[sohmer]

I get a few dozen e-mails a week asking for my thoughts regarding the creation of a webcomic, for potential new creators. Rather than copy and paste, I thought I would post the following article I had written for a site (which was never published), which might be of some use.

To my way of thinking, it touches upon the single most important aspect of creating a successful webcomic.

***

I’ve been involved in Webcomics for a good 8 years now, with it being my main source of income and a full time job for about 5. I’ve had my share of successes, and plenty of failures I try to hide under the proverbial rug.

Since the beginning, and still to this day, one of the biggest things that continually irk me is the sense of entitlement that people in Webcomics have, on both sides of the spectrum here, including readers and creators.

For the sake of the point I’m attempting to make, we’ll focus on the creators.

We’ve seen over the past few years an increase in the Print vs. Web debates, that only seems to be intensifying as the newspaper continues its decline.

I’m not going to delve deep into that debate, because I have nothing to prove to either side. I’ve discovered a webcomic model that works for us, I have 2 webcomics in the Top 10 on the web and we’ve managed to put together a company that employs twenty full time employees, all based around webcomics.

From these many, many debates (sometimes civil, often not), I have seen Webcomic creators absolutely go into meltdown when print cartoonists refer to themselves as professional, with the webcomic crowd playing the part of the amateurs.

It’s to those people, those webcomic creators, that I’d like to address with a simple statement:

If you want to be treated professionally, act professionally.

Get your strip up when you say you will. Bill Waterson never missed an update because he was drunk, tired or sick. Neither should you. Stick to your update schedule, not only to the day, but to the hour.

Remove the “Donate” button from your site. Professionals cartoonists aren’t beggars, we don’t need handouts. Earn your money, don’t pan handle for it.

Rather than spend 4 hours of your day ranting on online forums about why another is so wrong, and you’re so very right, ignore it. Every time a flame war breaks out, it accomplishes nothing but make all parties look like children. Keep your head down, focus on your work, let that and your success be what speaks for you.

Don’t let your readers dictate what your work will be. Trust yourself, your direction. You may end up with a few less than stellar arcs or strips, but you need to follow through on your vision.

Accept your limitations. If you’re not a business person, don’t try to be one. There are many business-minded individuals who love to partner with a creative force such as yourself, you just need to find him/her.

Don’t respond to hate e-mail. You get nothing out of it except wasted time, time you could use to be working on your strip.

Forget everything else, forget the drama, the arguments, it’s the work that matters.

You’re only an amateur if you let yourself be one. Act professional in what you do, and you will be treated as such.

- Because I can.

Quote of the Day

“With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
-President Barack Obama (2009)

[Heltica]

I don't normally comment, nor post in the forum, but some things require it.

Not many could say it better than you just did. It's just sad that the explanation of Professionalism and it's execution is ever necessary, but that's the world we live in.


Right on Sohmer.

[Malcontent]

Agreed -- some people really do have this strange sense of entitlement, don't they? They think they should just be handed what they want on a silver platter, not realizing or unwilling to realize that they need to work for it.

Sohmer, I doubt I'll ever do my own webcomic but this advice is nevertheless excellent for any endeavor, really.

[wraith_six]

This isn't just webcomics advice, this is advice for life in general. Take the broad strokes, about working hard, keeping to your own deadlines and commitments, etc... you've got a solid workplace philosophy.

Very well done, Sir.

[Society's Bane]

Hmmm, a sense of nostalgia... anyways.

Indeed your statement does ring true and ring true hard. It is a hard double standard that while even though one may put forth admirable effort, it is not fully recognized due to some irregularities in their work.

However, consistency is a recurring trait of either the skilled and able or the passionate and motivated. Everyone else is quite essentially weak sauce in front of your kung fu.


Also, I think my signature/quote is rather appropriate.

This post has been edited by Society's Bane: 21 January 2009 - 03:58 PM

[Arcidius]

Well said sir. You and Lar should be winning awards yearly for most professional and committed artists. In the 5 years I've been reading LICD, I think you've missed 3 updates? And 2 of them were for artist changes. You have webcomics out today that only update 3 days a week if you're lucky. Half the time they miss at least one update and then spend an hour whining about how it's not their fault. You guys on the other hand put out 9 comics a week. And never miss an update. You apologize if your update is an hour late.

That's the difference between you and them. That why you guys are professionals and why they'll always be amateurs.

Keep up the great work

[dejibebi]

Well said my man. Very well said indeed.

There's wisdom in there for all of us and I much appreciate it.

[james b]

Hola Somior,

This is excellent advice on professionalism in general. I feel like I've read it before, somewhere.

I would like to make two requests of you. First, for my amusement, would you mind posting those V-day contest requests that you find most creative or funny for the rest of us? I mean, share the love, dude.

Also, as a creative entrepreneur, I would like your opinion. I've decided to take up science fiction as a hobby / secondary career. Give me your A-list of favorite authors so that I might read everything they've written and better prepare myself for the plunge into the arts.

Nice comic, btw. I've read your strip every day for years.

James

[MechZilla]

Actually, I do believe I've seen that before, Sohmer.
I believe Scott Kurtz had it up at one time over on PVP back when this particular topic last reared it's ugly head (or one similar) to it.
I still agree with it.
As someone who's TRYING to get one off the ground (time versus money versus work versus powerful need to eat), I can really respect this one.

