Editing Comics

I edit scripts, thumbnails, and combinations thereof for independent and DIY comics creatives, including Hari Connor's DiNK Award-winning Finding Home, as well as creator-owned projects at publishers, like Henry Barajas’ La Voz de M.A.Y.O Tata Rambo (with Gonzo) and Helm Greycastle (With Valenza and Handoko) at Top Cow for Image. Read more about my past projects here.

Any genre, projects big & small, serial or oneshot… Accepted by a publisher or not, I'm here to make YOUR comic the BEST IT CAN BE, within however much time your project budget can account for. As of April 2023, my base rate will be £55 or approximately $70 (US) per hour's work. More info below! If you need flexibility, get in touch.

What does an editor do, in comics?

"Editor" can mean a lot of things. In corporate comics—monthly issues put out by publishers that own their own "universes"—an editor is often a project manager, and may have a lot of control over the direction of the story or what characters are and aren’t “allowed” to do. But this is independent, freelance editing, so I'm able to define my own role. I define it differently to that. So—

(Here’s a chat I had with the Comics Pals about editing, which might suit you if you’re an aural learner!)

In this context, an editor… 

An editor is your first reviewer— and nobody reads what they thought except you.

An editor asks the questions only you can answer about your story—while you can still go back and answer them!

An editor will tell you what’s too confusing. You can rearrange things so they’re clear when you publish (if you want!)

An editor can identify and respond to the themes you’re dealing with, while you’re still dealing with them—so you can make them as prominent, as textured, as bold as you desire… Or take them out entirely, if they aren't what you’re after. 

An editor will point out connections you didn’t intend, so you can remove them to preserve the clarity of your vision. (Or draw them out further, because they suddenly inspire you!)

An editor will ask you if you’re sure, so you can discover whether you are or not.

An editor will make suggestions… Which you can come up with better versions of, because it’s your story.

An editor will absorb your characters’ voices, and discuss them with you. Let’s be sure this character is registering as you want them to! Sometimes things you know about your characters or plot aren’t things you’ve managed to get onto the page—yet!

If you’re a writer who will be collaborating (with an artist? A letterer?) an editor will make sure you're providing enough information for them, before you give them something confusing to work with.

An editor will help you pick and negotiate with collaborators, and help your team navigate any misunderstandings.

An editor will check your thumbnails, making sure they read clearly and have enough space for your lettering.

An editor will look at your first lettering pass, and give you diagramed notes about where (and how) they can be stronger, clearer, more powerful.

An editor will check your spelling! And...

An editor will provide the affirmation and supportive challenge that will allow you the confidence in your work that it deserves.

Will an editor be nice to me?

Yes~

Will this editor punish me for being neurodivergent or otherwise disabled?

No! I am happy to accommodate your working needs, and will assume that you are going to have some at some point whether you warn me specifically or not. I believe that work should be done in ways that are comfortable for the people doing it.

Will an editor take my story from me, and own a part of it?

Not here. I gain no rights to your work; you retain all ownership. I will be able to use images of your work to advertise our collaboration, and require the right to claim credit—in words, not additional funds—for the work that I’ve done with you.

Do I have to pay for this excellent service?

Yes! But I charge hourly rates, and feedback for a single issue usually takes about one hour. As of April 2023, my base rate is £55 (approx $70 US) per hour's work. This is the rate for my time taken reading, notes made, further discussion of anything perplexing you by email, and (if you prefer it) Skype or Zoom discussion or workshopping—basically, whatever I’m doing for you, you pay just about dollar a minute for it. No minimum or maximum time.

Depending on what you have to show me and how much work it needs, one hour of my time might cover notes for the script (or thumbnails) of a comic of around twenty-three pages. Longer projects, or projects which take more acclimatisation, will take longer. You can cap my time or give me free rein; it's all negotiable. I'm happy to look at a project in any state, and to look at multiple drafts.

What does it mean to cap my time? It means that you can say, for example, “Okay, I have seventeen dollars. Please give me seventeen minutes of reading thinking and notes!”—and I will do that. If you say “Okay. I have two hundred dollars. Please give me two hundred dollars of reading, thinking and notes” I will be able to do that much more for you! Defining your budget is not required, but if your budget is limited please inform me.

For some cheaper help, buy my eBook, Writing Better Characters, and my worksheet Designing Better Faces (yes, writers need to think visually too), on Gumroad.

Can you look at my pitch/write my blurb/help me with something else?

Most likely! Please get in touch.

Can you keep me on track, help me with my schedule, handle my emails? Can you run my kickstarter? Can you give me help with other things I need?

I can, but I don’t want to. Don’t despair—they are services that people DO want to do! Please look through this Managing Editors for Comics brochure that I assembled for help in these areas and more! I can and will discuss these things with you, but I will not be the boss of you.

Will an editor be at my beck and call?

No. I will endeavour to respond to you in a timely manner! I will attempt to meet your deadlines and fit in with your wider schedules. But you buy my time by the hour, not indefinitely and always. Do not expect anything from me on Monday or the weekends. If you haven’t heard from me but expect to, please feel welcome to email again!