Hello, and welcome again to another Weekly Roundup! In the Weekly Roundup, I provide links and summarized information about the crowdfunded projects, creator opportunities, and resources that have caught my eye over the week. I hope you enjoy!
As a note: I am not sponsored by any company, group, or individual listed below or elsewhere on this site unless otherwise listed.
These past few weeks have been tough for many of us in the United States. We vastly underestimated the nation’s xenophobia, homophobia, racism, sexism, and other prejudices held against mentally ill people, disabled people, veterans, the poor, Muslims, and so many others. For many, their worst fears were confirmed. A man who stands for all of these was voted into the presidential office and many of us are horrified, disgusted, and terrified.
I am finding it incredibly difficult to remain positive and be strong. I’m scared for so many of my friends, and shaken that some family members, coworkers, and people around me voted for someone who sees us as Less Than and Other. But I will continue to take my time and do my best. We are not the minority – we are diverse and powerful. You are loved. You are important. And you have to stay here in this world. Together we can face the evils in our society and overcome them. I have to believe that.
You can check the hashtag #drawdrive on Twitter to find creatives who are donating their time and effort for responsible nonprofits that will work to defend the freedoms and rights of our nation’s most marginalized people.
Here is a list of some charities and nonprofits to donate to. Thanks Christina!
Here is a list of inclusive volunteer positions organized by state.
Here is a list of opportunities recently collected for marginalized voice actors, musicians, writers, and artists. Thank you Cassandra!
If you are a trans person in need of legal assistance, many people are offering services pro bono. Check the hashtag #TransLawHelp on Twitter.
If you need to talk to someone or otherwise vent, please utilize this list of help hotlines.
Take care and take your time. Your work is more important than ever. Thank you for sharing your originality and openness with the world. You bring light to the days of others, and it is so, so appreciated.
Awards
The Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity is accepting nominations for writers, artists, and creators who work towards:
…Broadening the range of characters portrayed in comics, adding to the variety of creators contributing to the medium, influence on the marketplace and contributions to the advancement of women, minorities and LGBTs in comic books and pop culture.
Nominations are accepted until December 31, 2016, and the award ceremony will take place in Long Beach, California on February 18, 2016. Think about your favorite creators whose work has helped transform the modern comic landscape and give them a chance to get the recognition they deserve!
Crowdfunded Projects
Hatoful Boyfriend is running a Kickstarter to fund the production of limited edition plushes based on the best selling video game title. Tier options include plush and PVC sets of the birds. The Kickstarter ends December 6.
K. Ryan is running a Kickstarter to fund the production of their Matsuri-themed enamel pin set. Tier options include the pins and sketches. The Kickstarter ends December 8.
< /reality > A Visual Novel Project is running a Kickstarter to assist with funding its production. Romance is optional, and your choices affect the plot and character development within the game. Tier options include the game itself, wallpapers, the soundtrack, the artbook, beta access, prints, Steam keys for other games, a Kickstarter-exclusive ending, and more. The Kickstarter ends December 10.
Seiyuu Crush is running a crowdfunding campaign on IndieGoGo to fund the printing of the webcomic’s first two volumes. Both books will have over 240 pages of content, including the comic itself as well bonus pages. Tier options include postcards, printed editions of volumes 1 and 2, a t-shirt, and character pins. The campaign ends December 12.
Webcomic Orange Junk is holding a Kickstarter to fund the printing of its second, third, and possibly fourth volume. Billed as a love letter to the shoujo manga genre, Orange Junk combines comedy, friendship, and romance in a hilarious (and personally recommended!) package. Tier options include PDF and softcover volumes of any volume of the series, a keychain featuring the character Drew, dakimukura (body pillow cover), a desktop pack, a sticker sheet, and a possible cameo in the comic! The Kickstarter ends on December 14.
Flush Fatale is running a Kickstarter to fund the production of a deck of cards featuring 54 women from history illustrated by 54 women artists. Tier options include the deck of cards, a PDF booklet of the art, and signatures from all of the artists involved. The Kickstarter ends December 18.
Creature Feature is running a Kickstarter to fund the production of its first volume. Totalling at over 148 pages, Creature Feature Volume 1 will collect over two years’ worth of the ongoing NSFW comic series along with never-before-seen bonuses. Tier options include PDF and print versions of the book, wallpapers, mini comics, prints, bookplates, and commissions. The Kickstarter ends December 29, 2016.
