Issue 170: Revenge of Scriptpocalypse
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I‘m writing this issue from my hotel in West Plains, Missouri, where I’ve been attending Oz Con. Oz Con is primarily a gaming convention, but they bring out authors, actors, wrestlers, and—yes—even comic book writers.
This has been an interesting show in a lot of ways. An eye-opener.
This convention wasn’t a money maker for me. Really, though, no convention is. Even at the conventions where I am non-stop busy, selling books left and right, I lose money. The truth of the matter is, I could make a lot more if I just stayed home at worked. So, the idea that I can make cash at a convention is thrown right out the window from the very beginning. Going to conventions, for me, is more about connecting with readers, introducing folks to my work, and interacting with others. And while I wasn’t super busy this weekend, I was able to make the most of the event.
But here’s where Oz Con really went above and beyond. They really made me feel welcomed. They went out of their way to make sure I was having a good time. When I arrived, this was waiting for me:
I sent that picture to Cindy after I arrived at the show, and she wrote back, “That may be a small convention, but they’re already treating you a lot better than most of the big shows you attend.”
And she was right.
The convention organizers bent over backwards to make sure I was doing all right. They brought water. They ordered food in especially for me. When they ran out of diet soda in the green room, they sent someone to the store to buy me a few bottles.
Other conventions should take note.
I’ve been promising to write up some thoughts on conventions in general and how I should be approaching them. I still plan on doing just that. Not today. Not in the next couple of weeks. But one day soon.
Anyhow, thanks to the folks at Oz Con for making the convention great!
As I mentioned last issue, West Plains is where I went to my first couple of years of college long, long ago. In a lot of ways, the town is the same as I remember. In many, many others, it has changed drastically.
I guess a few decades will do that.
Elsewhere in the world of “I’m gonna write about this soon”…
In recent issues of this newsletter and over on my Patreon I’ve mentioned the financials of my writing career and the concerns that are threatening to swallow me whole. Those brief posts have gotten a big response from readers. I’ve gotten numerous emails, private messages, and text messages from folks who appreciate hearing about these things.
Great.
My sorrow is your entertainment.
I kid, I kid!
The thing I hear over and over is that they rarely hear about that side of things, and it is helpful to better understand the realities of freelance finances.
That said, I’ll be digging into that soon, too. I’ve started working on it. It’s an honest summary of where I’ve been, where I am, and where I’m going. The successes I’ve had and the numerous mistakes I’ve made will be on full display.
Anyhow, stay tuned for that.
Not today, not the next couple of weeks, but one day.
Why am I not writing these things in the next two weeks?
Well, that’s simple.
Across the top of my calendar for the next 14 days, I have written the word SCRIPTPOCALYPSE.
That means:
I’m focusing solely on writing scripts.
I’m working extra hours. Maybe 8 - 8, maybe a little longer.
I’m not taking meetings or phone calls or interviews.
During writing time, I’m not checking email or social media.
I’m not doing any outside of work activities (with one big exception).
I’m blowing off the majority of my chores. Not all, but quite a few.
I won’t be drinking or eating heavy.
I will still try to exercise a bit and eat right, so I don’t turn into a potato.
I will still be posting to Patreon.
I will still publish this newsletter.
I will be wearing track suits.
*Rules of Scriptpocalypse ratified April 30, 2023
Pray for me.
I’ll see you on the other side!
Last week, Cindy and I drove to Columbia Missouri to attend a music festival where Roman was competing in solo violin, quartet, and duet. He took home a Gold Medal in each of his categories. I couldn’t be more proud. On Tuesday of this week, he puts on his tux and plays a solo piece with backup from the Springfield Youth Symphony. That’s the big exception to the “I’m not doing any outside of work activities” clause. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.
And now… a kitten update.
The kittens are doing well. They are swarming my office and learning to climb (chairs, shelves, desks, and people). I think in the next couple of weeks, we’ll be ready to find them loving homes. If you live near me, it’s time to take a kitten!
As you know, I maintain a Patreon page where I post writing advice, essays, work updates, serialized novels, short stories and comics. Support levels range from access to content to big ol’ boxes of comics to regular Zoom meetings. Patrons often get PDFs of comics that have yet to be published (two in the last couple of weeks). I use the funds generated from Patreon to fund new creator-owned comics (and sometimes to keep the lights on).
Recent posts include:
From the Ground Up: Brainstorming, Characters, Initial Scenes The ongoing process of developing a new comic from initial idea to final product
Work Update, April 18 - April 23 An account of my day-to-day activities
From the Ground Up - Spoilers Ahead (I’m creating a new comic, and I’ll be detailing every step of the creative process)
“Remember to try at least a little of everything on your plates,” teacher says, “because you’re all members of the two-bites club.”
My lunch wriggled and screeched terribly after my first big, bloody, bite, but I didn’t want to disappoint teacher.
LAMENTATION # 1
From the mind's eye of master storyteller Cullen Bunn (The Sixth Gun, Basilisk) and rising star Arjuna Susini (Made Men) comes a darkly glamorous tale of bone-splintering terror at the intersection of shadow and light... dream and nightmare ... life and the grim specter of Death himself.
