Welcome to the first Weekly Roundup of July! 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!
WARNING! Some content below may feature NSFW content. Links will be marked NSFW! when the content identifies itself as adult material.
As a note: I am not sponsored by any company, group, or individual listed below or elsewhere on this site unless otherwise listed.
Want to jump to a specific section? Use the links below:
Helping Others || Awards || Recent Webcomic Debuts || Crowdfunded Projects || Animation || Comics, Illustration, and More || Conventions and Events || Fan Zines || Mentorships & Fellowships || Residencies, Retreats, and Workshops || Scholarships, Sponsorships, and Grants || Teaching || Typesetting || Voice Acting || Writing and Editing || Youth || Resources || Deals || Giveaways
News!
I’m happy to announce that Paper Cat Press is an affiliate of new webcomic collective Ink Drop Café!
Ink Drop Café is a friendly comic artist collective and community that welcomes a variety of storytellers. We value unique viewpoints, especially those that champion feminine, nonbinary, and minority visions/aesthetics. All mediums, formats, and styles are welcome! We are united by our desire to create engaging stories, foster community growth, and nurture aspiring creators.
Members of Ink Drop Café collective share traffic through a banner system, and we also support one another through social channels and convention networking.
We are open to anyone joining the community via Discord or the Forums — so please do feel free to come by and chat sometime!
Helping Others
Are you a US resident wondering what to do about recent executive orders, gag orders, cabinet confirmations, and the future of your country? Sign up with 5calls.org to find out who to call about specific, pressing issues and what to say. Countable is also an informative resource. Check What the Fuck Just Happened Today? for daily summarized news on the current administration that you can have delivered to your inbox.
If you’re just getting started with protesting and doing something about your government, you can read this free zine What Now? organized and designed by Deandra “Nika” Tan. (I contributed a short comic.)
Here’s a free, open source Resistance Manual.
If you are a trans person in need of legal assistance, check translawhelp.org for pro bono services in your state.
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
A&U Magazine is accepting submissions of previously unpublished poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and drama related to HIV/AIDS for their Christopher Hewitt Award. Winners will receive $50 and will be published online, with printed publication negotiable. Entires are due July 15.
Fans and pros are invited to nominate those who created or helped create comics in 2016 for the Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards until July 18. Winners will be announced at Baltimore Comic-Con, taking place September 22-24.
Thought Bubble’s Young People’s Comic Award is accepting submissions of comics aimed at young audiences from UK creators and publishers until July 28.
Lee and Low Books is accepting submissions to their New Voices Award now until September 30. Previously unpublished writers of color are welcome to submit picture book manuscripts for consideration.
The Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award 2017 is accepting entries from authors previously published in the UK or Ireland. Submit by September 28 for a chance to win £30,000 or £1,000.
Lee and Low Books is also accepting submissions from authors of color to their New Visions Award for middle grade or young adult novels. Submissions will be accepted until October 31.
Recent Webcomic Debuts
Check out February’s mid-month list of debuts. (Apologies for this not updating in a while – I’ll get a form up soon!)
Looking for more webcomics? Check out Michael Kinyon’s ongoing and ever-growing list of creators!
Crowdfunded Projects
The Secret Loves of Geek Girls: Redux is running a Kickstarter as part of the Kickstarter GOLD project to fund production and fulfillment of the new book. The Secret Loves of Geek Girls: Redux will feature 40 black-and-white pages of true stories on love, sex, and dating told by women in fandom, with participants contributing 1-4 pages each. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, a digital copy of the original Secret Loves of Geek Girls, prints, and a copy of SPLIT, an anthology on the end of marriage. The Kickstarter ends on July 11.
BLOCKED: Stories From the World of Online Dating is running a Kickstarter to fund production and fulfillment of the anthology. BLOCKED will be softcover and printed in color, with over 200 pages and 25 stories from comic artists and writers. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, stickers, prints, enamel pins, tote bags, patches, original comic pages, and commissions. The Kickstarter ends on July 13.
Can I Pet Your Werewolf? is running a Kickstarter to fund the production and fulfillment of its anthology. Can I Pet Your Werewolf? will be softcover and printed in black and white with 160 pages of comics by 19 contributors. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, prints, and digital copies of other comics. The Kickstarter ends on July 14.
The SpiderForest Webcomic Anthology is hosting a Kickstarter to collect funds for its book of 20 standalone comics created by the collective’s members. The book will have 132+ pages of black and white and color comics that incorporate spiders or forests. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, the Spider Forest coloring book from a past Kickstarter, and enamel pin, prints, commissions, and a comic cameo. The Kickstarter ends on July 14.
