Over 60 would be comic creators attended a Breaking into Comics event held in Leicester Central Library on Saturday 26 January 2008, part of a series of Blam! Comics events organised by the library that also included an appearance by Bryan Talbot.

John Freeman using his mind-bending powers on the audience in an attempt to offload a very old fanzine. Matt Smith has clearly succumbed to his tricks but avoids commissioning a 26 episode series starring Walter the Wobot by falling asleep. (A iie, sorry). Photo courtesy Selina Lock

Chaired by independent comic publisher Jay Eales (Violent, The Girly Comic), the pro comics guest were 2000AD editor Matt Smith and myself, John Freeman, in my capacity as Managing Editor of the comics to mobile project ROK Comics, and as a former Senior Editor at Marvel UK.

Speaking as one of the guests, it was an enjoyable event, with plenty of challenging questions from the audience and the chance to offer hopefully useful advice about pitching to professional publishers.

Matt, who has been editing 2000AD for over six years, revealed one of his favourite parts of the job was seeing how an artists interpreted a script, and was enthusiastic about the future of the title, despite the lack of other similar comics on UK comic scene (readership on the title ranges from teenager to several decades older, many readers having been fans since the comics debut in the 1970s).

Matt revealed the PDF version of 2000AD, published online one week after the print edition, was proving a popular item, especially with overseas readers who have limited access to 2000AD in print. He also outlined the success of the 2000AD collections, which not only sell well in the UK but also abroad - some strips also doing well in translation, such as Pat Mills' Slaine.

He urged would be creators to visit the 2000AD official web site (www.2000adonline.com) and download creator guidelines before pitching to the comic, and warned that he planned the title some six months (and more) in advance and openings were limited. Writers had to prove they could write as well as the likes of Alan Grant or John Wagner, and bring something original, fast-paced and entertaining to any pitch for a "Future Shock" or "Terror Tale".

Asked about portfolios, I again urged creators to be ruthless in their choice of material, and ensuring that any work be tailored to the publisher a creator was trying to get work with.

While there were the usual concerns that there were few openings for British creators in UK comics I pointed out that while 2000AD may stand almost alone as one of the last adventure comics there were plenty of comics on the shelves in British newsagents and writers shouldn't dismiss pitching to infant and junior titles. Many top of the line British creators - Grant Morrison, Nick Abadzis, to name but two - cut their teeth on young titles such as Zoids and Care Bears.

Jay spoke enthusiastically about independent publishing and the opportunities being in control of your own title offered, as either print or web offering. He revealed both titles he now published, Violent and The Girly Comic, were now moving online with the aim of generating a wider audience, and said he and partner Selina Lock would be happy to consider submissions for the titles from all comers.

While ROK Comics enables anyone to create a comic strip for mobile, I emphasised the editorial interest we took in all submissions, and that we would encourage and promote creators who delivered an ongoing strip with our partners in China, Pakistan, South Africa and other countries.

Matt finished off the event with a quick outline of things to come in 2000AD and the Megazine, including the teaser that Judge Dredd would soon find himself up against the son of a famous foe - but would not say who...

• Special thanks to Damian Walter for the invite and the staff of Leicester Central Library for organising the event.