My cartoon strip almost made syndication

[steveorino 7]

5 years ago I drew a strip about turning 50 (PUSHING 50) I thought it would definitely meet the Baby Boomer market. They are the last generation to regularly read newspapers anyways. I received this "rejection" letter from the late editor, who has since died in an accident.

I often have regretted I did not redraw the strip with "gag a day" one liners, which King features like.

Attached is the letter with the personal note (a first for me after dozens of form rejections through the years about strips I wanted to do) and a sample strip (that did stand alone.

steveOrino

[The_Don 0]

Bummer.

I had my caricature you made for me put on a mug.
I take it to the DZ & on Sunday morning drinking coffee, people think my "mug on my mug" is cool!

Thanks again.

I am NOT being loud.
I'm being enthusiastic!

[steveorino 7]

My pleasure. I'm not sure I want to pay the price of syndication , but I guess I was wondering what might have been.

steveOrino

[LouDiamond 1]

Steve, I think you were given the key to success in that letter. It's never too late to make the changes and start re-submitting the strip. I say give it a go, do a few gag a day ones and your usual style and mix it up. You have the opportunity to un-do that regret and actually do it. Not many people have that option when it comes to things they regret. I say give it a shot.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[BIGUN 1,438]

Steve,

I like both the concept and the strip and think you're right on target with your market demographics. Have you considered starting a website for the comic strip? Kind of a culture following thing that gets so many hits, that its popularity forces the syndicates to come to you? The hyperlink email blast in our little SFA Chapter alone would replicate throughout the rest of the chapters. Food for thought.

Keith

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[steveorino 7]

I'm considering it. Here is a page (1 of 6) that I sent to the syndicates back in 2003/2004. You can see the "serial" idea I used. The gag-a-day concept wouldn't be too hard. You never know. What really kills me is that I always thought my NEIGHBORS strip (found on my Myspace/photos section) was a lot better.

steveOrino

[BikerBabe 0]

Quote

Steve, I think you were given the key to success in that letter. It's never too late to make the changes and start re-submitting the strip. I say give it a go, do a few gag a day ones and your usual style and mix it up. You have the opportunity to un-do that regret and actually do it. Not many people have that option when it comes to things they regret. I say give it a shot.

I totally agree with Lou here. Not to mention, i can think of SEVERAL daily comics that managed to successfully integrate the "gag a day" type of thing into a larger, overarching storyline. Look how successful For Better or Worse was, for example.

go for it!

Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

[BillyVance 34]

I agree, Steve, go for it again. Just because you got rejected doesn't mean it's over with. Keep trying. You have a great talent.

Hell, there's enough ideas here in The Bonfire that you could use for jokes and gags in your strips.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[SuFantasma 0]

Maybe the editor was a spelling freak and didn't like how you spelled ourselves?

Y yo, pa' vivir con miedo, prefiero morir sonriendo, con el recuerdo vivo".
- Ruben Blades, "Adan Garcia"

[popsjumper 2]

You be da' MAN!

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239