Speculative Relationships: Volume 3 is hosting a Kickstarter to fund its production. The third and final volume of the Speculative Relationships series will feature 180 pages of comics involving romance and the outermost limits of speculative fiction. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, digital copies of all three volumes, a digital behind-the-scenes book, and prints. The Kickstarter ends on July 19.
The Mountain with Teeth: Historias de Piedra is running a Kickstarter to fund the production and fulfillment of a print edition of the webcomic. The Mountain with Teeth features small, fantastical stories that are interconnected but stand alone. The printed edition will be softcover with 120 full color pages within. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, t-shirts, stickers, magnets, bookmarks, button pins, and more. The Kickstarter ends on July 23.
Creative Opportunities
General
The Comic Tea Party is a weekly “book club” for webcomics. Participate in the Discord chat weekly on Thursdays at 5pm to 7pm PST. Sign your comic up for a chance to have it read and discussed in the group!
Looking for other weekly chats on Twitter? Ink Drop Cafe lists them on this handy calendar!
Animation
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.
Disney is accepting applications from recent grads as Trainee Story Artists for 6-, 12-, or 18-month stints until August 6. Other open positions and internships are available!
You can find a directory of currently open animation jobs at animatedjobs.com! Companies like Cartoon Network, DHX Media, Nickelodeon, and others have a number of open full-time, part-time, freelance, and remote positions available, including those in social media, editing, and teaching.
Comics, Illustration, and More
Threadless is accepting submissions for blanket designs until July 21. You can submit designs outside of contests anytime here.
MediBang is accepting submissions for their Concept Comic Project until July 31. The grand prize winner will receive 300,000 yen, novelization, and a chance to be adapted into a movie on Amazon Prime Video.
The Silhouette is accepting comic submissions to their anthology until July 31. Contributors will be paid $10 per page and, after successful Kickstarter funding, will receive 10 complimentary copies of the anthology, as well as the opportunity to buy books at-cost.
The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture is seeking an artist or creative team to illustrate a graphic novel on the Georgetown Steam Plant. Applications are open to artists from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, or British Columbia until August 15.
Sweaty Palms Volume 2 is accepting applications until September 1.
Comic Book Hour is hosting a Power Ups: Vilified anthology. Teams of 2-4 people work together on a 4-page comic. Once completed, the submissions will be collected into an anthology which participants must print themselves and sell at an established rate, should they choose to sell copies. Submissions are due September 17.
Shousetsu Bang Bang is accepting submissions for its upcoming artist special issue. Final submissions are due September 19, but anything with text (like comics) needs to be submitted by September 5.
The Silent Manga Audition just announced the theme for its next competition: “fair play”! Submit by September 30 to be considered.
Flora and Fungal: The 2018 Object Head Zine is accepting submissions until November 2. The zine will be distributed digitally for free.
Weekly Shonen Jump is holding a Universal Manga Contest with MediBang! They’ve even made a free new program, Jump Paint, to help illustrate and tone your creation. You can submit up to 5 entries in any genre at a length of 55 pages or less. Submissions are due January 5, 2018.
Argot Magazine is seeking written and illustrated submissions about queer and marginalized experiences.
Black Girls Create is looking for submissions of written, drawn, filmed, photographed, or any other expression of creative work from black creators showing what their time at Hogwarts would’ve looked like! They are also seeking black women creators and pop culture critique and commentary from black women creators.
The Brave Some is seeking submissions of short stories, prose, essays, reviews, and visual art by black and/or brown women and femmes.
Cicada is seeking submissions of poetry, fiction, essays, comics, and illustration.
Double Fine is accepting applications for environment artists, technical artists, art directors, and more.
Drae is seeking family portraits of nontraditional families, particularly families of color. This opportunity is unpaid but seeks to show the diversity of families outside of the typical healthy, happy, nuclear structure.
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.
Jerry’s Art-A-Rama hosts a number of art contests, some ongoing and some requiring specific materials.
Makers in Malaysia is accepting registration applications for their upcoming English language zine celebrating the work of Malaysian creators.
You can send samples of your work along with pitches to thenib@firstlook.org to be considered by The Nib.
Power and Magic Press is seeking nonbinary cartoonists for future fantasy projects. Sign up to be included on their list.
Check out Arts for LA or College Art Opportunities for more exhibition, residency, and grant opportunities. See Find Anthologies for a list of anthologies with open submissions and to submit anthologies of your own. Check Comic Ops to see opportunities specifically for comic creators. Zine Submissions and Zine Scene have great lists of zines, too!
Conventions and Events
Con or Bust has free tickets available for people of color for a number of upcoming conventions, including WizCon, Nine Worlds, GeekGirlCon, and more.
