How To Submit a Feature to Universal Press Syndicate
Universal Press Syndicate is always looking for great new comic strips and columns. Read through these guidelines before you submit your material for our consideration.
Submission Guide for Comics
Q. How many cartoons should you submit?
A. We prefer four to six weeks of samples of a proposed feature so that we can judge the quality and consistency of your work. As long as the material is clear and easy to read, it may be submitted in any form. Do not send originals. Please keep your submission compact.
Q. What Should be included with the comic strips/panels you submt?
A. Please include a letter explaining the purpose and scope of your material. A stamped, self-addressed envelope for the return of the material should be included. Be sure to put your return address on both the letter you send and the submitted material.
Q. What size should you draw your comics?
A. Usually, comic strips and panels are drawn twice the size that appears in your local newspaper. Any size is acceptable as long as it can be reduced proportionately. Strips should be reducible to 13 by 38.4 picas; panels to 24 by 19 picas.
Q. What materials do cartoonists use?
A. Some cartoonists use a quality Bristol board and black India ink. Others use marker pens on chemically treated paper for their cartoons; but a consistent, quality black-line drawing is necessary. Zipatone (or other shading sheets) is sometimes used for shading, although many cartoonists use freehand line shading. (Note that any shading tone used must be no finer than 65-line screen in the reduced size of the cartoon.)
Q. How far ahead of deadline do cartoonists work?
A. Usually, cartoonists work four weeks ahead of the release date for daily releases and eight weeks ahead of release date for Sunday releases.
Q. What compensation is paid for syndicated comic art features?
A. It is impossible to quote a specific rate paid for any feature. Rates depend on the popularity of the feature and the number and circulation of the newspapers that carry that particular feature. Generally, our contracts provide for an equal division of revenue with the creator, after deduction of production costs.
Q. To whom should you send your feature?
A. Send to:
John Glynn, Acquisition Editor
Universal Press Syndicate
4520 Main Street, Suite 700
Kansas City, MO 64111
Submission Guide for Text Features
Q. How long should your column be?
A. Many papers today are tight for space, so we generally look for text features that are between 650 and 700 words.
Q. How many columns should you submit?
A. We prefer to see six to ten samples of your proposed feature so that we can judge the quality and consistency of your work. Please submit only copies, and make sure the material is clear and easy to read. Only one copy of each column need be submitted.
Q. What compensation is paid for syndicated text features?
A. It is impossible to quote a specific rate paid for any feature. Rates depend on the popularity of the feature and the number and circulation of the newspapers that carry that particular feature. Generally, our contracts provide for an equal division of revenue with the creator, after deduction of production costs.
Q. What should be included with the feature you submit?
A. Please include a letter or e-mail explaining the purpose and scope of your material. A stamped, self-addressed envelope for the return of the material should be included. Be sure to put your return address on both the letter you send and the submitted material.
Where to Send Your Feature
FOR HARDCOPY SUBMISSIONS:
John Glynn, Acquisition EditorUniversal Press Syndicate
4520 Main Street, Suite 700
Kansas City, MO 64111.
