Real-Life Communication
You've been publishing independently for a couple of years. While
you've always done well for yourself, you'd really like to publish your work
with a larger company.
Finally, thanks to a tip from a good friend
in the business, opportunity knocks.
A new publisher has opened up
and is looking to publish some established independent comics.
It wants
to develop several new lines of comics to appeal to specific audiences of
readers. It wants submissions from artists who think their character or style
would be just perfect for a particular audience.
It's a rare occasion
in the comics business, and you really want to make the most of this. You
immediately start working on your portfolio. After giving it some thought,
you decide to combine six pages of artwork to show your range with six pages
of examples from your most successful comic characters: Boojum and Spot.
These
two characters are part gnome, part human superheroes. While many superhero
comics are on the decline, yours seem to have done well because of their balance
of cute characters and sophisticated artwork. Retailers tell you Boojum and
Spot seem to sell well with both young teens and middle-aged comic buyers.
So,
you're all set. You have your portfolio ready to go and full of saleable illustrations.
Now all you need to do is write a cover letter explaining why you think your
work is saleable.
Luckily, you've come across a survey which portrays
the average comic readers' buying habits, and you think you can use this information
to your advantage in the letter.
Age of Comics Buyers
| 0 - 12 | 5 percent |
| 12 - 16 | 18 percent |
| 16 - 21 | 27 percent |
| 21 - 30 | 26 percent |
| 31 - 40 | 17 percent |
| 41 - 50 | 5 percent |
| 51 + | 2 percent |
Amount of Money Spent on Comics Weekly
| 0 - 12 | $2.18 |
| 12 - 16 | $8.42 |
| 16 - 21 | $8.28 |
| 21 - 30 | $4.75 |
| 31 - 40 | $10.24 |
| 41 - 50 | $8.14 |
| 51 + | $6.80 |
Looking at the information in the survey and given your knowledge
of your comic audience, write down a list the points to include in your letter.