[Barbara Etlin Posts: 2,242 Status: Offline]

Hi, guys. I need your expert advice on graphic novels.

Last night I met an employment counsellor of sorts at a party who is advising a client who wants to be a graphic novelist. When she found out I was a writer she asked me some questions. I soon figured out that I didn't know squat and didn't want to give (more) bad advice. (He thought he needed to pay an editor, which I told her was a waste of money.)

I said I'd ask a few basic questions over here so she won't steer him in the wrong direction.
He is exclusively a writer.

Okay, here are the questions.

1. Agent - yes or no?
2. Does he need to find an artist before submission to an agent or publisher?
3. What typically goes into a submission package? Query letter only? Query letter plus sample pages of script?

Thanks!

[marla-lesage Posts: 383 Status: Offline Write. Illustrate. Revise.]

I think there's a sticky thread with lots of info? Kidlit411 has a graphic novel tab & a link to First Second Submission guidelines (blog post that breaks down what they expect based on your experience).
The answers will depend on the publisher. There are agents who rep GNs but lots of places are open to unsolicited queries. Drawn & Quarterly does not read Scripts. So if you wanted to submit to them you would need to have an illustrator on board. It is very common to submit as a team when it comes to graphic novels. Of course it depends on the publisher. I plan on writing a whole script before I submit my graphic novel. I think as a writer if I was submitting alone I would do that for sure. But author illustrators can sometimes submit a pitch along with sample pages and a query letter. I think the best bet would be to consider which Publishers might be a good fit for what he wants to write or what he is writing and then look up there guidelines to see exactly how they like to be approached.

[marla-lesage Posts: 383 Status: Offline Write. Illustrate. Revise.]

Just wanted to add that I don't think it matters that I just referred him to a kid-lit specific site. The info there would be a good place to start and give the client and idea of what to look for online.

[Barbara Etlin Posts: 2,242 Status: Offline]

Thanks so much, Marla! This is awesome!