
Welcome to Paper Cat Press’s 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!
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:
News || Helping Others || Awards || Recent Webcomic Debuts || Crowdfunded Projects || General || Animation || Comics, Illustration, and More || Conventions and Events || Designers || Fan Zines || Games || Mentorships & Fellowships || Residencies, Retreats, and Workshops || Scholarships, Sponsorships, and Grants || Teaching || Voice Acting || Writing and Editing || Youth and Internships || Resources || Deals || Giveaways
News
- Paper Cat Press now has an official mailing list! Sign up here and get notified whenever a new Weekly Roundup goes live.
- The 2019 Diversity Baseline survey results are now available. Unfortunately, “There is no discernible change to any of the other racial categories. In other words, the field is just as White today as it was four years ago.”
- Kickstarter United has received several commitments from Kickstarter management indicating a fair process moving forward with union negotiations and has agreed to a media blackout as a show of good faith.
- Supporters of Kickstarter United can look to this page for ideas on how to show their support. NOTE: Paper Cat Press supports the union and will follow their lead in the use of Kickstarter.
- SPX has created a legal aid fund in support of 11 indie artists and an indie publisher who are faced with a defamation lawsuit because they spoke out against another creator’s alleged pattern of sexual abuse. Please support their cause and send the message that survivors of sexual assault do not feel afraid to speak out against their abusers and supporters of victims should not pay for an abuser’s crimes.
Social Resources
- Need information on elections, candidates, and public policy in the US? Check out Ballotpedia.
- Need to contact your government officials? Let Resist Bot and 5calls help you out.
- The Crash Override Network has resources on what to do if you’re a victim of online harassment and/or doxxing and how to protect yourself.
- If you are a trans person in need of legal assistance, check translawhelp.org for pro bono services in your state.
- Here’s a list of free or low-cost mental health resources. Thank you so much for compiling this list, Tiffany!
- If you need to talk to someone or otherwise vent, please utilize this list of help hotlines.
Remember to rest, eat, and drink water when you can. Take care of yourself the best that you can. You, your presence, and your work have an incredible impact on the people around you. You should be here.
Awards and Prizes
Nilah Magruder shared this Illustration Awards Masterlist. Scroll down to the Resources section to see even more that Nilah has contributed to the community for free. Thank you so much, Nilah!
The Penguin Random House Library Award for Innovation Through Adversity is accepting applications from US libraries and staff who overcome adversity and create lasting innovative community service programs that successfully inspire and connect with new readers. A $10,000 cash award will be given to a US library, and four runners-up will receive $1,000 in Penguin Random House books.
The SFWA Nebula Awards are accepting nominations from Active, Lifetime Active, and Associate SFWA members in good standing until February 15 at 11:59pm PST.
The Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction is accepting submissions from lesbian and lesbian-identified queer authors through February 17. The award winner will receive a cash prize of $2,500.
The Jim Duggins Outstanding Mid-Career Novelists’ Prize is accepting submissions from LGBTQ-identified authors who have published multiple novels and show promise to continue publishing high quality work for years to come until February 17.
The Judith A. Markowitz Award for Emerging LGBTQ Writers is accepting submissions from LGBTQ-identified, emerging writers who have published at least one, but not more than two, books of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry until February 17. Two award winners will receive a cash prize of $1,000.
The Myriad First Graphic Novel Competition is accepting submissions of graphic novels in process from creators who have not yet published a full-length graphic work until February 28.
The 2020 Comedy Women in Print Prize is accepting submissions of published comedy, unpublished comedy, and humorous graphic novels by “female (identified) authors including non-binary” published in the UK and Ireland until March 3. There is no cost for entry, but for shortlisted books, £50 will be required from the publisher and a further £50 for the winning book.
Nominations for the 2020 Hugo Awards, 1945 Retro Hugo Awards, Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book, and Astounding Award for Best New Writer are now open until March 13.
The 2020 Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards is accepting entry submissions until March 13.
The 2020 World Fantasy Awards are accepting submissions of fantasy books and magazines published in 2019. Materials should be received before May 31 (as soon as possible).
Crowdfunded Projects
Megan Lavey-Heaton is currently raising funds to publish Valor Anthology: Volume 3. This third and final volume of the Valor trilogy features LGBTQA+ friendly adapted, re-imagined, or invented fairy tales aimed at all-ages readers. Tier options include digital and physical copies of Volume 3, digital and physical copies of past Valor books, digital wallpapers, a stationery set, prints, and an enamel pin. The campaign ends on February 16.
Comic creator Kelci D Crawford is currently raising funds to publish The Legend of Jamie Roberts: Chapter 2. The Legend of Jamie Roberts is the story of a genderqueer pirate and their two best friends treasure-hunting in a land full of dragons. The webcomic is ongoing and the first chapter has been printed. Tier options include behind-the-scenes backer blog access, PDF and print copies of Chapters 1 and 2, commissions, and an original production page. The campaign ends on February 21.
Jay Kiakas is currently raising funds to publish Paint the Town Red Volume 2. Paint the Town Red is a dark romantic comedy with queer vampires and werewolves whose lives get complicated as past relationships and new characters are introduced. Tier options include digital and physical copies of Paint the Town Red 2, digital and physical copies of Paint the Town Red 1, and additional comics by Jay. The campaign ends on February 26.
