Webcomics Confidential: Understanding Writer’s Block

Webcomics Confidential: Understanding Writer’s Block

How often are we presented with the image of tortured creative souls, staring plaintively at the tools of their craft,...
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ComicLab Ep 417 — Print on Demand… When There’s No Demand

ComicLab Ep 417 — Print on Demand… When There’s No Demand

Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett discuss the nuances of print-on-demand services. As Brad says, "It's a good place to start,...
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Maximizing the potential of Bluesky Starter Packs

Maximizing the potential of Bluesky Starter Packs

If you've been sharing your work on Bluesky, you're probably becoming familiar with Starter Packs. This was a significant innovation...
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Webcomics Confidential: What size should your webcomic be?

Webcomics Confidential: What size should your webcomic be?

Beginning cartoonists often ask what size they should make their comic. Many are looking for "standard" sizes. The answer is...
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Give Yourself the Gift of Time Off: Low-Impact Holiday Content Ideas for Cartoonists

Give Yourself the Gift of Time Off: Low-Impact Holiday Content Ideas for Cartoonists

The holiday season has a way of sneaking up on us — and suddenly we’re juggling year-end deadlines, family commitments,...
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ComicLab Ep 417 — Special Guest Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott from “Baby Blues”

ComicLab Ep 417 — Special Guest Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott from “Baby Blues”

Syndicated cartoonists Jerry Scott and Rick Kirkman share their journey of collaboration that spans over 35 years, focusing on their...
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How Many Social-Media Posts Per Day?

How Many Social-Media Posts Per Day?

According to a Very Popular Influencer, one should post on social media six to eight times daily. I disagree, and...
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Social media and behavioral modification

Social media and behavioral modification

B.F. Skinner's research showed that rewards and punishments can alter a subject's behavior. We can use those same simple techniques...
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Webcomics Confidential: You’re wasting money on advertising

Webcomics Confidential: You’re wasting money on advertising

Unless you have a granular knowledge of advertising, demographics, and much more, you're probably wasting money on "plug-and-play" advertising and...
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ComicLab Ep 416 — What’s the Best Platform for Audience Building?

ComicLab Ep 416 — What’s the Best Platform for Audience Building?

Where should you post if you want to build an audience? Substack delivers unbeatable audience-building tools... but it has some...
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ComicLab Ep 283 — Publishing two versions of the same book?

A ComicLab listener asks for advice on publishing two versions of the same book — one rated PG-13, and another rated R. Sounds an awful lot like what Brad does. So why is he so against it?!

ON THIS WEEK‘S SHOW...

  • Two versions of the same book
  • UPDATE: New York Times portfolio review
  • UPDATE: Brad’s birthday present
  • How many hours spent drawing?
  • Building narrative tension
  • Hiring an assistant after an injury

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

by on May 18, 2023
Posted In: ComicLab
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Webtoons déjà vu

It’s tough to be an independent cartoonist. There’s only one place to find comic readers online. There’s only one place where you’re able to get paid for your work. And there’s only one place you can be considered a professional and have hopes of building a career. No, I’m not talking about Webtoons, I’m talking about Keenspot in the opening years of the 2000s. And everything we said then was untrue just as it is when folks say the same things about Webtoons today.

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by on May 17, 2023
Posted In: Digital publishing
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How to set a price for a book

I created a study guide for my Arts Entrepreneurship class, and I thought it might be helpful to post it here, too. It talks about the simple math behind correctly determining the best price for your merchandise.

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by on May 16, 2023
Posted In: Business
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Line weight

The quality of your line can add intensity and energy to your art. Let’s talk about drawing with a “dead” line… and why this might be the better choice for you!

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by on May 15, 2023
Posted In: Art
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ComicLab Ep 282 — Let’s talk ‘comics’ — literally

Let’s talk “comics” — literally. A comic could be a single piece or an entire book. It could be a single panel or a series of panels. And although the word implies humor, many comics aren’t supposed to be funny at all! Isn’t there a better word for this thing we do?!

ON THIS WEEK’S SHOW…

  • The word “comic”
  • Lettering … the invisible art
  • “Traditional artist”
  • Hi-res art as a Patreon reward?
by on May 11, 2023
Posted In: ComicLab
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Never listen to a reader; always listen to your readers

“I’d buy that on a T-shirt” is the oldest lie in webcomics. As soon as you release the shirt, the reader who suggested it disappears faster than a Dracula in front of a crucifix. And yet, many of us allow ourselves to be misguided by readers daily. How can we do better?

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by on May 10, 2023
Posted In: Community
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ComicLab Ep 281 — The novelty of Artificial Intelligence

Today’s episode is sponsored by DreamHost — your first step in owning and controlling your own work! Artificial Intelligence continues to loom large in the comics world. New projects purportedly written and drawn entirely with bots are garnering mass attention. Is the breathless exaltation justified — or does it come down to novelty?

ON THIS WEEK‘S SHOW...

  • AI novelty
  • Does a certain level of success bring a sense of complacency?
  • UPDATE: Commission scam to look out for
  • UPDATE: Dave’s Writer’s Block
  • UPDATE: Brad’s comic makes Reddit’s front page
  • Leveraging Myers-Briggs personality type for creativity
by on May 4, 2023
Posted In: ComicLab
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