Someone sent me a Career Fair type of survey for a school project, and I answered it. How terrible to think of my life in these terms!

1. Nature of work? Typical duties? Independence? Routine Tasks? Likes? Dislikes?

Draw comics. No schedule. Self-motivation or nothing gets done. There is an editor whose task is basically to make me finish stuff (at all, if not on time). It usually doesn't pay enough to really live. Last year I spent 3-4 months working in a bookstore for 7 dollars an hour, and another 3-4 months working in a restaurant for 9 dollars an hour.

The jobs for drawing a graphic novel: pitch, outline, script, character designs, layouts, pencils, inks, scanning, lettering, resizing for print, uploading. And little things like deciding how long it's going to be, designing and colouring covers and advertisements, and basically any and every job that could be done on a book. The only thing I don't do is place the barcodes and set up the files in Quark for the printer. There's a lot of stuff that has to be done, and in a 200-page book, it's sometimes impossible to fit it all in your head at once.

2. Shifts, weekends, overtime, travel, fringe benefits, seasonal work?

I make my own schedule. Freedom can be a burden, though. In a perfect world, I'd do a moderate amount of work every day, maybe hustle a bit when deadlines loom. In real life, I slack off for months at a time and then work like a dog for two months before and after the deadline (and I'm late). Maybe next time it'll be better!

3. Is there a need for ongoing study/training? Do you recieve training/upgrading as a part of the job?

No. (I didn't go to art school, either.)

4. Opportunities for advancement?

It's a self-motivated field -- it's artistry or craftmanship. You strive to improve yourself and your craft. Um, maybe that's not what the question is about, though. Financially, my only real opportunities are if Hollywood is interested, or if the entire comic market goes through a huge upswing.

5. What are some related careers?

Comic retailer, convention organizer, pundit

6. What is happening to the demand for people in this occupational area?

Comic properties are really hot right now in Hollywood -- look at Sin City. People like me are little gold mines in the eyes of executive producers right now. I hope.

7. Training/educational requirements to get into the field?

None.

8. Where can a person recieve such training?

There are a few schools now -- SCAD in Georgia, and the one in Vermont that's starting up. They will teach you the mechanics of comics.

9. How did you get your job? What type of selection process/hiring procedures did you have to go through?

It's hard to answer these questions because it's not really a job. It's more like a vocation.

10. How would you suggest preparing for an interview in this occupational area?

No answer.

11. If you could start over again what might you do differently?

I feel okay about my position. I might have actually gone to art school, though.

12. How would you advise a person wanting to enter the field?

You should only enter the field if you are extremely dedicated and a glutton for punishment. Only if you can't envision yourself working in any other field should you start drawing comics. Even then, you'll probably need another job to support yourself unless you get extremely lucky or the world turns upside down right before your first paycheck.

13. How might a person aquire some quality experience to assist with entering the field?

Work at a comic store or go to a comic convention.

14. How many years have you worked in your occupation?

3.5 years

15. How is the salary income in your field?

Poverty line. I guess it's the same in any creative field -- a handful of people at the top make huge quantities of money, a few people make decent money, and a vast sea of people are waiters who call themselves actors or writers or graphic novelists.