By Rowena Zahnrei and Bob Thibeault
Just a little over a month from now (April 22nd!), the crowdfunding campaign for our 160+ Page Graphic Novel, Let’s Go! A Kids Comic Studio Anthology, will launch on Kickstarter! Anthology contributors will be able to share the details about how to join our specific campaign to get this comics collection into the hands of eager readers. With that in mind, anthology contributors Rowena Zahnrei and Bob Thibeault have put together some notes on the work that has led up to this stage of the marketing and production process. Of special note: if you’re altogether new to Kickstarter, you’ll find tips at the end to get you up to speed as you acclimate to the crowdfunding space. Let us know if you have any questions!
~ Anthology Newsletter/Blog Co-Editors, Maritza Ruiz-Kim & Edna Cabcabin Moran
So Kids Comics Studio is gearing up to crowdfund a collaborative anthology on Kickstarter!
But what is crowdfunding, exactly? Why choose this route to fund our anthology? And how does Kickstarter even work?
The Meeting Point for Audience and Bold Creativity
In these fluid times—where attention spans fray at the two-minute mark, and risk-averse studios churn out sequels, prequels, and spin-offs—launching original works into the world can be a Herculean task. Finding an audience? Helping that audience find you? Those who’ve braved the shifting sands and tidal storms of social media know: it’s a next-level odyssey.
Enter crowdfunding. While traditional publishing routes, commercial backing, or even non-profit grants may seem reassuringly solid, their aspirational promise of stability is often locked behind walls guarded by wary gatekeepers. Even if your project gets through, it might still face pressures of censorship or the push to smooth out sharp, uncomfortable edges for broader appeal.
Crowdfunding, in contrast, offers creators direct engagement with a community that is already eager to discover new projects—and generally willing to contribute a few dollars in exchange for original products and exclusive rewards.
This is just a few of the projects members of the KCU community have crowdfunded.
Skipped the Gatekeeper? Now Stand Out in a Crowd
Now you know the “what” and “why” behind our decision to crowdfund the anthology. But why Kickstarter specifically? And how does crowdfunding work?
Kickstarter is the most recognized name among crowdfunding platforms. However, simply opening an account doesn’t guarantee your project will get funded—or even noticed. Much like bustling conventions, browsing crowdfunding sites means encountering crowds that hurry past displays and gravitate toward the familiar.
Big Things Start Small
It starts with a ripple—an action, a choice. Forward a newsletter. Text your friends. Announce to your family that a new project is on its way. Those closest to you will always form the core of your “crowd.” They can bring others, who in turn may bring even more.
Sure, it’s not Harry Potter. But it’s a significant step toward turning an original concept trapped in your head into a tangible comic your supporters can read and share. It takes time, though—here’s some information on the step-by-step process of setting up a campaign, from pre-launch to follow-through.
The key is to plan ahead. Treat your campaign like a Channel Swim, not a leap off a diving board. So, are you ready to take the plunge? Here’s how to support our campaign—or start your own Kickstarter account…
Here’s a HOW TO for those new to Kickstarter (this may vary slightly from user to user depending on device, but hopefully it’s helpful…)
New to Kickstarter?
Here are three easy steps to get you going:
1- Head over to https://www.kickstarter.com/
2- Click ‘Log In,’ and where it says “New to Kickstarter?” click ‘Sign Up’
3- Create your unique User Name and Password. Once you’re in, you can start browsing and supporting projects.
Starting April 22nd,
you can support Let’s Go! A Kids Comic Studio Anthology
and you’ll get details so you can place your order and collect other rewards!
Next Steps When You Decide to Back a Kickstarter Project
- Click the Rewards tab on the project’s campaign page
- Available Rewards are listed on the Right Side of the page
- Select the item(s) you’d like to order and click “Pledge”
- Add-Ons
- You’ll find Add-Ons on the Left Side of the next page
- Select the items you like, skip what you don’t. There’s no obligation to add on an Add-On.
- Payment Info
- Once you’ve selected your Rewards and optional Add-Ons, click ‘Continue to Payment’
- Select your preferred payment method
If the campaign is successful, you will receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your shipping address. Once that’s all set, you will be charged and your order and add-ons will be shipped to you!
*Remember:
You will not be charged for orders or add-ons UNLESS the project you’re supporting meets its funding goal by its campaign deadline.
So, when April 22nd arrives, share our campaign page link and spread the word to friends and family – anyone who might be interested in getting this project into your, and other readers’ hands. Let’s meet our goals together!
Credits: Above illustrations by Bob Thibeault. Article header includes a photo by Pexels from Pixabay.
About the Authors
Rowena Zahnrei is a neurodiverse author with a passion for fiction and folklore. Her work has appeared in comics anthologies, children’s magazines, and peer-reviewed academic journals. Her crowdfunded graphic novel trilogy, Adventures of Nicki and Ricky: Baffling Birds, has appeared at comic-cons and expos nationwide. Find her online at RowenaZahnrei.com
Bob Thibeault is an author/illustrator, and member of the New England Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, The Writer’s Loft.org, Kids Comics Unite, and Sequential Artist’s Workshop, you can find him online at TeaBowStudios.com