Comic Lab – Details, episodes & analysis

Brad and Dave discuss using rewards and add-ons in a Kickstarter campaign. Then, they tackle the problem of whether your dialogue should feature proper English or your character's "natural" speech.

Today's show

• Kickstarter mistake — confusing rewards with add-ons
• Check out Dave's Kickstarter at Newdrivebook.com
• Should you write in proper English?
• UPDATE: Reuben Awards — two live ComicLab shows on Thursday, Aug. 22
• How to start at the very beginning

Summary

In this conversation, Brad and Dave discuss their experiences with building Lego sets and building a gaming PC. They also talk about the importance of structuring Kickstarter rewards and add-ons, and the psychology behind offering choices to backers. They emphasize the need to make a profit on add-ons and to account for them in the Kickstarter goal. They also mention the upcoming live shows at the National Cartoonist Society Reuben Awards and discuss the possibility of future speaking engagements. In this part of the conversation, Brad and Dave discuss the balance between writing in proper English and writing dialogue that sounds natural. They emphasize the importance of considering the audience and the potential reach of the comic. They also discuss the use of slang and specific language choices, highlighting the need to make slight modifications to appeal to a wider audience. They stress the importance of using punctuation properly, especially in comedy, where timing is crucial. They also provide advice for aspiring comic creators, encouraging them to start making comics and to seek opportunities for publication, even if it means facing potential embarrassment.

Takeaways

• Building LEGO sets and a gaming PC can be challenging and require attention to detail.
• When structuring Kickstarter rewards, it's important to offer a variety of options and price tiers to appeal to different backers.
• Add-ons can be a profitable addition to a Kickstarter campaign, but it's crucial to ensure they are priced to make a profit.
• Digital rewards can be a significant source of income for a Kickstarter campaign and have the advantage of no shipping costs.
• Live shows and speaking engagements can be exciting opportunities for cartoonists to connect with their audience and expand their reach. When deciding on the language and dialogue choices for your comic, consider the audience and potential reach of your comic.
• Making slight modifications to appeal to a wider audience can help you reach more readers.
• Proper punctuation is crucial, especially in comedy, as it affects timing and delivery.
• Start making comics and learn from your mistakes. Seek opportunities for publication to improve your craft.
• Embrace the potential for embarrassment as a learning experience and a way to improve your skills.

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.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

As Brad Guigar travels to Bad Axe, Michigan, to spend a fun-filled week with his family, Kevin McShane steps in to talk comics with Dave Kellett. 

In this conversation, David and Kevin discuss various topics related to comics, including their experiences with "Love Is" comics at their weddings, the potential future advancements in comic-making technology, and different marketing strategies for sharing comics. They explore the idea of using VR technology to create a more immersive drawing experience, the enduring appeal of 2D comics, and the importance of building an audience through platforms like mailing lists and social media. Kevin discusses the various social media platforms he uses to share his comics, including Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Mastodon, Twitter, and Imgur. He explains that Imgur is like a nicer version of Reddit and that he uses it to drive traffic to his website. David is intrigued by Imgur and asks Kevin for a pitch on why he should be posting there. Kevin explains that Imgur started as an image hosting service for Reddit and has a social media aspect to it. They also discuss their motivations for posting on social media and the validation they seek from likes and engagement. They explore the idea of creating books and the number of comics needed for a book. They also discuss the possibility of changing their approach to comics if compensation wasn't a factor. They end the conversation by addressing a question from a listener who creates gardening advice cartoons and wonders if she should reduce the number of panels to cater to social media attention spans. In this final part of the conversation, David and Kevin discuss the different types of content that perform well on social media, including informative, emotional, and aspirational content. They also provide advice on interviewing other creators, emphasizing the importance of research and making the interviewee feel comfortable. The hosts share funny anecdotes about their experiences with interviews and express their pride in not discussing AI in the conversation.

