Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One ! We're going back to Webcomics 101. We'll be talking about using the Web to build an audience. Questions asked and topics covered... Using the Web to build an audience Lettering dilemma How many panels per page? Learning business math How to move surplus books The book "Arts & Numbers" can be found here . Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at...
Oct 28, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 201
Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One ! Help us celebrate our 200th show at ComicLabCashGrab.com ! We're celebrating 200 episodes of ComicLab with a special king-sized episode in which we assemble a list of our best advice — and discuss how to best implement them. If you want the commemorative magnet with all 20 tips, head over to ComicLabCashGrab.com The 20 Comics Commandments Make. A. Good. Comic. Nothing else we talk about will be v...
Oct 21, 2021•2 hr 42 min•Ep. 200
Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One ! Creators of longform comics face unique challenges in building an audience on the Web. Or do they? Questions asked and topics covered... Long form comics "Substandard fan-created content" Kickstarter minus social media Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — as well as an ...
Oct 14, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 199
Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One ! How to handle death in a comic storyline without offending your readers. Also — facing Writer's Block wile writing a long storyline requires special handling. Questions asked and topics covered... Death in comics Getting stuck writing a long story Don't comics writers like prose? Habits and routines Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that...
Oct 07, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 198
Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One ! After Brad shared his debilitating bout with Writer's Block in episode 191, he shares how he overcame it, and started creating again. Also, the guys discuss what the shipping crisis could mean for small business this holiday season. Questions asked and topics covered... Writers Block — how to overcome it The shipping crisis and holiday shopping What exactly is "Small Press" — and how does one qua...
Sep 30, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 197
Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One ! This week, we're discussing the recent exodus of top talent from corporate comics to Substack, a subscription-based email-newsletter platform. Questions asked and topics covered... What is Substack? Substack is an online platform that provides publishing, payment, analytics, and design infrastructure to support subscription newsletters . It allows writers to send digital newsletters directly to s...
Sep 23, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 196
Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One ! This week, we've devoted the entire show to Kickstarter — what's working, what's not, and how you can improve your campaign! Questions asked and topics covered... Kickstarter is the most tangible, real-world, evidence-based way to show how impossibly HARD it is to reach people, even with a focused message Kickstarter Self-loathing vs “people not hearing about it” Traceable Kickstarter links Manag...
Sep 16, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 195
Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One ! This week, we're talking about posting your very first comic, and later we'll talk about how to write a good ending. Questions asked and topics covered... Making that first post Matt Forbeck (@mforbeck) explains why his gaming company will discontinue shipping to the EU Q3 Estimated tax payments are due on the 15th We found a Writers Room in the wild... How to write a good ending Today is a great...
Sep 09, 2021•54 min•Ep. 194
Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One ! This week, we're talking about building your email newsletter. Questions asked and topics covered... E-mail newsletter management Ending your comic and starting something new Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — as well as an archive of previous livestreams! You get gre...
Sep 02, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 193
Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One ! This week, we're talking about the ideal career path for comics Questions asked and topics covered... Kickstarter strategy of "fun" Stretch Goals Ideal comics career path "Pro-am status" Is "do a good comics" really all there is? Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — as ...
Aug 26, 2021•59 min•Ep. 192
Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One ! This week, we're talking about juggling multiple projects. Questions asked and topics covered... Juggling two projects Sound effects Patreon solves VAT dilemma for its creators Running out of Patreon rewards Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — as well as an archive of ...
Aug 19, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 191
Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One ! This week, we're devoting a special hour-and-a-half episode to advice for exhibiting at comic conventions! Questions asked and topics covered... Exhibiting at your first comic con Hidden costs you need to be aware of Why Dave does comic conventions What Dave won't do at shows Hot Nerd Summer — how to safely do comic cons Four strategies if you're going to exhibit Today is a great time to bump up ...
Aug 12, 2021•2 hr 30 min•Ep. 190
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... Reaching a Kickstarter goal in the opening days — using Patreon Finding your voice as a writer Schulz Museum What if comic cons never came back TikTok Lettering for Web vs print Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab...
Aug 05, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 189
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... Pride & Joy The history of Dave's sci-fi comic, Drive Paywalling the archive — pros and cons Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at that level will get ...
Jul 29, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 188
Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One ! What's your elevator pitch? If you had to sum up your comic for a new reader, could you do it effectively in under 60 seconds? Questions asked and topics covered... Pulitzer Prize in Editorial Cartooning Attracting collaborators Writing process — paper or software? How to maintain standards without an editor Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backer...
Jul 22, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 187
Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One ! What's your elevator pitch? If you had to sum up your comic for a new reader, could you do it effectively in under 60 seconds? Questions asked and topics covered... How to write an Elevator Pitch Bookshop.org partners with Kickstarter Selling books at comic conventions and beyond A storyline driven single-panel comic? Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patr...
Jul 15, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 186
Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the powerful, professional, portable Wacom One ! Delaying gratification is extra hard when you're a comics artist. Also, Brad is seething with jealousy when Patreon asks Dave to be an ambassador. Questions asked and topics covered... Patreon Ambassador Delaying gratification How much story per panel? Digital lettering Copyrighting the name of a comic Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Patreon backers at t...
