November To-Do List

November To-Do List

It's time to get started on (*choke*) the penultimate month of 2024.If you plan to offer new merchandise for the...
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ComicLab Ep 359 — Should your readers be your writers?

ComicLab Ep 359 — Should your readers be your writers?

BlueSky is beginning to feel like Twitter did ten years ago! Engagement is up, conversations are genuine, and follower counts...
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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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Poor Man’s Copyright

Poor Man’s Copyright is a system of attempting to establish copyright through mailing a copy of the art to yourself (some people suggest using Certified Mail). The artist then files the envelope — unopened. If their copyright ownership is ever threatened, all they need do is open the envelope (in a court of law, one supposes) and present the document with a flourish. You even see some very prominent artists advising young people to use Poor Man’s Copyright. There’s only one problem: It’s complete bullshit.

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by on March 16, 2021
Posted In: Business
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ComicLab Ep 163 — Self-Publishing a Book

This week, Dave and Brad  take several questions about self-publishing. From the best way to build an audience to handling overseas shipping — it’s all about getting your work into print!

Questions asked and topics covered…

  • What’s the best way to build an audience for a book release? 
  • Is there a way to circumvent the rising prices of international shipping?
  • Color printing — is it worth the increased costs?
  • Selling in multiple consecutive formats
  • The best format to reach  pre-teens

Brad 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…

ComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

by on March 16, 2021
Posted In: ComicLab
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ComicLab Ep 162 — Planning Out 2021

This week, Dave and Brad  talk about making plans in 2021. Will there be a return to conventions? Will Kickstarter remain reliable? How will global finances affect independent creators?

Questions asked and topics covered…

  • Assessing 2021 and planning for success
  • What didn’t we accomplish in 2020?
  • Is “webcomic” an outdated word?
  • How to change a Patreon without angering current backers
  • Selling digital originals?
  • Artist Editions

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
  • $10 — Record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
  • $50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast

Brad 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…

ComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

by on March 10, 2021
Posted In: Crowdfunding
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ComicLab Ep 161 — Paying it Forward

This week, a listener asks about origins the “paying it forward” nature of Brad and Dave. So they spend the first part of the show talking about their mentorship philosophies.

Questions asked and topics covered…

  • Paying it forward
  • If you were to name a living cartoonist for the MacArthur Genius Grant, who would you name?
  • Quality vs. speed
  • What to work on improving first

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
  • $10 — Record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
  • $50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast

Brad 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…

ComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

by on March 9, 2021
Posted In: ComicLab
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Pitfalls of paid advertising

Buying advertising for your comic is a tempting proposition for many independent cartoonists. After all — you need to get your work in front of more people, and sometimes it seems as if social media just isn’t delivering the way it was promised. But before you reach for your wallet, consider a few things.

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by on March 9, 2021
Posted In: Advertising
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ComicLab Ep 160 — Slice of Life Comics

This week, Brad and Dave discuss “slice of life” comics — and why using that term might not be the best promotional strategy.

Questions asked and topics covered…

  • Slice of Life comics
  • Creative page layout — and why to avoid it
  • NSFW comics advice
  • How to get into the mood for comics
by on March 5, 2021
Posted In: ComicLab
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ComicLab Ep 157 — What’s in a name?

This week, Brad and Dave talk about crafting names for the characters, places and objects in your comic.

Questions asked and topics covered…

  • Naming things
  • “Do you ever get the urge to draw something else?”
  • Squarespace adds an exclusive-content tier
  • The difficulties in writing stories from personal experience
  • Sci-fi writer Samuel Delany’s advice on re-doing old work

by on March 5, 2021
Posted In: ComicLab
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