Comic Genesis Forums

The Keenspace Book is an annual comic book which showcases and promotes the art and comics of online artists. The name of the book itself
varies amongst each iteration, but the way it's put together remains the same: participants are online comic artists who are willing to pay
page by page for their original work to be included in this widely distributed anthology, first come first serve. Their funds go to the
printing the actual book, whose volume is in the thousands!

Members of the Keenspace Book are planning to put together their 3rd annual edition, which will be, among other venues, featured nationwide
on Free Comic Book Day (July 3, 2004) and distributed at this year's San Diego Comic Convention (July 22-25), for free.

For those familiar with the past two editions, the Keenspace Book group is making a significant change to their policy this year: all
independent comic artists, Keenspace or otherwise, are allowed to participate in the book.

If you're interested, please visit the info page at:
<a href="http://constancy.keenspace.com/keenspacebook_2004.html" target="_blank">http://constancy.keenspace.com/keenspac ... 04.html</a>
The details of participation and rules for registration are outlined in detail there. Read the page thoroughly and decide whether you'd be
able to dedicate yourself to the guidelines before registering; the Keenspace Book group is only looking for reliable participants who treat
their work seriously.

Register soon, as space is limited. The Keenspace Book is a great learning experience for everyone involved. We look forward to your talent
and efforts!

I thought I'd make it a sticky.

I wish I had the cash to participate in this, because it's fun: you get promotion, and you get your works in print nationwide! Printed! On paper!
Well, maybe next year.

As I uderstand the sooner you apply the better, so don't wait till the last second. The deadline for applications is not set, but they need to pay the printing costs in advance, so I think you only have a couple of weeks.

There are a couple of people from this board already in the project, so you won't be alone.

$50 for a page for 10k copies, wow, if that covers the printing costs I would very much want to know where this thing gets printed.

Our student group pays about $70 per page for 11k copies, and that's without a color cover!

How many copies are being made this year? Just wondering.

I think they said something like 10,000 copies this year, like last year.

Just to tell you.....I'm one of the people involved, so don't feel afraid to join for fear of being alone!

I thought I'd make it a sticky.

Thanks, YarpsDat! I appreciate it. Too bad you can't make it this year, but maybe on the next one.

As I uderstand the sooner you apply the better, so don't wait till the last second. The deadline for applications is not set, but they need to pay the printing costs in advance, so I think you only have a couple of weeks.

Usually registration deadline is a little bit sooner than the payment deadline, but you are right: registration is first come first serve, and since space is limited, it's good to sign up as soon as you know you want to do it. You can make the payment later, that's usually no rush.

There are a couple of people from this board already in the project, so you won't be alone.

That's true! So far we got at least 12 or 13 artists signed up.

I would very much want to know where this thing gets printed.

I can't sign my name to that statistic, but that is what I've heard. I don't remember which printers we used for last year's book..I think it was quebecorp, but I can't be too sure.

How many copies are being made this year? Just wondering.

Typically, everyone signs up for $50 per page. Depending on the company we go with, the size of our book (which is usually proportional to our printing power), we'll get as many prints as possible with the funds pooled up. My guess is probably 10k or so as others have said.

Just to tell you.....I'm one of the people involved, so don't feel afraid to join for fear of being alone!

That's right! And I anticipate Nishichi27's piece to be a real good one too

A lot of the folks signing up have done it before and have a lot of experience, and they are more than willing to answer any questions you may have about how it works. Trust me, it's a lot of fun. And if the only thing keeping you back from participating is the fear that nobody's going to dedicate to the project, throw that fear away, because we are always a very enthusiastic group of artists. You'll definitely fit in.

Do they mail you a copy of the book?

If you'll read the FAQ in the yahoo group, it says that if you request it you can get mailed a couple copies of the book. You did pay for it, after all.

Ah. I only read the stuff on the link at the top of the thread. I didn't look at the yahoo group stuff yet.

Does anyone who has participated before want to give a comment? How much of an impact did this have on your page visits?

600 dpi?? Whoa. All my scans were done at 300 dpi.

I think I would have to make new pages for this anyway. Nothing I have is really representative because the story gets told over several pages. Making a three page short story from my comic would be fun but that's getting expensive!

I'm going to give this one some thought before I jump into paying $150 for a couple more readers. I don't even have a script for the short story yet.

I've been on the last two Keenspace books and I have really enjoyed my time on them. It really is something to see your work in paper and distributed everywhere. Having that happen is an accomplishment in itself. I also made a lot of good friends in the group, and has given me an opportunity to have a taste of the print world. I definitely recommend it. I don't know if I saw a big jump in my site hits, but it doesn't hurt to do it.

Usually, people would start anew and make something, dedicated to the book, so they typically wouldn't use old work (although, some do to very good effect). For the last two ones, I've written out separate storylines and dedicated all new work to the book. I'm doing the same right now, and am in the process of drafting a 4-page mini-story.

I know it is pricey. Most of us don't have a couple hundred sitting around - but there are a lot of benefits from the experience of doing it. Possibly, start off with just one page first to test the waters? You can always do a more elaborate short if you want in the next year. The first time I did it, I bought 4-pages. Yeah, I was crazy, but I think it was worth it. But everyone's different of course

Hope this helps.

I emailed all the credentials yesterday and signed up for the yahoo group (and got accepted) but I haven't received anything confirming the add to the Keenbook. Do you send out an email or add the coment to the group? And how long does it take to process my request? Just wondering because I want to get to work asap.

Sorry if I sound rushed and pushy.
ciao

And this thing costs money? *coughyeahfuckingrightcough*

Goobla, it's not a book that we're charging people for. It's advertising. That's the whole purpose and it pretty much has to work the same way as advertising always does. So yeah, they're charging us.

Yeah, but it still costs money. And I have no money.

artzombie wrote:I emailed all the credentials yesterday and signed up for the yahoo group (and got accepted) but I haven't received anything confirming the add to the Keenbook. Do you send out an email or add the coment to the group? And how long does it take to process my request? Just wondering because I want to get to work asap.

Sorry if I sound rushed and pushy.
ciao

In some of the older posts, it mentions that you have to specifically email seasonsofconstancy*at*yahoo.com the requirements, which are: your real name, your yahoo! groups username, your email address, your comic & comic site, and the number of pages you want in the book. Keep in mind you can have as many pages as you want.
I can understand not wanting to read thru all the old posts. ^^

Also, please vote for the cover design if you get the chance!

Vote for mine! ^^

open to non keen artists? raarr

how about a collage type cover? just different shots from the different covers blended together

i say this, it sounds great, but i dont think ill have the funds till next year


poop.

Sorry, the cover's already voted for.

What i want to know, is how long do we have to sign-up, and when does the money have to be in? Because I can't spend anymore money until March 15 or so...

Interestingly enough, the registration deadlines have not been decided yet. I'm not sure why...

But my guess is that you'll still probably be able to pay after March 15th. So feel free to sign up if that's your only concern.

Most likely, Teri will be announcing the deadlines soon , and if you're on the yahoogroups mailing list, you'll find out then.

Hope this helps.
Bryan