Long Beach Comic Expo - Workshops Announced!

Hey folks,Similar to last years two hour workshop with Mark Waid, I'm going to be hosting a couple of them for the show, this time with editor, writer, and gentleman extraordinaire, Rob Levin. Here's the press release with details and you can buy seats in the class at this link.

Long Beach Comic Expo Announces Workshops!

Fialkov and Levin to Host In-Depth Seminars

LOS ANGELES, CA, April 20, 2012. Long Beach Comic Con presents the Comic Expo on May 12th at the Long Beach Convention Center with special workshops by critically-acclaimed writer Joshua Hale Fialkov (I, Vampire, Last of the Greats, Doctor Who, Echoes) and veteran writer/editor Rob Levin (7 Days From Hell, Abbatoir).

Fialkov and Levin will be hosting two seminars on May 12th. The first one is titled ‘Intro to Careers in Comics’ and will last for 2 intense hours. This session will feature the art of breaking in, the process of writing, finding collaborators and getting your book made. The second 2 hour workshop will be titled ‘Advanced Careers in Comics’ and will provide an in-depth look at the business side of writing and producing comic books. Advance registration is required and there is an additional fee. Seating is extremely limited to only thirty people and tickets are available on the website now (www.longbeachcomiccon.com).

"Rob and I have twenty years combined experience in the comics business, and we're thrilled for the chance to share our years with another great crop of Long Beach Comic Expo attendees." said Joshua Hale Fialkov (Eisner, Harvey, and Emmy nominated writer of the graphic novels ECHOES, TUMOR, ELK'S RUN, and the LAST OF THE GREATS).

“When we decided to add programming to the one day Comic Expo, we were thrilled with the response from both the creative community and the attendees. Having the chance to collaborate with industry veterans like Josh and Rob on programming is one of the biggest perks of my job.” said Phil Lawrence, Director of the Long Beach Comic Con.

For a complete list of events, guests, activities, ticket prices and times, visit www.longbeachcomiccon.com.Tickets for Long Beach Comic Expo are on sale now through the website and will also be available at many Southern California comic book and hobby shops, including WSS Shoe Stores and their Geeky Mamma stores.

Harvey Awards Deadline

Hey folks,Just a quick reminder that quite a few of my books are eligible for the Harvey Awards. If you're an eligible voter (comics professionals of all ilks) I'd greatly appreciate your votes. My (and my collaborators) are eligible in the following categories:

BEST WRITER Joshua Hale Fialkov - Echoes, Last of the Greats, I,Vampire

BEST ARTIST Andrea Sorrentino - I,Vampire Brent Peeples - Last of the Greats Rahsan Ekedal - Echoes

BEST LETTERER Troy Peteri - Echoes, Last of the Greats

BEST INKER Matthew Waite - Last of the Greats

BEST COLORIST Mirka Andolfo - Last of the Greats Marcelo Maiolo - I,Vampire

BEST COVER ARTIST Brent Peeples - Last of the Greats Rahsan Ekedal - Echoes Jenny Frison - I,Vampire

MOST PROMISING NEW TALENT Brent Peeples - Last of the Greats

BEST NEW SERIES I, Vampire - DC Comics Last of the Greats - Image Comics

BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES Echoes - Top Cow Productions Last of the Greats - Image Comics I, Vampire - DC Comics

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM - PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED Echoes - Top Cow Productions

BEST SINGLE ISSUE OR STORY Echoes #5 - Top Cow I, Vampire #1 - DC Comics

SPECIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRESENTATION Echoes - Top Cow

Feel free to vote for any or all of those with the form at this link: http://harveyawards.org/2012ballot/Harvey_2012_nom_ballot.txt Voting ends on Monday.

Thanks as always,

j. www.thefialkov.com

Grind - On Writing for a Living

Probably the most frequent thing I'm asked is about how to 'go pro' as a writer, and I frequently answer more or less the same thing. I realized it's something that I haven't actually written about extensively (or at least haven't in a while) so, here we go. First off, writing for a living is amazing. It's the best job I've ever had, and I hope to never have to have any other job (unless it's, I dunno, directing and writing, or producing and writing, as long as it's something with a writing component, I'm happy). But, here's the thing. It's a non-stop fight. I've yet to met a writer including some of the most successful screen, tv, and comics writers in the world who's not over-worked and slightly over-whelmed. It's just par for the course.

Part of being a writer is learning to grow and change and flex muscles that nobody else is interested in helping you stretch. Becoming better is nobody's job but yours, and, again, no matter how supportive the people around you are or how much anyone has your back, the weight remains firmly on your own shoulders.

And, part of being a writer, at least, y'know, now, is fighting to keep the work coming. I spend almost as much time looking for work as I do actually writing. It's something that I constantly think I'm going to 'grow out of' but have yet to actually do. And it's one of the most frequent topics of conversation I have with my writer friends.

The truth is that when you're working freelance you're at the mercy of the people with the jobs. Which, of course, is the problem with breaking in. You need to prove that you're worth the risk of the people who hold the purse strings. You need to do this in a couple of ways.

Step one is to have produced a TON of original material that is beloved critically (or, even better, successful financially.) This, of course, is not particularly easy at all. But, you spend a few years (or decades) honing your craft, and, hopefully something great comes out the other end. Which leads us to...

Step two, having pre-existing relationships with those people of power. This, actually, is a bit easier. Unfortunately, you still need to do the other thing first. Because Editors, Publishers, Executives all want to be around success.

They want to feel like they're gleaning some of your golden glow and in their way are helping you to glow brighter. They want to meet people who's books they've enjoyed. They want to grab a beer with the person who made that book that everyone is talking about. It's just human nature, and, it's business sense. But even with both of those things going for you?

It's still damn hard. Maybe I'm wrong (or I just don't have a high enough class of friends) but, it never gets easier. There's no short cut. There's no secret way in. You just have to do good work and get in front of people, some of whom, hopefully, are the right people.

Nobody can do that part, unfortunately, except for you.

So, get working and get used to it, bucko.