Today is the federal income tax deadline in the United States. But … what if you owe money and can’t pay? Don’t make a bad situation worse. This could end very badly if you mishandle it.
The content you are trying to access is only available to members.
On a recent episode of ComicLab, Dave Kellett shared the real numbers from the Kickstarter campaign for his latest book, “Anatomy of Dinosaurs.” Some of those analytics reinforce long-held truths — for example, Kickstarter continues to dominate in using internal mechanisms to maximize backers through its platform. However, there was one big surprise: Bluesky outperformed Twitter, Instagram and Facebook in delivering pledges — by a jaw-dropping margin.
The content you are trying to access is only available to members.
Plotting and pacing are crucial elements in creating a compelling comic. Plotting is simply deciding which story points are essential to include in your narrative — and which ones can be omitted. Pacing is about determining the rate at which those plot points are delivered. If you go too slow, you’ll bore your readers to tears. If you go too fast, you’ll confuse them.
Here are some things to keep in mind that will help you master these aspects:
The content you are trying to access is only available to members.
Where’s the line between an autobiographical comic and a semi-autobiographical one — between “based upon” and “inspired by”? And when does the whole thing veer directly into fiction?? Plus… Dave Kellett shares real numbers from his recent Kickstarter, and we arrive at a jaw-dropping conclusion: Bluesky is it.
Webcomics.com will publish a visual breakdown of Dave’s analytics on April 14th.
Today’s show
Summary
In this episode of ComicLab, hosts Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar share insights on navigating autobiocomics, exploring the balance between fiction and fact in storytelling. The conversation highlights the significance of making personal stories compelling and meaningful for audiences. In this conversation, Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar explore the intricacies of storytelling in comics, mainly focusing on autobiographical narratives. They discuss the importance of engaging and meaningful stories, emphasizing that readers seek entertainment and context in narratives. The duo also addresses the common issue of procrastination among creators, urging them to take action and start their projects, regardless of the fear of failure. They highlight that creativity thrives on making choices and moving forward rather than getting bogged down in details.
After Susan MacTaggart drops by to share a personal affirmation for one of ComicLab’s $10 backers, Dave Kellett discusses the success of Kellett’s recent Kickstarter campaign for his book ‘Anatomy of Dogs’. He and Brad explore the sources of backers, the impact of social media platforms like Blue Sky, and the importance of converting followers into actual supporters. The discussion highlights the effectiveness of Kickstarter as a platform for creators and the changing landscape of social media engagement. In this conversation, Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar discuss the intricacies of running a successful Kickstarter campaign, the impact of social media on funding, and the importance of maintaining quality in production. They share insights on financials, the long-term benefits of Kickstarter projects, and how to build a sustainable career as an independent cartoonist. The discussion emphasizes the need for careful planning and the value of mental health in the creative process.
Takeaways
If you’re like many of us, you’ve abandoned advertising long ago. But that space that used to be devoted to earning revenue hasn’t lost its value. It’s as important as ever!
The content you are trying to access is only available to members.
You might be missing a significant opportunity to promote your Kickstarter.
When you initially set up your Kickstarter, you gave it a title. You should set aside time at least once daily to search for this title on your social media platforms, especially Twitter and Facebook.
Here’s why. When a backer pledges, they are encouraged to share their happiness with a couple of buttons, one for Facebook and the other for Twitter.
This brings up a lovely pre-formatted message but doesn’t include your social media handle!
And that means you may be getting personal endorsements out there and don’t even know it!
This can be a crucial part of your promotional outreach because, let’s face it, nothing beats a personal endorsement.
And as a content creator, chances are you have a much bigger following than your backers.
Therefore, to maximize the effectiveness of that endorsement, you need to repost it or retweet it.
But if you don’t look for it, you’ll never know it’s there.
Long ago, Patreon revolutionized how independent artists make a living. But many of us are still struggling. And for some, the reason isn’t the quality of their work. Instead, it’s applying a bad Patreon strategy — and suffering the consequences.
The content you are trying to access is only available to members.
For many independent comic creators, our income falls under the “gig economy.” That income must be reported to the IRS. Here’s how to handle those unique tax responsibilities.
The content you are trying to access is only available to members.As they attempt to save the marriage of one of their listeners, Brad and Dave consider the best path for a cartoonist who wishes to pursue a master’s degree. Would a Master’s in Fine Arts be the right choice, or would a Master’s in Business Administration be the better option? Considering the expense, perhaps the best choice is to avoid both! After grappling with that dilemma, Susan MacTaggart stops by to share a personal affirmation with a member of the ComicLab community.
Today’s Show
I was surprised when I recently received a question about a “top webcomics list” site. I wrote advice against participating in those back in 2010, and the entire topic has dropped from my radar ever since. Sites like this are still out there, and cartoonists are still trying to use them for audience building. I’ll tell you why that isn’t good.
The content you are trying to access is only available to members.
Loading ...