Memokkeen's avatar

Memokkeen

But you have heard of me
924 Watchers790 Deviations
124.9K
Pageviews

Rather spontaneously, I realised I know a bit about putting together a zine or anthology and how there isn't a lot of information out there about what happens behind the scenes.

But there seems to be a lot of opinions and ideas on how it SHOULD be, and we run into upset people when your imagined view meets with reality. So let's talk a bit about what I know.


First off, there is a difference (should at least be??) with a business/company running an anthology vs your average (private) person. Companies SHOULD have proper funding and actually pay the people they employ to create the work they commission. I've not worked for an actual company when it comes to anthology-making, so I can't guarantee it is this way (wouldn't be surprised if it also was shady AF and just for ~exposure~). Furthermore, I assume the contracts are more legally binding, and harder to get away from. ( // *glares at Disney* )

This isn't the arena I know about.



What I DO know about, both as producer and a participant, is freelance (private person) creation of anthologies/zines.


Let's say you want to make a 30-page zine with 30 people, and pay them, say, 100$ for their artwork. 30 x 100$ = 3000$, which we can all agree the average person usually doesn't have lying around to give, right?

So the 1st problem you run into as a freelancer putting together a project, is funding.


It's a moral dilemma, because you as a poor freelancer yourself are aware that your time and effort is worth money

but you also don't have the money to be fair to the people you're asking to participate in your project.



There also isn't any set rules or ways as to HOW one should run a project.



There are some people I know of that have produced anthologies by making the people who participate agree that if they get accepted into the anthology project, they must buy a set amount of copies of the anthology. So not only are you working for free, you actually have to PAY to get the anthology made. So you are losing money, on top of time and effort to be a part of a project. That's insane, right? You do get to keep all the profits of any copies of the anthology you've bought you end up selling, but if you had to buy big quantities and ended up participating in something that people don't want to buy, again; problems. But with this method, you guarantee the book you made will physically exist, at the expense of everyone working on it. You prioritise the product over the people you work with.


Some people make their anthologies/zines 100% charity only. So no one working on it makes any money (just enough to cover your expenses; printing, etc), and that's a good way to avoid any legal disputes if you work with fanart. ( // *glares at Disney again* )

You basically get exposure / the joy of participating in something you believed in.


I knew nothing of how these things worked when I decided to put together my anthology project. I basically made my system from scratch. My system is such that regardless of getting funded, everyone participating always retains rights to their own contributions + the anthology as a whole. So it is up to each participant to decide will they themselves resell the product digitally or create physical prints to sell - but they won't lose money in being forced to buy copies, or they will not gain anything at all because it was a charitable project; there's at least a chance for profit without investing money.

The contract for participating is also very flexible; you leave whenever you like, and you keep the rights to your art, and we won't hold onto it; if you leave before we've gone into print. Otherwise, it belongs to our collective (but you always have the rights to your own contribution in any case).

Should the project get funded, I've created a tip-jar system that at each stretch goal met (using Kickstarter as our crowdfunding platform) divvies up the profit between all participants. This means that while the actual monetary payout won't be large, unlike these other ways of running anthologies I've seen freelancers do, you do actually get at least SOMETHING. And it is guaranteed even if the project isn't successful that you


  1. don't have to pay to participate

  2. get something to show you worked on something publishable

  3. can make money, depending on how much you want to put into it yourself.



Another thing I noticed can be a problem is producing/editing/critique. I've heard that sometimes there is too many "bosses", and they cannot decide their direction or guide their artists. I've heard horror stories of everything getting accepted and hitting set deadlines, and when you're almost done, final deadline; the people running the show ask for huge changes that take a lot of work and time that would've been so much easier to tackle in the early stages of the project - had they just said so. There is a fear of being harsh. If you lead, you are responsible for keeping track that everyone reaches whatever the goal you've set is, and you can't blame the artist working for you if you haven't given them support and direction. To be on the top, you have to be decisive. This is also a problem if you ask people to commit by buying into the product you're creating, if you can't lead it into being something that actually sells.


I've lead groups of +30 people with myself and one other person. I've seen projects with 12 people being lead by 5 - there is no point in having so many people making exec decisions, especially if they don't make the necessary decisions.


My way isn't the right way and I'm not saying these other ways of producing anthologies/zines is wrong either. There literally is no right or wrong way, or a guide or how-to. But what I am saying is, we all would like to get paid for our work in some shape way or form, and I'd love to have a discussion and build systems of creation that give back to the creators. There's pros and cons into everything.


That's my 2 cents on that matter.

Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In

I'm open for commissions!


My prices as well as terms and conditions can be found here: [X]


Some quicker clicky samples:

Chibi 20 €
Aleerna Chibi by Memokkeen  Gamer Girl Nya Nya by Memokkeen

Shoujo portrait 30€
Love, Eva by Memokkeen  . Elegance . by Memokkeen

Fully coloured illustration 120€
. Bowsette . by Memokkeen  . Summer Vibes . by Memokkeen


Email is the quickest way to get in touch if you're interested!
memokkeen[a]gmail.com ♥
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In

Oh hey btw I will attend Nordic Fuzzcon in February, see y'all in Malmö!





Uhh.

So I'm starting the 20s single after a +6 year relationship, haha.
My life's a bit of a mess right now.
But I'll manage... just.. hmm. Art blocked? Kinda?
Trying to rearrange my life.

I'm back in my home country. I got a job. So these things are good.
Still roomies with the ex because well, circumstance. XD

Dislike my job so am looking to get into school to AT LEAST get a job I hate that pays better, if not a job that pays better that I actually enjoy.
Apparently I'm having a midlife crisis, according to some. I DUNNO. Maybe?

I'm just very tired and trying my best to keep things together.
Sorry for not being around much. I'm trying. ♥
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
<da:thumb id="768816088"/>

None of these have sold, consider giving them a home or spreading the word? ♥
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In

Still alive

1 min read
Hey!

Week 3 already?? of living in Finland again. Things are slowly coming together, I've my computer and drawing tools on me again; but tables and storage for my tools are still in the works, haha

I'm hoping to get back into streaming and art soon, but there's just a never-ending stream of things to fix when it comes to every day living and the apartment, I am too busy or tired right now. XD"

I've been to a bunch of work interviews that have gone well, so hopefully I'll have a job by next week!!
It's been super nice to live in the vicinity of friends and family again, like I can legit go and see someone right now with my monthly bus ticket?? I don't have to save up 300$ and plan ahead 3 weeks and take a weekend and try see everyone all at once, WHAT IS THIS LUXURY xD

Things are hectic and there's a constant stream of things to tackle, but I'm happy. ♥

That's all for now. =u=
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
Featured

Open for commissions by Memokkeen, journal

All things come to an end. by Memokkeen, journal

Lowered prices on adopts by Memokkeen, journal

Still alive by Memokkeen, journal

Kickstarter funded but live for 2 more weeks by Memokkeen, journal