Artist Samm Taylor is currently raising funds to produce Nemesis Known! – A Boss Monster Zine. This zine contains an illustrated original collection of 64 Boss Monsters with brief inscriptions meant to describe and inspire. Tier options include digital or physical copies of the book, digital or physical copies of Samm’s other works, prints, and commissions. The campaign ends on February 27.
Catstealers is currently raising funds to publish Time After Time: An 80s Art Anthology. Featuring over thirty artists, over fifteen illustrations, ten comics, and four mini bonus prints, Time After Time is a full-color anthology inspired by the music of the 80s. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, an enamel pin, an acrylic stand, and mini prints. The campaign ends on February 28. (Note: I am an artist in this anthology.)
Comic creator Melissa J Massey is currently raising funds to publish The Alchemist of Aurillia, both a standalone story and the opener for a full length series. In an alternate world version of the Ottoman Empire, wizard-in-training Nuriye summons a weak lantern sprite to serve as her familiar, but they need to learn to get along if they want to survive the night. Tier options include a wallpaper pack, digital and physical copies of The Alchemist of Aurillia, an exclusive print, a sticker, Vatican Assassins Chapter 1, Black Ball #1, an illustrated bookplate, and a commission. The campaign ends on February 29.
Kristen Kiomall-Evans is currently raising funds to publish Magic and Muses Volume 2: Mischief. Following the events of the first volume (available to read for free online), the five magical protagonists find their newly developed abilities further complicating their lives. Tier options include digital and physical copies of Magic and Muses 2, digital and physical copies of Magic and Muses 1, acrylic standees, and a necklace button. The campaign ends on March 6.
General
- Abelle, the creator of the #DrawingWhileBlack hashtag, has created a directory of artists. Please add your name if you are a Black artist!
- Alice and Ashanti are seeking photos and stories representing the diversity of the disability community for the project #CommunityAsHome. Submissions will close on March 6.
- If you’re a Filipino artist, add your name to the Filipino American Artist Directory!
- inQluded is accepting nominations of awesome, inspiring QTIBIPoC people for features in their magazine and platform. They’re also seeking QTBIPOC mentors.
- Jaleesa Rosario of the University of Michigan is looking for Black creators and creators of color who do business online as artists to fill out an anonymized survey. Participants will receive a small stipend for their time.
- Kickstarter will be hosting its make100 promotion again in January 2020.
- The Latinx Collective shared a directory of Latina and Latinx small business owners and collectives. Check it out!
- LGBTQube is seeking Artists, Writers, and Content & Product Creators to be paid contributors for an upcoming queer centric subscription book box. Please apply here.
- Did you or will you table in an artist alley in the US in 2019? Take the 2019 Artist Alley Convention Survey here. The results of the 2018 survey are available here.
Animation
- (Burbank, CA) Bento Box is seeking an experienced Animation Producer, two experienced Art Directors, an Associate Producer, Background Designers, Character Designers, Design Coordinators, a Production Manager, a Production Supervisor, and a Supervising Director.
(Greenwich, CT) Blue Sky Studios is hiring an Animation Trainee, a Character Simulation Trainee, an FX Trainee, a Story Trainee, and a Technical Director.
- (London, UK) Blue-Zoo Animation is seeking an Art Director, a Creative Brand Manager, a Junior Modeling and Texture Artist, a Lead Modeling and Texture Artist, Maya Riggers, a Mid Prop Designer, and a Modeling and Texture Artist. They’re also accepting speculative applications for Maya Animators, Maya Riggers, Maya Lighting/Compositing TDs, Script Writers, and Toon Boom Harmony Riggers.
- (Burbank, CA) Disney TV Animation is seeking an Animation Supervisor, a Background Painter, Character Designer, Director, Location Design, a Production Coordinator, Prop Designer, Stereoscopic Layout Artist, Storyboard Artist, and Storyboard Revisionist.
- (Glendale, CA) DreamWorks is hiring an Art Director (TV), an Asset Artist (Modeling) (TV), aCasting Assistant (Feature), aCharacter Designer (TV), a Cycles Animator (Feature), a Production Assistant (TV), a Production Coordinator (Feature), a Production Manager (Feature), a Senior Graphics/Rendering Engineer, a Storyboard Artist for TV, a Storyboard Artist for TV (temp), a Supervising Director (TV), and more.
(London, UK) Industrial Light and Magic is seeking a Lead Animator.
- (San Francisco, CA) Industrial Light and Magic is seeking a Creature Modeler.
- (Madrid, Spain) Lightbox Animation Studios is seeking CFX Artists, a Character 3D Modeler (Mid/Senior), a Layout Artist, a Matte Painter, a Production Coordinator, and a Storyboard Artist.
(San Francisco, CA) Lucasfilm is seeking an Animation Production Coordinator.
- (Los Angeles, CA) Netflix Animation is hiring a Background Designer (Adult), a CG Development Artist (Feature), an Episode Director, a Production Coordinator (Feature), a Production Manager, a Python Programmer, a Storyboard Artist, a Supervising Producer, a Technical Director, and a Visual Development Artist.
