Having wrapped up his 16th Kickstarter, cartoonist Dave Kellett shares some insights about setting realistic expectations, avoiding paid advertising, and the death of social media. Also: Recent innovations by both Kickstarter and Patreon show considerable promise for the crowdfunding platforms.
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Selling original art is an integral part of the business model of an independent cartoonist who works with traditional media (pencils, inks, etc.). But if you use digital lettering, that final art might not feel so final to a prospective art collector. What should you do?
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Let’s face it. One of the biggest hurdles in growing a webcomic is reader retention. That’s why I encourage you to set aside time this month to develop (or improve) three ways to introduce your comic to a newcomer. Here are some ideas:
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The Butso Method will change the way you think about writing.
It’s very easy to get hopelessly lost during the writing process. We often have vague ideas of the general direction in which we want the overall story to go but no idea how to make that happen. It’s also easy to lose focus due to the vast possibilities we face. After all, we’re creating this story from literal nothingness, meaning anything can happen. But out of an infinite number of “anything,” which is right?!
When that happens, I find it helpful to focus on the basics, and that’s where the Butso Method comes in.
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Attending this year’s National Cartoonists Society conference and Reuben Awards has changed Dave’s bucket list. He wants one of those danged trophies! (And so does Brad.) Also, after Dave looks at the analytics from his recent Kickstarter, he decides to leave Twitter and Instagram once and for all.
On Today’s Show
UPDATE: ComicLab stingers
Dave’s new Bucket List
UPDATE: Dave’s Kickstarter convinces him to leave both Twitter and Instagram
UPDATE: Patreon’s Autopilot
Too many different comics?
Pen name for a teacher?
Taking a break to build up your buffer
Made with Human Intelligence icons
Artificial Intelligence
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Out of the blue, I received the following message from Jetpack: We are writing to inform you that your site, www.evil-inc.com, has met our criteria for an upgrade based on its classification as a commercial site and its recent usage levels. Please upgrade to a commercial plan before October 15, 2024 to continue using the service uninterrupted. I’m currently paying $77 for Jetpack. The upgrade fee is an additional $200. Needless to say, I chose to disable Jetpack Stats. (I find the feature to be disappointing at best.) The problem is that Jetpack makes it extremely difficult to do so. I spent an hour cracking their code and wrote it down so you won’t have to.
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There seems to be some misinformation about whether it’s legal to ship comics using the Media Mail service of the U.S. Postal Service. Since this misunderstanding could cost you hundreds of dollars, let’s get it straightened out now.
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Cartoonists continue migrating to Substack to use its audience-building potential, and they struggle with the same question: What should I write in my newsletter? To make this easier, I’ve delineated three basic types of newsletter posts — each with its role in generating new readers for your comic.
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It can be frustrating to “hit the wall” in your creative output, but — speaking from experience — that wall isn’t a wall. And once you realize what’s happening, you’ll feel much better about your journey as an artist.
As creative people, we often feel exhilaration when our brains are storming, our synapses are firing, and our output is exciting. These are the moments we live for!
But it’s not constant. Sometimes, creativity comes much slower. During those times, it feels as if we’re not progressing, and the excitement that comes from finding something new is a long-distant memory.
If you talk to many artists during those times, they’ll tell you their creativity has “hit the wall.”
But speaking from experience and perspective, I can assure you this is not the case. What you’re experiencing is not a wall but a plateau. It feels as if you’ve come to a full stop because you’ve stopped experiencing that exhilarating upward “whoosh” of creativity. But you are now on a horizontal plane.
That’s an important distinction. You can move forward on a horizontal plane. It may not be as thrilling as a vertical “whoosh,” but you must move forward.
After all, this is where you learn about yourself as an artist. This is where you build speed. And muscle memory. This is where you master all the things that became apparent during your last explosion of creative energy.
Moving forward is the only way to get to the next “whoosh” of creativity. Trust me; the burst of artistic energy after a long plateau is a satisfying experience.
Don’t get frustrated about “hitting the wall.” See it for what it is — a preparation for the subsequent big explosion of creativity.
Jumpstarting creativity
Here are some excellent strategies for getting your brain working again after you feel as if you’ve hit a wall:
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In the final installment of a three-part series on the National Cartoonists Society conference and Reuben Awards celebration, cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar sit down over a couple of tasty adult beverages and share stories and reflections on this year’s event.
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