Read on Twitter
I worked on several different books for Dynamite and enjoyed working with the editors there, however their association with C*G is awful. I didn't know the lengths it had developed because I wasn't paying attention. I admit that. I already have most of the c*g @'s blocked, so 1/
I didn't see it. That's on me. I do have to say one thing, though, not in defense of Dyn, but in defense of some of the creators that work on books there. A lot of creators are not in the financial position to drop a gig or decline an offer of a book. Getting work in comics is 2/
not an easy task, and admonishing creators that aren't in the position to just say, "Nope! Not working with them anymore" is a simple answer to a complex problem. There are many more factors involved, and let's be honest, the financials of any of these creators aren't the 3/
business of anyone. So if there's a creator listed on solicits, don't automatically assume that they're rah rah c^g. They may have written a story a months or a year ago that's now being solicited. They may have taken the gig months or a year ago and aren't in the position to 4/
just stop working with dy-n because they're freelancers, and freelancers don't always have the ability to just drop a gig. It's so very easy to just say, "screw you (fill in the blank creator)" because they're working on a book. It's no so easy to BE that creator who has bills 5/
to pay. And I know it's tough to hear this, but whether you have a check next to your name or not, you're being hit financially because of Covid, or just because you're a freelancer. And people who've never been freelancers don't understand how precarious the situation is 6/
under the BEST of circumstances. So be pissed at Dyn all you want. Hell, I'M pissed. And I haven't worked with them since last year, so I have some distance and the ability to say this. But others who are CURRENTLY working with them don't have that ability. As a freelancer, 7/
you can't bite the hand that feeds you, not unless you have a net to catch you. And in this Covid world we live in, pretty much NO ONE has a net. So all I'm asking is for you to think about your anger and your want to lash out and direct it toward the person or company that is 8/
responsible rather than the people who are trying to just make a living and create.
One last thing…and this is a statement for anything that has to do with anything:
If you've ever watched a building being put up, it takes months, sometimes years or even decades to get the 9/
One last thing…and this is a statement for anything that has to do with anything:
If you've ever watched a building being put up, it takes months, sometimes years or even decades to get the 9/
structure to be complete. But then there's a demolition (you've seen it in movies, in Las Vegas, etc.) and it takes SECONDS to take a building down. Just in the snap of a finger.
I'm just asking that the next time you decide to tear something or someone down, remember that 10/
I'm just asking that the next time you decide to tear something or someone down, remember that 10/
what they are doing is building not just a creative portfolio, but a career. A career takes years, decades, Hell, if we were vampires, it'd take CENTURIES…but please remember that it takes only a few seconds of your tweet (what is it 240 characters or whatever) to tear 11/
something down and what feels like a LIFETIME to build it up. Please remember that. Please remember to direct your anger, frustration, rage at the correct group or group of people. If you have a solid 9 to 5 with good benefits and such, you may not understand what freelancers 12/
have to deal with, and I get that. I had a good 9 to 5 for YEARS. But that's different now. And despite having a blue badge next to my name, I'm still struggling every month to pay bills just like most of the rest of you, blue badge or not, 9 to 5 or not.
I know this was 13/
I know this was 13/
longer than I thought it would be, and I appreciate you for reading it. I guess what I'm trying to say in my loquacious manner is, have some compassion for people who take jobs from companies you may not agree with. Just as you have to put food on your table, so do they. And 14/
decisions have to be made that may not align with what you think is right, but those decisions are tough and complex, and doubly so for a freelancer.
Thanks for reading. I'm going to mute the thread so my phone doesn't die from notifications, but thank you for 15/
Thanks for reading. I'm going to mute the thread so my phone doesn't die from notifications, but thank you for 15/
taking the time to read. Stay safe. Wear a mask. Tell those you care about them. And please have some compassion for others. We all need it, and we all need to be better about showing it. G'night. 16/end.