- (Burbank, CA) Nickelodeon is seeking a 2D Designer, an Art Director, an Asset Manager, an Asset Production Coordinator, a Background Designer, a CG Animation Supervisor, a CG Character Designer, a CG Character Modeler, a CG Generalist, a Character Designer, Character Technical Directors (2), an Environment Artist, a Freelance Storyboard Artist, a Lead CG Character Modeler, a Lead CG Texture Artist, a Lead Character Technical Director, a Lead Environment Modeler, a Lead Look Development/Texture Artist, a Production Assistant, Production Coordinators (1) (2), a Production Manager, a Prop Designer, a UE4 Artist, a UE4 Pipeline Engineer, and a UE4 Sequencer Engineer.
- (Vancouver, BC) Sony Imageworks is hiring Animators, Character FX Technical Directors, Compositors, FX Artists, Layout Artists, Lighters, Matte Painters, Modelers, and more.
- Titmouse is seeking a Production Coordinator and interns in Los Angeles, CA. They’re also seeking a 2D Animator, Background Layout Artist, and a Background Painter in Vancouver, Canada.
- (Burbank, CA) Walt Disney Animation Studios is seeking an Effects Artist, a Set Extension/Matte Painting Assistant, a Layout Artist, a Layout Finaling Artist, and Stereoscopic Layout Artist.
- (Burbank, CA) Warner Bros. Animation is seeking a Post Production Supervisor.
- Studio Yotta is looking for clean-up animators for remote part-time work. Please send a direct e-mail to jake@studioyotta.com to apply. Flash only, FBF 2D only.
Check this list of animation and gaming jobs worldwide that’s updated daily. You can find a directory of currently open animation jobs at animatedjobs.com. See Entertainment Careers for more listings.
Comics, Illustration, and More
- DisabledCartoonists.com has launched! Submissions at CartoonistsofColor.com and QueerCartoonists.com have reopened. Thank you Mari Naomi and Cameron for all of your work in creating and maintaining these priceless resources!
- The results of the Comics Workforce Study is now available. Thank you Sasha Bassett for all of your work in collecting and parsing this data!
- Threadless is accepting artwork for the following challenges: Year of the Rat, due February 14; and Pop Art, due February 21.
InQluded is seeking submissions from QTIBIPoC youth (aged 12-30) for their fifth issue with the theme “joy” until February 15.
Pictoplasma’s Too Cute to Fail Challenge is accepting entries until February 15. Upload original artwork of one irresistibly cute character to Pictofolio with the tag #2Cute2Fail for a chance to win lifetime licenses of Clip Studio Paint and free registration to the Pictoplasma Berlin Conference 2020.
Red Stylo is holding an open call for its upcoming anthology Bite Me, inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula, until February 15. Red Stylo does not share contract terms with anyone before accepting a submission.
- MediBang Paint is hosting a Carole and Tuesday Fanart Contest. Submit fanart of the series by February 28 for an opportunity to win up to 100,000 yen prize money and comments from the judges (Shinichiro Watanabe, Minami Masahiko, and Tsunemori Saito).
- Top Cow is hosting a Talent Hunt for previously unpublished writers and artists. Submit by February 28 for consideration.
- The 2020 Comedy Women in Print Prize is accepting submissions of humorous graphic novels published in the UK and Ireland by “female (identified) authors including non-binary” until March 3. There is no cost for entry, but for shortlisted books, £50 will be required from the publisher and a further £50 for the winning book.
- MediBang Paint’s ARTStreet is hosting a contest to design a new cover for the mystery fantasy novel “Spinning.” Submit designs by March 9 for a chance at prize money and publication.
- MediBang Paint’s ARTStreet is hosting a Bessatsu Shonen Manga Award. Submit a manga project by March 12 for a chance at prize money and publication.
- #DVPit’s next dates will be April 22 for Childrens/YA, and April 23 for Adult and #DVArt.
- Clip Studio Paint’s International Manga/Comic Schools Contest is accepting entries of comics and illustrations with the theme “promise” until April 27.
- Anathema accepts fiction and nonfiction submissions year-round from queer and nonwhite writers. They are open to portfolio submissions from illustrators for new/original and/or reprint cover art.
- Arledge Comics is accepting submissions of all-ages comics on a rolling basis.
- Arsenika is accepting portfolio submissions for reprint cover work and pays $100 for reprint artwork.
- The Asexual is accepting general submissions from marginalized voices in the queer community.
- Comic Tea Party is accepting webcomic submissions for its Week Long Book Club.
- Stephanie Cooke is actively connecting comic creators of all types for paid projects. Check out Creator Advisor for more information.
- (Burbank, CA) DC Entertainment is seeking an Associate Editor.
- Diskette and Harder Disk are accepting pitches, especially of erotic work, from queer creators.
- GenderTerror is accepting submissions of LGBTQ+ horror from artists and writers.
- Jerry’s Art-A-Rama hosts a number of art contests, some ongoing and some requiring specific materials.
- Do you have a webcomic with LGBTQ characters and themes? LGBTQ Webcomics is looking to add more queer webcomics to their database on Tagpacker!
