How to Pitch Comics to Periodicals

In 2022, I experienced an exciting year of breakthroughs with my first publications in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The Austin Chronicle. A lot of this had to do with changing my approach from looking for assignments to pitching ideas. This was a meaningful shift for me as someone with an illustration background.

Why switch to pitching?

Create the job you want to have. Instead of searching for a place for your work to fit in, carve out a space for yourself that only your work can fill.
Make a name for yourself. Claim that byline. You’ll increase your name recognition when you’re the author of the piece.
It’s like a personal project with a paycheck. I’ve always been a proponent of following your heart and creating exactly what you want to make. This is very similar, except that as you’re forming a vision, there’s a destination attached.

Pitching tips

Research your publication. Who reads it? What does the publication already have on its pages, and what’s missing? How do you fit in, yet offer something different? Think of your dream publication as a potluck party, and you have to figure out which dish to bring. It should be something you do well, but not a duplicate of what an established contributor is already offering. You’ve got lots of great recipes. Make something unique.

My assessment of The New Yorker’s audience as being educated readers who are tickled by literary allusions led to my breakthrough piece – The Last Guide to Literary Conflict You’ll Ever Need.

Use visuals. We’re lucky. We make pictures. Pictures go straight to the heart with no filter. As you get to know your editor, they may direct you to submit (one to three) story ideas in short text submissions. This is typical, and you should follow their instructions. But open your first email with a bang. If you already have a piece similar to what you’re pitching, attach it to your introductory email. If not, even a small sketch or wireframe could do more to sell your story than 1000 words, especially to a busy editor who sees a lot of words.

A clip of the visual attachment to my first pitch for The New York Times. See the final published piece here.

Describe why YOU are the best person to tell this story. Autobio pieces are pretty self-explanatory but think about your experience with the topic, your credits at other publications, and exclusive access to unique stories. Sell yourself as well as your piece.

Black-Eyed Pea Party by Rachelle Meyer, Austin Chronicle

Has anyone else lived this crazy life I’ve lived? My experience makes my perspective unique. Read The Black-Eyed Pea Party in The Austin Chronicle.

Follow up. This is one area that’s really paid off for me. When I send something off, I tend to forget about it after, yet that follow-up email can make all the difference. Editors are very busy people with inboxes that would put Sisyphus to shame. Set a reminder for yourself to follow up 2-3 weeks after sending your pitch. By follow up, I simply mean forwarding the email with a short tag, “I sent this x weeks ago. Have you had a chance to read it yet?”

Helpful links

I find The Writing Coach Podcast very helpful as someone with a visual background as opposed to journalism or creative writing.
- BONUS: Get a free PDF of pitching tips when you subscribe to the newsletter.
Back to basics: Learn about creating comics from Scott McCloud through his book Making Comics.
Feeling full of chutzpah? Submit your own cartoon to The New Yorker.