Conosaurus is LIVE! Browse cons by location, date, and other variables! Check it out and please support their Patreon! Here’s their Weekly Digest #18!
Anime CTX, taking place August 4-6 at the Austin Marriott North in Texas, is accepting applications to their artist alley. Once all tables are sold, artists will be placed on a waitlist.
Atlanti-Con, taking place September 15-17 in Cornerbrook, Newfoundland, is accepting applications from exhibitors until August 31.
Central City Comic Con, taking place October 21-22 in Yakima, Washington, is accepting exhibitor applications.
Central Texas College GeekFest 2017 in Killeen, Texas from August 18-20 is accepting applications for their artist alley.
Emerald City Comic Con is accepting applications for their 2018 artist alley until July 14.
Granite State Comicon, taking place September 16-17 in Worcester, Massachusetts, is accepting artist alley and vendor applications.
The New Orleans Comics and Zine Fest is accepting applications until July 31. Tables are available for free to residents of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
The Short Run Comix and Arts Festival in Seattle, Washington on November 4 is accepting exhibitor applications until July 31.
STAPLE! The Independent Media Expo is accepting applications for exhibitor spaces at their September convention in Texas.
The Vermont Comic Con, taking place August 26-27 in Burlington, Vermont, is accepting applications for its artist alley on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Yaoi Con Artist Alley tables are available. Yaoi Con takes place October 6-8 in Santa Clara, California.
Here’s a list of international zine fests brought to you by ZINES!
Designers
I created a document where people who have skills in web design and are willing and able to assist comic creators in creating their own websites can list themselves. Feel free to add your name, examples, and prices!
Fan Zines
The Souyo Zine is accepting applications until July 9. Profits will either be split among the artists or donated to the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice.
Luna Nova, A Little Witch Academia zine, is accepting submissions of illustrations or 1-2 page comics until July 13. Contributors will receive a free copy of the zine and profits will be split.
Blank Party is hosting a Chrono Party zine celebrating Chrono Trigger. Submissions of comics and illustration will be accepted until July 15. All selected contributors will receive a hard copy book, and all submissions will be featured on the website.
The Yu-Gi-Oh Fashion Zine is accepting applications from artists until July 15.
Dark Matter: The Kuro Fanzine celebrating the “dark” version of Shiro from Voltron, is accepting entries until July 20. The zine will be rated 16+.
The Naruto Summer Zine is accepting applications until July 20. All proceeds will be going to charity!
The Overwatch Family Zine is accepting submissions until August 15. Profits will be split among the artists, with 5% of profits going to the zine organizer and shipper.
Mentorships & Fellowships
The Representation Matters Mentorship Program is accepting applications on a rolling basis from self-identified people of color interested in the publishing industry. Mentorships will last 6 months, with a minimum of one session every two months.
The Tempest is seeking Fellows in a number of areas until July 28.
The Carole Blake Open Doors Project is accepting applications from residents of the UK over age 18 who are underrepresented in the publishing industry. Successful applicants will shadow a literary agent over 10 working days and will be provided with travel funds and accommodations. Applications are due July 30.
Residencies, Retreats, and Workshops
Light Grey Art Lab is accepting applications to their Iceland Residency until July 15.
The Cornish CCS Residency is accepting applications until August 15. Successful applicants will reside in Cornish, New Hampshire, about 16 miles from the Center for Cartoon Studies, from October 16-November 16, and will be offered a stipend along with access to CCS resources.
Check out Arts for LA or College Art Opportunities for exhibition, residency, and grant opportunities.
Scholarships, Sponsorships, and Grants
A number of micro grants are available for marginalized writers.
Canadian artists and cultural connectors are welcome to apply for grant funds through the Professional Development for Arts Professionals of Supporting Artistic Practice. Details on how and when you can apply are available on the page.
The DC Zine Fest is offering eight $50 scholarships to marginalized members of the zine scene.
The Liberty Foundation will be accepting applications later this year for fellowships that provide a $60,000 stipend and coaching support for creators. Sign up for their mailing list to hear the latest news.
CAKE, the Chicago Alternative Comics Expo, is accepting applications for the Cupcake Award until July 31. The winner will receive $250 to print their next zine, a half table at next year’s event, and the mentor support of Edie Fake.
The 2017 William H. Johnson Prize is accepting applications from African-American artists through November 16.
Check out Arts for LA, College Art Opportunities, this list by Donathin Frye, or this list by ProFellow for grant opportunities.
Teaching
Sign up to teach at Skillshare to earn royalties based on the premium member students in your class. See here for additional information.
Typesetting
Digital Manga has positions open for freelance manga letterers.