- Myriad Comics, an imprint of Vault Comics, has submissions open for middle grade and young readers graphic novels. See this thread for more info.
- Narratively is seeking submissions of writing, photography, and illustrations.
- Natashane is accepting entries from asexual creators or creators of comics with asexual characters for a directory of Asexual Comics that they’ve created.
- The New Southern Fugitives is seeking submissions of fiction, book reviews, essays, poetry, photography, and visual art from creators in the South.
- You can send samples of your work along with pitches to thenib@firstlook.org to be considered by The Nib.
- Pink Narcissus Press is seeking cover artwork for SF/F speculative fiction. They pay $100-$200 for nonexclusive rights.
- POMEgranate Magazine is accepting pitches from artists and writers.
- QueerWebcomics.com, a new small comics publisher, recently launched and has two mailing lists available for sign-up – one for professionals, and a general list for customers.
- Robot Dinosaur Games is accepting artwork submissions.
- Scholastic Canada invites professional illustrators to email sample art and links to an online portfolio to Andrea Casault, Art Director at acasault@scholastic.ca.
- SOLRAD is now accepting pitches for comics criticism, essays, and interviews. They are especially interested in cartoonists writing about other cartoonists, as well as work from academics.
- The Webcomic Library is a new resource that hopes to serve as a comprehensive list of webcomics. Submit your webcomic using this form.
- (Los Angeles, CA) Webtoon is seeking a Digital Comic Editor (Spanish) and Freelance/Remote Artist Assistants.
Check out Arts for LA, Call for Entry, College Art Opportunities, or Graphic Competitions for more exhibition, residency, and grant opportunities. Check Chris Arrant’s #ComicJobs hashtag on Twitter.
Conventions and Events
Con or Bust is seeking volunteers to join their Board as a an Interim President and Treasurer, as well as seasonal volunteers. Con or Bust aims to provide free tickets and travel grants to fans of color who want to attend SFF cons.
- The Ann Arbor Comic Arts Festival (Ann Arbor, MI; June 12-14) is accepting applications for table space.
- AwesomeCon (Washington D.C.; May 1-3) is currently accepting applications for its Artist Alley, Pride Alley, and Makers Market.
- The Bluestockings Queer + Trans Comic Festival (New York, NY; July 28) is accepting applications for vendors and for programming until February 28.
The Boston Comics in Color Festival (Boston, MA; April 4) is accepting artist and vendor applications.
- Color Bloq is offering free tables to QTPOC creatives in comic book media at their event at Strut (470 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA; March 19).
- FanX (Salt Lake City, UT; September 17-19) has artist alley and exhibitor spaces available.
- FlameCon (New York, NY; August 15-16) is accepting panel and performance applications until May 15. They also posted their schedule for Exhibitor Registration (the final opening is February 21 at 9PM EST).
Here’s a list of international zine fests brought to you by ZINES!
Designers
(Waterton, MA) Charlesbridge Publishing is seeking a Designer.
- (New York, NY) Henry Holt & Co. is seeking an Ad Promo Junior Designer.
(New York, NY) Little, Brown Books is seeking an Art Director and a Senior Designer/Designer.
- (Park Ridge, IL) Pusheen is hiring a Senior Graphic Designer.
- (New York, NY) Simon & Schuster is seeking a Senior Book Cover Designer.
- (New York, NY) Workman Publishing is seeking a Creative Director at Algonquin Books.
- (San Francisco, CA) Viz Media is seeking a Designer for Trade Books.
Fan Zines
Someone Will Remember Us, a non-profit fanzine dedicated to the Ineffable Wives form of Aziraphale and Crowley from Good Omens, is accepting submissions from artists and writers until today, February 14. Proceeds will be donated to the Sylvia Rivera Law Project.
Looking for more fan zines to submit to? Check out this spreadsheet created by magicalzombie for more!
Games
- (Warszawa, Poland) 11 Bit Studios is seeking a Character Artist, Character Concept Artist, Senior Gamplay Animator, Lead Artist, Lead Game Designer, and more.
(Salt Lake City, UT) Avalanche is seeking a Lead Designer and a Technical Producer.
- (Montreal, Quebec) Compulsion Games is seeking a writer with 2-3 years experience creating narrative for AA games or narrative indie games.
(Los Angeles, CA) DICE LA is seeking an Animation Director, an Art Director – Presentation/UI, Character Technical Animation Director, a Design Director, a Lead Character Artist, and a UX/UI Design Director. DICE Stockholm has many job openings, as well.
- itch.io has launched a job board so that studios can post paid positions to the itch.io development team.
(Montreal, Canada) KO-OP is hiring a contract Background Artist (remote okay), a contract Character Artist (remote okay), and a contract Storyboard Artist.
(Chicago, Illinois) NetherRealm Studios is seeking an Artist/Animator, an Assistant Producer (temp), a Junior Associate Software Engineer (Temp), a Senior Designer, Senior FX Artist, a Software Engineer, an FX Artist, and a Senior Technical Artist, Animation.
