How to back a graphic novel dream in Amsterdam safely

Backing a graphic novel dream means giving to a real person with a real goal. You see the plan before you give, money is held per milestone and you decide when each part is released.

A graphic novel carries months of drawing before a reader sees a finished volume. Make the workload visible through script samples, completed page batches and a print-ready book with consistent lettering.

How Backers are protected

14-day review per milestone

When proof is posted, each Backer has 14 days to release their share or ask for more. Money not released in time goes back to the Backer.

15% fee, deducted — never added

Backers pay exactly what they choose. The 15% fee comes out of each backing: €100 gives the Dreamer €85. The fee is kept if money is returned.

Gifts, not shares

Backings are gifts. No shares, equity, interest or repayment, and Dreamers keep full ownership. Nothing on cohero is an investment or a loan.

  1. 01

    Before you back

    Read the story and the milestones. Check that the amounts add up and that each step has something concrete to prove. If anything is unclear, ask in chat first.

  2. 02

    While the dream runs

    Your backing is split across the milestones. When proof is posted you are notified and can release your share or ask for more. You can back anonymously.

  3. 03

    If something goes wrong

    If you do not release a milestone in time, the money still held for it and later steps comes back to you, minus the fee. You can report a dream or block a user at any time.

Example milestone plan

An example plan for a graphic novel dream with a goal of €6,200. Backers fund the whole goal, but each milestone's money stays held until you post the proof and Backers release it.

  1. Milestone 1

    €1,240 · 20%

    Resolve script and designs

    Post a chapter outline, character sheets and sample page thumbnails showing the planned story length and visual style.

  2. Milestone 2

    €2,170 · 35%

    Complete sequential artwork

    Share finished page batches, a page-count tracker and close-up panels demonstrating completed inks and colours.

  3. Milestone 3

    €1,860 · 30%

    Letter and produce pages

    Post lettered spreads, a checked print file sample and production proofs showing readable text and finished layouts.

  4. Milestone 4

    €930 · 15%

    Deliver the finished volume

    Share photographs of bound copies, a final page checklist and redacted fulfilment records for completed distribution.

Risks to plan for

  • R1

    Page scope grows

    Extra scenes can add weeks of illustration. Lock a target page count at the script milestone and set aside a limited revision allowance rather than expanding the story during finished artwork.

  • R2

    Artwork loses consistency

    Long drawing schedules can produce shifts in characters or colour. Approve model sheets early and include batch reviews in the artwork milestone before committing every page to final rendering.

  • R3

    Text needs more space

    Dialogue that fits a script may crowd a drawn panel. Test lettering on sample pages before full production and budget an editing pass so balloon placement does not force extensive redraws.

Questions and answers

Can I see how my money was used?

Yes. Each milestone shows the Dreamer's proof, how much is held and how much is released. You only release money for milestones you have reviewed yourself.

Do I need the full script before publishing my dream?

A complete script makes the page count and illustration workload easier to justify. If it is still developing, define a bounded script milestone and show sample sequential pages so Backers can assess the intended reading experience.

Can the goal cover paying a separate artist and letterer?

Yes. Describe the page count, artwork stages and lettering scope in the budget. Match proof to completed page batches, and explain who handles revisions so Backers can follow the work without relying on private contracts.

Budget example

A typical cost split for a graphic novel dream in Amsterdam, shown in EUR. Backers are charged the equivalent in US dollars.

Example goal

€6,200

  • Illustration and colour€2,790 · 45%
  • Lettering and editing€930 · 15%
  • Printing and binding€1,860 · 30%
  • Packaging and fulfilment€620 · 10%

What you receive

Backers give
€6,200
Platform fee (15%)
−€930
You receive
€5,270

Ready when you are

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