In today's episode of Iron Age Marketing, I talk to Arvid Nelson, writer of the forthcoming comic series Band Of Crows. Let's Meet Iron Age Creator Arvid Nelson Arvid Nelson has written for numerous outlets, including DC, Marvel, and Dark Horse, but he’s best known his original series, Rex Mundi. His latest venture, The Band of the Crow, is a fantasy story inspired by his love of Edwardian fairy tales, Japanese cartoons from the 1980s, and heavy metal music. In his spare time he likes to write about himself in the third person. From Rejection to Success: Arvid's 20-Year Journey in Comics & Fantasy Writing In today's episode of Iron Age Marketing, host Nicky P chats with guest Arvid Nelson about his journey from music to comics and ultimately to fantasy writing. Arvid shares his experiences, getting kicked out of a band in college, forming a comic book club, and diving into the world of publishing. He reflects on the highs and lows of creating the comic Rex Mundy, including a crushing rejection from Image Comics that led to a breakdown in an airport, followed by eventual success. Arvid talks about his passion for history, mythology, and world-building, which has shaped his current project, The Band of the Crow. This fantasy novel, rooted in Indo-European linguistics and pre-Christian traditions, has been 20 years in the making, and Arvid’s dedication to the story remains as strong as ever. Adapting to Creative Shifts: Writing, Marketing & Audience Tips Nicky P & Arvid reflect on the dramatic changes in the creative landscape over the past two decades, noting how career paths that seemed viable in 2005 are now quite different. Arvid discusses his journey in writing, emphasizing the significant difference between comic book writing and novel writing finding that having a novel ready to be published meant it needed to be fully edited beforehand, a process he found both challenging and enlightening. The conversation shifts to the marketing challenges faced by creators. Nicky & Arvid note the increasing burden on writers to manage their own marketing and the frustrations of balancing creative work with promotional efforts. Arvid reflects on his experiences with crowdfunding and the complexities of handling various marketing tasks, such as designing packaging and creating promotional materials. For Arvid, effective marketing means standing out in a crowded field and interrupting the constant barrage of information that people are bombarded with daily. "Dunking people's heads into toilets" is how he characterizes it, pointing out the difficulty of competing not just with other creators but with the overwhelming amount of content people are exposed to. How to Market Your Creative Project: Insights from Arvid & Nicky P Nicky P and Arvid continue by diving into the intricacies of marketing for creative projects and the intersection of art and commerce. Nicky P emphasizes the importance of having a solid system in place highlighting the need for an effective lead magnet to attract and retain the right audience, noting that it's more beneficial to focus on engaged followers rather than a large, uninterested crowd. Arvid shares insights from his experience with webcomics, specifically discussing the success of "Brother Matthew" as a lead magnet that built a loyal audience for "Rex Mundy." He reflects on the value of consistent content creation, even when it involves working for free, as it helps keep creators relevant and engaged with their audience. Arvid even recounts a pivotal moment when he discovered his comic had sold out in a New York City store, attributing this success to the free content strategy. The conversation naturally touches on the importance of building a network and audience well before a project is complete. Both Nicky P & Arvid appear to agree that waiting until a project is finished to start marketing is a big issue, as maintaining visibility and regular communication with your audience is crucial. Arvid discusses how brand recognition and high-profile endorsements, such as interest from Johnny Depp's production company, can significantly boost a project's success. Hopefully, today's episode with Arvid Nelson serves as both inspiration and education in your own journey to bring your creation to the world. Arvid Nelson Resources & Extra Media Xitter: @arvidthetwit My artist's twitter: @chlorenology Our YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7cQ7CApO8FPMRTFJQCZpIA Shill Need help connecting with or growing your audience for your book, comic, TTRPG, or other creative endeavor? Check out Nicky P @ ironagemarketing.com
