Right now my project queue is overfull so I'm not taking on any new projects until I can hash out how many of the current projects will actually get done.

That being said, I'm always thinking about projects I'd like to do "one of these days," and now that I have some scriptwriting experience, it will be that much more viable.

What I want to do is team up with an artist and write a script for a comic that would be drawn, with the royalties split 70/30 (the bigger share going to the artist).

My idea's too good to give away completely, but it is medieval related and will draw heavily on my research, so I'd be both the writer and historical consultant.

Obviously, Kobi Lacroix would be my number one pick, but he's been keeping a pretty steady commission queue lately and he's not overly comfortable with backgrounds. I'd love to get someone like Redcoatcat who already has an eye for historical stuff if possible but I haven't approached her yet because the project's not anywhere the stage where I'd approach anyone.

Now here's the thing: when the time does come to approach someone, what's the usual etiquette for this sort of project? Would I need to have some cash in hand, and if so, what could I typically expect to invest in this? Am I well enough known as a writer that I can say, "Hey, I wrote some novels for Furplanet, would you like to do a comic with me?" and I'd actually get someone to do it provided I had a script in hand?

Any advice?