How can I send my comic strip to a syndicate?

My comic is "Tara and John". It's about a female first grader who caught a python in a snake trap. I want to send my comic strip to United Feature Syndicate. How can I do that?How can I send my comic strip to a syndicate?
Nate, I can tell you from personal experience that the syndications seldom give any serious consideration to unsolicited material. Cartooning (or stripping as it is sometimes called) is a "dog-eat-dog" world. The syndicates get untold volumes of unsolicited material and they can pick and choose from what is sent to them.



With that said you might do this; start in a small market and try to get your work published in a local newspaper. (Even then it's going to be tough trying to get an editor's attention). It's best to make sure your work will appeal to a broad audience. The more readers you attract, the better the chances of success. If you do get syndicated expect some of your work to be returned for editing. Too, unless you are one of the artists at the top of the heap the syndication will hold control of the content of your strips and many times tell you what content they want in your strips. If your strips contain any wording and they don't like your lettering they might demand you hire someone skilled in that type of work. The syndication will expect you to stay several weeks ahead of the publication date of any particular strip (remember what I said about being returned for editing?).



If accepted for publication make sure your work meets the standards for printing and never (NEVER) miss a deadline. Missing a deadline more than once can be a real "deal-killer". If the editors tell you they want something changed, don't argue with them, just do it. Beginning strippers don't have much room to bargain. If you wind up refusing to cooperate, they can (quite readily) throw you under the bus. Expect to have strips returned for editing.



Only the creators of the top-rated, nationally known strips have much "wiggle room". Even then, it can turn into quite a battle: Sam Watterson, creator of the Calvin and Hobbs strip quit the business over the fights with newspaper editors and management in the syndication. (Notice there were no Calvin or Hobbs stuffed animals or other toys? Mr. Watterson didn't want his creation turned into a commercial circus.) Berke Breathed of Bloom County fame quit for about the same reasons. (I know, he's back with a weekly Sunday strip...according to what I've heard, he went bankrupt and had to return to cartooning to earn a living.)



In the beginning expect to be working seven days a week. It's not just whipping out something you like; publishers have certain standards that can often times be unmet by the artist. There may be a lot of your material returned for editing.



I would strongly suggest you become a frequent visitor to the larger bookstores and pick up books about cartooning. There are secrets that can enhance the readability of a strip such as placement of a character in any given panel of a particular strip right down to the arrangement of a characters arms, legs and head in order to lead the reader's eyes from one panel to the next. Positions, poses and size can ad zing to a strip and make it much more attractive to the reader.



I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but instead trying to tell you to buy the books, diligence,. hard work and perserverance will pay off. Just don't expect to be an overnight success.



Good luck and I hope you are successful in your efforts.