Jul 08, 2021•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 185
Are you obligated to accept criticism from... anyone?? Also, we'll discuss Kickstarter's new Add-on feature and the benefits of both digital and traditional coloring techniques. Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Starting in June, $10 Patreon backers will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — and an archive of previous livestreams! Questions asked and topics covered... Accepting criticism Kickstarter's add-ons Coloring - digital vs tradit...
Jul 01, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 184
Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Starting in June, $10 Patreon backers will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — and an archive of previous livestreams! If there was ever a pivotal year in webcomics, it was 2014. Ad-blockers, social media, crowdfunding, and so much more happened in exactly the right order to deliver independent cartoonists to the best self-publishing conditions we've ever experienced. Questions asked and topics covered...
Jun 24, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 183
Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Starting in June, $10 Patreon backers will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — and an archive of previous livestreams! Impostor Syndrome — what is it, and how can we, as creative professionals, battle against it? In 2018, an art teacher wrote in to ask why it was that they could never seem to finish a comic. Brad's response was "Maybe you're not a cartoonist, and maybe that's OK." This week, the art te...
Jun 17, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 182
Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Starting in June, $10 Patreon backers will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — and an archive of previous livestreams! This week, exactly one week after Brad lectures on the dangers of getting distracted, one of his TikTok videos goes viral — and he spends the next two weeks... getting very, very distracted, Questions asked and topics covered... Going viral with a TikTok video What does TikTok mean for...
Jun 10, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 181
Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Starting in June, $10 Patreon backers will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — and an archive of previous livestreams! This week, Brad and Dave discuss the fine art of not getting distracted by "shiny objects!" Questions asked and topics covered... How to avoid getting distracted Should you be using vertical scroll? Presenting ourselves as an Authority on comics You get great rewards when you join the ...
Jun 03, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 180
Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Starting in June, $10 Patreon backers will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — and an archive of previous livestreams! This week, Brad and Dave discuss writing your comics with other media in mind. Also: Artfol... is it the next big social media for artists? Questions asked and topics covered... Seeing your comics in other media Artfol Private hosting Composition Getting business ideas from other indus...
May 27, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 179
Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Starting in June, $10 Patreon backers will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — and an archive of previous livestreams! This week, Brad and Dave discuss writing through story beats. Questions asked and topics covered... Story beats pencilling problems low reader interaction drug use in comics emphasizing lettering You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon $2 — Early access to...
May 20, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 178
Today is a great time to bump up your ComicLab membership to the $10 tier! Starting in June, $10 Patreon backers will get exclusive access to livestream recording sessions — and an archive of previous livestreams! This week, Brad and Dave discuss building a comics business with multiple revenue streams. Questions asked and topics covered... Suriving a 30% revenue dip Many legs under the table Judging a new social-media platform Submitting comics to The New Yorker You get great rewards when you j...
May 13, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 177
Today's episode is sponsored by Bonjoro — an amazing app that enables you to quickly send personalized welcome and thank you videos to your readers, clients, patrons, or backers. This week, Brad and Dave talk comics with Nick Seluk, creator of The Awkward Yeti and Heart and Brain . Questions asked and topics covered... Nick Seluk Faceless comics Work/Life balance You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon $2 — Early access to episodes $5 — Submit a question for possibl...
May 06, 2021•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 176
Today's episode is sponsored by Bonjoro — an amazing app that enables you to quickly send personalized welcome and thank you videos to your readers, clients, patrons, or backers. This week, Brad and Dave discuss how to get started when you're launching a new comic. Questions asked and topics covered... Launching a new comic: Where to start? "Essential Guide to Comic Book Lettering" by Nate Piekos https://amzn.to/3sguY98 When should you share work-in-progress images on social media? Facebook's al...
Apr 29, 2021•53 min•Ep. 175
Today's episode is sponsored by Bonjoro — an amazing app that enables you to quickly send personalized welcome and thank you videos to your readers, clients, patrons, or backers. This week, Brad and Dave talk about the cartoonists who — knowingly or unknowingly — guided their careers. Plus — is it better to work on comics piece-by-piece or set up an assembly line? Questions asked and topics covered... Who were the cartoonists who wrote you a map for your career? Step-by-step approach or batch? S...
Apr 22, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 174
Today's episode is sponsored by Bonjoro — an amazing app that enables you to quickly send personalized welcome and thank you videos to your readers, clients, patrons, or backers. This week, Brad and Dave welcome "Crabgrass" creator Tauhid Bondia. Plus — how do you know if you're good? Questions asked and topics covered... How do you know if you're good? "Crabgrass" creator Tauhid Bondia Tax time! How do you know if you have too many characters? The original art in our studios You get great rewar...
Apr 15, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 173
Today's episode is sponsored by Bonjoro — an amazing app that enables you to quickly send personalized welcome and thank you videos to your readers, clients, patrons, or backers. As Twitter launches a subscriber service, we discuss how every platform is introducing subscriptions. Also, after a decade of social-media dominance of the Internet, what happens NEXT? Then, we spend the rest of the hour discussing Patreon best practices. Questions asked and topics covered... Twitter launches Super Foll...
Apr 08, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 172
