Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One!  Help us celebrate our 200th show at ComicLabCashGrab.com ! We're celebrating 200 episodes of ComicLab with a special king-sized episode in which we assemble a list of our best advice — and discuss how to best implement them.  If you want the commemorative magnet with all 20 tips, head over to ComicLabCashGrab.comThe 20 Comics CommandmentsMake. A. Good. Comic. Nothing else we talk about will be very effective until you do.Own and control your work.Ideas aren't special. The execution of ideas is special.You can't get worse at something you do every day.Good writing saves bad art. Rarely does that work in reverse.You can't drive toward your style, you can only see in the rearview mirror.Lettering: Nobody will read your comic...if they can’t read your comic. And for goodness' sake, learn the Crossbar-I rule.Time is the best editor. So edit...wait...edit...wait.If you’re not enjoying the comic, they’re not enjoying the comic.The 4-Cs of social media are: Creation, Curation, Commercial, Kindness.Don’t compare your blooper reel to someone else’s highlight reel.You have the audience you deserve.Every day someone is reading your comic for the first time.Research your market...not your mirror.Never listen to a reader; always listen to your readers.The first person to say they want merch is the first person to disappear when you make the merch.Crowdfunding: First comes the crowd, then comes the funding.It’s easy to be in the right place at the right time…if you’re always there.No one will ever care about your career as much as you do, so make your own magic.Being an overnight success will take you about 10 years. Your career is a marathon, not a sprint.Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — as well as an archive of previous livestreams!You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.$10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions (including an archive of past livestreams), plus $5-tier rewardsBrad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.Listen to ComicLab on...Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyPandoraStitcherComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

Comic Lab

20 Comics Commandments

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One!  Creators of longform comics face unique challenges in building an audience on the Web. Or do they?Questions asked and topics covered...Long form comics"Substandard fan-created content"Kickstarter minus social mediaToday is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — as well as an archive of previous livestreams!You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.$10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions (including an archive of past livestreams), plus $5-tier rewardsBrad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.Listen to ComicLab on...Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyPandoraStitcherComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

How to find an audience for a longform comic

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One!  How to handle death in a comic storyline without offending your readers. Also — facing Writer's Block wile writing a long storyline requires special handling.Questions asked and topics covered...Death in comicsGetting stuck writing a long storyDon't comics writers like prose?Habits and routinesToday is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — as well as an archive of previous livestreams!You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.$10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions (including an archive of past livestreams), plus $5-tier rewardsBrad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.Listen to ComicLab on...Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyPandoraStitcherComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

Death and Comics

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One!  After Brad shared his debilitating bout with Writer's Block in episode 191, he shares how he overcame it, and started creating again. Also, the guys discuss what the shipping crisis could mean for small business this holiday season.Questions asked and topics covered...Writers Block — how to overcome itThe shipping crisis and holiday shoppingWhat exactly is "Small Press" — and how does one qualify?Search “cartoonist” in the the New York Times and you'll get mostly obituaries. Why aren't we newsworthy?!When should a reader step in?Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — as well as an archive of previous livestreams!You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.$10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions (including an archive of past livestreams), plus $5-tier rewardsBrad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.Listen to ComicLab on...Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyPandoraStitcherComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

How to Beat Writer's Block

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One!  This week, we're discussing the recent exodus of top talent from corporate comics to Substack, a subscription-based email-newsletter platform.Questions asked and topics covered...What is Substack? Substack is an online platform that provides publishing, payment, analytics, and design infrastructure to support subscription newsletters. It allows writers to send digital newsletters directly to subscribers. Creators are given a payment for their first year — between $3k and about $150k. After that, the creators take the standard deal, which is based on the number of subscribers they've earned, minus fees from Substack, credit-card companies, etc.What's in this for Substack? Buying users. They currently have around 500,000. Patreon has 6 million. Will this be a turning point for the creators? We'll know in about 366 days — after the advance runs out and they're left with only their subscribers.What does this say about Marvel/DC? If things were going well with corporate comics, then a start-up like Substack would never  be able to lure top talent away.Is this good for readers? We'll know in 366 days.What does this mean for webcomics? Very little. It's a variation on a theme that many of us have been applying for over 20 years.Is this a good time for Substack creators to abandon social media? No. If anything, this is the time to double down.What about some other creators that Substack has signed who embrace hateful messages?Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — as well as an archive of previous livestreams!You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.$10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions (including an archive of past livestreams), plus $5-tier rewardsBrad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.Listen to ComicLab on...Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyPandoraStitcherComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

Will Substack change comics?

