The Comic Creator Connection Returns to Comic-Con 2023!

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Are you a writer with a great idea for a comic book series, but you can’t draw? Or maybe you’re an artist looking to illustrate an incredible story, but you can’t write. Perhaps you’re both looking for someone to collaborate with so you can jumpstart your careers in the comic book industry. At Comic-Con 2023’s Comic Creator Connection, you just might find each other!

Comic-Con is proud to host the Comic Creator Connection once again, a fast-paced networking event that puts writers and artists together to help them meet potential new creative partners. Here’s how it works: in two 2-hour sessions—on Thursday, July 20 and Friday, July 21 from 7:00–9:00 pm—writers and artists will sit down across from each other at a table (and by artists, we mean pencillers, inkers, colorists, etc.—all are welcome!). Then, in 5-minute sessions, you will talk one-on-one with each other about your ideas and skills. At the end of each 5-minute period, you will get up and move on to the next person. If you’re interested in furthering the conversation, you can exchange contact information. If not, then politely move on. Think of it as speed-dating, but for writers and artists!

You can sign up for the Comic Creator Connection online in advance by sending an email to programs@comic-con.org. Please indicate whether you’re a writer seeking an artist or an artist seeking a writer, and please specify which day you would like to participate (Thursday or Friday). Artists are welcome to sign up for both days, but due to the high number of writers who sign up, we ask that writers choose one day only.

There will be onsite registration, but space may be limited depending on how many pre-registered writers and artists attend.

(Please note: All participants in the Comic-Con Comic Creator Connection must have purchased a badge for the day on which they would like to participate.)

For those attending the event, please read the following information.

THE DETAILS
Where: Marina D at the Marriott Marquis
When: Thursday, July 20 and Friday, July 21 from 7:00–9:00 pm
Please note that space is limited, and if you do not pre-register, we may not be able to seat you.

WHAT TO BRING
Participants at previous events have benefitted the most from the Comic Creator Connection when they’ve come prepared. Here’s what you should bring:

Writers:

• 20 copies of a 1-page writing sample (see below)
• Business cards (if you have them)
• A pen or pencil to write with
• A 2-minute (rehearsed) version of your pitch
• Water bottle (you’ll be doing lots of talking

Artists:

• 20 copies of a 1-page art sample (see below)
• Your portfolio (you’ll have some room to spread out on the table)
• Business cards (if you have them)
• A pen or pencil to write with
• A 2-minute (rehearsed) version of your pitch
• Water bottle (you’ll be doing lots of talking)

THE 1-PAGE WRITING/ART SAMPLE
Many participants have expressed difficulty in remembering all the different people they met with during the Comic Creator Connection. The best solution is to give each person you meet something unique to remember you by.

We suggest you bring along a single-page sample of your work, complete with your name, contact information, and anything else you’d like a potential working partner to know about you. Remember, everyone will go home with a bunch of these, so brevity is a plus.

If you’re a writer, use this document to represent your writing style or the specific project on which you would most like to collaborate. Don’t write complete stories; just give them a taste. You may also want to use the space to tell prospective artists about your creative inspirations, favorite artists, preferred styles, etc.

If you’re an artist, use this art sample to give prospective writers a good idea of how you tell stories with pictures. Draw in some panels if you like. Don’t just show your favorite artwork; show them how you use that artwork to tell a story. You also might want to tell them about your artistic inspirations, favorite writers, preferred styles, etc.

This is a rare chance for you to meet a lot of people at one time—and possibly your next creative partner! So, bring your A-game. Be intentional, open, enthusiastic, and outgoing. Be generous with your own time and learn all you can from every person you meet.

Also, remember that we’ll have writers and artists at all stages of their craft, so please be courteous and professional and help everyone have a great experience.

BE ON TIME
This isn’t an ordinary Comic-Con program. Since creators are registered in advance, they will get priority seating. Any seats that are still open once the event starts will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

FREE PITCH REVIEWS
We’ll once again be offering free pitch reviews to help you get ready for the Comic Creator Connection. A pitch is simply a way to present yourself or your project to others. It is usually a brief speech designed to persuade your listener into supporting what you’re doing or what you’ve made. Most creators have no trouble coming up with great ideas for new comics, but they often struggle to speak clearly and concisely about those ideas to other people. Giving a good pitch is a vital skill in bringing your project to life. Fortunately, it’s also a skill you can learn and improve with practice—and Pitch Review is a great place to do that. 

Pitch reviews will be conducted by Douglas Neff, a professional speechwriter, speaker coach, and host of the Comic Creator Connection.

This is not a panel. Instead, these are 3–5-minute individual coaching sessions for as many people as we can accommodate in the scheduled time. Spaces are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis, and observers are welcome. 

Where: Marina D at the Marriott Marquis

When: Thursday, July 20, and Friday, July 21, from 5:00–6:00 pm