Voice Acting
PodCastle is seeking a Korean speaker, preferably female, for an upcoming episode. Narrators are paid. Apply soon!
Check the Casting Call Club and Voice Acting Space for more voice acting and audio opportunities.
Writing and Editing
Impossible Archetype is seeking poetry from LGBTQ+ writers for their second issue. Submissions are due by July 16.
Swamp Bitch Books is seeking submissions of fantasy, sci-fi, and horror fiction from LGBTQ+ writers of color for an upcoming anthology project. Submit stories of 8000 words or less by July 30 to be considered. Check submissions guidelines and payment details here.
Fiyah Lit Mag is accepting submissions of fiction and poetry from members of the African diaspora for their 4th issue, themed ROOTS, until July 31.
The In Praise zine is accepting submissions until July 31. Critique, discussion, narratives, and analysis of fandom culture are welcome. Here’s more on what they’re looking for.
Lez Talk II: An Anthology of Black Lesbian Short Fiction is accepting submissions from black lesbian women discussing the intersections of blackness and queer identity. Submissions are due July 31.
Nine Star Press is seeking submissions for their LGBTQIA+ Fairy Tale Anthology project until July 31.
Shame: An Anthology is accepting submissions of poetry, stories, and essays that critically confront shame, its causes, and its effects. Submit by August 31 for consideration.
Lethe Press has open submissions and is seeking submissions for A Midas Clutch: Tales of Opulent Horror for horror stories featuring the wealthy, due in January 2018. Queer speculative fiction is preferred. Stories featuring negative perspectives of LGBTQ+ individuals will be rejected.
The American Greetings Alternative Writing Studio is accepting applications for freelance card writers.
Anime Feminist is looking for contributors in the upcoming year. Read here for more information. Article writers will generally be paid $50 per article.
Anime News Network is looking for News or Interest Interns, a Tokyo Correspondent, Freelance Editorial Contributors, Convention Correspondents, and an OpenX Expert.
Argot Magazine is seeking written and illustrated submissions about queer and marginalized experiences.
Black Girls Create is looking for submissions of written, drawn, filmed, photographed, or any other expression of creative work from black creators showing what their time at Hogwarts would’ve looked like! They are also seeking black women creators and pop culture critique and commentary from black women creators.
The Brave Some is seeking submissions of short stories, prose, essays, reviews, and visual art by creators who identify as black and/or brown women and femmes.
Carnation Books is accepting submissions and welcomes fanfiction writers seeking to transition into publishing their original writing content. They are also accepting applications for plot and line/style editors and marketing interns.
Cicada is seeking submissions of poetry, fiction, essays, comics, and illustration.
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.
Geeks of Color is looking for news reporters and social media managers!
GeekGirlCon is seeking guest bloggers.
Hello Equality is seeking trans and POC writers for their website. Speak on issues related to LGBTQ+ people, feminism, or pop culture topics.
Lillium Publishing is accepting fiction manuscripts, either standalone books or series, in a number of genres, including urban romance and erotica.
Low-income writers in the UK can check this Storify of opportunities from The Literary Consultancy.
Lore Lush Publishing is accepting manuscript submissions in a number of genres. Diverse and inclusive works are prioritized. They also have open positions for editors, publicists, and more.
Makers in Malaysia is accepting registration applications for their upcoming English language zine celebrating the work of Malaysian creators.
Nine Star Press is seeking submissions of romance, erotica, and literary novels.
On She Goes is seeking pitches and ideas about women of color and traveling. Tips, insight, and anecdotes are welcome.
Pink Narcissus Press is seeking complete novel and novella manuscripts of 50,000 words or more. They are interested in well-written but non-mainstream speculative fiction with strong elements of sci-fi or fantasy.
The Quill is accepting submissions of stories, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Check here for their submission guidelines and pay scale.
Sapphire Books is accepting submissions of lesbian fiction, particularly within the genres of romance, mystery/intrigue with romantic elements, and young adult.
Sky Pony Press is accepting submissions for picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and YA fiction and nonfiction.
Swoon Reads is accepting submissions of complete novels for young adult and new adult fiction.
ThinkProgress is accepting pitches from freelance writers on topics such as climate policy, economy, reproductive rights, refugees, diverse perspectives, and more. Read here for guidelines on how to pitch.
Tu Books, an imprint of Lee and Low Books, is actively seeking graphic novels for young readers starring Native and Muslim characters. There is also a call for written submissions of books that incorporate LGBTQ+ experiences and/or feature characters with disabilities.
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.
Women Write About Comics is seeking contributors for their new Books section.
Check out writingcareer.com for a list of calls for submission!