Pretty Boys and Animals: A Coloring Book is running a Kickstarter to raise funds for its production. The books will be printed on 190 gsm pure white A4 paper with single-sided pages, great for coloring with marker without heavy bleed. Tier options include PDF and print copies of the book. The Kickstarter ends December 30, 2016.
Creative Opportunities
General
The Paper Cat Press Holiday Gift Guide has been posted! Want to sign up? I’ll keep on updating, so you have until December 1 to get your store listed!
Here is a list of publications currently seeking pitches from marginalized creators. Thank you Alaina!
Check the Lemma Soft Forums for paid work related to visual novel and game development, including project management, illustration, voice acting work, animation, sprite creation, writing, coding, and more.
Check this list for an assortment of different opportunities linked through Twitter. Thank you Cassandra!
Animation
Blizzard has a number of opportunities available in a variety of fields, including 3D Animation, Technical Writing, Public Relations, Security, and more.
Cloth Cat Animation is looking for 2D Animators in Cardiff Bay for a project beginning in December.
Here is a survey for Women Professionals in Animation. If you work in animation and identify as a woman, please submit your anonymous information to this survey to inform and assist current and future animators.
You can find a directory of currently open animation jobs at animatedjobs.com! Companies like DHX Media, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and others have a number of open full-time, part-time, and freelance positions available, including social media, editing, and teaching.
Comics, Illustration, and More
Lucy Knisley is looking for illustrators to create a print to benefit Planned Parenthood. Sign up using your email and select an important American activist for women’s rights to illustrate.
The Fair Page Rates annual survey is live! If you’ve worked professionally as a comic artist this year, fill out the survey to help inform yourself and other artists in the future.
Tee Franklin is looking for colorists, specifically those who can color POC in various skin tones, for a paid gig. Email your portfolio to vixenvarsity [at] gmail.com to be considered.
WebComicChat is looking for volunteer illustrators to be featured in the weekly round of questions. Check here for available topics or for more information on how to apply.
The Web Comic Secret Santa Exchange is accepting applications until today, December 2! Sign up to be assigned a comic creator to create fan art or a guest comic for.
The Yaoi Army is hiring a Main Illustrator and Graphic Designer for an upcoming RPG bishounen card game. Email your portfolio to theyaoiarmy [at] gmail.com.
Viz is looking for an Art Director, Designer, and other positions.
Jessica Hayley is hosting a Self-Care Jam, from November 28 to December 5. Create games, comics, illustrations, music, or anything else that encourages positivity.
Althea Balms is accepting applications for the Comic-Making Workshop + Residency, a 9 week-long comic-making program for Asian youth between between 16 and 29, in Ontario until December 7.
Resist! is seeking comic (especially 1/2 or 1 page comics) and illustration submissions for a special issue of Gabe Fowler’s tabloid newspaper Smoke Signal. Submit by December 10 to be considered.
SCBWI is also accepting submissions for the Student Illustrator Scholarship. Scholarships provide admissions to all conference events, including keynotes and breakout sessions, entry in the Juried Portfolio Showcase, and more. Entries are due by December 5 for the Winter Conference in New York, and due May 1 for the Summer Conference.
The Memento Mori Zine for Zero Escape is seeking artist contributors. Applications are open until December 4.
Everyday Champion, a zine celebrating the Shiratorizawa zine from Haikyuu, is accepting applications for art and writing until December 12.
What Can I Do: A Comic Book for Hard Political Times is accepting submissions of comic artists and political actions. You will be contacted before December 5 and 11, so be sure to submit before then if you’re interested.
Dead Lights Horror Fiction Magazine is accepting submissions of cover and interior horror art through December 15. Interior art pay is $5-$10 and cover art pay ranges from $40 to $80.
The Ghost PKMN Zine is accepting submissions through mid-December. Proceeds will be donated to facial feminization surgery for Elexa Kendall.
The Haikyuu Ghibli Zine is looking for artists and writers to submit applications by December 15.
