When I started submitting magazine cartoons, the
typical procedure was to submit about ten cartoons at a time, mailed flat with a self-addressed, stamped
envelope for the return of rejected cartoons. In recent years the trend is moving toward submitting
cartoons as electronic files, by email or by posting them on a private web page for review.
Submitting by mail was expensive. I know one full-time cartoonist who told me he used to
spend $1200 per month on postage, but now he submits exclusively by email. Since email is free, it is
beneficial to cartoonists to submit in this manner. It also benefits editors and publishers since it is
easier and quicker to review cartoons on a computer than to physically handle mounds of regular mail.
Submitting Electronically
There are three ways you can submit cartoons electronically. You could
simply send the cartoons as email attachments. Many editors, however, will not accept this type of
submission. Computer viruses are often contracted by opening email attachments from unfamiliar sources,
so publishers are understandably wary of accepting such emails. I don't recommend the use of email
attachments unless you have the publisher's permission to do so.
Another way to go is to post cartoons on your website and then send editors
an email containing links to the cartoons on your site. The only problem I've had with this method is that
email programs will sometimes distort the link so it doesn't work when the editor tries to connect. You
should send yourself a test email first and make sure everything is working. Here is an example of how
one of these links will work:
http://www.colemantoons.com/images/1.jpg
Go ahead, click on the link so you can see what the editor will see.
A third method is to create a private web page and display the cartoons there
for the editor's review. You can send him an email telling him the URL of the page. You don't want this
page to be accessed by search engine spiders, so in the meta tags at the top of your webpage, you should
put the following tag:
There should be no other meta tags in the heading on this page.
On this webpage, if you like, you could also include payment information
which should include your mailing address and maybe a PayPal payment button.
Most editors still pay by check, but some will use PayPal. PayPal is especially useful for receiving
payments from foreign countries. If you don't have a PayPal account, you should apply for one. It's
free -- the only fee is a commission on money they collect for you (about 3 percent). PayPal will then
deposit the money directly into your bank account at no cost, or for a small fee will mail you a check.
The application process for a PayPal account is quick and easy. You could use the button below for
more information:
Submitting Cartoons By Fax
Some cartoonists submit cartoons by fax but most use email.
If you are sending unsolicited cartoons, I wouldn't recommend fax. The recipient has to pay for the
paper he uses, and they have to replace the toner cartridges, which is another expense. For this reason
they may resent unsolicited cartoon submissions by fax. Another drawback to submitting by fax is that you
can only send cartoons in black and white. Since the advent of digital printing, more and more publications
are opting to print in color. The only practical use I see for fax is for sending a quick rough for a
cartoon you are proposing. The finished cartoon will usually be mailed or emailed.
Check the Contributor's Guidelines
If you don't know how an editor prefers to receive submissions,
ask them. Most publications publish contributor's guidelines and those publications which have a website
often post their guidelines online. If they don't, you can write to a publication and ask them for their
contributor's guidelines and most will be happy to send them to you. By taking the
time to learn what a publication wants up front you not only save the editor time, but you save yourself
time and postage. If you are approaching a publication and you don't know if they use cartoons,
it is often a good idea to send a query letter or email first. This saves time for you and the editor.
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