[argh] How to get on with your author/artist

[shanaqui]

I'm participating in several Big Bangs this time, and I'm having various problems with my artists. I think this applies both ways, though: author to artist, and artist to author.

-Introduce yourself! auroraprimavera was my first ever Big Bang artist. The first email she sent me was an introduction, and lo, we got on like a house on fire.
-Respond promptly! Even if it's to say you can't do [x], at least then your partner knows where you stand.
-Keep in touch. If you have a problem, let your partner know, so that if you suddenly disappear offline but you'll be back in time, they don't contact mods going "help! my artist disappeared!". If you don't have a problem, just let 'em know you're still around and doing your bit.
-If someone sends you their latest draft, it's nice to respond and let them know what you think once you've had chance to read it/see it. One of my artists received my draft almost two weeks ago and there's been silence since. Silence feels ominous, to me...
-Work together! Don't spring a massive plot change surprise on your artist two days before the deadline.
-If you promise to do something, deliver. If you promised a rough draft by Tuesday, follow through!
-If in doubt, ask.

What other advice would you have about getting on with your author/artist? My main problem has been total lack of communication.

Comments

[viklikesfic]

Hmm, yeah, I haven't had much experience with heavy communication between author and artist. For my first big bang, the artist contacted me and gave me a partial list for the fanmix she was planning to make and asked if it looked good to me. I thought it looked great and there were songs I was looking forward to hearing. Then when the reveal came what I received was a couple of images of the people in the story with some writing on them. I don't mean to be ungracious; maybe those images were harder than they looked, but I was really bummed not to get the fanmix. So I guess I would say on the artists' side, if you tell your author you're going to do x type of media, do that or tell them that you've changed your mind so that they know what to expect. The big bang that I was just in, no one claimed my story, so no advice from that.

[shanaqui]

I think auroraprimavera spoiled me... but in an ideal world, it'd always be like that.

[auroraprimavera]

*blush*

[auroraprimavera]

The stuff your artist makes for you make a difference in how your story works. One bigbang I did I only heard from the artist when they wanted to see how I was doing. I tried to get their opinions on the story and stuff but nothing. Then they sent me the art and I was like...let down? It's tough and I know as an artist myself how much work doing art and stuff can be. But still, you know?

[viklikesfic]

Hmm, and see, I'm not sure how much I would like having an author/artist relationship where the artist was giving opinions like that. If I want a beta, then I would pick one that I already know and want to hear from. What I expect from an artist is more "ok, what are you thinking of making?" and maybe they'll also ask a question or two about the story in order to make the art match up, but I wouldn't be asking an artist for input about the story itself. I guess that's because I think of the art more as a reward for completing the story, so it's a linear process. A creates story, B creates complimentary art. Or for a reverse bang, B creates art, A creates complimentary story.

[auroraprimavera]

I see what you mean - And I guess I should have worded it differently. I mean, I just want to know what they think on the story. Like, oh hey great scene there. Or wow, interesting concept. You know? I was spoiled in my first big bang that my artist was awesome and kept in touch with me and was excited when I sent her additional snippets. And then when I worked as an artist for shanaqui I was able to get bits and pieces as she wrote and it was great being able to to tell her what I thought, how excited I was. You know? I don't exactly want them to beta for me, I have enough people who'll do that - just, you know - at least tell me you like it? From my last artists, I heard nothing.

[shanaqui]

I feel like at least I want to know whether the artist enjoyed it... or even that the artist, you know, read it at all.