Welcome to Paper Walls: Removing the Barriers Between You and Making Great Comics, the first book in the Make Comics for Fun and Profit series. When I originally envisioned this book, it was going to be one book, not a series. Once I got into the outlining and planning though, I discovered I had way more content than I could fit into one book. I could spend the next several years compiling information and sitting on it, waiting until the book was done before I got it out, risking that half of it could be outdated by the time it was released or I could create a series of smaller books. Smaller books can get out faster and get into the hands of readers like you immediately to absorb and use the knowledge while it’s still relevant, letting you choose which topics you are interested in and want to spend your hard-earned money on. That way those that could really use and need the information I have to offer can get it in their hands now and can work on it while they live their lives and make their comics. This is something, as I’m sure you can tell from the title of the series, that I don’t just feel but know is possible and accessible for anyone who really wants to make the commitment to do it. That’s why I’m doing this, because showing others how to do what I’ve already done successfully in my life feeds my two passions: making comics and teaching. I love these two things and the idea that I get to do both at the same time is an incredible fulfillment of a life goal for me.
In this series I’m going to explain the ins and outs of every facet of creating a comic from coming up with ideas, creating, publishing and selling comics. Starting with this book, I make it abundantly clear that it is possible for anyone, including you. Every single point and possibility will be covered at some point in the series and if nothing else, you will take away the fact that you can do this for yourself if you have the drive. Thanks to modern technology and businesses, the barriers that used to exist that would stop people from making and publishing their own comics like finances, technical knowledge and access to distribution have all but disappeared in the modern publishing landscape. You can reach your readers with little to no help or funding and you can do it in a very immediate way.
Throughout this book and the series I’m not going to talk down to you, I’m not going to dumb down language, but neither am I going to try and stroke my ego by sounding more intelligent than I am or by using technical term-laden jargon to try and make myself feel like the wizard of comics. People who really do know what they’re talking about and are confident in their skills don’t need to do that, and I’m one of those people. I am also going to swear at times. Because I want this book and the series to be conversational—I want it to be natural—I want you to feel like you’re talking to me, because that's exactly what I’m doing with this book—I am reaching out and I’m talking to you. We are having a conversation about how to make comics and how to be successful and reach people. I’m not gonna swear like a sailor and throw F-bombs at every opportunity, but I’m gonna be damn sure that when I do swear, it’s part of my natural dialogue. It’s exactly how I would explain or say to somebody in person. I know if it is used sparingly, for emphasis, which is what makes it work and why those who overuse swearing are often ignored, the real urgency I feel in delivering my information will be understood. Plus when it comes down to it, if you don’t like it, if it really offends and just hurts your eyeballs that much, nobody’s forcing you to keep reading this book. You can put it down and go look for someone else willing to write instructional books that are going to coddle and protect you from every possible danger of society. I’m not one of those people. I’m gonna give it to you straight. I’m gonna tell you where the best deals and benefits for your time and money are. I’m going to tell you whether a deal is good or actually a screw job or where something that looks almost too good to be true really isn’t and can help you reach your target audience.
Hope that works for you. It works for me and I hope you can join me on this journey.
Welcome aboard, now let’s start making comics.
Mike Gagnon
Author, artist and instructor
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