Convention season is quickly approaching, and if you have anything to do with comics, you’ll probably be attending at least one. If you’re trying to make it in this business, you’ll probably be attending with the hopes of meeting the right people and making a good impression on them. But let’s be frank: Some of us that are into comics aren’t exactly what you’d call socialites. We started reading comics for a reason, after all.

But unfair stereotypes aside, let’s assume that you can dress yourself and have a basic understanding of hygiene. Great! You’re ready to go to the Convention. Now read on to learn how to make it worth that hefty entrance fee AND your time.

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Word balloons are the secret language of comics. They bridge the gap between the “he said, she said” of books with a graphic language unique to the medium. Unless you have resigned yourself to composing silent comics (a feat in and of itself), you will need to have a firm grasp on adding text to your panels to be a successful comic book creator. Here are a few hints, tricks and mistakes that I’ve seen during my years as a comic creator, and as editor of Young American Comics.

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Anyone can scribble on a piece of paper, take it to Kinko’s and copy, fold and staple their way into comic-dom, right? So why haven’t you?

Here are some ways to get yourself over the hump from concept to comic and get started with your very first Mini-Comic. Sure, it may not be the 50,000 print run, full-sized, full-color, glossy stock ongoing series from Marvel that you truly deserve… but everyone has to start somewhere.

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