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One!  This week, we've devoted the entire show to Kickstarter — what's working, what's not, and how you can improve your campaign!Questions asked and topics covered...Kickstarter is the most tangible, real-world, evidence-based way to show how impossibly HARD it is to reach people, even with a focused messageKickstarter Self-loathing vs “people not hearing about it”Traceable Kickstarter linksManaging Kickstarter moneyKickstarter post-mortemKicktraq is almost always hyper-optimistic... here's a better way to project earningsInstagram's is nearly uselessIs TikTok going to be better?Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — as well as an archive of previous livestreams!You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.$10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions (including an archive of past livestreams), plus $5-tier rewardsBrad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.Listen to ComicLab on...Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyPandoraStitcherComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

Kickstarter — What's working and what's not

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One!  This week, we're talking about posting your very first comic, and later we'll talk about how to write a good ending.Questions asked and topics covered...Making that first postMatt Forbeck (@mforbeck) explains why his gaming company will discontinue shipping to the EUQ3 Estimated tax payments are due on the 15thWe found a Writers Room in the wild...How to write a good endingToday is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — as well as an archive of previous livestreams!You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.$10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions (including an archive of past livestreams), plus $5-tier rewardsBrad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.Listen to ComicLab on...Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyPandoraStitcherComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

Beginnings and Endings

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One!  This week, we're talking about building your email newsletter.Questions asked and topics covered...E-mail newsletter managementEnding your comic and starting something newToday is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — as well as an archive of previous livestreams!You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.$10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions (including an archive of past livestreams), plus $5-tier rewardsBrad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.Listen to ComicLab on...Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyPandoraStitcherComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

Email newsletter management

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One!  This week, we're talking about the ideal career path for comicsQuestions asked and topics covered...Kickstarter strategy of "fun" Stretch GoalsIdeal comics career path "Pro-am status"Is "do a good comics" really all there is?Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — as well as an archive of previous livestreams!You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.$10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions (including an archive of past livestreams), plus $5-tier rewardsBrad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.Listen to ComicLab on...Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyPandoraStitcherComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

The ideal career path for comics

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One!  This week, we're talking about juggling multiple projects.  Questions asked and topics covered...Juggling two projectsSound effectsPatreon solves VAT dilemma for its creatorsRunning out of Patreon rewardsToday is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — as well as an archive of previous livestreams!You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.$10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions (including an archive of past livestreams), plus $5-tier rewardsBrad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.Listen to ComicLab on...Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyPandoraStitcherComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

Juggling multiple projects

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One!  This week, we're devoting a special hour-and-a-half episode to advice for exhibiting at comic conventions!Questions asked and topics covered...Exhibiting at your first comic con Hidden costs you need to be aware ofWhy Dave does comic conventionsWhat Dave won't do at showsHot Nerd Summer — how to safely do comic consFour strategies if you're going to exhibitToday is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — as well as an archive of previous livestreams!You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.$10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions (including an archive of past livestreams), plus $5-tier rewardsBrad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.Listen to ComicLab on...Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyPandoraStitcherComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

Exhibiting at your first comic con

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One!  This week, Dave shares his strategy for meeting his Kickstarter goal in the opening days — and juicing the algorithm — by using Patreon!Questions asked and topics covered...Reaching a Kickstarte goal in the opening days — using PatreonFinding your voice as a writerSchulz MuseumWhat if comic cons never came backTikTokLettering for Web vs printToday is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — and an archive of previous livestreams!You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.$10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions (including an archive of past livestreams), plus $5-tier rewardsBrad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.Listen to ComicLab on...Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyPandoraStitcherComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

Finding your voice as a writer

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One!  Are you self-conscious about self-promotion? Brad has a suggestion: Talk about your Pride or talk about your Joy. It's a bulletproof marketing technique!Questions asked and topics covered...Pride & JoyThe history of Dave's sci-fi comic, DrivePaywalling the archive — pros and consToday is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — and an archive of previous livestreams!You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.$10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions, plus $5-tier rewardsBrad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.Listen to ComicLab on...Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyPandoraStitcherComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

Pride and Joy

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One!  What's your elevator pitch? If you had to sum up your comic for a new reader, could you do it effectively in under 60 seconds?Questions asked and topics covered...Pulitzer Prize in Editorial CartooningAttracting collaboratorsWriting process — paper or software?How to maintain standards without an editorToday is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — and an archive of previous livestreams!You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.$10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions, plus $5-tier rewardsBrad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.Listen to ComicLab on...Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyPandoraStitcherComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

The Pulitzer No-Prize for Editorial Cartooning

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One!  What's your elevator pitch? If you had to sum up your comic for a new reader, could you do it effectively in under 60 seconds?Questions asked and topics covered...How to write an Elevator PitchBookshop.org partners with KickstarterSelling books at comic conventions and beyondA storyline driven single-panel comic?Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — and an archive of previous livestreams!You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.$10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions, plus $5-tier rewardsBrad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.Listen to ComicLab on...Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyPandoraStitcherComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

What's your elevator pitch?

Welcome to ComicLab: The podcast about making comics, and making a living from comics! If you loved Webcomics Weekly, you're gonna love this show: It's half shop-talk, half how-to, and half friendship. WE SQUEEZED IN THREE HALVES. It's tips and tricks and all the joys of cartooning as a pro. So pull up your drawing chair, put on some headphones, and join us while you draw! And if you like what you hear, kick in a dollar to help make more 'n better shows — patreon.com/comiclab

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Comic Lab

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