Dos and Don'ts of Webcomic-dom, part II

Faub · Post by **Faub** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 5:54 pm

Pick a schedule and stick to it. If fans can come to your site expecting to see a comic and FIND one, they will come back. Yes, everybody has update problems. That's true. Life does interfere. However, if you find you can't stick to a schedule, maybe you picked the wrong schedule and need to fix it. But honestly, if you can't update at least once a week, there's a problem and your pages need to be that much better to make up for it.
Be known. Don't hide in the corner and refuse chances at plugging yourself when they surface. Your comic may not be up to your standards, but maybe somebody out there likes it. Fan art is an excellent way to get noticed on these forums.
Draw fan art for people you like, not just for people who will get you the most hits. Plugging your comic on sites you don't frequent just to plug will get you a bad reputation as a spammer.
Ask for help no matter how good you think you are. Somebody will be able to give it. Don't discount peoples' advice because you don't think they're qualified to give it.
If someone gives you advice you don't like, take it seriously. DO NOT BE OFFENDED BY CRITIQUES OF YOUR WORK. If you do feel offended, don't flame the critiquer. Put the post aside and come back to it when you're less emotional. Read it again and try to figure out why the person posted what they did. If you still can't figure it out, ask for clarification.
If you're going on hiatus for a while, mention when you're coming back. When it comes to that time, post SOMETHING. If you're not coming back, say so.

Jigglyman · Post by **Jigglyman** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:11 pm

Don't copy and paste. If you want to create a comic just as a vessel for your jokes and storytelling, cartooning may not be right for you. Try being a comedian or a writer. Art that changes and evolves makes a webcomic more dynamic and more pleasing to the eye, and it sets it apart from the norm.

Don't use Macromedia Flash. The quality is poor, and once you get used to it, it's hard to steer away (help me!).

Don't hide the hands in the pockets. Wuss.

Warofwinds · Post by **Warofwinds** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:16 pm

Do: spend time on backgrounds. It impresses people.

Do: Read through tutorials. You'll pick up something, dammit.

Jigglyman · Post by **Jigglyman** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:20 pm

warofwinds wrote:Do: spend time on backgrounds. It impresses people.

I've found that this is always a lose-lose situation. Draw a shoddy background, or no background at all, and people yell at it. Draw a good background, and nobody says anything, because it just feels right and natural to them, no matter how many hours you spent slaving over that one leaf's shading. The subtle effects and drawigns you put into your background people don't notice, but if you *don't* put then in there in the first place, they *do* notice their absense. Dig it? You can't win.

Jeffy · Post by **Jeffy** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:26 pm

Don't be overly wordy, try to be concise and utelize the artwork itself to express meaning without turning your comic into a novel

Do try and pick something up in the way of webdesign kowledge, or have someone else do it for you, a horrible website does take away from a comic, even if the comic itself is good. Some people may have slower connections and decide to not bother with your comic if all they see is the horrible website before the comic loads and decide the comic is probably of the same quality.

Jeffy · Post by **Jeffy** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:28 pm

Jigglyman wrote:
warofwinds wrote:Do: spend time on backgrounds. It impresses people.
I've found that this is always a lose-lose situation. Draw a shoddy background, or no background at all, and people yell at it. Draw a good background, and nobody says anything, because it just feels right and natural to them, no matter how many hours you spent slaving over that one leaf's shading. The subtle effects and drawigns you put into your background people don't notice, but if you *don't* put then in there in the first place, they *do* notice their absense. Dig it? You can't win.

Well, by not having backgrounds, by what you say, people will like the comic less, which you prevent by having backgrounds. Sounds like a win for backgrounds to me.

Jigglyman · Post by **Jigglyman** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:30 pm

Jeffy wrote: Well, by not having backgrounds, by what you say, people will like the comic less, which you prevent by having backgrounds. Sounds like a win for backgrounds to me.

What I meant was that people do not appreciate backgrounds nearly as much as they appreciate character drawings is all.

Carlin · Post by **Carlin** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:33 pm

But for those who know the pain associated with backrounds it earns you mad respect. And people aren't supposed to notice the backrounds. It's nothing more than something to make it all look natural and help you to tell your story. The creator is doing something very very right if the casual reader never notices the art, only the tale being told... If you want people to love you for your art then draw stuff, don't make a comic.

But yeah... it kinda sucks for the artist, but that's all part of the game. :/

Prettysenshi · Post by **Prettysenshi** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:41 pm

Don't: Beg a webcomic creator to end their hiatus. Usually, when a webcomicker is on hiatus, they have good reason to be, such as work, or school taking up their time. Stressing someone out to update a comic that they are doing for free will make them less eager to update.

