Comic Lab

We 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? Today's show offers an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide! Use this blueprint to participate in the ComicLab Short Story Challenge! PLUS... if it's a benefit to list your comic on as many eStores as possible, why is it a bad idea to do the same with crowdfunding platforms?ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...How to Write a Short StoryThe ComicLab Short Story ChallengeUsing pre-readersThe More the Merrier, part 1 —Multiple eStores?The More the Merrier, part 2 — Multiple subscription sites?THE COMICLAB SHORT STORY CHALLENGEWrite a comic between eight and 16 pages using the Story Circle as a guide. The Story Circle has eight steps: You / Need / Go / Search / Find / Take / Return / Change. There is more information on the Story Circle in the links below. You may spend up to two pages on each step. No more. Each written page must

As last year came to a close, it was becoming very clear that social media has been failing to deliver what we traditionally relied on it for — reaching our current readers and finding new ones. So this year Brad is trying out a new platform — Subsack. But that comes with a whole new learning curve — and more than a few ethical issues to wrestle with!SHOW NOTES: Two points of clarification. First, the question is raised whether a user can export an email list from Substack. This is, indeed a feature. Secondly, Dave asked Brad which of his social media platforms has the biggest user base. Brad's answer was Twitter, but upon further review, it's TikTok. That fact puts the ensuing discussion into a slightly different framework.ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...SubstackSteamboat Willie in the public domain 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. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Gu

One of our most often-requested topics is "How do I start a webcomic?" We're going to give you some step-by-step instructions — updated for the new year! Plus... we always stress the importance of doing a good comic. That begs another question: "How do I know if my comic is good?"ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...How to start a webcomic in 2024"How do I know if my comic is good?"UPDATE: Kindle Direct Publishing 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. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Veteran cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar make some predictions and discuss their goals for the new year.2024 PredictionsBRAD: Twitter will crash in 2024DAVE: Social media will remain distributed over five or six platformsBRAD: Web users will begin to pivot away from social mediaDAVE: Patreon will move closer to an IPOBRAD: Kickstarter will remain #1 by continuing to avoid mentioning blockchainDAVE: SDCC will return to normal after an abnormal '23... and profits will plummet for creators2024 GoalsDAVE: Launch "Pickles" Kickstarter in Jan/Feb, launch "Drive 4" Kickstarter in summerBRAD: In Q1, Kickstart an Evil Inc book paired with an After Dark edition. Kickstart another book — WebcomicsHandbook, Evil Inc After Dark or collection of single-panel comics — in Q2/Q3DAVE: Prepare for a 5-15% sales drop at Comic-Con InternationalBRAD: Personal appearances, including SDCC and NCSDAVE: ComicLab Across AmericaBRAD: Use NON-social-media alternatives to drive Patreon.DAVE: Revisit KIndle Direct PublishingBRAD: S

Better late than never, Brad learns to share. On social media, that is. And, using what he learned after weeks of analysis, he has a challenge for you: Try — just try — to find something worth sharing on social media. ON TODAY'S SHOWSearching for an effective social media strategyA new social-media experiment — Try... just TRY to find a post worth sharingDave's experiment: Deleting people from the Free Membership tier. Please note: we do not, nor have we ever, endorsed this as something you should do.Patreon delays its IPO 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. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Veteran cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar look back on their predictions for 2023. They nailed a few and failed a few!PREDICTION SCORECARDPatreon will slowly entice people away from the Founder's level -- WRONGTikTok will be banned in the US -- WRONGCSP will unveil amazing features / Webtoons publishing -- RIGHTWebtoons publishing -- RIGHTTwitter fade -- RIGHTDC Comics implosion -- RIGHTNo one will be using Mastodon (in large enough numbers to replace Twitter) -- RIGHTGPT 3.5 will be used for brainstorming and co-writing scripts using AI writing -- RIGHT?We'll see the first AI writing-art webcomic... and it will be good --WRONGCopyright law will catch up to AI art -- WRONGBlockchain is coming back -- WRONGOriginal art will become more valuable.What we DIDN'T predict!Patreon's switch to social mediaComic-Con loses its Hall H guests — and it was a big win for comics artistsNo replacement for Twitter... not BlueSky, not Threads (and definitely not Mastodon!) You get great rewards when you join the ComicLa