[Dracowrath]

Verey nicely put Sohmer. While I doubt I'll ever make a webcomic (I have no real writing skills, and my drawing ability is pretty much null), as others have said this is a great philosophy for other things aside from webcomics. And kudos to you guys for getting up one comic every day (including Sunday now) and an extra on Monday and Thursday for LFG. Lar takes a few hours out of his day to make sure he has the comic drawn and ready for the day, and Sohmer makes sure its not just random doodles with his writing. Not to mention the other employees at Blind Ferret, making sure the site runs, getting the comic up, and doing all the behind the scenes yet just as important roles. Just, one question....

Why Blind Ferret?

[invisiblerabbit]

Great Article.

[The Literary]

Great article, Sohmer! I've been planning on launching a webcomic for a long time now, and I'm proud to say I intended to follow everything you've mentioned!

(Although I might be a little heavier on the Banhammer than you recommend on the Flame War part.)

[Xinchronize]

Lovely article Mr.Sohmer. Touched me in a place very little things can reach (Not in a perverse way).
Thank you! =D

[brenton8090]

I have got to say, thank you. This hit me right when I needed. I've recently started writing my own comic, and I haven't built the site yet, but this advice is both helpful and timely. If my comic pans out, i'll be sure to let you know.

[Claymason]

Wonderfully put, and beyond hitting the nail on the head.

Before I discovered LICD and LFG, I honestly had no idea that web comics could update on time (I'm new to web comics). There are a few that I read (I use this term loosely) that say they update 3 days a week, but you only get 1 page a month. Seeing how you and Lars work, compared to other people, really shows that I need to start reading web comics written by better people.

And I can honestly say that it wasn't until I started reading LICD, that I started being excited about updates.

[Paper_Dick]

HEAR HEAR!!! I am tired of artists bitching about their failures! Van Gogh never bitched! Michelangelo didn't look at the Sistine Chapel, and say "Sorry guys, but I got REALLY hammered last night."

They fucking did what they love, not for the money, but for the love of doing it! grow the FUCK UP!

/rant

[dragonking]

sohmer: well said sir, well said

and now, a standing ovation(?)

[ElPaso69]

Well said Sohmer.

I think the problem a lot of webcomic creators have is publicity. If you get a strip in the paper, pretty much every reader of that paper reads that strip. But online, you have to earn every single reader from scratch. For many (especially those without a budget), that means hitting the blogs, making a fuss about your work, and trying to build and keep an interest. Otherwise, your comic could just fall into the infinite abyss of the Internet.

The other problem is steady income. I'd bet 99% of webcomic creators have it start out as a hobby. Other than the "Donate" button, they'd have to wait months in order to build up a repertoire that can be marketed into books, t-shirts, and other paraphernalia. That takes hundreds of man-hours and a pretty penny for webhosting. It's a bit of a vicious cycle: until your product starts being marketable, it will stay a hobby, and while you treat it as a hobby, its very difficult to become a professional activity.

I can't fathom how you managed to overcome such things and turn into a well-staffed enterprise, but I think the rarity of such success is inherent with the industry. Maybe if there was some sort of online New York Times webcomics type-company, that took in webcomic creators, paid them by the strip, and posted out the collection to the world (with some ads or something). While feasible, that might just defeat the definition of a "webcomic". Nonetheless, I hereby patent said idea, in case it might actually work. (I know that's not how patents work, but shhh.)

Regardless, there are very few in this industry that I would consider "professionals". Yourselves and Howard Tayler (of Schlock Mercenary) are the only ones I know who have never really missed a deadline. (And Tayler has a donate button, tee hee). Tim Buckley and Scott Kurtz have also managed to turn their webcomics into a business, and (for the most part) keep their work professional, but neither of them have grown it to your scale. Obviously Penny Arcade requires no defending, they've got a following to rival Jesus. But just about everyone else is stuck in the "hobby" cycle, needing popularity to go professional and professionalism to go popular.

</rant>

[dark_tempest0_0]

I have to thank you Sohmer. My friend and I have been planning on launching a comic within the year, (We're still in the process of writing) and this article has really reenforced some of our plans. I appreciate you posting this cause it shows the difference between professionalism and just a hobby or past time. A web-comic is fun by all means but it's also hard work. Many people don't see that and think it's something you can just do on a whim. Thanks for the words of wisdom and thanks for being the most professional web-comic-er ever!

[The Illustrious Inker]

An excellent post! I read LICD and LFG every update. Are they the best comics on the web? No. There's prettier art and better writing all over. But you are and always have been a pair of consummate professionals (not to diminish the rest of the team, they're less visible). The strip is always on time. It is always a full, legitimate strip. No cop-out strips. No lazy holidays. No "sketches" as replacement. Need more proof then look at the product. A lot of comic artists who work in color try to figure out how to make their strips in gray or black and white at book time since it is a higher profit margin. You guys on the other hand put out a beautiful book that speaks to its quality.

No short cuts, no lazy ways out. Professionalism is what it is all about and it what takes LICD/LFG from above average comics to the coveted "top 10."