(Irvine, CA) Nexon is seeking an Animator (Contract), Associate Animator (Contract), a Lead Gameplay Engineer, a Lead Sound Designer, a Principal Environment Concept Artist, a Principal Lighting Artist, a Principal Technical Artist, a Principal VFX Artist, and a Senior Animator (Contract).
(Wilmslow, UK) Playdemic is seeking a 2D Animator, a 3D Artist, an Assistant Producer, Client Programmer, and a Games Designer.
- Queerly Represent Me is seeking more pitches for their Game As You Are series. Selected contributors will be paid. They’re also seeking interviewees who are queer and work in games.
- (London, UK) Roll7 is seeking a 3D Animator, a Cinematic Artist, a Lead Environment Artist, Lead Programmer, and a Quality Assurance Tester.
(London, UK) Supersolid Games is seeking an Associate Product Manager, a Cinematic Artist, a Data Analyst, a Senior 2D Game Artist, a Server Developer, and a User Acquisition Manager.
- (Manchester, UK) TT Games is seeking an In-Game Animator, a Gameplay Programmer, a Senior/Lead Gameplay Designer, and a Technical Artist.
- (Toronto, Canada) Ubisoft is hiring artists, programmers, office workers, and more.
WB Games is seeking a Creative Director, a Director of Art, a Project Manager, a Senior Release Manager, and a Technical Director in Needham, MA; a Senior Character Modeler, a Senior Environment Artist, a Senior Software Engineer, and a Senior UX Designer in San Diego, CA; a Concept Artist, Director of Product, Software Engineer for Mobile Games, a Staff Game Designer, a Senior Software Engineer – Mobile Games, and a Senior Game Designer in San Francisco, CA; a Senior Designer, World in Kirkland, WA; an Animator, an Associate Concept Artist, an Associate Producer, a Game Designer, a Level Designer (contract), a Level Artist (Contract), a Physics Programmer, a Senior Character Concept Artist, a Senior Level Designer, a Storyboard Artist (contract), a Senior Animator, and a Technical Art Director in Montreal, Quebec. They are also seeking gamers in Montreal, San Francisco, and Seattle to test games currently in development.
Check this list of animation and gaming jobs worldwide that’s updated daily. Mitch Dyer shared a doc full of Game Dev jobs.
Mentorships & Fellowships
Las Hermanas Mentorship Program is accepting applications for mentees for traditionally unpublished Latinx kidlit writers comfortable identifying on the female spectrum until February 15.
The True Colors Fellowship is accepting applications from young people aged 18-24 with former or current experiences of homelessness or unstable housing until February 17. Up to five selected fellows will have the opportunity to execute a six-month project that contributes to a more inclusive world in which lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, queer, and questioning young people are included and affirmed in their identities.
- Arizona State University’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts and ASU Gammage are accepting applications for the Mellon Projecting All Voices Fellowship from artists living in Arizona, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado, and Native American artists within the geographic Southwest. The fellowships supports underrepresented artists from the Southwest who are interested in exploring issues of racial equity in the arts, engaging with an educational institution and participating in an intergenerational mentorship cohort. Applications are due by March 15. Selected fellows will receive a stipend of $38,000 and travel funds.
- The 2020 Kundiman Mentorship Lab is accepting applications from emerging writers who self-identify as Asian-American until March 15. Writers must not have published a full-length book by the conclusion of the Lab, and cannot be enrolled in a degree-granting program during the time of the Mentorship Lab. Writers must be residents of the five boroughs of New York City, and be living in NYC for the full period of the Mentorship Lab.
- University of Texas Press is accepting applications for its 2020-2021 Fellowship Program from applicants interested in a career in book publishing until March 31. The Fellowship will last from September 1, 2020 until August 31, 2021, and the selected Fellow will receive a total stipend of $30,000.
- VS Books is accepting applications from unpublished writers who are Indigenous, Black or a person of color and who are 50 or older living in Canada until January 4, 2021.
Residencies, Retreats, and Workshops
(New York, NY) The Spring 2020 Creators-in-Residence program at Kickstarter is accepting applications until February 28. The program runs from April 7 until July 3.
Check out the Alliance of Art Communities, Arts for LA, College Art Opportunities for exhibition, residency, and grant opportunities.
Scholarships, Sponsorships, and Grants
The Shea Serrano Scholarship is accepting applications from Latino students in the San Antonio area interested in journalism and communications until February 17.
- The Sustainable Arts Foundation is offering twenty artists and writers with at least one child under 18 a $5,000 award. The awards are offered as unrestricted cash, and recipients can use the funds as they see fit, be it on childcare, workspaces, or anything else. Applicants can be based anywhere in the world and there are no citizenship restrictions. Applications must be received by February 28; there is a $20 application fee.
- The Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards Program in Partnership with We Need Diverse Books is accepting applications from high school seniors set to graduate in spring 2020. Scholarships of up to $10,000 will be awarded to five high school students nationwide. Applications will close on March 2, or when 900 applications are received.
- Koyama Press is offering a scholarship to the May 2020 Sequential Artists Workshop in Gainesville, FL. Apply by March 11 for consideration.
- The Awesome Foundation offers $1000 grants on a rolling basis.
- Black Rainbow offers microgrants of $300 to LGBQTI people of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community that includes $200 to assist with hosting Indigenous LGBTQI community events.
