Trout - trying out for syndication, check it out!

Ignacio · Post by **Ignacio** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 12:09 am

Hey there folks, so I've finally come to what it is I've been working for. Early next week I'll be mailing out my first packets to try and get my comic strip, Trout, syndicated in newspapers. Call it a fool's wish, call it crazy, or cheer me on, but I have to, and want to, try. It would be a dream come true, so in honor of my first submission attempt, I'm pitching my strip again here at CG! Here's the most recent strip, and the site is http://www.troutcomic.com The site updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, unless I have some sort of emergency I need to tend to. Enjoy!

Dr Neo Lao · Post by **Dr Neo Lao** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 7:48 pm

Woohoo! Good luck!

Tafkas · Post by **Tafkas** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 1:48 am

Indeed, Good Luck! I'm curious about your submission package. How many strips are you sending? Be prepared to produce at least five comics a week with a 3-6 month lead time. Syndicates don't care if you have emergencies. Be sure to get submission guidelines before you send yours in. Get critiques from people who are not your family or friends. I suggest everyone thinking of syndicate submissions read this:
Dawn of Dilbert
Scott Adams kept his day job for two years after he was syndicated!

Ignacio · Post by **Ignacio** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 1:29 pm

I'm actually sending 24 black and whites. It's the maximum number of strips syndicates want to see, and if they like what they see, then they ask for Sundays. You're right too, once syndicated as a newspaper strip, you need to be 6 weeks ahead and 8 weeks ahead on your Sundays. If I hopefully get syndicated, then I know I'll be burning the midnight oil for quite a while.

If you go to sheldoncomics.com, Dave Kellett's first news entry (it's recent because he just moved away from the syndicates) says a lot about the current state of the newspaper industry. It's hurting bad, and apparently most cartoonists absolutely need that second job. But hey, this is what I love doing, so I don't mind doing it. I DO however need to find some time in the coming weeks to get ahead on my strips.