Nasty Women for Planned Parenthood is accepting applications for their Nasty Women Zine featuring moments in history featuring women (cis, trans, pos, differently abled, and otherwise). Submit illustrations, one to three page comics, prose, and poetry through December 15. Contributors will not be paid, but donations for the zine will be given to Planned Parenthood.
Heroic Shenanigans is hosting a giveaway for a chance to receive a signed volume of Heroic Shenanigans and a bookmark. Enter by December 17 for a chance to win!
The MatsuHana Fanzine is seeking artist and writers. Apply by December 20 to be considered. See here for more information.
Cabin Fever Art Zine is accepting submissions until December 22. The theme for the zine is “winter.” Check here for submission guidelines.
Comics for Choice has an open call for submissions for comics covering abortion rights with proceeds going to the National Network of Abortion Funds. Submit by December 30 to be considered.
StArt Faire magazine is accepting submissions for their December issue until December 29. You are welcome to submit ongoing comic series, one-shots, and advertisements for free.
Tim’rous Beastie is accepting comic submissions for stories of all genres involving anthropomorphic, intelligent animals. Pitch by January 2 to be considered.
Stacked Deck Press has opened submissions for the anthology We’re Still Here, an anthology by and for trans cartoonists. Submit your pitches by January 9, 2017.
State of the Union, an upcoming digital zine featuring black and white color illustrations, comics, prose, poetry, and more, is accepting submissions until January 13, 2017. The zine will be available for free online. Donated proceeds will be donated to Planned Parenthood.
Weekly Shonen Magazine and MediBang are hosting a manga contest! Submit your completed comic by January 12, 2017 for the chance to have your work reviewed by Weekly Shonen Magazine editors. Simply post your comic of 50 pages or less and MediBang will translate it. Winners will have an editor assigned to them to help develop your comic further. Grand prize winners will also be published in Weekly Shonen Magazine’s manga app Magazine Pocket.
Little, Brown’s Emerging Artist Award is accepting entries until January 15, 2017. Submitted mockups should invoke the diversity and rich cultural experiences in America. Potential prizes include $2500 in American Express gift cards, round trip travel to New York City, and a one-day mentorship with the Little, Brown book design and editorial team and Jerry Pinkney.
Light Grey Art Lab has extended its call for submissions for its show The Lost Isle of Kismet: A Choose Your Own Adventure Exhibit. Artists will be grouped into teams that will each help create the immerse world for this unique and interactive gallery show. Submit by January 20, 2017 to be considered. Final artwork will be due March 1, 2017.
Nature and Humans: A Comic Anthology is accepting comic submissions until January 30. Final submissions will need to be between 4-8 pages and in full color. Payment for art to be determined be funds raised through crowdfunded after the book is printed and shipped.
Level-8 Comics is hosting a Design a Character competition for creators ages 5-15 until January 31, 2017. Design one hero and one villain to be drawn and featured in issue 1 of Late Knights: A Sense of Steel.
The Silent Manga Audition announced its seventh run of its worldwide dialogue-free comic competition. The theme is “unforgettable taste.” Entries are due by March 31, 2017.
Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic that previously published Raina Telgemeier’s Smile, Jeff Smith’s Bone, and Kazu Kibuishi’s Amulet, is accepting submissions for graphic novelists creating works for children and teens. Visit their site for more information. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2017.
Submissions for 2017’s If Anthology are open. The theme is “crime” and the soft deadline is May 1, 2017. Contributors will be compensated with 1 book per page.
Jerry’s Art-A-Rama is hosting a number of art contests, some ongoing and some requiring specific materials. Check what’s open and see if you can qualify.
Check out Arts for LA or College Art Opportunities for more exhibition, residency, and grant opportunities.
Conventions and Events
Con or Bust has free tickets available for people of color for a number of upcoming conventions, including WindyCon and OryCon.
Akimatsuri ’16 is accepting applications for vendors for their 1-day Vancouver event held on December 17.
VanCaf (the Vancouver Comic Arts Festival) has exhibitor applications open until January 6, 2017.
Rose City Comic Con is accepting applications for their artist alley.
GeekGirlCon is looking for volunteers to help plan next year’s convention. Check the site for open positions, or sign up for the mailing list to hear more!
Mentorships
Author Mentor Match is accepting submissions from writers with complete and revised YA manuscripts between 50,000 and 120,000 words. Submit by December 6 to be matched with a mentor.