- The Eyebeam Center for the Future of Journalism is accepting applications from artists on a rolling basis. Artists covering data privacy, the 2018/2020 elections, the role of technology in society, political influence campaigns, harmful technologies, countering disinformation, and artificial intelligence may receive $500 to $5,000 in grants.
- Gumroad’s Creators Fund is accepting applications on a rolling basis. Gumroad will be allocating $50,000 in creative grants of $500 to $5,000 throughout the year.
- Mel Gillman shared this list of Grants, Fellowships, and Residencies for Cartoonists! Thanks, Mel!
- My Documented Life maintains a list of scholarships for undocumented students.
- 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.
- Are you a professional freelancer experiencing financial duress? The Haven Foundation offers grants and assistance to applicants with chronic illness or injury or other career-threatening emergencies.
- Springboard for the arts offers an Emergency Relief Fund for personal and community disasters that affect artists in Minnesota.
- Tulsa Remote is accepting applications from remote workers who are willing to relocate to Tulsa, OK in exchange for reduced rent and a total of $10,000 over the course of a year. Read more about the program here.
Check out Arts for LA, College Art Opportunities, or this list by ProFellow for grant opportunities.
Teaching
- East Carolina University is seeking a Professor of Animation and/or Interactive Design.
Sign up to teach at Skillshare to earn royalties based on the premium member students in your class. See here for additional information.
Voice Acting
- Untitled Lavender Project is seeking voice actors who are bilingual and use Puerto Rican Spanish. There is a role for a cis woman, a cis man, and a queer, nonbinary Nuyorican.
Check the Casting Call Club for more voice acting and audio opportunities.
Writing and Editing
- We Need Diverse Books is looking to fill three contractual team positions this winter: Webmaster for WordPress Site; Assistant Editor for YouTube Content; and Contributing Writers for the blog.
InQluded is seeking submissions from QTIBIPoC youth (aged 12-30) for their fifth issue with the theme “joy” until February 15.
- Cantina Publishing is accepting submissions for f/f anthology Silk & Steel: An Adventure Anthology of Queer Ladies until February 22. Selected authors will be paid $0.08/word.
- Bitch Media is seeking pitches for their issue themed “Fantasy” until February 24.
The Tenth Annual Pitchapalooza is accepting 250-word pitches until February 29. On March 14, twenty pitches will be randomly selected and critiqued. One pitch from that group will be introduced to an agent or publisher appropriate for their pitch.
- Mattilda B Sycamore is accepting submissions for Between Certain Death and a Possible Future: Queer Writing on Growing Up with the AIDS Crisis until March 1 (but earlier is better). Submissions should be under 5,000 words.
- The 2020 Comedy Women in Print Prize is accepting submissions of published and unpublished comedy novels published in the UK and Ireland by “female (identified) authors including non-binary” until March 3. There is no cost for entry, but for shortlisted books, £50 will be required from the publisher and a further £50 for the winning book.
- #DVPit’s next dates will be April 22 for Childrens/YA, and April 23 for Adult and #DVArt.
- Speculative City is seeking fiction, poetry, and essays with the theme of Afrofuturism written by authors who are specifically of Black and/or African descent until June 1. Submit pieces under 5,500 words to submissions@speculativecity.com.
- Nerve Endings: Smut and Nerve Endings: Romance are accepting submissions of short fiction addressing trans and non-binary experiences of sex, sexuality, and relationships. Submissions for Smut are due by July 5, and submissions for Romance are due by July 5, 2021.
- AbleGamers is looking for pitches about disability in video games to be featured in our newsletter and on the AbleGamers website. Financial compensation available for accepted pieces.
The American Greetings Alternative Writing Studio is accepting applications for freelance card writers. They’re also accepting funny birthday cards with “easy laughs for everyone” until February 29.
- Anathema accepts fiction and nonfiction submissions year-round from queer and nonwhite writers. They are open to portfolio submissions from illustrators for new/original and/or reprint cover art.
- Anime Feminist is looking for contributors. Read here for more information. Article writers will be paid $50 per article.
- Anime News Network is looking for Convention Correspondents and Freelance Editorial Contributors.
- Autostraddle is seeking pieces based on the theme “fire in the belly” until March 1. They’re also seeking personal essays, feature stories, and article submissions on fashion and beauty, sex and relationships, humor, and investigative journalism, particularly from butch/masculine-of-center women, people of color, people over age 45, and trans women.
- beestung is accepting submissions from non-binary and two-spirit writers. Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, hybrids, and art with intracommunity sensibilities are welcome. Contributors will be paid a $20 honorarium.
- Black Girls Create is seeking black women creators and pop culture critique and commentary from black women creators.
- Black Rainbow accepts pitches from LGBQTI people of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and pays $150 for selected articles.
- (New York, NY) Bloomsbury Publishing is seeking an Editorial Assistant, Literary Studies and Music and Sound Studies.
- (London, UK/REMOTE OKAY) Blue-Zoo Animation is seeking Speculative Script Writers.
- Carina Press has a new call for Carina Adores, a new trope-driven LGBTQ+ contemporary romance line.
