Collaborating is both the blessing and the bane of comics creators. Most creators realize the undeniable benefits of working with someone else: getting another person do to the writing (or drawing) if you suck at it, providing someone to bounce ideas off of and draw energy from, and making you accountable to a living, breathing person so you don’t spend ten years working on a story that languishes on your closet shelf.
But collaborations don't always work out, particularly if you’re not paying the other person. Even paid collaborations can fall apart due to vague expectations, sudden changes in story or art, and blown deadlines. But whether you’re paying in money or “sweat equity” (promising to work on your collaborator’s project in return for her working on yours), collaborations can be fruitful if both parties follow certain guidelines.
Match Collaborators to Projects that Interest Them
Are your characters similar to Marvel’s super-heroes? Find an artist who loves to draw the same. If you love to draw Disney-like funny animals, seek out a writer who is well versed in the genre.
While writers and artists should always be willing to grow in new directions, many prefer to stick to genres that interest them—especially during a first-time collaboration when everything else is new to both of you. Finding out that your artist doesn't like to draw time travel stories after you've stranded your hero in the French Revolution can be discouraging to both of you.
Clarify Expectations
Once you have found a collaborator, clarify your working relationship. Is he a partner or a pen for hire? If the former, he may expect to have input in the direction of the story, the designs of the characters, and even the layout and “camera angles” of each panel. If the latter, you call the shots. Either way, make it clear how much input you welcome and how much leeway the collaborator has in changing your script or art.
If you need to change something in the script or art, call your collaborator (don't just e-mail her; calling is more personal) and carefully explain your reasons. (Hint: Your reason should be more convincing than “I felt like writing/drawing it this way.”) If your reasons are sound, your collaborator may agree that the change improves the story. If she has good reasons for not making the change (“That panel sets up the nuclear explosion in the next issue.”), do your best to accommodate her.
Respect Deadlines
If you promise to deliver a script or completed art on a certain date, move hell and high water to get it done. Concentrate on the basics of storytelling first and add flourishes only if you have time.
Expect to get in over your head. Every new project poses challenges in story telling and research (“What does a Gothic cathedral really look like?”), but that’s also part of the fun of creating comics. Expect the project to consume your time, so factor in work, school, relationships, and anything else that might cause delays. Give your collaborator an honest estimate of the time needed to complete the project.
If something unexpected causes you to delay finishing the project or prevents you from finishing it, tell your collaborator as soon as possible. This will enable him to make other arrangements, if necessary. Remember that your collaborator has invested a lot of time, effort, and expense in this project, as well.
Respecting your collaborator also demonstrates your own professionalism and makes it likely that she will want to work with you again in the future. She may even recommend you to other creators. Best of all: a successful collaboration results in work you can show off at comic book conventions, publish yourself, or submit to comics publishers.
Collaborating remains a learning process for even the most experienced creators. But understanding your collaborator's wants and needs, clarifying your expectations of each other, and respecting each other's contributions can lead to a finished comic book or strip that exceeds both of your expectations.
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