SpiderForest Application Season FAQs
We’re very excited to start accepting webcomic applications this week! Here are a few of our frequently asked questions!
How is SpiderForest different than a comic publisher?
SpiderForest is a not-for-profit collective of like-minded webcomic creators. Our goal is to provide a nurturing environment to help you become the comic creator you want to be. With the advice and support of our community, our members spearhead their own:
- Cross-promotions
- Convention events
- Art exchanges
- Crowdfunding
- Merchandise
- Anthologies
While we do a lot of things under the SpiderForest banner, we are foremost a community, and we are definitely NOT a business.
My comic is new! How many updates do I have to have before I apply to SpiderForest?
SpiderForest requires that applicants have at least 15 comic updates complete and available to read online. For longform comics, we STRONGLY prefer one full, non-prologue chapter. That said, it is still often difficult to get a sense of the direction of the comic early on, so the more you have, the better we’ll be able to gauge.
We love helping new creators and giving feedback and advice in our forum and Discord communities, which are open to everyone.
Why does SpiderForest have a “one update a week” minimum requirement?
We believe frequency is necessary to maintain/grow an audience for webcomics. While life happens and that’s okay, we want to make sure your goals are similar to ours. We do make case-by-case exceptions for:
- Update schedules with multiple pages per update.
- Larger than usual “graphic novel” pages, or pages that include great artistic detail
- Comics on a planned hiatus and are scheduled to return to regular updates in the near future (within one month, independent from acceptance at SpiderForest)
I’m making a comic that may be offensive to certain groups of people. Is it okay if I apply?
We strive to make SpiderForest a safe place for comic creators of all races, genders, and sexual orientations, and while all our creators come from different backgrounds, we have zero tolerance for comics that endorse sexist, homophobic, or racist views.
We DO have comics with us that are rated Adult or Mature, that feature characters who act or speak in ways that may be offensive (usually seeking to make the audience disgusted, not have them nodding their heads in agreement), but this is different than an endorsement. If your script seeks to convince your readers that racist, sexist, or homophobic views are appropriate, SpiderForest is not the place for you.
What are SpiderForest’s requirements for my website?
You must be able to access all the code of your website to place the rotating SpiderForest banner code in your header. In addition to this, we strongly prefer:
- Standard navigation buttons to move to the next page or installment
- Websites managed by a CMS
- A well-maintained archive page
- Quick load times for all connection speeds
- Elegant, clean website design
Can I still be a SpiderForest member and post my comic pages to Tumblr, Tapastic, Webtoons, etc.?
While we do require you to maintain an independent website (either hosted by us or on your own webspace), you can definitely mirror your content elsewhere!
For public-facing services like Tumblr, Tapastic or Webtoons, your main site must be a minimum of 1 update ahead. For Patreon or other sites where people pay to see content early, there are no special requirements.
What’s the voting procedure like for SpiderForest webcomic applications?
We review all applications in our private, member-only forums. All 70+ members are invited to discuss each comic applicant’s:
- Art: Does it serve the story well?
- Scripting: Is it enjoyable and paced well?
- Website: Is it navigable and well-maintained?
- Creators: Would they be a good fit for our group?
- Production quality: Is the art/lettering legible?
- Subject matter: Does it mesh well with our lineup?
We then open it to a member vote. Comics with a majority vote after one month are accepted, and all applicants are notified of acceptance/rejection via email.
Have more questions? Check out spiderforest.com/apply for more information!