- Carnation Press is seeking submissions of short stories from fanfiction writers seeking to transition into publishing their original writing content.
- CBR is seeking experienced writers to write on comic book news, analyses, and movie and tv show casting news.
- (Waterton, MA) Charlesbridge Publishing is seeking two full-time Editorial Assistants.
- Clarksworld Magazine is looking for fiction and nonfiction contributors and pays up to $0.10 per word.
- (San Francisco, CA or remote) Crunchyroll is seeking a Subtitle Script Editor (Japanese – remote ok), a Translator and Subtitler (Japanese – remote ok), and a temp Social Media Coordinator for Crunchyroll Games.
- (New York, NY) Culture Trip is seeking a Commissioning Editor.
- 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 $0.06/word for up to 6000 words. Republishing payment is $0.01/word.
- (Burbank, CA) DC Entertainment is seeking an Associate Editor.
- Dovetail Fiction “is EAGERLY searching for skilled debut & established POC & queer writers” for their database and future and upcoming projects. Email kateb at dovetailfiction.com for more information.
- The Drinking Gourd is accepting pitches from Black Muslims. They accept work across all genres with a particular fondness for Afrofuturism and speculative fiction. All contributors are paid a $50 flat rate.
- GenderTerror is accepting submissions of LGBTQ+ horror from artists and writers.
- (New York, NY) Hachette Book Group is seeking an Associate Production Editor.
- Hashtag Blak is accepting submissions of YA or adult fiction from Black British writers.
- Interlude Press is seeking LGBTQA+ contemporary, fantasy, and science fiction YA novels and LGBTQA+ contemporary, historical, romantic comedy, mystery/suspense, and romantic adult fiction. Manuscripts should be 60,000-80,000 words in length.
(San Francisco, CA) Insight Editions is seeking an Editorial Director.
- Kotaku is seeking a Staff Editor (New York, NY or remote). They have a number of other positions open across their companies.
- “Love Like Mine,” an ongoing column in Xtra, is seeking essays about queer love in all its forms – romantic, familial, platonic, and more.
- The New York Times is seeking contributors, particularly contributors of color, for their Tiny Love Stories and Modern Love columns.
- Panel Patter is looking for contributors, particularly from writers interested in manga and webcomics!
- (New York, NY) Penguin Random House is seeking a Manga Editor.
- POMEgranate Magazine is accepting pitches from artists and writers.
- (New York, NY) The Quarto Group is seeking an Acquiring Editor.
- Queerly Represent Me is seeking more pitches for their Game As You Are series. Selected contributors will be paid. They’re also seeking interviewees who are queer and work in games.
- (Philaelphia, PA) Quirk Books is seeking an Editorial Assistant/Assistant Editor.
- Radish Fiction is seeking a Freelance Fiction Writer and a Freelance Editor.
- Rogue’s Portal is seeking contributors.
- Scholastic Canada is currently interested in reviewing Indigenous material in all genres and at all levels. No other unsolicited submissions are being accepted at this time.
- The SFWA blog is open to nonfiction submissions that might be of interest to new and/or established writers of science fiction and fantasy.
- Slide Stories is seeking writers for their love and sex short fiction platform focused on underrepresented audiences. Applications are open here and here.
- SOLRAD is now accepting pitches for comics criticism, essays, and interviews. They are especially interested in cartoonists writing about other cartoonists, as well as work from academics.
- Tachyon Publications is seeking highly skilled copyeditors and proofreaders with experience in genre fiction.
- The Temper is seeking written works, particularly from marginalized writers, that relate to sobriety, addiction, or recovery.
- Three-Lobed Burning Eye is seeking original speculative short stories and flash fiction. Accepted authors of short stories will receive $100 and for flash fiction authors will receive $30.
- (New York, NY) W.W. Norton & Company is seeking an Ebook Production Assistant and an Editorial Assistant: Biology.
- Wear Your Voice Mag is seeking pitches from Black Queer writers on how queerness informed the Harlem Renaissance and, 100 years later, how the Harlem Renaissance still informs art.
- (New York, NY) Workman Publishing is seeking an Associate Editor/Editor for Algonquin Books.
- Zooscape is accepting submissions of furry fiction up to 10,000 words. They pay 6 cents per word up to 1000 words, $60 for longer stories, and $20 for reprints.
Check out writingcareer.com for a list of calls for submission!
Youth & Internships
- Looking to hire a remote intern? Jessica shared some tips on how to do so!
- (Salt Lake City, UT) Avalanche is seeking a Cinematic Outsourcing Intern.
(Greenwich, CT) Blue Sky Studios is seeking a Development intern.
- (Somerville, MA) Candlewick Press is seeking interns in Design, Editorial, Graphic Production, Marketing, Production and Manufacturing, Publishing Technologies, and Sales.
- (Burbank, CA) Cartoon Network is seeking interns. View their full Internships page here.
- Comics Club highlights and connects comic clubs and shares advice and resources to help youth comic creators.
- (Los Angeles, CA) Fanbyte is seeking a full-time paid summer intern. They are accepting applications until March 9.
(New York, NY) Hachette Book Group is seeking an Art intern, a Communications intern, an Editorial intern, and more.
