Line #75 SoYouWantTo/WriteAWebcomic


1	Writing a webcomic is a great way to test out new ideas and build up your reputation as an artist, illustrator, storyteller, and entrepreneur! Rather than accepting the yoke of editors and publication, you've opted for doing things on your own terms... which means the success (and failure) of your comic falls squarely on your shoulders.
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3	!Really, this should be called "How to MAKE a Webcomic..."
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5	... yes, it's possible to work with a friend where only one of you writes the comic and the other one draws the comic, but there are lots of reasons to avoid this. Just because Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik pull it off just fine with ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'' doesn't mean that two-person webcomics ''always'' work.
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7	* Uneven determination between you and your creative partner means that your comic will only last as long as the other half doesn't burn out first, and if you're going to be successful, you WILL need to plan for the long haul.
8	* This can often be seen as an uneven relationship, especially if one of you is better at their half of the craft than the other.
9	* In the event you become wildly successful, the profits will be split somehow. Better to decide now how that's going to happen, especially since that means expenses should be split the same way.
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11	Remember, it's a lot easier to start a comic with bad art (that gets better as you learn to draw over time) than it is to start a comic with bad writing. [[ArtEvolution People often expect the art in a comic to improve over time, anyway...]]
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13	!Required Reading
14	There's a couple other pages for writing certain genres of comics that's worth reading. Even if your comic doesn't fall into one of these categories, it can't hurt.
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16	* SoYouWantTo/WriteAFurryComic
17	* SoYouWantTo/WriteAGamingComic
18	* SoYouWantTo/WriteASuperheroComic
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20	!!Necessary Tropes
21	In writing a webcomic, two things will become readily apparent:
22	* You're still writing a comic, so for the most part, all the Comic Book related Tropes still apply.
23	* If you have designs on making a book or other saleable media of your archives, you'll need to design your strips with this in mind -- so despite all the buzz about making comics for the internet, you're still ultimately constrained by what fits in print.
24	** Not that this is a bad thing -- No matter what Scott [=McCloud=] said about the future of comics, most readers are still all too unfamiliar with "novel innovations" like adding audio and video animation to a comic, at least not as a regular feature.
25	** Comics as a visual interface are pretty damned good all by themselves, anyway. There are still innovations to be made within SequentialArt itself -- see how the "Kirby Style" of 1960's Marvel differs from modern comics -- so there's still plenty of room to grow.
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27	As part of the NewMedia, you also have some additional advantages/constraints:
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29	* AudienceParticipation -- Instant feedback (and the ability to act on it) ahoy!
30	* WebcomicTime -- like ComicBookTime, but often worse since [[ScheduleSlip webcomics don't always update on time to begin with]], and may not be moving at the same pace as a Newspaper Strip.
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32	!Choices to Make
33	* ShamelessSelfPromotion -- you'll have to do some of this, at least to start, or else nobody will ever find your comic. If you don't care about it, then fine, but sooner or later, you probably will end up engaging in some of this.
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35	!Pitfalls
36	!!... In Your Comic
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38	* AbandonedInfoPage -- or your abandoned about page, your abandoned store page, your abandoned wiki... look, we get it, you're busy. But if you start something, please try to finish it.
39	* CerebusSyndrome -- Your comic just became SeriousBusiness.
40	* Administrivia/DeadLink: If you ever change website, engine or otherwise alter your comic's URL scheme, ''by all means try to remain compatible with the old one''. Provide tools to convert, possibly on a separate page. If you switch from [=IDs=] to dates or the reverse, do show both on the new website.
41	** For the same reason, ''don't'' use URL prettyfiers that include only the title. Never make a page's URL dependent solely on the title: An ID or date is an information that is also useful to the reader... or to the guy who has to change the links next upgrade.
42	* ScheduleSlip -- remember, Regular Updates = Regular Readership.
43	** You'll want to keep a StripBuffer to prevent this; how big that buffer is depends on how topical your comic is meant to be, and how much effort it takes to make a comic, which could be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Heck, if you can get ahead by a few months, more power to ya.
