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I used to give this lecture when I taught animation. Don’t look for industry professionals that’re 10 years in. Look to your peers. They’re the one’s who’ll help you find a job.

1000000000% and the best part is when you all move up and/or around, you have people in positions of power that solidly have your back.

That's one of the reasons I joined Blue Sky, honestly. I write comics, but I want to meet more people in the community and meet others as passionate as I am. There are so many epic creators out there and I want to meet as many as possible and show them what I can do and see what they do.

I’ve also found that if you do become friends with a “famous” creator that it’s a welcome thing when you protect their time & don’t ask them for anything. It makes you a safe person. I pride myself on trying to be a sort of positive/neutral energy oasis for everyone of any status I meet in comics.

Never said it was easy! But social media has made it easier, for sure.

Then try: Paul Levitz, Paul Kupperberg, Carl Gafford, Michael Uslan, Allan Asherman, Bob Rozakis, Jack C. Harris, and Tony Tollin. OR: @kevinmaguire.bsky.social, @fabiannicieza.bsky.social, Mark McKenna, and James Fry. OR…

But we are the prettiest.

I don't think I've heard a single story of a successful comics creator not coming up with a cadre of kids who were trying to build their own pillar and finding an audience who wanted it. I think the old guard generally being very accepting of change is also a huge part of it.

I find people often think film “networking” is literally going to events that producers are at and cornering them and pitching. It’s more about making friends with people with mutual interests and working together on things.

Most important lesson I learned in both comics and middle school...stop worrying about who you think *should* like you, and just...hang out with the people who actually like you. Everything else sorts itself out eventually. Relationships aren't transactions.