It's been a while since the last open call for š!... but as many people have been asking about making another one, we gave in to the demand and are now launching the call for submissions for š! #16 'Villages'. The last open call was for š! #11 'Artventurous' which in our opinion proved to be very successful and brought a lot of new artists to our attention.
excerpt from Marlene Krause's comics in š! #13 'Life is Live'
For the new issue we are looking for stories about 'Villages'. Actual, real villages anywhere on the planet Earth. Wikipedia has a good definition of villages here.
"A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand (sometimes tens of thousands)."
"A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand (sometimes tens of thousands)."
Full details of participation:
- Theme: VILLAGES (each artist chooses one village)
- Theme: VILLAGES (each artist chooses one village)
- Title of each comics: name of the village and coordinates
- Pages: 8, 10 or 12 (eight, ten or twelve)
- Page layout: double pages (first page of the story will be printed on the left side)
- Pages: 8, 10 or 12 (eight, ten or twelve)
- Page layout: double pages (first page of the story will be printed on the left side)
- Language: English
- Format of each page: DIN A6, width 105mm × height 148mm (it's small, we know!)
- Format of each page: DIN A6, width 105mm × height 148mm (it's small, we know!)
- Colors: Yes, CMYK, b/w works are also welcome
- Resolution: 300 dpi, as tiff or pdf
-
Bleed: In case you want your comics to be full bleed make sure to add 3
mm cut off space all around the comics (in this case the width of each
page should be 111 mm and the height 154 mm). It is advised not to write
texts and important details close to the page borders- if we publish your comics, you get 6 free copies
- Deadline: 7th of January 2014
- Submit only low resolution jpgs for our consideration (but big enough to read (approximately 600 - 900 pixels in width)! The big resolution files as described above we'll ask you to send later.)
- Submit only low resolution jpgs for our consideration (but big enough to read (approximately 600 - 900 pixels in width)! The big resolution files as described above we'll ask you to send later.)
- Send to kushmens(at)gmail(.)com
The theme can be interpreted very widely, BUT it must be based on a real village. Each comics should be about one village. It can be your own village, one you have visited, like to visit, or don't like, it's your choice... The comics can but doesn't have to be documentary. It can be about any village at any time, even in the future if you choose so, though it would be nice if the village is somehow recognizable. The title of each comics must be the name of the village and the coordinates (for example Muotathal 46 58 0 N, 8 45 0 E). Only send an even amount of page, 8, 10 or 12. This will help, that each featured village gets a similar amount of attention. The comics should be laid out to be published as double pages.
We are always looking forward to see new approaches in storytelling and art. Don't limit yourself!
Notes:
- After receiving your work we'll write you a confirmation e-mail within 5 days. If you don't hear from us, write us again!
- Sending us your work doesn’t give a guarantee that we will publish it. Last time we got quite a lot of submissions, and many of the works we did not publish were really verrrrrry good!
- If we decide to publish your comics we'll contact you and once it is printed you'll get about a kilo (roughly two pounds) of š! with your contribution inside.
- Please don't publish your work (also on your tumblr), before we print it. It is more interesting to read a book with new stories. However, you can always publish excerpts. In any case you retain your copyrights to publish your comics wherever you want, we just prefer to be the first ones.
- Don't forget the bleed. Here's two sketches explaining it. Be aware of them when drawing your comics.
If you have any questions write us! Best if you write a comment below, as other people might have the same question. But if you're shy, you may also send an e-mail.
More info about š! you can find on our website www.komikss.lv. If you have never seen it, it might be helpful for you to take a glimpse at some excerpts or even better to buy a previous issue, so you can make up your mind if you really want to be published by us. Also it might help you to see what could work, and what could not. We are looking forward to your submission!
Can the definition above—clustered settlement of a few hundred to a few thousand—include communities that aren't typically called "villages"? Things like a large commune, Burning Man, or a boarding school with a few hundred students?
ReplyDeleteGood question! We're tending to say "no", as we like to have the issue rather about villages than communities. It still could be possible to make the comics about the boarding school, as it it part of a certain village. It is difficult to give a straight answer. We'd prefer not to stretch the theme too wide.
ReplyDeleteSo also no separate communities inside cities?
ReplyDeleteNo, no "urban villages" this time. We like to keep the definition quite narrow.
ReplyDeleteAhh, definitions are hard. "Urban villages" as villages close to cities are certainly fine. We just meant we don't want villages within cities, that are just neighborhoods, but called village for the fun of it.
DeleteIs there an age limit?
ReplyDeleteNo, definitely no age limit. Everyone is welcome to participate!
ReplyDelete"In Massachusetts, villages usually do not have any official legal status; all villages are part of an incorporated municipality (town or city - see List of municipalities in Massachusetts) which is the smallest official form of government. The terms "community", "district", "neighborhood", and "section" are often used to describe these non-municipal entities, which vary considerably in size and relative geographic isolation.[1] Boundaries are sometimes ambiguous, though the United States Census uses the term census-designated place when it assigns boundaries to these entities (based on local usage) for the purpose of tabulating community demographics. Many villages have neighborhood associations." - from wikipedia.
ReplyDeleteSo I wanted to do one based on a village in Massachusetts. Since they are not technically recognized as villages here, do they also not count? I know this is kind of the same thing as "urban villages," but maybe it's not?
Here's the wikipedia link..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_villages_in_Massachusetts
If I pick one from the list does is not qualify?
Hi, yes you can, this sounds totally fine. We're not interested in the legal definition of villages, so if it is a factual village it sure counts!
ReplyDeleteDo you pay?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately we don't have a budget currently to pay the artists. All the money goes into printing and covering the shipping costs and there is nothing left after that.
ReplyDeleteBut you'll get six contributor copies and are free to publish your comics elsewhere.
It's possible to participate with a story written by a person and drawn by another one?
ReplyDeleteYes, collaborations of any kind are also welcome!
Delete(But of course you need to have the permissions by the writer)
Hello, what if my Village is now - in the real life - an abandoned place? Can i submit a story totally invented ambiented in the mythologic past of this village?
ReplyDeleteYes, the village can be abandoned, too. You can make a story about future, present or past, how you like. The comics don't have to be documentary and realistic, it just would be nice, if the character of the village can still be seen.
ReplyDeleteHi, I have a question: if I invent a story with characters such as superheroes and zombies,for examples, and I develop the story in my village, it could be fine for the contest? and what about if I mix events really happened in my village, such as an alluvion, with invented events, such as alien invasion?
ReplyDeleteHi! Sounds all fine! the story doesn't have to be realistic, it just should take place in an actual "real" village.
Deleteit is possible to split one picture at two pages?
ReplyDeletelike here:
ReplyDeletehttp://marlenekrause.blogspot.de/2013/09/s-14-sports.html
Yes! Just take care not to put most important details and text right in the middle of the page, as it is hard to see there.
Deletethe deadline is now the 7th of january instead of the 5th, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteThat's right! In emergency cases we'll even accept comics that arrive on the 8th of January, but to be fair the deadline will not be extended more than that.
DeleteRegarding file size: We appreciate if you send small files, but please don't send too small ones! Jpgs with a width of about 700-900 pixels are ideal.
ReplyDelete