Two weeks ago, in this very column, I discussed the three primary methods for finding an artist: the guy you know, the cattle call, and the courtship. And I enthusiastically proclaimed the latter to be the #1 best way to find an artist to work with.

So naturally, today I decided to discard my own advice, and try the good old fashioned cattle call. Hence, you'll find this posting on Digital Webbing, Penciljack, and in your ComicSpace bulletins today:

Published Writer Seeks Artistic Collaborator for Creator-Owned Miniseries

Hello. My name is Elton Pruitt, and I'm a comic book writer who's been published in a few small-press/indie anthologies, capped off by stories in three consecutive issues of Negative Burn last fall.

I'm looking for an artist interested in partnering with me on a creator-owned miniseries. It's a straight-up superheroine book: no irony, no deconstruction, and nary a trace of grim or gritty. The working title is Riveted: the Ballad of Rosie and Jynx. Here's the short pitch:

After taking in the grandmother who raised her, Jynx (a brash young post-punk R&B singer) learns that Grammy was not only the real-life Rosie the Riveter, but also a real-life superhero battling Nazi villainy at home. When Grammy's kidnapped, Jynx puts her music career on pause to focus on saving her. She soon discovers both the identity of the kidnapper and the key to unlocking her own latent powers...

Are you the artist I'm looking for? You may be, if you're interested in a true creative collaboration, rather than simply a work-for-hire gig. Of course, I understand that time is money and art supplies cost money, so based on your experience and samples, I'm willing to consider a reasonable page rate for the initial 5 pages and cover that we need for the pitch package.

My ideal artistic co-creator will (1) both pencil and ink their work, (2) like Pink, and (3) kick ass. But I'll settle for two out of three!

If interested, please send sequential samples (and terms, if applicable) to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

Thanks for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Elton Pruitt

www.eltonpruitt.com

Why did I decide to go this route, rather than the aforementioned and heartily endorsed courtship, to find an artist for Riveted?

A couple of reasons spring to mind: (1) I don't know, (2) it just felt like the right thing to do, and (3) see 1 and 2.

The point being: yes, I know I'm a great columnist, and you hang on my every word, Dear Reader, my Audience of One (Jimmie!), aspiring writer that you are. And it's true that I actually have some valuable insight and experience to share with you on your quest to become an actual published writer of comic bookical goodness.

But despite all that, you've got to learn to trust your own instincts. You may file that under, “well, DUH!”, but I think it's an important point to make. Because making comic books is all about magic, in the end, and sometimes the best thing you can do to get from where you are to where you want to be, is to simply trust your own instincts, believe in your own magic, and click your heels three times.

Or, post an ad on Digital Webbing and see what happens.

Next Week in Running Up That Hill:

My two favorite baseball teams are the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees. So why have I taken to wearing a Boston Red Sox cap every time I sit down to write?

Learn the shocking truth in “My magical mystical Boston Red Sox cap,” next week in Running Up That Hill!


In The Weeks Ahead:

Look for these (and other) columns in the coming weeks:

• Dialogue Last: the best thing ever?

• "By the Southern Grace of God" actually IS a lovely and wonderful story, and how it got that way (for Drew, who loves my long column titles!)

• The power of being nice (a column that Anthony Peruzzo, an artist I’d love to work with one day, cannot wait to read!)

• The ultimate Jason Aaron post-Marvel exclusive interview (I hope… but it's not looking good)

• The best artist you've never heard of

• Accountability partners assemble!

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Elton Pruitt is a comic book writer in Little Rock. He drank a refreshing Natural Ice beer while writing this column, and really enjoyed it. And he's getting a haircut next Tuesday!