Good news, bad news

There was a good question left in the comments yesterday by a reader named Jeff. He asked:

I see (on the Comic Con web site) there is a portfolio review for artists and there is lots of detail on the web about that, but I see nothing for a review for writers. Is there someplace at the con a writer can go to drop off his two hopefully interesting sample scripts?

Here's the bad news about cons and writers, Jeff: No one is going to want to read your script. Lot's of editors are willing to review art because it takes just a few minutes and you can do it while being half-distracted by the show, but no editor can take the time out of a show and devote themselves to reading your script. Also, no editor will want to take your script from you and lug it back to their offices with them.

So, here's the good news: save the money you were going to spend to run off copies of the script, and save your back because you won't be lugging all of those scripts around with you.

Rather than trying to get your script in editor's hands, what you want to do is hook up with an artist, or artists. You want to work up a pitch document (a one-page synopsis, some sample art from your artist(s), and a sample of the script. You will not be able to get all of this together before this year's show, and that's okay. Here's what you will do at this year's show: you will met potential editors with whom you would like to work. Introduce yourself, be nice, ask good questions about what thy might be looking for. In this way, you can build a list of editors to whom you would like to send your pitch once you have it finished. And every editor you approach will be wondering while they talk to you whether you are just being social or if you want to get work out of them. I think it's okay to tell them that you might like work from them in the future. You might even talk to them about your idea, but don't mention to them that you happen to have a copy of the script with you, etc.

As a writer myself, I realize how much it sucks that you cannot use the con in the same way as an artist, but you can still use it.