro published by Image Comics and others. If you want to make comics, read this book!” ±5RE$QGHUVRQ, General Manager of $QG\6FKPLGW¶V&RPLFV([SHULHQFH, writer of Rex, Zombie Killer *** ³,I\RX¶UHLWFKLQJWR¿QG\RXUZD\LQWRWKHLQVXODUFRPLFLQGXVWU\\RXZRQ¶WJRZURQJ listening to what Dirk Manning has to tell you about how to go about it. He’s been down the road you want to travel, and he’s reached the other side triumphantly.” ±$QG\+XQVDNHU, Comics Editor, &UDYH2QOLQH *** “I found Write or Wrong in just the nick of time. As a new creator and an independent publisher trying to hack it on my own, I hit all the walls and snags as well as committed all the classic blunders and mistakes. But right on the verge of giving up GXULQJP\¿UVW\HDU,GLVFRYHUHGWrite or Wrong. Dirk’s thoughts and advice were invaluable, and he helped me look at my own situation with fresh eyes and an open mind. Ever since, his words of wisdom and encouragement – all from a fellow writer who genuinely cares about our industry and craft – gave me the push I needed to stand up aSample little taller, push a little harder, and stay in the game.” file – Enrica Jang, Writer and Editor-in-Chief, 5HG6W\OR0HGLD *** “There are plenty of ‘How to Write’ books on the market, but very few that give the scoop on actually creating comics. Dirk’s Write or Wrong presents the process in a way that’s encouraging without deluding the reader about fame and fortune; instead this is about developing your creation until that moment when you breathe life into it.” ±$PEHU/RYH, Founder, $PEHU8QPDVNHGFRP, writer, podcaster, model and costumer *** “Dirk Manning knows what he’s talking about. He was ‘DIY’ before ‘DIY’ was cool and his insights on writing and breaking into a confusing industry will help young writers of all ages navigate the craft and business of making comics.” ±0LFKDHO0D\ Comic Journalist, Robot 6 @ &RPLF%RRN5HVRXUFHV and writer of Kill All Monsters! *** “Anyone wanting to get into making comics needs to read this book. Quite simply, it is the greatest resource possible to the aspiring comic book writer who wants to create actual comics!” – Dan Royer, Comic Journalist, 'HFDSLWDWHG'DQFRP, &RPLF5HODWHGFRP &RPLF$WWDFNQHWand founder of 'DQ&RQ *** “Dirk Manning’s infectious way with words will make you realize that your dreams of writing and creating the next great comic book are not far from reach. Reading Write or Wrong: A Writer’s Guide to Creating ComicsLVWKH¿UVWVWHSLQPDNLQJ your dreams of writing comics a reality.” ±%UDG7KRPVRQ Journalist, 7KH2XWKRXVHUVFRP Sample file WRITE OR WRONG A WRITER’S GUIDE TO CREATING COMICS BY DIRK MANNING Sample file Editor: Leah Lederman Book Design: Jim Reddington ISBN 978-0-9857493-0-9 :ULWHRI:URQJ$:ULWHU¶V*XLGHWR&UHDWLQJ&RPLFV. Published by Caliber Comics. All contents © 2014 Dirk Manning. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be copiedSample or transmitted in any form without the express permission of the creatorsfile and/or publisher except for excerpts used for journalistic and review purposes. For more information on Caliber Comics, visit their website at ZZZFDOLEHUFRPLFVFRP 6HFRQG3ULQWLQJ)HEUXDU\ TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD..... P. 6 CHAPTER ONE: STARTING WITH NOTHING..... P. 8 CHAPTER TWO: “WHY COMICS?”..... P. 13 CHAPTER THREE: PLOT-PLOT THUD..... P. 18 CHAPTER FOUR: THEMATICALLY SPEAKING..... P. 23 CHAPTER FIVE: “HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT IT?”..... P. 29 CHAPTER SIX: FINDING ARTISTS..... P.36 CHAPTER SEVEN: MAKING FIRST CONTACT..... P. 43 CHAPTER EIGHT: THINGS FALL APART..... P. 49 CHAPTER NINE: CO-CREATION VS. DICTATION..... P. 56 CHAPTER TEN: “KILL THE BUDDHA”..... P. 64 CHAPTER ELEVEN: NONE OF THEM ARE ROBOTS..... P. 70 CHAPTER TWELVE: DOLLARS AND SENSE..... P. 81 CHAPTER THIRTEEN: WORLD WIDE YOU..... P. 88 CHAPTER FOURTEEN: E-COMICS AND PRINT-ON-DEMAND..... P. 97 CHAPTER FIFTEEN: ALWAYS USE PROTECTION..... P. 103 CHAPTER SIXTEEN: CONTRACT KILLERS..... P. 110 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: IT’S NOT A RACE..... P. 118 CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROR..... P. 124 CHAPTER NINETEEN: “ARE YOU REALLY THAT GOOD?”