I have.. in my opinion.. a very special and unique story idea. I've been sitting on it for years. It's a futuristic story involving two characters on separate paths that end together. It also involves government plots, humans and androids, and is slightly funky and comical. It also has moments that involve emotions through the seasons of the story, and hardships that the characters provide the audience. A combination of comedy, drama, and action, in a world not invisioned before. If you are interested in helping me make a storyboard, it would help me in the next steps to making this story become reality.

A share in the final product is offered, and quite possibly incentive if timely.

I'm just really looking for almost a frame by frame adaptation.

Any thoughts? Comments? Questions? Ibanezarus@yahoo.com

Thank you for your time.
-Clinton

I'm fairly new here myself, but I'm not sure how likely you are to find an animator here. But I might be confused as to what you're asking.

Are you looking for a frame-by-frame animator? (As you state "I'm just really looking for almost a frame by frame adaptation") Or just a storyboard artist?

And either way, do you have a more expanded synopsis of the story? Or perhaps a few character designs or environment designs to share, or would you be expecting your story board artist to do that as well?

I'm not sure as to how to get something published, but I was thinking of a way to get a green light for either a movie script, or preferably a graphic novel. So I'm not sure if that means I need to complete the graphic novel all-together first, or if I can just get a storyboard-type proof to show to a publisher.. also, with a story board It would give me an idea of how big this thing would be, and help me get a rhythm or flow to the story. These are just my thoughts, if anybody has an suggestions or tips, I would greatly appreciate that too.

As far as the story goes, I don't want to give too much away, but it takes place in a world where humans have developed a way to live longer, be stronger etc through a surgery involving robotic suits, which opens up the military field opportunities, and causes a new prejudice in the world. There is a conspiracy in the government, as well as battles on alien planets, as well as a more detailed look into the different world. Some of the ideas are pretty ridiculous, and some are pretty dark. It also ends in a twist. I've been sitting on the story for years as I said, but I just wish I could do something to share it publicly. Thanks!

Oh sorry.. about designs or environments, I have about 90 percent of how I would like things to look, but as far as any sketches of the characters myself, I have none. Just the way I imagine them.

It sounds like you're rather unfocused on what you actually want out of this project. If you don't know what you want your goals to be, you're not going to be able to find someone to jump on board with you. Take a step back. Be objective. Do your research.

When it comes to most unsolicited submissions, publishers insist on complete work. This is because you're selling them the whole package, not an idea for someone else to draw. If you're going for selling a script for a movie of some sort, then that's a completely different route.

Either way, there is a lot of pre-work that must be done before trying to build a team. Being able to pitch your idea. I suggest going back through the archives here on Making Comics (the actual blog) for tips on how to pitch your comic and where to start.

As for tips, I would suggest actually writing out the script. Given your first paragraph, it sounds as though you're expecting to sell an idea for someone else to write. It is the writer who determines how big a story could be. As well as the rhythm. But most importantly, it is the writer that determines the flow of the story. An artist can help you smooth out areas that might need a little visual finesse that writers sometimes overlook. But ultimately, all of that is the job of the writer. Not just witty dialogue, but the entire story and everything involved.

I can understand the desire to get a story out there to share with the world, but patience is key. You can't just rush into a massive project if you don't even know how big you want it to be.

I see... Thanks for the suggestions! I guess time is probably my worst enemy then. I've gone from trying this project to trying another and then coming back again and then giving up, and then getting distracted. I'm almost ready to give up and just let it die with me. My first paragraph was just to try and grab attention mainly, and see if someone would be interested in that category. I also do need to go back through the actual blog, because I did just search for a forum to post on. I don't have all of it written down, which I agree, is something I should probably do first. Witty dialogue I'm not sure about, it's the entire story and everything involved that I'm more confident about.

I've mostly got a manilla folder full of bits and pieces of detail and science, and 4 rough drafts of the basic plots, and then about half the story almost frame by frame written out in a notebook. I guess I AM kind of looking for someone to bounce conceptional ideas off of. Kind of like: I imagined this character like this, and then see the drawing and say, "Yes.. that's even better than I would have drawn it if I could." The drawing style would be somewhere between JTHM, Invader Zim, and Heavy Metal? I guess you could say?

Strangely enough, I've even got a little bit of minimalist musical score as well. This is something that I've put myself in to, without knowing where to go next to make it happen.

I thank you sandpuppeteer for your replies. It seems like you have a knowledgeable view.

If it is a story you are easily distracted from then perhaps it is time to move on to a different story. And what it sounds like you're looking for is a co-creator, not just a concept artist. Rarely do comics have that stage between writer and pencil/ink/color artists the way animation does. I think that's where it gets confusing on what you're exactly looking for.

A folder with bits and pieces isn't enough to start pulling in other talents, unless you're looking for a co-writer. Before you start hunting for artists, you will need the basic foundation of your plot. Meaning you will need to answer the following questions:

- Who is the protagonist?
- What is the antagonist?
- What is the setting?
- How will the story be structured?
- Will the story be open-ended or have a clear end?
- What is the basic plotline?

You will also want to have descriptions of your main characters and settings before you start looking for an artist. Especially if you don't intend to sketch them out yourself.

This is where that "bouncing of ideas" thing comes from. You set the starting point. The first thing an artist should do is sketch out character sheets. Or at least a full body render of the important characters. That's when things start evolving. But it can't evolve if you don't have a clear point to start from.