44	** And for managing that buffer, you'll want to use a Content Management System that allows you to schedule updates -- [[http://comicpress.org/ ComicPress]] is the industry darling (and free!), but as long as you can schedule updates to go up on time (so you can go to a convention or elsewhere without having to worry about updates), anything will work.
45	* [[SturgeonsLaw Sturgeon's Law]] -- 90% of works in ''any'' medium are crud, and webcomics are no exception.
46	** While it is expected you'll get better the longer your comic runs... there's nothing that says you couldn't just be improving from 15th percentile total crap to 45th percentile [[SoOkayItsAverage slightly less crap]], as opposed to something that crosses the 90th percentile and becomes good.
47	* TwoGamersOnACouch -- It's been done so many times, you'll have better odds doing a Furry Porn Comic.
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49	And in addition to all these... finding ways to avoid responsibility for an update is also an issue:
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51	* BSideComics -- Not a bad thing, but not what the fans came for either.
52	* CutAndPasteComic -- Once you get it right (and you're lazy), why mess with perfection?
53	* GISSyndrome -- Now with the added risk of copyright infringement!
54	* GuestStrip -- Someone else draws your strip for you while you're away. Typically a one-off.
55	* HolidayNonupdate -- Just don't abuse it, okay?
56	* OrphanedSeries -- What this article is trying to prevent. Either this page will help you learn what you need to know to keep a webcomic going for at least enough pages that you can make a small comic book out of it, or it'll discourage you before you go ahead and [[ShamelessSelfPromotion put up advertising and your own TVTropes Page]] only to have the thing disappear.
57	* PhotoComic -- Like drawing, but even lazier! Actually quite difficult to pull off in practice, because most photos aren't as easy to "read" as illustrations are.
58	* PixelArtComic -- Like a Sprite Comic, but at least the art here is original.
59	* RemixComic -- Taking someone else's comic and changing something (usually the text) for humorous effect. Still copyright infringement, by the way.
60	* SeriesHiatus -- For when you just don't know when you'll work on the comic again. Usually how the average webcomic becomes an OrphanedSeries.
61	* SpriteComic -- Remember, using sprites from actual games is copyright infringement!
62	* StickFigureComic -- XKCD did it. You probably won't be so lucky.
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64	!!... In The Rest Of Your Business
65	Guess what? A comic is often just as much about its creator as it is its content... which means if you're an asshole, it's going to REALLY hurt your comic's appeal. No matter how much fans love your DeadpanSnarker character, you can't actually BE a DeadpanSnarker without offending some of the same people who're supposed to give you money.
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67	Remember, [[ProtectionFromEditors you're in charge...]] which means there's nobody to blame for ExecutiveMeddling if you screw it up.
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69	* AuthorAppeal -- Yes, you have to be passionate about your work above the rest of us... but not like THAT!
70	* AuthorAvatar -- While these can be done right (and are outright necessary for Journal Comics), these often turn into {{Mary Sue}}s.
71	* AuthorFilibuster -- When your opinions overtake the comic to the point that everyone who disagrees with you wants to stop reading.
72	* CreatorBreakdown -- When you decide to take your bad mood out on the comic for no good reason.
73	* HairTriggerTemper -- If you have one of these, you may be in the wrong business.
74	* TheRant -- Often used to shill TheMerch and explain a ScheduleSlip, it can also turn into a soap box. Use it wisely.
75	* SmallNameBigEgo -- No matter how big your comic gets, you'll always be small potatoes compared to the mainstream. Rub people the wrong way while you're being a ShamelessSelfPromoter, and you'll end up one of these.
76	* WriterOnBoard -- The cause of many an AuthorFilibuster.
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78	!Potential Subversions
79	!Writer's Lounge
80	!!Suggested Themes and Aesops
81	!!Potential Motifs
82	!!Possible Plots
83	!Departments
84	!!Set Designer
85	!!Props Department
86	!!Costume Designer
87	!!Stunt Department
88	The good news is, not all webcomics are action-oriented, so you don't always have to worry about illustrating fights.
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90	The bad news is, whatever your comic contains, it HAS to be illustrated. MagicAmulet? PlotTrinket? If it's worth talking about, it's worth drawing... unless you happen to be working on the next Webcomic/DinosaurComics, you can't just get away with copy-pasting the same images over and over.
