We’re all geeks here. And really, what would we have to geek about if creative types didn’t pour their souls into their work? These guys and gals take enormous and, sometimes, unappreciated risks to put their products into our Cheeto-salted mitts. One of the largest hurdles that indie creators face is finding the funds or the commercial interest to publish their works. Crowdfunding, one of the most inspiring uses of social media, seeks to mitigate independent publishing risks and costs. Sites such as Kickstarter and IndieGoGo give fans an opportunity to have a stake in up-and-coming projects.

On crowdfunding sites you can find countless comics, movies, documentaries, and games with their creators just asking for a shot at getting idea off the ground. Typically, for a few bucks more than you might have paid otherwise, you get a copy of the product and the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping somebody get their foot in the door. The project owners set a pledge goal with various levels of giving. The more money you pledge, the more loot you get in return for a successful campaign. I’ve seen pledge rewards such as signed copies, a spot in the acknowledgements, custom sketches, production comic pages, and even including you as a character in the story.