In a recent episode of The Wrong Way, I used a double-outline pen in Clip Studio to draw lasagna noodles. Today, I’m going to show you how that tool works — and I’m going to show you a drawing process that takes that idea to the next level.

To run a successful Kickstarter campaign, you must understand the concept behind the Kickstarter Ladder. The Kickstarter Ladder works like this: You start your backer with a reward at a very low price. A digital reward works excellently here: Low cost and no shipping.

This week on ComicLab, veteran comic artists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett kick things off a discussion about something every cartoonist wrestles with: work-life balance. If you’re juggling a day job, relationships, and your creative ambitions, Brad and Dave break down practical strategies that actually work — including:

• Why consistency beats intensity
• How to build a repeatable creative schedule
• The power of small, daily wins
• And why your health and relationships are just as critical as your drawing skills

They also tackle a big-picture career question: What happens when a long-running comic ends? Dave shares his thoughts on winding down Drive, how to retain an audience, and the challenge of transitioning into your next project without losing momentum.

Plus:

• Smart ways to monetize short comics
• Why finished is better than perfect
• And how thinking long-term can transform your creative output

Whether you’re just starting your first comic or planning your next big move, this episode is packed with actionable advice — and a few chaotic detours along the way.

Key takeaway: Three years are going to pass anyway… you might as well have a finished comic at the end of them.

Today’s Show

• UPDATE: Enshittification of Bluesky begins
• Work-Life balance
• UPDATE: NCS Conference and Reuben Awards
• Monetizing short comics
• What will Dave do when Drive is over?

For more information about joining the National Cartoonists Society, go to https://nationalcartoonists.com/how-to-join/
• Get on the mailing list 
• More information on the 27 Club
• 80th annual Reuben Awards and NCS Conference — August 6-8, 2026

Looking over the dashboard for my past Kickstarter campaign, I saw something jaw-dropping.

Although I’m Kickstarting two physical books, my most popular reward tier is a digital-only package. In fact, the five digital-only reward tiers in my campaign have combined to make about 20% of the money I’ve raised so far.

Better yet, I don’t have to pay for shipping.

It seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it? After all, a Kickstarter is all about physical merchandise.

But those digital reward tiers — and digital add-ons — will help you meet your goal quicker and push that Kickstarter further.

In this episode of ComicLab, Brad and Dave tackle a surprisingly practical question: How do you start a web ring for comics creators? With social media platforms becoming less reliable for discovery, the classic web ring is making a comeback as a way for creators to promote each other directly.

Along the way, the guys discuss audience targeting, technical setup, and why the success of a web ring depends more on community alignment than on code. Plus: tattoo debates, Tolkien romance arguments, and the eternal challenge of drawing the right amount of detail in your comics.

 Key  topics

• How to start a web ring
• UPDATE: Dave should read Tolkein as a romance
• How much detail should we include in our drawings?
• Amazon plagiarism

Paid setup

Matt Sowers, who created the Hot Box web ring software can install and host the software for you. Contact him at hotbox@rcsipublishing.com

$50 — install on your server

$100 — hosted setup (includes one year hosting). After that, hosting is $75/year.

$75/year — ongoing web hosting for your comic