h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

...simply look for someone to write 'em for you, and just draw what they say. That's what I did

Certainly no reason why not. Anarchy Gordon's a good advertisement for the co-operative approach.

I suspect it's the drawing that puts most people off. It's common enough to have a deep fear of drawing in case it turns out other than how we intended, or to undervalue it. I know I suffer a bit from irritation when I just can't get something right.

Then there's "perfectionism" that paralyses people. I used to tweak things endlessly and keep it all strictly unseen because it wasn't entirely right. Then I decided that what perfectionism really was, is "Not having the guts to cock things up".

To be honest, I'm not *that* fussed if something isn't absolutely perfect any more - if I can see an improvement in what I've done since last time or the time before, I'm happy enough.

That's the good thing about "sequential art" () - you can just put it behind you and move on to the next one; it gains strength through being part of a whole rather than having to stand on its own.

Or maybe I'm just babbling. I won't say I'm drawing things the way I want 'em yet, but it's getting better - so the only way to learn is to practice, apparently.

Hmmm - narrative as exo-skeleton, holding up the weakest points in the artwork?

No, I think you're right. Pick any webcomic - one that's been running for a couple of years or so, preferably. Then look through the first episodes and the last ones, and the change is often amazing. Not always just better execution, but a complete change in style sometimes.

See SCG, or rather, Bobbins.

Once upon a time I submitted a real paper and ink four panel strip to a syndicate. You have to submit six weeks worth, including sundays. An enormous amount of work. They were mostly daily gags involving an animated throw rug and an intelligent television. I forget what it was called. That was over a decade ago.

I was talking recently to someone who's worked for DC and Marvel as a colourist in the past, and he was talking about having to colour 9 pages a day at some points. His solution to the problem of having to work so fast was quite straightforward - "You soon learn to only make the mistakes that look intentional".

In the cartoonist's dictionary, "mistakes" are defined as "What separates your style from others"

Then three cheers for cock-ups and infinite variety.

Robert Benchley once quoted himself as saying, "It took me fifteen years to learn that I wasn't a writer. By that time I was making a living at it."

Quoted himself as saying?

Well, he was a fictional humourist. He could have been lying.

It's like that fellow who uttered a bon mot and Oscar Wilde said,
"I wish I'd said that." The fellow replied,"Don't worry, you will."