Youth
Check out Comics Club, a new blog that highlights and connects comics clubs and shares advice and resources to help youth comic creators.
GirlsWhoCode’s Summer Immersion Program is accepting applications for its free nationwide program. Check here to see if there’s a city near you offering a program.
Female and genderqueer individuals between 13 and 18 in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States are invited to submit up to ten pages of comics to Miss Anthology’s comics anthology. Submit your work by July 17 for consideration.
Natalie “Tally” Nourigat offers advice & resources for young cartoonists ages 14-18 (although this is good advice for creators at any age)!
Resources
Have questions about legalities associated with webcomics? Akiva Cohen shares great legal advice through the hashtag #WebcomicsLawSchool! Last week’s topic was Fair Use.
Now that con season is here, check out this Automagical Convention Spending Planner developed by Missy Peña with automated calculation developed by LenaLibrarian.
The 2016 Artist Alley Convention Survey is now available to view and purchase! Find out which conventions were rated highest by engagement, sales, amenities, and other information, all in easy-to-understand charts and simply written information. Thank you so much Kiriska for putting this together!
Have questions about tabling at an Artist Alley for the first time? Phee set up this awesome 5500-word beginner’s guide! Thanks, Phee!
Becca Hillburn of Nattosoup wrote blog posts on Prelettering Pages, Using Calligraphy Pens for Inking Panel Borders, Turning Sketches and Lineart Into Printable Blue Lines, and an introduction to World Watercolor Month! She also uploaded a video tutorial on Wax Resists and a Mossery Sketchbox review.
The Center for Cartoon Studies has a One-Week Cartooning Workout available to you for free through email sign up.
Check out the Draw This! Youtube channel for free life drawing sessions every Friday evening!
For full time independent contractors and freelancers, here’s a list of deductables, expenses, and other tax advice!
Get a PDF compilation of tips on composition, grouping, visual hierarchy, coloring, and more on Genice’s gumroad.
Jesse Hamm shared a list of recommended books for information on composition, draftsmanship, visual narrative, and art theory. His Patreon features a ton of art tips, tutorials, and advice, so be sure to check it out! Thanks, Jesse!
Jessica and Jacinta covered Endings – what makes them good, and how the scale of “bittersweetness” plays a role! Great food for thought! Here’s all of their writing advice collected into a Moment!
Jetpens released a Guide to Choosing a Brush Pen for Calligraphy and a Guide to Watercolor Supplies.
MediBang, in collaboration with Shonen Jump, have released Jump Paint, a new, free digital program for drawing and toning comics.
Kibou of Shooting-Stars.org has released 22 new brushes for Clip Studio Paint users! Check out their wide selection of free-to-use brushes and textures!
Kikidoodle shared these tips on adjusting colors for print!
Nilah Magruder created this awesome list of literary agents who represent illustrators. Niki Smith also has one of agents who represent creators of graphic novels. Thank you Nilah and Niki!
Looking for tips on following self-hosted comics? Here’s an illustrated guide to using RSS feeds! Thank you Fanny! This thread by fatcrow also explains in a very easy-to understand method. Thank you both!
Claudia Rinofner shared this incredible bit of insight on online tutorials – a tutorial for tutorials, if you will! Thank you so much, Claudia!
Deals
Jerry’s Art-A-Rama has an ongoing “Buy It, Try It” sale with hundreds of art supplies on sale for $1 and $2.
Make sure you have business cards before your summer cons! Save $15 off your first purchase from MOO using this code. Thanks, Becca!
The SQUARE chip reader is on sale for $29 (usually $49). Great security for convention artists!
Use code CLEAR15 at checkout to get 15% off clear acrylic charms from Zap Creatives! Ends July 10.
Remember to check ComiXology, Dick Blick, Jerry’s Art-A-Rama, Joann, Michael’s, and RightStuf for their weekly ads, coupons, and specials on comics and art supplies.
Giveaways
Goodreads constantly offers giveaways for a variety of titles in all genres.
Jenny is giving away physical copies of Nichijou volume 6, 7, or 8! RT this tweet to enter. US residents only. The giveaway ends on July 14.
Seven Seas has a new survey for June! Fill out the survey to be entered into a raffle to win a copy of any book Seven Seas has published in 2017!
Sparkler Monthly also has a survey available. Fill it out to be entered into a raffle for a free ebook or 30-day membership to Sparkler!
That’s it for this week! Look out 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!
If you enjoy the Weekly Roundup, please consider supporting me through my Patreon or through Paypal.
Link to the previous Roundup: Weekly Roundup – June 30, 2017
paper cat press 
Hi thanks ffor sharing this
LikeLike