5 Week online Course | Instructor: Paul Allor

Freelance Writing for Comics

$595.00

Every freelance writer has to deal with a host of complications and still maintain professional and good relationships with any manner of clients. This course is designed to improve your writing skills, but most especially your problem-solving skills and on the fly!

In the first class, the students are told that they have been “hired” to write a five-page story in one of several properties — a few each from DC and Marvel and a few licensed properties from other companies. 

But first you’ve got to put together your pitch! Then get notes on the pitch and incorporate them into your outline. Ultimately, you’ll have to turn in a five-page comic book script based on constant (but not always consistent!) feedback! 

Writing is rewriting–that’s what they say–and that’s certainly true for freelance writers who are often given conflicting notes throughout a project. This course is designed for those that want to take a crack at writing as a freelancer and being able to always put their best foot forward.

Oh, did we mention you might have to tie that story into a company-wide crossover?

This course is designed to be tough — just like comics freelancing. But it’s also designed to be fun — just like comics freelancing. In this class, we won’t just talk about the best and worst that comics freelancing has to offer — we’ll demonstrate it. So come along for a wild ride that’s unlike any other class you’ll ever take.

  • You will learn from professional comic book writer Paul Allor (Monstro Mechanica, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, G.I. Joe, Tet, Past the Last Mountain)
  • You’ll get Paul’s lessons and lectures and discussions! 
  • You’ll develop a five-page story, from paragraph pitch to detailed outline to final product. But unlike other Comics Experience classes, your rewrites won’t be entirely up to you. You’ll have a work-for-hire editor giving you sometimes constructive, sometimes flummoxing notes all along the way.  
  • All of Comics Experience’s classes help prepare you for a career in comics, but this one throws you into the deep end, giving you as close as we can get to a real-world work for hire experience.
  • You also get exclusive access to a dedicated class member-only online forum.
  • You’ll have access to recordings of any class in the series for the duration of the class and a few weeks after its conclusion—so you never have to miss a class!
  • Class size is limited to keep it awesome!

Paul Allor is a critically-acclaimed writer, editor and letterer who began as a Comics Experience student and workshop member, eight years ago. Since then, they have written for Marvel Comics, AfterShock Comics, IDW Publishing, BOOM! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, Vault Comics and others.

Paul’s comics writing is known for balancing intensely character-driven stories with bombastic ideas and dynamic plotting. Their creator-owned books include Hollow Heart, from Vault Comics; Monstro Mechanica, from AfterShock Comics; Tet, from IDW Publishing and Comics Experience; Past the Last Mountain, from Gov’t Comics and Comics Experience; Strange Nation, from Monkeybrain Comics; and the self-published comics Orc Girl and Clockwork, the latter of which included Paul’s five-page story from their Comics Experience Introduction to Writing class!

On the work-for-hire side, Paul is perhaps best known for their extensive work in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise for IDW Publishing, as well as the critically acclaimed 2019 relaunch of GI Joe.

Other properties Paul has worked on include Captain America, Iron Man, Guardians of the Galaxy and other Marvel characters; Star Trek; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers; King Kong; Godzilla; Clue; Samurai Jack; My Little Pony and others.

 Since 2017, they have served in various capacities with Comics Experience. Paul is currently the Editorial Director of CEX Publishing, and teaches a number of introductory and advanced writing classes. You can follow them on Twitter at @PaulAllor.

Do I need to already be a comics writer to take this course?

Not at all, but taking our Comics Writing 101 course is a prerequisite to this one. If you’ve completed Comics Writing 101, you’re good to go for this one!

Wanting to work in comics is great, but what if I just want to tell my own stories?

Our courses are geared for this exact purpose. No matter where you are on the spectrum, beginner as well as experienced writer, learning from someone who has achieved these same goals and can personally guide you is invaluable! 

Besides the weekly live lessons, what does the course entail? 

In this course you’ll develop a five-page story, from paragraph pitch to detailed outline to final product, with the help (and occasional hindrance) of a mock-editor. We’re going to throw some curveballs your way; and hitting them out of the park will make you a stronger writer and a better freelancer.

Do I need to know a whole lot about comics?

Having at least an interest in comics and a basic knowledge as a reader is helpful, but not mandatory. This is about the craft and the form, so we’ll be going over all of the things you’d need to know.

What if I miss a class?

All of our classes are recorded and available to view via streaming link for the duration of the course. And on top of that, you’ll have exclusive access to the Comics Experience forum set up just for the class. You’ll be able to interact with the rest of your class all week long at any time!

If I don’t live in the United States, can I still take the course?

You bet. We’ve had students jump in from Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America and Africa. Not Antarctica yet, but give us time! Some of these students have not been able to attend live, but they’ve viewed the recordings and interacted with their classmates online!

Do we get any practical industry advice?

You’ll get a LOT of practical industry advice. Networking is one of our main topics in all of our introductory courses. It’s, simply put, essential for anyone who wants a career in comics. We discuss relationship building and ways to get your foot in the door and where to go to meet the right people and so on.

How do I sign up?

Click on the “Add to Cart” button for this course and you’ll get an email confirmation and instructions within two business days containing information about taking the class.

Go ahead and reserve your spot today! Space is limited.

Prerequisite: No prerequisites needed!

In order to complete the work, the following system requirements are recommended:

  • Microsoft Word or some other writing software.

To participate in our live online sessions you will need:

What if I need to cancel my enrollment?

Unfortunately, Comics Experience cannot provide a full refund for course enrollment once the course is purchased.

  • From the time of purchase until twenty-one (21) days before the class start date, 50% of the course fee can be refunded.
  • Between twenty (20) and seven (7) days prior to the class start date, 25% of the course fee can be refunded.
  • Six (6) days or fewer before the course start date, no refund will be issued.
  • We appreciate your understanding and compliance to help us keep costs down and to continue offering high quality courses.