3rd Celeb Death

I’ve seen an increase in subscribers these last few weeks. Today’s newsletter is the perfect opportunity to re-introduce myself!

My name is Phil Butehorn. I am a comic writer from New York. Since 2019, I've been involved in 20 + published anthologies. Here are a few books I've had stories in: Modern Mythology Vol 1 and 2, Nightmare Theater Vol 1, Vol 2 and Vol 3, Cthulhu Invades Vol 2 and Vol 3, and Monster Mash-Up Vol 2.

Here’s a free comic short: Dinner with Blobby from Nightmare Theater Vol 1.

I ran my first successful Kickstarter, Slice(s) of Life earlier in the year.  For the first time, I’m opening my comic writing mentorship here on Substack:

What is the goal of the mentorship?

1 . Help you stay accountable for your writing.

2.  Help you create a writing process.

3. Help you get rid of writer's block. 

4. Tips on networking and creating your comic (or writing) family.

5. Help build your confidence in your writing (the most important goal).

Paid Tiers:

Monthly plan - $5.50 a month.

Annual Plan - $55.00 a year.

• All free posts and comic coaching.

Founding Plan Price - $90 a year

• All free posts, comic coaching, and a weekly Google Meets call.

I Have a Concept of a Plan: 3rd Celeb Death

When I struggle to start a new project with a theme or character, I start with world-building.

For this particular project, I started dabbling in a world where a company picks celeb deaths. When you get an envelope from the company, you get a date and death #. This is the company that all celebs sell their souls to when they want to be famous. I'm picturing a subsidiary of The Illuminati.

When the celeb signs the dotted line, they are informed of the celeb rules and that they have 48 hours to get their affairs for when the company drafts them for death. What happens when the celeb isn't ready to give up their life? Not sure if I want the main character to be a celeb running for their life or a recent hire hunting celeb #3.

Here are some questions I need to ask myself:

If celeb #3 misses their time of death, what’s the implication?

Why did the celeb give up their soul for the rich and famous lifestyle?

What kind of person is the celeb? What’s their legacy? Is it someone we have forgotten about or someone new?

In the future, I’d like to share a random concept I want to write and walk through my process of turning a concept into a script/pitch.