While we were at the National Cartoonists Society Rueben Awards Weekend, we stopped cartoonists and asked them one question: When you need to spark creativity — and nothing is happening — how do you find ideas? Today's show is a compilation of those responses. 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. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Patreon unveiled a free membership tier, and it's really throwing a monkey wrench into things.ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...It's official. We hate Patreon's Free Membership TierUnderstanding Parody & Free UseDo Dave and Brad ever fight?!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. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive. 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. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Dave brings in a new concept for the holidays — declaring organizational bankruptcy.ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...Declaring organizational bankruptcyA scaled-back Kickstarter?UPDATE: MastodonPosting schedule?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. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive. 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. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Referring to current events may give your comic an edge today, but it can also make your work harder for future generations to enjoy.ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...Writing comics with a shelf lifeYouTube instead of Patreon?Amazon KDPUsing Patreon as an archiveYou 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. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

A ComicLab listener would like his friends to give him feedback on his comic — and he wants them to subscribe to his Patreon to do it.ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...A Patreon level for constructive feedbackDave at WorldCon?UPDATE: Clip Studio update... feeling kinda screwedWhat happens to your books after you dieWhat extras should go into a digital book?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. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Is it wise to exploit parasocial relationships to get more Patreon backers?ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...Drunk ComicLabParasocial relationships on PatreonAre ads making a comeback?After the Thanos Snap — would Brad and Dave do a podcast?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. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Patreon has unveiled a massive update to its service, and we'll discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly.ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...The GoodThe user experience has some significant improvementsCollectionseStore — Buy digital goods.Find Creators You Love — a somewhat improved attempt at discoverabilityMember Posts section is being sunsettedThe BadAnemic analytics. Graphtreon still beats Patreon's own data.Patreon's pivot to social media. I have lots of places to talk to my fans. Social media is where I go to make NEW fans. That means Discoverability. Where's that??Patreon Chat. It's a straight 50-50 split. Half of my patrons can't see/access the chat, and the other half don't care.Making a new post: BAD interface. Separates different parts of the process to different screens. It makes it super awkward to select tiers.The UglyThat logo is laughable. Whoever designed it belongs in the Witless Protection Program.You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submi

Sure, making comics is fun, but do we ever do serious work, like painting, sculpting, or other classical art forms?ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...Do we ever do "classical" work?If tenacity is #1, what's #2?UPDATE: Dave's booth cost for SDCC '24UPDATE: NCS networkingUPDATE: Alaska Comics CampWhich to work on... popular, fun Series A or almost-done Series B?Black guttersYou 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. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

The Gannett newspaper chain, which includes USA Today and about 200 other daily newspapers, has selected 34 syndicated comics. Each of its newspapers will be limited to running comics from that list. Any comic that didn't make the list has been shut out of roughly 20% of the existing market. Not surprisingly, most of the 34 are legacy comics whose original creators are long since deceased. This is the end of syndicated comics.ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...The Gannet 34 signals the death of syndicated comicsUPDATE: Mastodon Aint itWhy no ComicLab website?Relaunch a failed Kickstarter?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. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

We're thrilled to welcome Jamar Nicholas, creator of Leon The Extraordinary, to talk shop with us!ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...Jamar NicholasUPDATE: NCS and Planks PrincipleUPDATE: Musk to take Twitter behind paywall?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. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Dave and Brad return from the National Cartoonist Society Reuben Awards with stories, anecdotes, and  reflections.ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...What is the NCS?The Reuben Awards weekPhil Foglio wins the award for Best Online Longform ComicMeeting Mike Peters ("Mother Goose & Grim")Brunch with the NCS — "Ya wanna hear about MY heart attack?"Outgoing NCS president Jason ChatfieldNCS is reaching out to younger cartoonistsRegional chapters of NCSJamar Nicholas' "NCS  Studio Chats" series on YouTubeThe original art auctionPublishing on Amazon / KDP: a phenomenal panel by Colin Shields, Vice President at Simon & Schuster, alongside Brent Bartram, Chief Strategy Officer of Andrews McMeel SyndicationEliminate "online" categories of the Reuben Awards?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. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The W

New Yorker cartoonist Jason Chatfield and "Sarah's Scribbles" cartoonist Sarah Andersen join Brad and Dave at the Farewell Brunch, closing out the National Cartoonist Society's Reuben Awards events.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. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Is comics a young person's game?  Pull up a (rocking) chair, and let's talk about it!ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...Are you too old to start in comics?Battling procrastinationOne-and-done publishing strategy?The TinyView appEye problems due to comicsYou 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. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Which is more important for a cartoonist to learn — writing or drawing?ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...Is it worth my time to learn how to draw AND how to write?UPDATE: Dropbox in declineUPDATE: Brad writes a "Tales from the Drive" storyUsing social media to direct traffic to websiteWorking 7 days a week to achieve work-life balanceYou 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. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.