Music
@JkaplanAW is searching for a composer for a future yuri visual novel project. Ideally the composer would be comfortable creating music stylistically somewhere between jazz and classical, making use of acoustic guitar and piano.
Residencies
Althea Balms is accepting applications for the Comic-Making Workshop + Residency, a 9 week-long comic-making program for Asian youth between between 16 and 29, in Ontario until December 7.
Check out Arts for LA or College Art Opportunities for exhibition, residency, and grant opportunities.
Scholarships
Here’s a list of 102 college and graduate scholarships available for women of color!
Corporeal Voices has opened The Voice Is A Muscle annual grant for writers of color residing in Oregon. $10,000 will be granted to a person of color in 2 payments over the year for their works promoting social justice. Submit by December 5 to be considered for this year’s grant.
Female-identifying US residents 13 years of age or older are invited to apply for the Search for Hidden Figures, a scholarship for women pursuing education and careers in STEM fields. Winners have a chance to receive up to $50,000 in scholarship money, amongst other prizes. Enter by December 10 to be considered.
Cards Against Humanity is funding the Science Ambassador Scholarship, now accepting applications until December 11, 2016. The scholarship will cover full tuition for up to four years of an undergraduate degree for a woman studying science, engineering, or math.
Teaching
Columbus College of Art and Design is hiring a Comics Illustration Assistant Professor, among other faculty and staff positions.
Sign up to teach at Skillshare to earn royalties based on the premium member students in your class. See here for additional information.
Translation
Cheritz is looking for a Korean to Spanish or English to Spanish translator for their future game projects. They would prefer an employee based in Korea available to work 9:30am to 6:30pm.
Seven Seas Entertainment is looking for Japanese to English translators for light novel projects. Please submit your resume, portfolio, and/or samples of your work here.
Voice Acting
Check the Casting Call Club and Voice Acting Alliance for more voice acting and audio opportunities.
Writing
Author Mentor Match is accepting submissions from writers with complete and revised YA manuscripts between 50,000 and 120,000 words. Submit by December 6 to be matched with a mentor.
Beyond the Binary is seeking non-binary contributors, prioritizing people of color, low income people, and disabled people.
Vox Media is looking for a writing fellow to pitch, write, and create visual content focused on race and ethnicity and how they intersect with other identities. The position is based in either NYC or Washington, DC.
Videodame is seeking contributors for their monthly guest residency. Contributors will be paid $50 for 1-4 pieces about or inspired by games and gaming culture.
Jessica Hayley is hosting a Self-Care Jam, from November 28 to December 5. Create games, comics, illustrations, music, or anything else that encourages positivity.
Applications are open for The Limitless Light: Short Stories of Jewish Magic & Mysticism. Stories should be between 4000 and 10,000 words. Poetry and art will also be considered, if they fit the theme of the overall anthology. Submissions are due December 5th.
Corporeal Voices has opened The Voice Is A Muscle annual grant for writers of color residing in Oregon. $10,000 will be granted to a person of color in 2 payments over the year for their works promoting social justice. Submit by December 5 to be considered for this year’s grant.
PITCH, a graphic novel anthology that caters to comic writers, is accepting submissions until December 15, 2016. The script should be suited for a 12-page comic. Accepted entrants will receive $70 USD as compensation, as well as retainment of the rights of their story and credit as the writer.
Entangled Publishing is seeking 2-3 interns, mostly to assist with YA titles but also with adult romance. POC, LGBTQ+, neuroatypical, and disable applicants are encouraged. Position is unpaid and remote. Apply by December 18 for consideration.
Handtype Press is seeking submissions from writers who are deaf or hard of hearing. Stories should be at least 500 words and at most 4000 words, with elements of science fiction, horror, fantasy, the supernatural, and/or magical realism. Submissions are due by December 31, 2016.
Book Smugglers Publishing is seeking submissions for an anthology on the theme of Gods and Monsters. Length must be between 1500 and 17,500 words in length. Payment is $0.06 per word, up to $500. Submissions are due by December 31, 2016.
Fiyah Lit Mag is seeking submissions of fiction and poetry for their Summer 2017 issue with the theme “Spilling Tea”. Submissions are due by January 1, 2017. Check here for more information and details.
