Guest Speakers: Maurice Broaddus, Clint Hall, Chris. A. Jackson, Dan Jolley, Gini Koch
WRITE Track Director: Venessa Giunta
Assistant Track Director: Robby Hilliard
First off, what is a media tie-in? A tie-in is a work of fiction based on an already existing media property such as movies, tv shows, video/board games, other literary properties, etc.
So how would an author come across opportunities like this? A dedicated agent worth their salt is an excellent marketing ally for novels, short stories, anthologies, and more. If you are given the option to work in a series, and you must choose between books 1, 2, 3 – you always want to choose the first book in the series. There is no guarantee that later books will be published.
Don’t have an agent yet? That’s ok! You can make your own luck by attending conventions, discover new friends, and network. You never know when a lightning opportunity may strike in your favor. Furthermore, look at existing or upcoming projects, find what’s missing in them (specifically a category within your expertise), and offer your services as a pitch to the managers/owners of the project. Practice short fiction as a tool for interviews in order to secure deals. This will help in showcasing your work and style as a writer.
Be flexible. Consider variant routes, such as comic books or writing for other mediums, such as tabletop games. Gen Con (a gaming convention) is a great place to meet other game writers and editors.
Understand that the convention/writing community is tight-knit. So, don’t be a dick, as word of reputation gets around quick. Of course, you shouldn’t allow yourself to become a punching bag, and if you need to stand up for your rights, you should. However, you want to be respectful, friendly, and pleasant to work with.
All media properties do things differently, so you don’t want to expect the same process across the board. This isn’t a bad thing, but once again, flexibility and adaptability are key. Each one is a learning experience that will add to your career and resume!
When it comes to writing fan fiction, you’ll want to be mindful. Examine it from a long-term angle. Research if the parent companies permit fan fiction or not, as this could make or break your chances of potentially working with them in the future.
When it comes to these opportunities, don’t agree to them without serious consideration. You must discern the level of professionalism from the project managers/owners. For example, ask if they’ll give you a copy of their materials to read through for the project. If not, then it could very well be a scam where they just want you to buy their materials to work on their project, which they may or may not be serious in publishing.
Another reason to say “no” is when the pay is not good or up to standard. You need to respect your own work and time, and others need to as well. Vice versa, if your schedule is already booked, be honest and respectful of their time. You don’t want to burn yourself out and produce sub-par quality or miss deadlines – that’s not good for you or anyone else.
Understand where you’re coming from, where you are, and where you want to be. Don’t take jobs that are below your professional level. You can communicate this respectfully by becoming familiar with the process, or by consulting agents/other authors who are well-acquainted with the process.
Once you take on a project, it will take time away from other projects that come later (or even soon after.) When you get to the point of doing these projects regularly, you’ll be amazed at how many opportunities flock to you. The keyword here is FAST – you must be good at the craft. Again, focus on building a track record with short stories and other projects.
Don’t sign yourself up as “work for hire” on something that is not a licensed property.
Media tie-ins are very strict business-wise, and a very tight community. All it takes is one mistake, and you are blacklisted. It cannot be overstated that deadlines are crucial! Be fast, be professional, and don’t be late on submitting your work. Inspiration can help you accomplish this. If it’s your first project with a media tie-in, find something that you’re genuinely passionate about.
You can train yourself to be creative on demand. It’s a Pavlovian mind trick, sort of like a ritual where you create a set of circumstances which encourage you to write. Sit there. Write. Your brain will catch on. It will eventually become like a form of therapy, and cures writer’s block.
Learn short pitches, synopsis pitches, how to outline, and how to follow an outline. This is a very competitive field. Sometimes they will give you an outline – sometimes you will need to give an outline to them. Another important question is to ask how much creative leeway you have to veer from the materials they give you. You don’t want to make any assumptions on this.
Have you participated in a media tie-in before, and if so, which one? What would be your favorite licensed property to work on? Do some research and hone your skills – before you know it, it could become a reality for you! We’d love to hear from you in the comments section below!
If you’d like to see more panels like this and receive the FULL experience in person, check out Multiverse Con! Get your tickets here: https://www.multiversecon.org/ Hope to see you there! 🙂
By clicking “Subscribe,” you’ll receive blog updates in the future. We treat your information with confidentiality and respect. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Featured Image: https://www.warhammer-community.com/2022/01/26/what-is-mhurghast-as-the-darkness-creeps-closer-we-delve-into-this-new-warhammer-horror-series/