Quick submission question

[Loaded sumo]

Okay, I havnt been active on the forum for months now, and I do apologise.
However, just a quick question about submissions as it isn't made clear in the submissions section of the site.
I have an idea for a book that I think would only really work as a series, not a future shock, can I submit a synopsis and a fully scripted first instalment for Tharg or does he solely accept future shocks only?
Cheers in advance,
Loaded sumo

[Chris Fain]

If you are a new writer who has never been published in 2000 A.D. then they only take Future Shocks.

[Emperor]

If you are a new writer who has never been published in 2000 A.D. then they only take Future Shocks.

Yep. If you have an idea for a series or a graphic novel, then you need to speak to another publisher - Markosia, Com.x, Image, etc.

[Loaded sumo]

Okie dokie, cheers guys

It's a shame really, because my idea was really 2000AD, but if that's the way Tharg states it must be, we must obey.

[locustsofdeath!]

You could always save it and write FutureShocks in the meantime. The idea may get even better with time.

Or just go the route Emperor suggested.

[Heath C Ackley]

I'm afraid the only way in is with future shock strips. Don't give up tho, keep on keepin' on as the old Primal Scream goes.

[HdE]

Okay - bump time.

Here's the thing:

I had it in mind to submit a Futture Shocks piece. But with zippah-dee-doo-dah in the way of other writing credits, and given that I'm hearing from plenty of folks that they've subbed pieces and heard nothing back (in some cases up to a year on from sending their scripts,) I'm wondering if there's much point.

Not to be defeatist here, but I wonder if anyone can offer some insight on that?

I just ask because I'm trying to work REALLY HARD to get more of my writing out there. I'm doing a fair bit of lettering and sometimes inking on indie comics right now, and I REALLY want to add some writing credits to my resume. But right now, I'm having a hard time finding spare time to actually write anything. So I want to avoid throwing any scripts I have 'down the drain' so to speak. I don't mind sending stuff away and making my peace eith it, but I'd like to think I was going to get something back from it, even if it WAS just a rejection letter.

What do you guys reckon?

[Emperor]

Tharg does get back to most people, eventually, so it is worth throwing a script in. However, you'd want to work on toher scripts for other publishers, that way if a rejection turns up you have further honed your skills and can take on his advice, improve your work and submit another script. Basically it can't do any harm sending in a script if you know it is the best of your stories at the moment written to the best of your abilities, just make sure it isn't your only iron in the fire.

[HdE]

Thanks for that, Emperor.

Just in the interests of further explaining, my plan is (was) to have done the following:

I have a number of scripts right now (five, to be exact) , all worked up over time, and all in varying states of completion. They're all going to get put to use.

ONE of these will go to 2000AD.

The deal is: I may be new to the submission game, but I'm not new to writing by a long shot. I've had comic scripts read over by and critiqued by jobbing pros in the last six months who've told me that I'm doing a decent job, so I figure now is the time to start working on generating a body of work. I have to pay my dues the same as anybody else in my position, certainly. I'm just trying to aim the shots in my opening salvo a little realistically.

I'm hoping to muster a small list of achievements in print that I can fill out my resume with and trade on. The avenues I'm persuing are self publishing, small press and - GULP - the dreaded submissions to the big boys!

So, really, a submission to 2000AD wouldn't be my only iron in the fire. I'm just trying to guage whether it'd fall victim to the ever-absorbing slush pile or actually stand a spermatozoic chance of actually...er... fertilising an... editor?

Wow. Where the hell did THAT come from?

[Pauul]

It might get lost in the slush pile and you might never hear anything back.

I sent in a script a year ago and that's what happened, and I've heard from others that they've either not received a reply or had to wait for months or even as long as a year to hear anything.

But you should still send the script in, you just need to be sending plenty of scripts elsewhere as well. If the script you send is either rejected or they don't get back to you, then it isn't a wasted effort because you can always use it for something else at a later date.

You might be one of the lucky ones who does get your script picked up by an editor and has it published in the magazine, you just shouldn't be sat by your mail box waiting to hear something.

So, send the script off, and move onto the next thing.

If you want to build up your resume then you should definetly be looking at the small press and indie press as well.

FutureQuake isn't accepting script submissions right now but I beleive that Something Wicked, Dogsbreath and Zarjaz still are.

Have you tried any of these yet?

I beleive there's a thread to do with small press kicking around somewhere.

[HdE]

Didn't we deja this vu somewhere else, Paul?

Nah - really, you're preaching to the choir here. I'm already hip deep in several different projects, which are aimed at all the different fields you mention. There's VERY little agonising going on here!

My curiosity about what's going on with Future Shocks submissions is just down to curiosity, really. I have a bunch of five pagers here that I can work on and send in at any point. But because my time is limited, I have to be a little bit ruthless about deciding which given project I focus on at any one time before moving to the next. So if there's a low 'hit rate' for the Future Shocks, I'm probably best off subbing that material somewhere with a higher chance of publication.

Just playin' the odds here, is all!

[Pauul]

Didn't we deja this vu somewhere else, Paul?

Indeed, we did.

It is worth sending off one strip to 2000AD, but you shouldn't be holding onto the others in case they reply. Find new homes for them, if you can.

If 2000AD do get back to you, then you can always write a new strip to send to them.

And I think the people at 2000AD do looks at small press publications like those published by FutureQuake, although it'd be amazing to be published by the small press in itself.

I don't think it's that surprising that large publishers, like Rebellion, take a long time to get back to people. So many people must submit material, that it takes a while to pick out the good submissions.

[HdE]

Pretty much, that's my plan.

Absolutely NOTHING is off the table for the next few months. Clackin' away on the word processor as we speak...