Tor is accepting submissions of fantasy novellas between 20,000 and 40,000 words. The story’s world must be one not modeled on European cultures. Submissions close January 12, 2017. Tor is also accepting pitches for essays, think pieces, reviews, and similar content with a final length of 1000 to 2000 words.
State of the Union, an upcoming digital zine featuring black and white color illustrations, comics, prose, poetry, and more, is accepting submissions until January 13, 2017. The zine will be available for free online. Donated proceeds will be donated to Planned Parenthood.
The newly launched Argot Magazine is seeking submissions about queer and marginalized experiences. Click here for more on their mission as well as their pay rates.
Online monthly magazine The Dark is accepting submissions from 2000 to 6000 words in length. Encouraged genres include horror and dark fantasy, but graphic, violent horror is not desired. Payment is $0.03/word for up to 6000 words. Republishing payment is $0.01/word.
Hello Equality is seeking trans and POC writers for their website. Speak on issues related to LGBTQ+ people, feminism, or pop culture topics.
Horror-Writers.net is seeking submissions of horror fiction and articles related to the horror genre.
Random House’s digital-only imprint Hydra has open submissions for completed works in the science fiction, fantasy, and horror categories. There is no word count limit for submissions, but full-length works of 40,000 words or more are preferred. Accepted writers will be assigned to a Random House editor, marketer, and publicist. Response time is usually 2-4 weeks.
StArt Faire Magazine is seeking interviewers, reviews, tutorials, and prose for their monthly e-magazine.
Check out writingcareer.com for a list of calls for submission!
Resources
Becca Hillburn of Nattosoup uploaded a guest post by Kabocha showing how to use Blick Studio Markers with the Copic Airbrush system. She also released videos on the Yatsumodo reed brush bonus tip and Creating Colored Lineart with Nibs as well as continuing her series of vlogs for ArtSoundOff.
Becca Hillburn is not only a provider of extensive, honest, and high-quality product reviews and tutorials, she’s a full-time comic artist and illustrator passionate about children’s lit and helping others. Check out her store, her book, or her Patreon and send her a “thank you” message if you can!
The Center for Cartoon Studies has a One-Week Cartooning Workout available to you for free through email sign up.
The Creative Market offers new free resources each week. Sign up via email to be alerted each Monday!
I updated my post about the costs of online storefronts and marketplaces. Pricing is now accurate as of 10/31/16 and information about itch.io has been added!
Jetpens posted guides on Gift Wrapping and Christmas Card Ideas and Adult Coloring Supplies. They also released a Gift Guide for the upcoming winter holidays, with gift ideas for artists, writers, students, your officemates, and more!
Kabocha released a free set of brushes emulating rain.
OMI is hosting a giveaway on her Instagram! Follow, like, and leave a comment here for a chance to win a cool Pokemon keychain. Plus, you’ll get to see all of OMI’s amazing art!
Deals
Daniel José Older is hosting a class on Skillshare on Storytelling Fundamentals. Use this link to take the class for free and get 3 free months of Skillshare.
Jerry’s Art-A-Rama is having a sale with hundreds of art supplies on sale for $1 and $2. Check it out!
You can check the hashtag #drawdrive on Twitter to find creatives who are donating their time and effort for responsible nonprofits that will work to defend the freedoms and rights of our nation’s most marginalized people.
Giveaways
Experiments in Manga is hosting a giveaway of 4 Kodansha manga, including Happiness, Welcome to the Ballroom, The Prince in His Dark Days, and Nekogahara: Stray Cat Samurai. To enter, reply with your favorite Kodansha release from 2016 by December 7.
Omocat is hosting a t-shirt giveaway. Retweet this tweet for a chance to win. The winner will be announced by December 9.
Manga Test Drive is hosting a manga giveaway. Leave a comment by December 25 describing your favorite comic from this year for a chance to win a $25 gift card.
Follow cetriya and comment in this journal for a free advance reader copy of Axiom: A Parallax.
That’s it for this week! Look up for another post next week with these categories and possibly more. Is there something you’d like to see more of? Something you know about but don’t see here? Let me know!
Link to the previous Roundup: Weekly Roundup – November 25, 2016
paper cat press 