Martin Steenton day 3

Day three lectures began with a live feed web cam discussion from Martin steeton .Martin now works within publishing and was there to talk to us about it. He was previously studying media studies and unsure of what to do after, so set up a comic blog which he had much pasion for. The blogg covered french comics and gave reviews. The original plan was to build up interest then moneytise and publish but it got more interest from the usa to a cover book on there site, but it was a foot in the door. Then finally met british publishers and ended up working as a translating editor working for Blank Slate Books. After his introduction he gave his own opinions on important factors to getting further when working for publishers. He talked about things such as free work, which many people dismiss, but it is a foot in the door. Once again the mention of networking has major importance,but he said how you should always pitch your work, even when its unsuccesful your getting eyes on your work and it will pay off .

http://www.avoidthefuture.com/

                                          Martin Steentons own Blog reviewing french comics


What is a publisher?

Some publishers are looking for finished pieces were they can give you royalties, while others are looking for a blank slate and new talent and will pay you to finish work. Bigger companies will probably want artist, writer, comic layout, the full package, while smaller companies are more excepting. An important point when your at this stage is knowing how to sell your work and that to do so u have to know its qualities 'read it cause of xyz'. He also advised you know who your aiming your work at, epic heroism is a mainstream comic better for some companies while indie publishers prefer historical or self made heroes,so it is important to always research and understand its inate qaulities.

http://www.blankslatebooks.co.uk/2012/03/friday-playlist-box-brown/

                                          Blank Slate Books publisher that he works for

Publicity and marketing 

He also mentioned the importance of getting a selection of work in front of people and getting reviewed work is good publicity if you can get it not many reviews are made for unpublished work. But forbidden planet do encourage small press review. Another place of importance are conventions, he urged us to get ourselves into one and try too talk to publishers there

Opinion on self publishing

He also gave advice on some things to do at conventions. Ensure your display table is nice dont forget table cloth, make it look like a pop up shop. Draw them in with good looking store then be friendly and make friends you will never know what may happen. But things you shouldnt do is bring everything you have, be concise and dont be arrogant, confidence is good but dont force them to publish

During the course of the lecture there was also lots of oppurtunites for the class to ask him questions here are some of them.:-

Do you focus on house style? 
 blank slate will publish anything while Selfmade Hero have a house standard not style, and like rigid marketable work.while others are craft based and want an understanding of the semiotic value on page. 


Is there a specific thing they are looking for and what makes it publishable?
 looking for a mix of comic grammer and understanding , not bad layout coherent style, good story telling and nothing with too small a market. if you know whats good in work, express it you will have a good shot and show your passion.

Review

The fact the lecture was a live feed was briliant and i hope more lectures like this will allow different types of lecturers to take part in other Creative Future weeks. The lecture itself provided the most notes out of any other lecture and that is due to the abudance of realitive information coveing almost all fields specifically and genrally.I have leant alot about publishing and I feel like I know so much more about it and I am more confident to try and get published. Strangely the lecture made me realise the most that i want to get into being part of a  convention to display work, and his advice was very heplful in what concentions are actually useful for. Also many of the key points such as selling yourself, portfolios and networking are reccurring pointers that must mean these are what the industry is looking for and should be a priority in my work.