Understanding social media

Understanding social media

Social media is among an independent artist's most frustrating elements. We struggle for engagement, wage constant battles with "The Algorithm,"...
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Writing humor

Writing humor

Writing comedy is a challenge that is made even more daunting by the fact that humor itself is completely subjective...
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CMYK vs RGB

CMYK vs RGB

If you're saving your comics in RGB mode, you may be making a potentially expensive mistake. The content you are...
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ComicLab Ep 358 — “Help! I’m not funny anymore!”

ComicLab Ep 358 — “Help! I’m not funny anymore!”

Cartoonists Dave and Brad share some thoughts with a young humor writer trying to find their Funny. Also: Is BlueSky...
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ISBN — a beginner’s guide

ISBN — a beginner’s guide

An ISBN is a 10- or 13-digit number used to identify a book from a specific publisher. Once your book...
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How to write a Halloween joke

How to write a Halloween joke

On Substack, a cartoonist was struggling with writing a Halloween joke. He was experiencing a common problem. He was stuck...
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Webcomics Confidential: Size doesn’t matter

Webcomics Confidential: Size doesn’t matter

when it comes to your audience, size doesn't matter. A small and engaged readership beats a huge, lukewarm audience every...
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ComicLab Ep 357 — Innovation fascination

ComicLab Ep 357 — Innovation fascination

Having wrapped up his 16th Kickstarter, cartoonist Dave Kellett shares some insights about setting realistic expectations, avoiding paid advertising, and...
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Adding lettering to improve original art sales

Adding lettering to improve original art sales

Selling original art is an integral part of the business model of an independent cartoonist who works with traditional media...
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Reader retention

Reader retention

Let's face it. One of the biggest hurdles in growing a webcomic is reader retention. That's why I encourage you...
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Gathering estimates from printers

So, you’ve decided to get a quote from and honest-to-goodness printer for your next book run. You’ve e-mailed a quote request, and you’ve gotten a prompt response. One that you cannot decipher for the life of you. Fear not, here’s a quick guide based on an actual book quote:

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by on April 28, 2023
Posted In: Print publishing
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Accepting criticism

I accept criticism on my art from two sources: peers who are on a similar journey who I reach out to for advice (like an art-school critique, for example) and people with a demonstrated proficiency in my field. You’ll notice that the list does not include comments from individual readers or people who claim to be critics on websites, podcasts, social media or video. Here’s why…

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by on April 25, 2023
Posted In: Creativity
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ComicLab Ep 279 — Special guests Elizabeth Pich & Jonathan Kunz (“War and Peas”)

This week, we’re joined by Elizabeth Pich & Jonathan Kunz (“War and Peas“) to talk about their unique collaboration. Also, will a wordy title hurt your comic’s chances of success?

ON THIS WEEK’S SHOW…

  • Wordy titles
  • Public-facing Patreon numbers
  • UPDATE: Silicon Valley Bank crash
  • UPDATE: A DIY digital-drawing tablet controller
  • Interview with Elizabeth Pich & Jonathan Kunz (“War and Peas“)
by on April 20, 2023
Posted In: ComicLab
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close up photo of survey spreadsheet

Free market research

Steven Spielberg was rejected TWICE by the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. Walt Disney’s newspaper editor told him that he ‘lacked imagination and had no good ideas’. A perceived failure often tends to be the gateway to a bigger success. That’s why I think we spend too much time worrying about what happens if our Kickstarter fails.

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by on April 19, 2023
Posted In: Marketing / Social Media, Merchandise
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Tax advice

Next Tuesday (April 18) is the federal income tax deadline. But … what if you owe money and can’t pay? Don’t make a bad situation worse. This could end very badly if you handle it improperly.

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by on April 14, 2023
Posted In: Business
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ComicLab Ep 278 — Practicing to be a pro… or a pro practicing?

A listener asks about doing a practice project — and Kickstarting it later. Also — more than one hundred years of comics history tell everything we need to know about how comics companies treat creators. (And it ain’t good.)

ON THIS WEEK’S SHOW…

  • Practicing to be pro
  • Comic History – corporate comics
  • UPDATE: Brad won the argument on ECCC
  • UPDATE: when 250k viral moment tells you that this is a marathon not a sprint
  • Marking an anniversary with a book
by on April 13, 2023
Posted In: ComicLab
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