The episode is sponsored by Dreamhost —the first step in owning and controlling your own work! Are you a shameless self-promoter? Brad thinks a little bit of shame might be a good thing. Also — how do you find good comics?

Today's Show

• Whose house are you in?
• Susan MacTaggart's personal affirmation
• Dreamhost.com/comiclab
• Oval vs rounded corber word balloons
• Finding good comics.

Summary

In this episode of ComicLab, hosts Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett explore the nuances of self-promotion in the comic industry, using a humorous anecdote about a drop of water to illustrate how small events can have significant impacts on our mindset. They discuss the importance of understanding the context of promotion, emphasizing the idea of 'whose house are you in' to navigate social media and community interactions effectively. The conversation highlights the balance between promoting one's work and being a supportive community member, advocating for kindness and generosity as key strategies for building relationships and gaining visibility in the comic world.

Next, they discuss the importance of word balloons, lettering techniques, and the challenges of discovering new webcomics. They explore the nuances of choosing the right shape for word balloons, the significance of readability in comics, and share personal strategies for finding new comics to read. The conversation also touches on the role of tastemakers in the comic community and the importance of supporting fellow creators through platforms like Kickstarter.

Takeaways

• A single drop of water can change your perspective.
• Understanding the context of promotion is crucial.
• It's important to know whose house you are in when promoting.
• Self-promotion should be done in a way that respects the community.
• Being kind and helpful can lead to better engagement.
• Not every post needs to be promotional; value can be given freely.
• Building relationships is more effective than aggressive self-promotion.
• Generosity in sharing others' work can enhance your own visibility.
• Reading the room is important, but knowing the room is even more so.
• Success often requires starting, even if you're not great at first.
• Word balloon shapes can significantly affect readability.
• Choosing the right word balloon is a blend of art and science.
• Lettering is crucial for maintaining the flow of a comic.
• Consistency in negative space around text enhances clarity.
• Discovering new webcomics can be challenging but rewarding.
• Tastemakers play a vital role in comic discovery.
• Supporting creators through platforms like Kickstarter is beneficial.
• Personal preferences influence the choice of word balloon shapes.
• Readability is essential for engaging the reader.
• Comic creation involves multiple stages of design and thought.

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Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. He is available for personal consultations. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive. He is the co-director of the comics documentary, Stripped.