Episodes
Purity Culture and Webcomics
Today we're going to be talking about a social direction that can be equal parts intimidating and confusing for people posting their comics around the internet.
Now, we’re all doing our best to be respectful of different groups out there. It is never okay to be a phobic jerk, and there’s all kinds of resources out there for making sure you’re not doing something harmful that you do not intend. But there’s also a lot of challenging topics out there that you might want to talk about in your webcomic, and a lot of reasons people might get mad about the fact that you’re addressing them. There’s a lot of nuance and we probably won’t be able to handle all of it, but we’re going to address that fear of backlash that we’re loosely calling “purity culture” in this context.
Lettering
A comic isn’t complete until the lettering is done! Today we're going to be talking about lettering - putting the words on the art of your comic panels, and tips and tricks to keep everything readable.
Social Media (with Jay!)
In this era of webcomics, Social Media is a powerful tool with so many uses. From advertising to community discussion, it can be a great resource for a creator. But as great as it is, it can be a bit overwhelming to figure out the most effective way to utilize it. And on top of that, it feels like the entirety of the social media landscape changes almost every couple years, making it difficult to keep up with. Especially when you’re already dedicating so much time making your webcomics! So lets dive into ways you can make your social media presence work for your comic in a sustainable, manageable way.
Online Stores (with Star!)
There comes a time in every webcomic's life where the creator begins pondering the wonderful world of merchandise. From stickers to books and more, the possibilities are endless and the idea of opening your own shop can be both thrilling and intimidating all at once. But have no fear! Our hosts, along with special guest Star (@starfishface), are here to help and provide their strategies for things like store hosting, what type of items to make, and how to make sure this endeavor is worth your time!
Webcomic Web Design (with Alyssa!)
Today we're going to be talking about websites, and the logistics, coding, and design challenges– and benefits!-- that come with them.
Agents (with Seth!)
Webcomics have a long history of being solo creator-run enterprises, operating independently of any sort of larger publishing structure. As Webcomics have risen in popularity, these fields have begun to overlap. Seth Fishman, a literary agent and vice president of the Gernert Company , joins us today to discuss how literary agents can be used to bridge the gap between solo creator and professional publishing.
Guide to Taking a Hiatus
If you’ve been making or reading webcomics for any length of time, you’re probably familiar with the term ‘hiatus’. Webcomics go on hiatus when things come up for the creator, either on or offline, that impact their ability to keep updating the story.
The Mind Games
Today we’re going to have a bit of a follow up on our episodes, Numbers, and talk about the impact they have on our fellow creators mindsets when creating. We touched a bit on the subject in that episode, but today we’re going to tackle the subject in a broader sense, how to handle, learn when to walk away, and to ultimately understand your worth as a creator.
The Numbers Game
Today’s topic is about how stats, analytics, and other metrics can affect the creative process.
Conventions - Part 2
Today is the 2nd part of our CONVENTIONS 2-PARTER! This time we answer common questions about participating in conventions as a webcomic creator - tabling, traveling, pricing, budgeting, and a whole lot more!
Conventions - Part 1
Hello and welcome to the Screen Tones, where we talk anything and everything webcomics! Today we’re going to be talking about these crazy events that happen sometimes when webcomic artists can meet each other and their readers…. in real life??? Wild! That’s right, we’re talking about Conventions!
Pitching
If you’ve spent time in the comics world, you’ve probably heard people talking about pitching their comics to publishers, awards, review sites, collectives, and so on. But what are pitches? And should YOU be thinking about them?
Making Money
It’s time to talk about the dreaded subject of THE HUSTLE. These days, it seems the subject of monetization is on a lot of webcomic creators’ minds. If it’s not on yours, we envy your calm and your liberation from the oppressive weight that is modern western capitalism, and you should listen to another episode, please, you can escape the contagion, it’s not too late!!!
Marketing
So, MARKETING. You’ve got a cool new comic, and you’ve put it online, and now all you gotta do is… get people to read it! Easy, right? ….Right?
Reader Spaces vs. Creator Spaces
Communities take a couple forms in webcomics. Finding a community to support you on your journey as a creator is important, and sometimes they’re going to be your proofreaders, your cheerleaders, and recommend printers or conventions. There’s also the communities we make for our readers to discuss your comic and meet each other! So we’re going to be talking about those things, and where they live, and what the differences and expectations are for both!
The Intro "DO IT (feat. Shia LaBeouf)", and the Outro "It's Good To See You Again!!", both by Adrianwave, have been used and modified in good faith under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Licensed. Edits include: Fade IN/OUT, and a repeat added to the beginning of "It's Good To See You Again!!". For more information on this creative commons use, please reference https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/