Announcing Call to Entries for Graphic Novels Initiative

Bogotá, Colombia, August 15th, 2018 — Atmostfear Entertainment is pleased to announce the call to entries for graphic novel manuscripts and illustrational artworks in the form of open submissions for further literary collaboration and publishing, consequently, initiating its role as a publishing house in the field of artful, engaging, and groundbreaking graphical illustrated literature from both newcomers and well-established creators as part of a three-year transformation programme announced last year.

Atmostfear Entertainment endeavours to print graphic novels for thought readers, those who prefer to challenge their minds, who have a sophisticated understanding of both visual arts and literary, cultural concepts, but ultimately, readers that sincerely appreciate personal expression unfettered by uncritical use of cliché with an ongoing commitment to high-quality printed storylines, in a bold format.

The publishing house will mainly focus on the “mid-list” rather than celebrity mass-market publishing on the one hand or highly academic on the other, seeking for genuine popular writing; the unique, non-generic, ambitious and dangerous with an eloquent taste for a few particular books that will cross boundaries and push out the envelope, that is in their way unusual or definitive (or both).

We are exclusively seeking from full-length graphic novels manuscripts ranging from 75,000 to 150,000 words, between 100 to 200 pages or more, black and white or full-coloured illustrations, or short story collections under the same range, per chapter.

We have a particular interest in manuscripts that investigate the eerie gothic and horror fiction primarily with a realistic, historical tone or any other theme that would fit into our line of daily publishings. Nevertheless, we will not consider extremely violent horror fiction or stories focused on “slayers,” “hunters,” or even “enforcers” as the protagonists.

If your graphic novel is the first of a trilogy or series, be aware that we will not commit to publishing more than one book at a time. Publication of further volumes will be dependent on purchases.

Fiction must be wholly original. We will not consider fiction that is based on other authors’ works, including works in the public domain (such as Abraham Stoker’s ‘Dracula’, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s ‘ Carmilla’ or Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus’), or that appropriates names, characters or specific settings from existing fictional universes in books, films, television shows, role-playing games, video games, anime or manga, and so forth.

We are seeking manuscripts that display the author’s unique vision and breadth of imagination yet with a fundamental historical, or mythological depth, related to witchcraft, gothic subcultures, horror, alchemy, tribalism, cannibalism, secret societies, spiritualism, vampirism, occultism, necromancy, gothabilly, masochism, lycanthropy, misanthropy, burlesque, steampunk, cyberpunk, Victorianism, demonology, archeology, religion, dark tourism, slasher, cybergoth, egyptology, zombies, corpse snatchers, voodoo, or monstrosity.

We will always reject any submissions that fit neatly into (or combine in a gimmicky fashion) the mainstream genres of a superhero, vigilante, and commercial fantasy. While some of our publications might be more suitable for adult readers, we will not publish immoral graphic novels, yet, we will accept erotically oriented material to a specific context.

Guidelines for writers

1. Submission agreement

Atmostfear Entertainment has the highest regard for creators and the ownership of original properties, and this agreement should in no way be misconstrued as a license for Atmostfear Entertainment to appropriate your creations. This agreement protects Atmostfear Entertainment from any liabilities involving coincidental similarities to works-in-progress or other submissions. It is only required for original stories, scripts, series proposals, and characters. You do not need to sign it if you are only sending art samples or previously published manuscript samples.

Story proposals or manuscripts arriving without a signed agreement will be destroyed without review. Obtain a copy of the agreement here. A new agreement must be submitted with each new idea, proposal, manuscript, etcetera, and must be signed by all involved creators and copyright holders.

Please note that Atmostfear Entertainment does not review unsolicited manuscripts, story ideas, or proposals pertaining to properties currently published by Atmostfear Entertainment or any property not owned by the submitter. Such material will be destroyed without review.

2. Complete synopsis

Succinctly tell the entire story: beginning, middle, and end, omitting unnecessary details. A short-story synopsis should be no longer than a page.

A synopsis for a series (limited or ongoing) or graphic novel should be about two to five pages. Indicate issue breaks where applicable.

A synopsis should say exactly what happens and how noting plot and character specifics. Do not leave the resolution of the story in question. This should be the most straightforward presentation of the story as possible, as the synopsis is often the make-or-break point for a proposal.

