So, here we are. The end of this latest little series of rants. It's been fun, and somewhat therapeutic, for me to recount some of the hair-pulling moments I've had in the past few years on my Journey Into Comics. Granted, the Journey is still not over, and as I said in my previous post, hopefully soon I'll have a real, live book out in real, live comics shops and bookstores.
But that's still a long ways from happening (a long, looong ways!), and honestly, just to get the project to the point where it stands currently has been one of the most aggravating experiences of my professional life. But, it has also been one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life, and certainly a way to learn things about the publishing business that I would never have known otherwise.
And, yes, I promise to tell that story one day. Hopefully sooner rather than later...but just not today.
Today I'd like to focus on other things and other people. Mostly you guys, actually, but that'll come up in a little bit. First, I'd like to finish off my bit on how I couldn't get any work as an editor...at any of the comics companies. And how much that annoyed me. Because it really, really did.
Annoy me, that is.
After a while of working at my job and gaining enough experience (well, I thought so, anyway!) to at least be considered for a gig with one of the big companies, I decided to go all out and bombard DC and Marvel with my resume, letters, and the like.
And, well, as I've said in previous posts, I got...nothing.
Every time an opening would come up online, I'd jump at it, send in everything necessary, and wait. I'd check email and voice mail on the hour, and I'd check back with the posting site as often as possible to make sure the position hadn't been filled.
I remember, each time (each and every time), going through almost the exact same cycle of emotions. First, I'd feel relieved that I was able to send my stuff in before the position was filled, then I'd feel confident (incredibly confident, actually) that this was the time it would happen for me.
Then, I wouldn't hear anything for a week, then two weeks, then three, and finally, the job listing would be taken off the site, and that would be that. Dreams dashed once again, and it was back to the usual.
After the last time this happened, which was almost a year ago now, I have to admit that I was pretty much through with comics. That was it. Done deal. Time to get my head out of the Funny Books and just move on with real, non-four-color life.
I even dropped a bunch of comics titles from my weekly pull list, mostly out of spite. Not the healthiest reaction, I know, but hey, it did save me some money! I got out of my funk pretty quickly, and I started reading everything again, but for a little while there, man was I angry.
And, honestly, I guess I kinda knew that I really had no call to be so angry. I mean, companies can hire and fire whomever they please, and who the heck was I? So, like I said, my funk ended and things went back to normal and I went to work and came home and I was happy.
Then, about two or three months down the road, I got antsy again, and I needed to do something. I hadn't written anything of any substance in a while at that point, and I guess I was just at a certain place where I needed to do something creative. So I wrote a pitch for a comic idea I had and that went over well with the Powers That Be, so I sat down and wrote my comic and unleashed plenty of pent-up creativity.
And things happened, and now, well, the comic is where it is. So, I guess the moral of this story is that there's always Something Else. There has to be, otherwise we'd all go nuts. So, maybe this comic doesn't work out so well. Maybe my artist decides to stop before getting halfway through the book. Maybe there's no market for the book, and it dies a quick but painful (and expensive!) death on the stands.
Who knows?
What I do know is that, whatever happens with this latest stop on my Journey Into Comics, there's going to be Something Else that comes along. Because, like I said, there is always Something Else. There is always the Next Thing.
Always.
There's a story that needs to be told, or a fictional universe that needs to be created. And they are just waiting for someone to come along and...make them. And it'll be up to me, or you, or Neil Gaiman, or whomever, to write those stories and to make those universes.
Yes, it stinks that I haven't broken into comics yet, but it wasn't for lack of trying. Heck, I'm still trying! And, I suppose, I'll always be trying...until I make it. Because, one way or another, I will make it. And, in the meantime, there are always (plenty) of blog entries that need to be written!
So, that's where I'll end my part of this tale. Hopefully there will be more on my book in the months to come, but for now, it's your turn (I told ya I'd get to you!). Is there anyone out there with similar experiences trying to get into the comics industry? Or any fan-related industry, for that matter?
Please do leave comments, or shoot us an email about your own, personal Journey Into Whatever Your Passion is. Heck, if you do that, there's a good chance we'll post your email on the site, if you'd like. So, send us your comments and let us know what it is you want to be when you grow up!
In any case, just to officially wrap things up here, thanks again to everyone who sat through this and thanks to all of you for getting us to the 2000 hit count yesterday! Because of you, Nathaniel will soon know the greatness that is The Goon.
You should all be very, very proud.
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