91	!!Marketing Department
92	ShamelessSelfPromotion was going to be a big part of any webcomic you've ever heard of, sure. The thing is, it'll take more than that to get noticed. You're going to want to try a lot of things -- from conventions to online ads -- but here's some ideas to consider once you're on your way:
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94	* DerivativeWorks of all kinds, including:
95	** Any kind of {{Spinoff}} you can come up with.
96	** ThemedTarotDeck (or just a card deck, really -- still lots of cards)
97	** [[TitleTheAdaptation Title: The Adaptation]] -- This strategy involves making spinoffs and adaptations into various new types of media, whether it be a series of audio-enhanced Youtube clips, dress-up dolls, or even a new game for your fans to play. Takes a bit more effort than just the comic alone does, so you may be dependent on fans to do most of the heavy lifting, or at least making sure that you're playing to your comic's strengths in making and releasing new material.
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99	Also, be wary of:
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101	* CreatorKiller -- When you put out something so horrific, you'll never be taken seriously again.
102	* FranchiseKiller -- When it ''only'' takes down the reputation of your comic.
103	* MisaimedMarketing -- In short, don't make a toy line if your comic is porno.
104	** Rather, call them "maquettes" and charge [[CrackIsCheaper thrice the price.]]
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106	!Extra Credit
107	!!The Greats (or at least worth studying)
108	* ''Webcomic/{{Lackadaisy}}'': Pretty much everything one should strive to find in a webcomic, or printed media in general. Despite starring furry cats as its characters, the choice is more stylistic than anything, and indeed allows for a wonderful range of expression. The setting is painstakingly researched, with sharp writing that intertwines humor with drama, and the artwork is easily matched with that of the Golden and Renaissance Ages of Animation. One pitfall to look out for though: The art is so gorgeous that creating each strip takes a lot more effort than, say, a three-panel strip with flat colors. This has inevitably led to ScheduleSlip and even SeriesHiatus. If you're new to the world of webcomic creation, start simple and don't bite off more than you can chew!
109	* ''Webcomic/{{Inverloch}}'': Besides good art, characters, and storyline, it has the distinction of being a ''completed'' webcomic. Few webcomics manage to achieve this!
110	* ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'': It is a good example of ArtEvolution, as it goes from being stark black and white to appropriately shaded to in full color, and is a ''excellent'' example of how to do an awesome webcomic.
111	* ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'' and ''Webcomic/KevinAndKell'': These show what you can do with a regular newspaper-strip format without getting too fancy with the graphics. ''Freefall'' manages it with a small cast, ''Kevin and Kell'' with a large one; ''Freefall'' is a hard-science futuristic piece centered on a trio of non-human viewpoints, while ''Kevin and Kell'' shows what Earth would be like if modern civilization were run by humanoid animals who still had most of their instincts calling the shots. So studying both can give you a good idea of the medium's range.
112	* ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'' and ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': These are the top dogs as far as stick-figure comics. If you're thinking of doing a comic without being able to draw humanoid figures, study both of them (if the early stuff on ''xkcd'' turns you off, use the Random button a few dozen times to get an idea of [[http://c.xkcd.com/random/comic/ what it's like]]). ''xkcd'' stays minimal, while ''The Order of the Stick'' gets pretty epic with its graphics; ''xkcd'' has a few recurring characters but not much of a plot, while ''The Order of the Stick'' meets the criteria of [[TheEpic the classical Epic]]. Also, ''The Order of the Stick'' uses computer graphics, so its circles and lines are crisp and the characters look consistent; ''xkcd'' seems more hand-drawn (the earlier stuff was scanned from notebook pages, though the later stuff is obviously drawn on a computer).
113	* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'': The writing may not be for everybody, but if you want a taste of what's really possible with the internet as your canvas, you need to take a look. Homestuck is part comic, [[MediumBlending part web serial, part animation, and even part videogame]]. (Though note that with the end of support for Adobe Flash, the comic in its original form is only available through the fan-made [[https://bambosh.github.io/unofficial-homestuck-collection/ Unofficial Homestuck Collection]]).
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Context SoYouWantTo / WriteAWebcomic