Real-Life Decision Making -- Solution
You offer to have the lettering done professionally.
You tell the distributor you appreciate his criticism, explaining that
lettering had always been your Achilles heel. You ask him if he would carry
your comic book if you hired someone to do the lettering.
"Of course," says the distributor. He tells you he thinks you're a
very talented artist, but your lettering is holding your comics back from
being more successful.
This is the real-life decision made by comic illustrator Jenny
Frank.
"It was a really humbling situation, but you can't let your ego get
too involved," says Frank. "When you're an independent, you're an
artist, but you're also a businessperson."
You hire the friend of a friend who agrees to redo the comic book lettering
on commission. The distributor puts your new comic in his next distribution
run, and the stores order more copies than you've ever sold before.
"Professionalism pays off in this business," says Frank.
Scott Chantler is a freelance comic illustrator. He says decision-making
skills are incredibly important, especially when it comes to making business
decisions.
"Every decision I make affects whether or not I can buy groceries the following
week," he says. "I have to wear a lot of hats and make a lot of important
decisions every day about a lot of different things."