Remove your first panel

Remove your first panel

If you've been a reader of Webcomics.com for a while, you know how much I loathe "magic number" advice. But...
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Key dates in the upcoming holiday shopping season

Key dates in the upcoming holiday shopping season

From Black Friday to New Year's sales, here's a guide to help you prepare your online store for the holiday...
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Webcomics Confidential: How long should it take to draw a comics page?

Webcomics Confidential: How long should it take to draw a comics page?

A person starting to do comics asked a question in a forum for creators: "How long does it take you...
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Comics Consultations

Comics Consultations

Powered by I will prepare top-down analysis of your comic-based business, including: Art and writing Social media Crowdfunding Marketing/promotion Then...
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ComicLab Ep 361 — Let’s talk about your bits and pieces

ComicLab Ep 361 — Let’s talk about your bits and pieces

When a listener asks about Kickstarter strategy, the ComicLab guys are divided! Dave favors the traditional webcomics approach. Build your...
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Reddit posting strategy

Reddit posting strategy

This is an excellent time to start an account on Reddit — or to dust off a profile you haven't...
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Clip Studio tutorial: Adding highlights to black hair

Clip Studio tutorial: Adding highlights to black hair

Drawing a person with black hair can be tricky. If you're not careful, you can end up with someone who...
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Webcomics Confidential: “Don’t quit your day job!”

Webcomics Confidential: “Don’t quit your day job!”

"Don't quit your day job" is often used to insult artists and imply that they haven't become successful yet. But...
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COmicLab Ep 360 — New ways to make an old mistake

COmicLab Ep 360 — New ways to make an old mistake

After years of listening to Brad and Dave extoll the virtues of self-publishing, a ComicLab listener signed with a corporate...
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Content exchange: Cross-promotion made simple

Content exchange: Cross-promotion made simple

With social media on a steep decline, many of us are scrambling to find ways to replace its benefits. One...
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Manga-inspired word balloon — and why you should rethink them

It’s pretty easy to see the influence of manga on comics being produced today. Scrolling through Webtoons, it’s obvious that an entire generation of young comic creators cut their teeth on comics originally made in Japan. In general, that’s tremendous! The creativity, the kinetic energy, the jaw-dropping art — it’s all worthy of emulation. But when it comes to word balloons, something’s getting lost in the translation.

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by on October 2, 2024
Posted In: Uncategorized
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October To-Do List

This is when creativity seems to be at an all-time high everywhere you look. From carved pumpkins to costumes to haunted houses to the really scary stuff like, well…

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by on October 1, 2024
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Telegraphing a joke

Writing a good joke is a balancing act. There are so many ways to upset the delicate harmonies that work together to make something funny. Luckily, there are a few missteps that have recognizable patterns. One of them is telegraphing the joke.

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by on September 30, 2024
Posted In: Writing
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ComicLab Ep 354 — ComicLab LIVE at the National Cartoonists Society conference and Reuben Awards, Part Two

Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar take their podcast on the road, recording this episode live at the Comic-Con Museum in San Diego as part of the National Cartoonists Society conference and Reuben Awards celebration! They were joined on stage by Danesh Mohiuddin, Hilary B. Price, and Tauhid Bondia to discuss the pressing issues facing cartoonists in the years to come. 

On today’s show:

  • How are you addressing artificial intelligence?
  • What’s working on social media?
  • What are your plans for the next five years?
  • What does retirement look like?
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by on September 26, 2024
Posted In: ComicLab, Uncategorized
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Short story challenge

I often advise that beginners write a few short stories to sharpen their comics-making skills before they tackle that 200-page epic that they’re burning to produce! But how do you write a short story? I’ve written a handy step-by-step guide! Use this blueprint to get your creative motor running!

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by on September 24, 2024
Posted In: Writing
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ComicLab LIVE at the National Cartoonists Society conference and Reuben Awards, Part One

From left: Maria Scrivan, Hector Cantu, Dana Simpson, Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar. Photo credit: Kevin Segal

Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar take their podcast on the road, recording this episode live at the Comic-Con Museum in San Diego as part of the National Cartoonists Society conference and Reuben Awards celebration! They were joined on stage by Maria Scrivan, Hector Cantu, and Dana Simpson to discuss the pressing issues facing cartoonists in the years to come. 

On today’s show:

  • How are you addressing artificial intelligence?
  • What’s working on social media?
  • What are your plans for the next five years?
  • What does retirement look like?
The content you are trying to access is only available to members.
by on September 19, 2024
Posted In: ComicLab, Uncategorized
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Start planning holiday merchandise NOW

Merry Christmas — and Happy New Year! Set down the sunblock, and step away from the pool. It’s time to start planning for December and January.

I know it’s hard to get into the spirit, but this is the time to start working on merchandise for the holiday shopping season. In recent years, webcartoonists have offered an increasing complement of holiday goodies that have ranged from specialty T-shirts and mugs to holiday-themed greeting cards. And let’s not forget to add calendars to that list. Those will start appearing in stores by November — at the latest!

So, let’s take a closer look at some of those specialty products and how we can start working now to be ready to compete when the snow falls.

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by on September 18, 2024
Posted In: Merchandise
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