As conventions re-open, there are a lot of people who are anxious to get back into the swing. And that includes folks who are planning to open at their first-ever show. If you’re a first-time exhibitor, this guide is for you.
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Writing comedy is a challenge that is made even more daunting in the fact that humor itself is completely subjective and impossible to define. Here’s some thoughts on taking a clever idea and pushing it until it’s actually funny.
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It’s becoming increasingly obvious that we’re headed for another major pendulum swing for webcomics. Social media — which has been a mainstay for independent artists to promote and publish their work — is grinding to a halt. As the major platforms continue to restrict their algorithms in an effort to force people into purchasing more views for their posts, creators are weighing their options. Some are choosing the “pay to play” option. But others are taking their game elsewhere.
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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…
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ComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.
A fellow creator once shared that they were told that a comics page should have between 4 and 7 panels per page. Not only is this bad advice, but it removes the focus from where it ought to be.
I’m reading the most AMAZING comic! It has between four and seven panels on every page! It’s absolutely delightful!
— No one, ever, in the history of comics
Here’s the problem with establishing a rule of thumb like the 4-7-panel rule. It puts the emphasis exactly where it doesn’t belong. Because while you’re sitting at your drawing table counting panels, the successful creator has their eyes on a much different prize:
Making good comics isn’t about panel-count. It’s about creating a desirable reading experience. It’s about compelling storytelling. It’s about not boring people. And that’s a challenge to keep us, as creators, busy for a long, long time.
In short, designing a page with 4-7 panels is easy. Being interesting is hard.
Therefore, if you’ve created a compelling page that has only one panel, then that’s a good page. And if your page is enthralling at 14 panels, then by golly, you get to work on that 14-panel page!
Here’s the problem with following that terrible rule of thumb. It’s not only bad storytelling advice, it’s downright deadly web-publishing advice. That’s because that page you’re working on is most likely the next update on your website. And if you paid more attention to counting panels than you paid to making something interesting happen, then you are running a double risk:
Remember: Every day someone is coming to your site (or your social media) for the very first time, and the update they see in that moment will either keep them or lose them. If your update is compelling, you’ve got a fighting chance of converting at least a few of those newcomers. If you’re focusing on how many panels you have on the page, you’re going to have one, new reader.
This guy.
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 compliment 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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when it comes to your audience, size doesn’t matter. A small and engaged readership beats a huge, lukewarm audience every time. Here’s why…
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I polled my Patreon backers, and I asked them one simple question: How did you find out about my Patreon? The answers were surprising to me, so I made the poll ongoing — making the question a part of the welcome package that new Patreon backers receive. After several months of collecting data, I’d like to share my results…
Surprisingly, the vast majority of my Patreon backers are discovering my Patreon content through my site — and not through social media. (Although you could argue that come of them discovered the site itself through social media.) As much as I’m a proponent of publishing through social media, this is a strong argument in favor of continuing my efforts on my own site as well.
Second was Patreon itself. As you know, I don’t feel as if Patreon should be relied upon for discovery — and I talk about that in this episode of Webcomics Confidential…
…however, it’s good to know that Patreon is a solid contributor in that category. (It’s especially impressive since, due to the NSFW nature of my Patreon page, I don’t show up in Patreon’s search results.)
Social media — including Instagram, Facebook and Twitter — are nearly nonexistent players. They account for less than 1.5% apiece. However, as I said earlier, it may well be the case that my backers discovered the site itself through social media.
But that Patreon Content Exchange! That’s a very solid performer, accounting for nearly 4%. And that’s especially impressive since I don’t do content exchanges every month.
Every once in a while, I search Patreon for people who are doing something similar to what I’m doing.
Then I approach the person about a content trade. I’ll post something of theirs exclusively to my patrons. (Something they’ve already offered to their patrons.) And they can post something from myPatreon archive exclusively for their patrons.
(This works best with exclusive content — something that folks can’t get outside of Patreon.)
It’s a win-win.
We both get content that we think our patrons will enjoy. We both get an opportunity to expose our work to the people pledging to the other person.
I know the fear. “They’ll like the other person better, and ditch me in favor of them.” That.s not the case. Look at this chart from a content exchange between Javis Ray and me…
I can tell you from experience, I get a lot of new pledges who are continuing their pledge to the other person. (I know, because I always click that button to see who else they’re supporting.) For me, it has been a “rising tide lifts all boats ” situation.
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…
Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.
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