Graphic Novel Illustrator Schedule Survey
This is a survey for graphic novel illustrators working primarily in the United States publishing industry.
If you are a picture book illustrator, you can fill out the picture book survey here:
https://forms.gle/WGrU1Q4HsjdbSfck9
For the purposes of this survey, a "graphic novel" is defined as a fully illustrated perfect-bound comic book of no less than 100 pages. This survey does not include individual issue ("floppy") comics. The graphic novel may be a self-contained story or may be a part of a graphic novel series. Your graphic page count may vary based on this standard.
In some cases, issue comics or daily strips may be compiled later into a graphic novel of 100 pages or longer. When filling out the survey, please refer to the time spent producing the work collected in the graphic novel.
The Purpose: to get a sense of timeline trends for graphic novel illustrators among the US publishing industry. There is no standard in the US publishing industry for graphic novel production schedules. The time an illustrator is given to work on a single graphic novel may be impacted by any number of factors. Regardless of the time frame, there is one thing that remains the same in all situations: illustrating a graphic novel is challenging, time-consuming work, and illustrators should be given enough time to comfortably do their work while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
How Will the Data Be Used: the data will be presented publicly by Nilah Magruder to give illustrators a more transparent look at production timelines. The hope is that both unagented and agented illustrators will be able to use this information to advocate for themselves. I hope this information also gives agents and editors a clearer understanding of healthy illustration schedules. I will not be collecting names or private information of survey participants. While this survey may ask for specific details about the books you've published, all responses will remain anonymous.
The Creator of the Survey: My name is Nilah Magruder. I am an author and illustrator. I oversee the Agents for Illustrators Directory. If you have questions about the survey, e-mail me at
illustratoragents@gmail.com
.
* Required
How long have you been illustrating graphic novels?
*
Less than a year
1-2 years
3-5 years
6-10 years
11-20 years
More than 20 years
How many graphic novels have you illustrated in the course of your career?
*
Include any books you're currently illustrating in your count.
1-2
3-5
6-10
11-20
21-40
more than 40
In what country are your publishers primarily based?
*
United States
Canada
Other:
Do you have an art/literary agent who negotiates your graphic novel contracts?
*
Yes
No
In the last two years, which types of publishers account for the majority of your graphic novel contracts?
*
Large traditional book publishers
Large comic book publishers
Small independent publishers
Self-publishing authors
Other:
Required
Check any of these publishers that you have illustrated graphic novels for in the last five years.
*
Abrams
Albert Whitman
Andrews McMeel
BOOM! Studios
Boyds Mills and Kane
Candlewick Press
Capstone Publishers
Charlesbridge
Chronicle Books
Dark Horse Comics
DC Comics
Disney Publishing
Greenwillow Books
Hachette
Harper Collins
Holiday House
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
IDW
Image Comics
Lerner Publishing
Lion Forge/Oni Press
Little, Brown and Company
Macmillan/First Second
Marvel Comics
Penguin Random House
Scholastic/Graphix
Simon and Schuster
Other:
Required
What is the shortest amount of time in which you've illustrated a graphic novel?
*
If you're an author/illustrator, please leave out your time spent writing the text and only include the time spent illustrating.
Less than six months
7-12 months
13-18 months
19-24 months
25-36 months
3-5 years
more than five years
Did an art or literary agent negotiate this contract for you?
*
Yes
No
How many illustrated pages are in the book?
*
Less than 100 pages
100-200
201-300
301-400
more than 400 pages
What duties did you, individually, perform in the illustration of this graphic novel?
*
Thumbnailing/layouts
Penciling
Inking
Lettering
Flatting
Coloring
Cover art
Other:
Required
If other artists were involved in the illustration of the graphic novel, please indicate their duties below.
*
No other artists, just me
Thumbnailing/layout
Penciling
Inking
Lettering
Flatting
Coloring
Cover art
Other:
Required
How many artists, including yourself, illustrated the graphic novel?
*
Your answer
Sometimes in the course of illustrating a book, a deadline may be affected by contract delays, lengthy revisions, or communication delays with the editor or designer. Please elaborate on any changes in your negotiated schedule that impacted the amount of time in which you illustrated the book.
Your answer
What is the longest amount of time in which you've illustrated a graphic novel?
*
If you're an author/illustrator, please leave out your time spent writing the text and only include the time spent illustrating.
Less than six months
7-12 months
13-18 months
19-24 months
25-36 months
3-5 years
more than five years
Did an art or literary agent negotiate this contract for you?
*
Yes
No
How many illustrated pages are in the book?
*
Less than 100 pages
100-200
201-300
301-400
more than 400 pages
What duties did you, individually, perform in the illustration of this graphic novel?
*
Thumbnails/layouts
Penciling
Inking
Lettering
Flatting
Coloring
Cover art
Other:
Required
If other artists were involved in the illustration of the graphic novel, please indicate their duties below.
*
No other artists, just me
Thumbnailing/layout
Penciling
Inking
Lettering
Flatting
Coloring
Cover art
Other:
Required
How many artists, including yourself, illustrated the graphic novel?
*
Your answer
Sometimes in the course of illustrating a book, a deadline may be affected by contract delays, lengthy revisions, or communication delays with the editor or designer. Please elaborate on any changes in your negotiated schedule that impacted the amount of time in which you illustrated the book.
Your answer
What would you say is the average amount of time you're given to illustrate the majority of graphic novels you've worked on?
*
If you're an author/illustrator, please leave out your time spent writing the text and only include the time spent illustrating.
Less than six months
7-12 months
13-18 months
19-24 months
25-36 months
3-5 years
more than five years
Has meeting a graphic novel illustration schedule ever required you to do the following?
*
Work longer than eight hours in a day
Work weekends
Work more than five days consecutively
Work while on vacation or traveling
Work during hours that you would normally be asleep
Sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period
Work while ill or injured
None of the above
Required
Have you experienced any illness or injury that affects your ability to work tight graphic novel deadlines?
*
Yes
No
Would you like to elaborate on any illness, injury, or other uncomfortable or unhealthy practices you've experienced in order to meet a graphic novel deadline?
Your answer
In general, how do you feel about the schedules you've been given for the majority of the graphic novels you've illustrated?
*
I don't have enough time
I have more than enough time
My schedules are just right
Some schedules are better than others
In general, how do you feel about graphic novel illustration schedules you will negotiate in the future?
*
I'd like to negotiate more time in the schedule
I'd like to negotiate less time in the schedule
I will negotiate a similar schedule to my most recent projects
I do not plan to continue illustrating graphic novels
In what country are you based?
Your answer
What race best describes you?
White
Black/African
Latin American/Hispanic
Indigenous/First Nations
Asian
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Middle Eastern
Other:
What are your pronouns?
Your answer
Are you a marginalized gender/sexual identity?
Not a marginalized gender/sexual identity
Asexual
Bisexual
Gay
Intersex
Lesbian
Non-Binary
Queer
Pansexual
Trans
Two-Spirit
Other:
Are you disabled?
Yes
No
Clear selection
If you have anything else you'd like to say about illustration schedules, please include it here.
Your answer
Your answers are anonymous. Survey results will be compiled and published at a later date. Any long answers you've provided will not be quoted in the final publication, but may be referenced in general terms. Do you consent to the use of your answers in this survey?
*
Yes
No
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