THIS WEEK

• "Love Is" comics at Weddings
• The Future of Comic-Making Technology: VR and AI
•  The Enduring Appeal of 2D Comics
• Building an Audience: Mailing Lists and Social Media
• Navigating Social Media Platforms
• Balancing Panel Count for Social Media
•  The Power of Different Content Types
• Interviewing Other Creators
• Avoiding AI in Comics Technology Discussions
• Funny Anecdotes from Interview Experiences

TAKEAWAYS

• Love Is comics can add a unique and nostalgic touch to weddings and other events.
• The future of comic-making technology may involve advancements in VR and AI.
• 2D comics have a timeless appeal and can survive alongside other forms of media.
• Building an audience through platforms like mailing lists and social media is crucial for sharing and promoting comics. Kevin uses various social media platforms to share his comics and drive traffic to his website.
• Kevin recommends Imgur for sharing comics. It allows linking and has a nicer community than Reddit.
• Both Kevin and David seek validation through likes and engagement on social media.
• The number of comics needed for a book can vary, but it's important to have a substantial amount of quality content.
• If compensation wasn't a factor, Kevin would quit his day job to dedicate more time to creating comics.
• Reducing the number of panels in a comic may compromise the usefulness of the content, so it's important to find a balance that works for the creator's goals and the audience's attention spans. Different types of content perform well on social media, including informative, emotional, and aspirational content.
• When interviewing other creators, it's important to do thorough research and ask unique and engaging questions.
• Making interviewees feel comfortable and creating a safe space for them to share is crucial for a successful interview.
• Avoiding discussions about AI in the context of comics technology can be refreshing and indicative of the current fatigue with AI.
• The hosts share funny anecdotes about their experiences with interviews, highlighting the importance of building rapport and creating a relaxed atmosphere.

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.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

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 new father asks if his baby will change how he writes. "Hey, Comics Dads, I'm worried," he says. "Hey, Worried, we're Comics Dads," we reply. And then Dave invites Brad to pull his finger. After they discuss the effects of parenthood on creativity, a friendly zinester writes in to take Brad to task over his dismissal of zines as "nutty."

ON TODAY'S SHOW

• How does fatherhood affect writing?
• UPDATE: Google's AI meltdown
• UPDATE: Zines are not "nutty"
• UPDATE: Dave may have been wrong about Patreon's free membership tier
• "Why is my audience so small?"

CHAPTERS

00:00 Parenthood and Writing: Impact and Misconceptions

20:24 Navigating Parenthood: Challenges and Joys

22:20 The Evolution of Humor: From Wit to Dad Jokes

25:00 The Importance of Socializing for Personal Growth

32:30 AI and Social Media: Implications for Users

38:13 Navigating Social Media Privacy and Bulk Deletion

40:27 The Impact of Government Action on Data Protection

42:05 Reconsidering Patreon's Free Membership Tier

52:22 The Value of Passionate Readership and Audience Growth

SUMMARY

The conversation covers the topic of parenthood and its impact on creativity and writing. It explores the fear of change in writing tone, the influence of life milestones on writing, and the misconceptions about parenthood. The discussion also delves into the broadening of horizons and empathy through parenthood, and the impact on character development in writing. The conversation covers various topics related to fatherhood, humor, and socialization

Then  the hosts deliver an update on the impact of AI on social media. The hosts share personal experiences and insights on these subjects, providing valuable perspectives for listeners. The conversation covers topics related to social media privacy, Patreon's free membership tier, and the growth of an audience for comics. It delves into the challenges of bulk deleting content on Instagram, the impact of government action on data protection, and the reconsideration of Patreon's free tier. The hosts also discuss the significance of passionate readership and the gradual growth of an audience.

TAKEAWAYS

• Parenthood can influence a writer's perspective and writing style, but it doesn't necessarily mean a shift to saccharine or toothless content.
• Life milestones, such as parenthood, bring about changes in a writer's approach and perspective, leading to a broader and more empathetic understanding of characters and storytelling.
• Misconceptions about parenthood, such as the fear of losing personal interests and creative pursuits, can be dispelled through a balanced approach to time management and a deeper appreciation for the human experience.
• Parenthood broadens a writer's horizons and empathy, allowing for a deeper understanding of character viewpoints and moral codes, ultimately enhancing the quality of writing and storytelling. The initial months of parenthood may be challenging, but the long-term benefits are rewarding.
• Humor evolves over time, and dad jokes are a natural expression of finding joy in everyday moments.
• Socializing is essential for maintaining wit and humor, and it contributes to personal growth.
• The impact of AI on social media platforms like Instagram raises concerns about privacy and user experience. Bulk deleting content on social media platforms can be challenging and time-consuming.
• Government action is crucial for protecting user data from exploitation by large tech companies.
• Reconsidering the value of Patreon's free membership tier can lead to a change in perspective and understanding of its potential benefits.
• Passionate readership is more valuable than audience size, and it can contribute to the gradual growth of an audience for comics and other creative content.