..... P. 133 CHAPTER TWENTY: THE TALLEST MIDGET IN SHORTSVILLE..... P. 138 CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: THINGS FALL APART (AGAIN)..... P. 146 CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: ALL WE HAVE IS TIME..... P. 155 CHAPTERSample TWENTY-THREE: THE WEAKEST LINK..... P. 162 file CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: WORDS WORTH 1,000 PICTURES..... P. 169 CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: DEFINING SUCCESS..... P. 198 CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: HOW YOU CAN – AND WILL – MAKE IT HAPPEN..... P. 204 FOREWORD I’m late. I’m writing the foreword for Dirk Manning’s Write or Wrong: A Writer’s Guide to Creating Comics, and I’m inexcusably, laughably, horribly, late. It’s not what a friend should do once he’s promised to write the foreword for a pal’s book, clearly. It’s the height of unprofessionalism. And as such, I guarantee it’s the onlyXQSURIHVVLRQDOLVPWKDW\RXZLOO¿QGLQWKLVERRN When Dirk approached me in 2006 asking to start up a column about breaking into the business, I jumped at the chance. Even though he was a new name to a lot of people, I’d known Dirk and his work for years. Heck, everyone who’d come up in comics at that time did. While we’re still a “tribe” of people, we were a little smaller, a little tighter perhaps than we are now. Dirk had made a name for himself for two things – his Nightmare World series of stories, and his killer work ethic. He never stopped. He was always creating, always pushing for more, always looking to do more. Honestly, it made me tired just watching him. So yeah, when he said he would like to do a column at www.Newsarama.com, I said “YES!” before the email was done buzzing and beeping over the modem. (Hey, it was 2006, after all.) He called his column Write or Wrong, which, honestly, I think was his way of making the whole thing seem nice and inviting. In his opening explanation of the ¿UVWLQVWDOOPHQWRIWKHVHULHVKHH[SODLQHGKHZDVGRLQJWKLVDVDZD\WRUHWUDFHKLV footsteps into comics, telling of what worked, and freely sharing his mistakes. But the thing is, while the name was folksy, for those looking to break into comics, the column was 100% truth. Dirk was shooting from the hip with advice that was at times QLFHHDV\DQGVHOIDI¿UPLQJDQGDWWKHVDPHWLPHKHZDVQRWSXOOLQJDQ\SXQFKHV and hit readers with advice and instruction that was tough to swallow, but still true. Here was an enthusiastic, optimistic creator who was sharing everything he’d learned over the years (and he’d had some pretty tough lessons) for anyone. There was no mountain climbing required to get to this guru, just a semi-regular appointment at www.Newsarama.com. With each installment, Dirk showed the world what he was – a pro. His lessons are those that every newcomer or wannabe should follow (and honestly, ones I want to review and re-read myself once writing this foreword scores me a copy), but you know what? The lessons in each installment of Write or Wrong are one thing, but more than that, more people in this industry need to be like Dirk, not just follow his instructions and examples about getting here. Every path will have a different ending, but this guy is tellingSample how to walk that very tough walk. file The guy is a workhorse – we’ve already covered that. He’s also creative as hell. And earnest. And timely. And honest, even when you probably don’t want to hear it. And cool. And just a great guy. I know him as one of the most even-tempered creators that I’ve ever worked with, although I’m probably pushing that particular bright spot in his personality by writing this foreword so very late. But seriously – imagine a comic ERRNLQGXVWU\¿OOHGWRWKHUDIWHUVZLWKSHRSOHZKRVKRZHGDOORIWKRVHWUDLWV You may never have heard of him… and if you haven’t, on behalf of Dirk, thanks for picking up the book. There aren’t many people you could aspire to follow who will give you better advice than Dirk Manning. Do what he says, and you’ll go places. So that’s what I’ve got to say: read what Dirk’s got to say and follow his advice. Take the tough questions he asks you about your motivations and abilities to heart. But more importantly – be like Dirk. Don’t just talk about what you want to do and how you want to do it. Be like Dirk and do it. Matt Brady was the guy in the captain’s chair of www.Newsarama.com for too many years to count, up to and including when the site won the Eisner Award.