3. Complete manuscript

You must include a full manuscript for any short story — ranging from 75,000 to 150,000 words, between 100 to 200 pages or more — or single-issue submission, or the first eight pages of the first issue of any series, unless you are a published professional, in which case, you should include samples of previously published work.

You can download our Manuscript Format Guide on which to base your manuscript format on here. If the work is already completed, story, artwork, and lettering, copies of this may be sent instead.

When preparing to send your story, consider the following questions:

Are my characters believable and consistent throughout the manuscript?
Is the plot clear and easy to follow?
Is all the necessary information including subtext, symbolism, essential background detail, communicated clearly to the artist?
Does the manuscript allow the pictures to tell the story rather than relying on captions or other forms of exposition?
Does the story work as a comic book, taking into account the conventions and the language of the medium?

Guidelines for artists

1. Sequential artwork

Consider carefully what you are sending. An editor wants to see that you can draw sequential art, not pin-ups. Five or six consecutive story pages is usually adequate. Include quiet scenes as well as action, utilize a wide variety of faces, figures (male, female, ordinary people as well as characters, etcetera.), and well-realized settings. Ask yourself the following questions:

Does the angle you have chosen take full advantage of the dramatic potential in a scene?
Do the backgrounds establish where the characters are in relationship to their surroundings and to each other?
Is there a well-defined foreground, middle ground, and background?
Is there a clear, readable story even without word balloons or captions?
Have you left adequate room for the dialogue and captions?

If you would like to use a sample manuscript to help you create a story sequence, you can download one here.

2. Cover artwork

Please submit only up to five covers or pin-ups. Be forewarned that it is scarce that we would choose someone solely for cover work or pin-ups.

Additionally, you must include a signed copy of the Submissions Agreement if you are submitting any artwork featuring a character of your own creation.

Guidelines for inkers

Consider carefully what you are sending. An editor wants to see that you can ink sequential art, not pin-ups. Five or six consecutive story pages is usually adequate. Include quiet scenes as well as action, utilize a wide variety of faces, figures (male, female, ordinary people as well as characters, etcetera.), and well-realized settings.

Guidelines for colourists

1. Sequential artwork

Please submit at least five pages of sequential art. We would also be interested to see how you handle different types of storytelling. For instance, how would you colour five pages of ‘The Sandman’ as opposed to five pages of ‘Swamp Thing’?

Editors are looking for colourists who can work in many different styles and moods and accurately aid in telling a story through the use of colour.

2. Formats

We can accept files in any standard format such as JPG, EPS, TIFF, etcetera. However, all files must be CMYK.

Files can be either 72 dpi or 300 dpi, and it is recommended that file dimensions are no smaller than 7″ x 10″.

Files may be supplied on CD or Zip disk. Please include a resume of past work history (if applicable) and a cover letter.

Guidelines for letterers

1. Sequential artwork

Please submit at least five pages of story to show the diversity of balloons and sound effects, as well as the font choice. In addition, please show examples of italicized and bold text.

2. Titles

Please include examples of titles in your submissions. By titles, we mean story/story arc titles, not logotypes.

3. Format

We can accept files in any standard format such as JPG, EPS, TIFF, etcetera. Files can be either 72 dpi or 300 dpi, and it is recommended that file dimensions are no smaller than 7″ x 10″. Files may be supplied on CD or Zip disk. Please include a resume of past work history (if applicable) and a cover letter.

About Atmostfear Entertainment S.A.S.

For over eight years, Atmostfear Entertainment has been a showcase for the greatest and brightest photographers, musicians, authors, and illustrators from a diverse range of counter-cultural spectrums from around the globe: it serves as an invaluable resource for alternative cultural scholars, readers, publishers, and researchers worldwide.

Atmostfear Entertainment is an open access countercultural medium consisting of periodic, unconventional curated articles based on diverse arts, cultures, events, and reviews.

Founded in 2010, it asserts that the variety of its educational, historical, artistic, and theoretical materials constitute the most fertile conceptual framework to connect academics with subcultural lifestyles as a social phenomenon, with an eye to their overhaul, yet not favouring any tendency, tradition, or variant.