(New York, NY) Harper-Collins is seeking interns for Summer 2020.
(New York, NY) Marvel Entertainment is seeking a Creative Services intern, a Digital Comics intern, an Editorial intern, a Front-End intern, and a Print Production intern for Summer 2020.
- Natalie “Tally” Nourigat offers advice & resources for young cartoonists ages 14-18 (although this is good advice for creators at any age)!
- The NewPages Young Writers Guide for artists and writers shares publications seeking applications from youth contributors.
- The Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards Program in Partnership with We Need Diverse Books is accepting applications from high school seniors set to graduate in spring 2020. Scholarships of up to $10,000 will be awarded to five high school students nationwide. Applications will close on March 2, or when 900 applications are received.
(Philadelphia, PA) Running Press is seeking a Design intern.
- Titmouse is seeking production and artist interns in Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY.
- (Burbank, CA) WarnerMedia is seeking interns in Creative Development, Creative Services and Design, Music, and Publicity/Public Relations. Warner Bros. Animation is seeking Summer 2020 Animation interns. High school seniors can apply for the REACH Honorship with Warner Bros. Animation until February 24 (high school seniors in Burbank can apply here).
- (Needham, MA) WB Games is seeking a Technical Game Designer Intern.
(Los Angeles, CA) Webtoon is seeking a content intern (2020 Spring/Summer). Apply by February 24 for consideration.
- (New York, NY) Workman Publishing is seeking a part-time Editorial Intern for a 3-month internship.
Resources
- Ashley shared a spreadsheet of resources and job boards. Thanks, Ashley!
- Aud Koch shared a PDF with stretches and exercises for wrists and hands.
- Becca Hillburn of Nattosoup shared a thread all about learning how to use watercolors. Be sure to check Becca’s Youtube channel for new video interviews with independent artists, walkthroughs with dip pen nibs, tutorials, and more.
- Celesse shared a cool resource I didn’t know about – an auto-flatting program by Peltmade called MultiFill & Flatten Pro!
- Have you checked out the Creator Advisor? Initialized and run by Stephanie Cooke, the project aims to connect anyone involved in making comics together for paid projects, with a goal to prioritize marginalized creators.
- Creator Resource updated their Press List of web sites that cover comic books.
- DB shared a thread about “injury prevention for writers, illustrators, colorists, letterers, and anybody who sits at a computer for a living.” Great tips!
- Elissa shared a thread on reaching out to your local bookstores as an author!
- Emily Riesbeck shared what their process was for finding an agent.
- Erin Roseberry shared some great info on getting your work into your local library.
- The Etherington Brothers share all kinds of drawing advice on their Instagram.
- Everest shared a HUGE list of artist opportunities (mostly residencies, grants, and galleries) with over 375 links! Wow! Thank you for sharing, Everest!
- The English-language version of Free Manga Materials is now available on Facebook and Instagram. Find the links in this tweet.
- Jen Bartel shared a new slider in Photoshop that converts raster-based drawings into vector! Gotta test this out *eyeball emoji*
- k.e. shared a resource page for (kink) artists who have found themselves on the receiving end of a harassment campaign. Thank you, k.e.!
- Keetz shared a thread on free and/or affordable artist tools and software.
- Litebox has launched its website which shares wages earned by illustrators from a variety of clients.
- Literary Agents of Color is a directory that aims to support literary agents of color in the publishing industry.
- Mitch Dyer shared a doc full of Game Dev jobs.
- Nilah Magruder updated the list of literary agents who represent illustrators and added a new page with Steps to Querying. Niki Smith also has a list of agents who represent creators of graphic novels. Maria Vicente shared a guide on querying your graphic novel, from the perspective of a literary agent.
- Reimena Yee’s blog is full of treasures. The newest post offers Advice for First-Time Editors of Graphic Novels. Also, I like this idea about comics having a transcript that describes what’s happening on the page in full, more illustratively than a script does.
- Reference.Pictures have a lot of affordable reference packs available.
- Sarah Stern shared tips on optimizing your artwork for working with a colorist.
- Shannon Wright shared the “Super Condensed Zine” PDF – a FREE collection of tips on portfolios, websites, agents, and pitching.
- Spike shared some great info on marketing to libraries! Thank you, Spike!
- Teddy Dief shared a smart thought on patience and not overbooking oneself.
- TO Comix Press has shared a sample contract for comic anthology projects, the start-to-finish process of producing an anthology, and articles on marketing and getting indie books into stores. Recently, they shared the questions they ask in an anonymous survey given out at the end of anthology projects, which help contributors air grievances and help the publisher gain insight and grow to be better. Amazing! Thanks for always being so helpful!
- Wendy Xu shared a primer on getting an agent as a comic artist.
Deals
Iron Circus is offering 30% off a collection of their NSFW comics until today, February 14.
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 offers giveaways for a variety of titles in all genres. Check out these giveaways for comics and graphic novels.
- Seven Seas has a survey for January. Suggest up to 18 new titles for Seven Seas to consider for licensing. Fill out the survey to be entered into a raffle to win a copy of any book Seven Seas has published so far in 2019!
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!
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Link to the previous Roundup: Weekly Roundup – February 7, 2020