T Campbell's Blog

I'm not much for making money off my comics.

The History of Webcomics, Rip and Teri, Penny and Aggie... all of these have the prospect of making me some money, but I'm essentially living off my savings right now (and crossing my fingers about the ghostwriting deal). Fans was an especially expensive project-- I think the only way I could make my money back on that one is if Hollywood bought it and did well with it. (And I wouldn't say no to the right terms, but I wouldn't let them cast Pauly Shore as Rikk either.)

The irony is that I'm learning a hell of a lot about making money from webcomics and am set to learn even more once I get to that chapter of the book. I see all kinds of moneymaking opportunities I'm watching pass me by, and I could say it's because I don't have the time...

But really, it's because I don't make the time.

I'm hardly unique in this. Cartoonist after cartoonist, the hobbyists, the hopefuls and the hockers, so many of us just do the work and assume the money will follow. If you just love it a little more...

Well, I need better. And other cartoonists need better, too. But I know myself too well now to think I'm going to become a businessman's businessman. Some of you may remember I resolved to re-take Accounting 100... well, that didn't happen. The History of Webcomics consumed all my available resources, but again, that's because I chose for it to do so. I haven't made the time.

So now I'm starting to seek out a partner. Someone who likes to work with creative types, and who wants to break into a new and exciting field. The medium of webcomics may be twelve years old, but the business is still in its infancy.

There is money to be made here... advertising alone is doing well and projected to explode in the next four years, the graphic novel market is not going away, donation drives have potential if the cause is worthy. Even the much-maligned micropayment may have its role. But I need a fresh pair of eyes, eyes adjusted to the bottom line, to help me focus on that. If said manager does well with me, I imagine he or she will soon get others to manage. A lot of us could use help with this. A lot of us.

Long-term, I think a percentage compensation is the way to go, but I'm willing to put some cash up front.

I don't know if anyone reading this is a likely candidate, but it never hurts to put it out there.