Episode 301: What it Takes to be a Working Comics Pro

This week, we compare notes on stories we're starting, including penciling pages in a new story (4:25), compartmentalizing a story's editing fixes (15:20), finishing comics in preparation for a trade (23:50), closing in on a structure for a new story (33:10), sticker designs (42:20), and a recap of Rose City Comic Con (46:20).

This week, we talk about convention prep for an air travel show (4:15), finishing projects as a skill (13:20), the first comics we ever made (22:15), reviewing critical pages to close a story (30:35), putting work in an anthology story (38:45), ironing out the key plot elements of a sprawling story (48:15), and horror sticker designs (56:25).

This week, we celebrate a Kickstarter coloring book launch and the work behind it (6:25), provide a recap of Keith's new favorite convention (16:25), submitting a cover to a client (27:00), and making a big structural change to a non-linear story (30:45).

This week, we talk about changing your work method for a crucial scene (3:00), the graphic design work (and the other work) in setting up a Kickstarter (12:45), finishing a page outline for a comic (27:50), and field reports from two different shows (34:20).

This week, we talk about the pages that require heavy work and visual problem-solving (2:20), how "Making the bad thing" doesn't apply to some of the creative process (14:00), continuing the page outline for a script (25:10) and an anthology short (31:40), exploring a new storytelling format (40:15), and pushing through some urgent project management issues (52:50).

This week, we talk about trashing a page layout and starting from scratch (4:30), working hard to finish a comic script on a deadline (16:00), expanding your print repertoire (22:00), and buying books for future story fodder and expanding your breadth (27:20) before this week's main topic: what it takes to be a working comics professional (37:40).

This week, we celebrate our 300th episode by hanging out with Cory Kerr (Rage of Enlightenment), Jim Lujan (The Unicornians), Scott Serkland (Young and the Dead), and Gary Hodges (D vs M) and recapping this year's creative retreat! We start with pre-retreat work and expectations (5:30), then compare drawing tablets (16:00), and discuss pushing to finish a draft (26:50), synthesizing feedback (38:40), looking at progress a different way (54:00), and much more!

This week, we talk about writing what you can, but being okay with not having all of the answers for a comic script (3:10), making the time to create (7:30), and getting feedback from readers (13:20) before we dig into our time at San Diego Comic Con, including overall impressions (20:00), reconciling being a fan versus a creator (32:30), and staying level (45:00).

This week, we talk about getting down to the wire for a pre-con commission (3:50), enjoying the act of exploring scenes at the panel level (14:00), acting as a project manager (24:00), layering mysteries (35:45), and enjoying things you can't possibly make (43:30).

This week, we talk about working with artists to fine-tune a story and/or concepts (6:30), and working through a new print with a tight deadline (13:30) before we discuss the highlights of a chock-filled email from comic creator Josh Pasquini (20:00), including the benefits of distribution versus crowdfunding (36:20), and flatting colors (47:50).