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.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Being lonely in a large city has a listener feeling a little Ziggy — and cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar have some advice.

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• Feeling a little Ziggy
• Making money while on government assistance
• The secret success is... failure
• Making a board game or card game based on your comic
• Sheldon... the movie?

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 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.
• $10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions (including an archive of past livestreams), plus $5-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.

Listen to ComicLab on...

• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Spotify
• Pandora
• Stitcher

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.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

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 recent statistic about the print publishing industry have cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar thankful they self-publish. Also... the NFT comics company that reached out to Dave at San Diego Comic Con folded eight days later. 

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• Publishing statistics report 90% of published books sell under 2,000 copies
• What are the disadvantages to self-publishing?
• UPDATE: NFT company dies in 10 days
• Audiobook versions of comics
• Creating videos of comics

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 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.
• $10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions (including an archive of past livestreams), plus $5-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.

Listen to ComicLab on...

• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Spotify
• Pandora
• Stitcher

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.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar discuss the fabulously underrated Butso Method for writing. 

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• The Butso Method
• When should you launch a side project?
• UPDATE: Dave shares his Kickstarter stats
• How many pages on launch day of longform?

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 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.
• $10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions (including an archive of past livestreams), plus $5-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.

Listen to ComicLab on...

• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Spotify
• Pandora
• Stitcher

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.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

People make decisions based on emotions first, and then they back it up with logic afterwards. So cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar discuss effectively marketing your comic with feelings over facts. 

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• Using emotions to promote your comic (based on this Reddit thread)
• Growing Patreon 10% with Brad's advice
• Clip Studio Paint goes to the subscription model
• Offering help to someone who may not want it
• Contractual obligations for using another person's character

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 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.
• $10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions (including an archive of past livestreams), plus $5-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.

Listen to ComicLab on...

• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Spotify
• Pandora
• Stitcher

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.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett start a discussion about  trying to avoid becoming the people they used to fight, only to slowly realize... it had already happened.

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• Don't become your heroes
• What is the dominant publishing format?
• How much life experience goes into writing?
• How do you keep the sex fresh in NSFW comics?

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 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.
• $10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions (including an archive of past livestreams), plus $5-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.

Listen to ComicLab on...

• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Spotify
• Pandora
• Stitcher

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.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett get a case of déjà vu when a new crowdfunding service reminds them of an old scheme that crashed and burned. Then, a listener writes in to complain "It's Friday and I'm not famous!"

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• Subless — A new crowdfunding service based on an old idea
• "It's Friday and I'm not famous!"
• Weekend Web traffic

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 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.
• $10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions (including an archive of past livestreams), plus $5-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.

Listen to ComicLab on...

• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Spotify
• Pandora
• Stitcher

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.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett give advice to a comics artist who realizes that they'd accidentally plagiarized a character from someone else... but they like their character so much they just don't want to change it! Is there a plagiarism loophole? But FIRST... there's a lot of news and updates to cover!

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• Oni Press lays off senior staff, faces allegations of unpaid labor
• TokyoPop is back — but they have a long (and contentious) history with creators.
• Substack: "Day 366" has come for many comics creators who took the Substack grant.
• Tapas lays off 30% of staff
• Shopify lays off 10% of staff
• DinoKIckstarter.com — and tracking URLs
• Charles Schulz Museum — Brad and Dave will be doing a special LIVE show at the Schulz Museum on Nov. 12 to celebrate what would have been the legendary cartoonist's 100th birthday.
• "I made a plagiarism — but I LIKE it! ...Do I HAVE to change it?"

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 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.
• $10 — Gain access to the ComicLab livestreamed recording sessions (including an archive of past livestreams), plus $5-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.

Listen to ComicLab on...

• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Spotify
• Pandora
• Stitcher

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.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.