Steverules · Post by **Steverules** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:41 pm

Do: Realize you're not going to make a living off your strip. (Yirmuhmuh gets around 15,000 hits a day and he recieved $300 in donations for December. Goats gets more than double or triple the amount of hits and his request for micropayments brought in a couple hundred dollars until donations trickled down and he quick asking for them.) Some of the biggest strips on the web don't generate enough money to make a comfortable living. Less than a handful can say they do and that living comes without health care, without a retirement plan, without paid vacation and holidays.
Do: Realize there is a real world beyond the art table. Enjoy it. Life goes by quickly time is something you can never retrieve once it's lost. Steve Troop of Melonpool was struggling with this after spending years on his comic he was trying to come to grips with the fact that he's dedicated the last several years to his comic and those years are gone forever. Having his comic on Keenspot, then Blank Label and shout outs from PvP and such he was at a point where he was frustrated at his daily hits and ready to call it quits. Since then he's reconsidered. But the reality it is a never ending beast. You can spend five, ten or twenty years of your life producing a web comic but understand that comes at a cost. You really have to prioritize your life and know what's important.
And the most important: Do it because you love to do it and nothing more. That's the only reason any of us should be doing this. If you can make a little cash then that's great but be realistic.

Anywherebuthere · Post by **Anywherebuthere** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:42 pm

Backgrounds help to establish the mood...

but look at some of the great strips that everyone talks about, and there were VERY few backgrounds.

Calvin and Hobbes? Maybe a shrubbery to let you know they're outdoors or a swingset to establish you're on a playground.
http://www.ucomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1995/01/02/

Peanuts? you had a grass field and a brick wall.
http://www.snoopy.com/comics/peanuts/ar ... 51215.html

Doonsebury-More in the way of backgrounds, but honestly, there's not a LOT in there. The color helps to establish it more than anything. And once we hop back into the archives, it took a good 10 years before we saw serious backgrounds.
http://www.doonesbury.com/strip/dailydo ... backs.html

Bloom County? Allright, breathead was NUTS on backgrounds for the sundays. But a lot of the times it was just a bed, or a television, or a dandilion field.
http://www.uclick.com/client/sea/blmd/

Steverules · Post by **Steverules** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:47 pm

The problem with backgrounds is it can become distracting. You have to decide what the focus of the panel is. I think an occassional background is nice but overall not necessary. And if it's something that is going to slow you down AND if it makes doing the strip less fun, then I'd say don't worry about it.

Jigglyman · Post by **Jigglyman** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:50 pm

anywherebuthere wrote: Calvin and Hobbes? Maybe a shrubbery to let you know they're outdoors or a swingset to establish you're on a playground.
http://www.ucomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1995/01/02/

Are you crazy? Watterson was famous for his brush, especially with his trees. His background were often very rich and detailed, and many times the highlight of his strips. Just check out: Spaceman Spiff, the wagon strips, and so on.

Steverules · Post by **Steverules** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:52 pm

Jigglyman wrote: Are you crazy? Watterson was famous for his brush, especially with his trees. His background were often very rich and detailed, and many times the highlight of his strips. Just check out: Spaceman Spiff, the wagon strips, and so on.

Watterson was a master at getting the most out of a few lines. Definately one of a kind.

Warofwinds · Post by **Warofwinds** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:57 pm

I think what I just wanted to say was, "backgrounds make good comics even better. Try it sometime." Or something... uh...*scuttles away*

Steverules · Post by **Steverules** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 7:02 pm

warofwinds wrote:I think what I just wanted to say was, "backgrounds make good comics even better. Try it sometime." Or something... uh...*scuttles away*

No, you bring up a good point, and for a comic like yours backgrounds are crucial. For humor based or cartoony comics they really aren't needed (other than the occassional one here or there) however, if you are doing a more realistic comic (fantasy, sci fi, superhero, etc.) then backgrounds are a must. And considering the incredible amount of talent on the internet the more you can do to improve the look of your comic the better.

Black Sparrow · Post by **Black Sparrow** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 7:04 pm

Do try to make every comic a piece of art in its own right. Put effort into it. Very few people want to read chicken scratchings on lined paper.

Do check out How Not to Run a Comic early on, and actually read the comments so you know what's wrong with each one

Don't change anything for the sole sake of readers. You are your number one reader, critic, and fan. Go with your gut feeling.

Nightgaunt · Post by **Nightgaunt** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 7:10 pm

Jigglyman wrote: I've found that this is always a lose-lose situation. Draw a shoddy background, or no background at all, and people yell at it. Draw a good background, and nobody says anything, because it just feels right and natural to them, no matter how many hours you spent slaving over that one leaf's shading. The subtle effects and drawigns you put into your background people don't notice, but if you *don't* put then in there in the first place, they *do* notice their absense. Dig it? You can't win.

What about doing something like 8-bit Theatre has been doing, where you have sort of a generic out-of-focus blurry background that you can reuse? It doesn't look bad, and seems simple enough to easily do.

Jeffy · Post by **Jeffy** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 7:18 pm

it helps that they're a sprite comic though, much easier to just have a general, re-usable background

Anywherebuthere · Post by **Anywherebuthere** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 7:20 pm

Jigglyman wrote:
anywherebuthere wrote: Calvin and Hobbes? Maybe a shrubbery to let you know they're outdoors or a swingset to establish you're on a playground.
http://www.ucomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1995/01/02/
Are you crazy? Watterson was famous for his brush, especially with his trees. His background were often very rich and detailed, and many times the highlight of his strips. Just check out: Spaceman Spiff, the wagon strips, and so on.

I have...

His sundays were full of detail. His dailies...not so much. Check out the archives.

Likewise. Take a look at the referances I've given. They really ARE sparce (there's a spaceman spif in there btw...not much in regards to backgrounds.)

http://www.ucomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1995/01/15/