After weeks of grueling rehearsals, a new production is set to begin at the famed Requiem theatre: Razide's Lament, three acts of gothic horror set inside a haunted castle with a story that some say is more than mere fantasy. Under the stern rule of a dedicated but temperamental director, the script seems to be ever-changing, and, more mysterious still, our lead actress has found herself cast in the role of a lifetime without so much as an audition. Her grand debut is fast approaching-and, with it, a barrage of razors in the night that will terrorize audiences and actors alike. There is no exit, no escape, and when the curtain finally rises, Razide himself will take center stage to cross the threshold into the unholy darkness that lies just beyond ...
I grabbed a couple of classic Dungeons and Dragons books that I’m really excited about. Kara-Tur Volumes 1 and 2, Citystate of the World Emperor, Nightmare Keep, and Danger at Dunwater. I also scored a big ol’ pile of Dragon Magazines from the Paizo era.
At Wages Brewery in West Plains, I tried some Nashville Hot Deviled Eggs… and I don’t know if I’d say I was obsessed, but I’m not not obsessed. I suggested to the owner that they offer flights of different flavored deviled eggs. If they start offering that up, I expect them to name the dish after me.
Here is a quick and dirty list of upcoming projects. In most cases, I’m only listing projects that are definitely on the schedule with a published. Oftentimes, I will not be able to share much information, but I can at least tease the future! Everything here is, of course, subject to change.
MAY 2023
LAMENTATION #1
GHOSTLORE #1
NIGHT WALKERS #5
DOOR TO DOOR, NIGHT BY NIGHT #6
JUNE 2023
LAMENTATION #2
GHOSTLORE #2
SWORDS IN THE SHADOWS
RAZE
REANIMATOR: THE ETERNAL LIE, Part 2
JULY 2023
LAMENTATION #3
GHOSTLORE #3
DOOR TO DOOR, NIGHT BY NIGHT #7
DOOR TO DOOR, NIGHT BY NIGHT TPB
AUGUST 2023
DEATH OF THE VENOMVERSE 1 - 5 (weekly)
GHOSTLORE #4
DOOR TO DOOR, NIGHT BY NIGHT #8
DISPLACEMENT - a horror novella, previously listed as PROJECT: PHOBIA
SEPTEMBER 2023
OCTOBER 2023
REGRESSION: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION
NOVEMBER 2023
LAMENTATION TPB
PROJECT: MATINEE #1
DECEMBER 2023
PROJECT: MATINEE #2
THE UNKNOWN FUTURE…
PROJECT: HEX, a supernatural/horror thriller.
PROJECT: HORROR, a licensed horror comic.
I’LL KILL YOU LAST - An 80s action/horror fiction anthology I’m editing.
PROJECT: GALLERY - An RPG project I’ve been quietly developing.
PROJECT: PREHISTORY - More kaiju craziness
PROJECT: MEGA-BATTLE - Even More kaiju craziness
PROJECT: SURGEON - a very dark horror tale
PROJECT: BOT - A sequel to a story of robotic mischief
PROJECT: WATER HEATER - An apocalyptic horror/fantasy maxi-series
PROJECT: RUSH - A horror prose anthology I’m editing
COPYCAT - A new limited series from Todd Garner, Heath Amodio, and myself.
BLOODBLADE - An action/horror story of destiny and demonic blood
BEYOND MORTAL - Finishing up the horror/superhero epic
PROJECT: DUNGEON - A new licensed horror comic series
PROJECT: CONVOY - A horror/thriller I’m co-writing
PROJECT: CARD - A magical one-shot
PROJECT: ARCANA - a dark fantasy series
PROJECT: MONSTER - a new horror/action/comedy series
PROJECT: HOAX - a horror limited series
578 pages of comic book scripts (1710 in 2022)
0 feature length screenplay (0 in 2022)
0 half-hour comedy pilot (1 in 2022)
0 short film script (1 in 2022)
0 short stories (9 in 2022)
0 novellas (0 in 2022)
9 two-sentence horror stories (10 in 2022)
0 new comic book series proposals (29 in 2022)
0 podcast proposals (0 in 2022)
0 essay (0 in 2022)
1 foreword for upcoming graphic novels (0 in 2022)
0 television series proposal (0 in 2022)
Keep in mind, these days, "finalized" doesn't mean as much as it once did. All events are subject to change. I hope to be adding more conventions in the near future! Stay tuned!
MAY 26 - 28 - Texas Frightmare Weekend, Irving TX (I’m not a guest at this one. This is the first convention in… decades… I’m attending purely for fun.)
JUNE 16 - 18, 2023 - Heroes Convention, Charlotte NC
JUNE 24, 2023 - Route 66 Toy and Comic Convention, Lebanon MO
JULY 7 - 9, 2023 - Tremendicon, Springfield MO
AUGUST 5 - 6, 2023 - Fountain City Con, New Century KS
SEPTEMBER 16 - 17, 2023 - Extremicon, St. Roberts MO
SEPTEMBER 30 - OCTOBER 1 - Cowtown Comic Convention, Fort Worth TX
THE SHOCK SHOP - My online store, where you can find exclusive covers you can only get directly from me!
TWITTER - This is the best place to interact with me online. My handle is @cullenbunn
TIKTOK - A fun spot for quick videos about writing, comics, and collecting
PATREON - Here, I post a serialized novel, a serialized comic book, short stories, and other cool materials.
THE CULLEN BUNN DISCORD SERVER - A place for fans to hang out and talk about comics, books, movies, games, collecting, and whatever else strikes their fancy.
THE BUNNGALOW - Cindy and I talk about life, hot button topics, pop culture, being married to a comic book writer and EVERYTHING in between.