{"id":7608,"date":"2020-11-18T16:41:10","date_gmt":"2020-11-18T23:41:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/us\/?p=7608"},"modified":"2026-06-05T12:13:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T19:13:23","slug":"how-to-start-a-comic-in-five-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/how-to-start-a-comic-in-five-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"How to start a comic in five steps with They Can Talk’s Jimmy Craig"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In this guest post, Jimmy Craig<\/a> discusses five of the most important steps to starting your own comic. His comic, They Can Talk<\/a>, has been a hit across the internet for nearly 10 years.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I\u2019ll preface this by saying that the most important thing to do is START. Your comic will likely evolve over time, but it\u2019s not going to do anything stuck in your head or in a sketchbook. I started my comic, They Can Talk, in 2015 without much of a plan in mind. I started drawing a few comics and posting them online, and it quickly took shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What began as a small side project has since surpassed all of my expectations and has become an incredibly satisfying creative outlet.  If you\u2019re considering taking the dive and starting a comic of your own -- I highly recommend it.  Once you\u2019re ready to start, here are some tips that might help\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. Pick a Style<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In a lineup of comics, you should be able to immediately identify yours. Whether it\u2019s the color scheme, the illustration style, or even the layout -- your comic should look unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I keep my characters simple and the colors tend to be a little desaturated. The backgrounds are either nonexistent or very minimal and they\u2019re always left uncolored. I\u2019ve run into issues where I really want to color an object (like coloring the foliage in a comic about autumn), but I\u2019ll either figure out a work-around or abandon the idea for the sake of sticking to my self-imposed rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also use a unique font as just another element that helps my comic be identifiable. There are endless fonts to choose from, I went with one called Bkobiii by Daisy Mason. When I was looking for a font, I made sure to select one that was unique and legible.  I also think the style of the font can complement the humor or tone of the comic too. The one I selected is fun, not silly, and looks handwritten. I never use the line-tool or any shape tools, everything has an imperfect look to it, which really fits the style of the font.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a lot of opportunities to make your comic yours.  It\u2019s ok to emulate your favorite comics, but as you continue to draw, try pushing yourself to carve out your own style and voice.  And don\u2019t stress too much over the art -- from crudely drawn sketches to meticulously crafted panels, comics come in all shapes and styles.  Don\u2019t let second-guessing your art keep you from starting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Find Your Voice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the same way that the style and look of your comic should be identifiable, the dialogue and content should be too.  There are a lot of comics about cats, but I try to offer a unique perspective and voice for a subject that\u2019s anything but unique.  Regardless of the character I\u2019m writing for, they all sort of sound a bit like me.  When I think of a comic really having an identity, Reza\u2019s Poorly Drawn Lines comes to mind -- his characters always have a unique way of talking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pick a theme or a subject that you can write about for the long haul.  Whether it\u2019s an autobiographical series, a comic about a fictional character, or a comic about animals, choose something that you can stay committed to.  Comics might evolve or shift over time, but I think it\u2019s important to remain consistent at least in the early phase of building an audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I\u2019ve continued to write my comic, my voice has become more and more clear. I can look back at my catalog of work and notice things trending in a certain direction.  Since the tone and style has become more defined, it\u2019s put me in a creative box of sorts.  I think that writing within certain confines can be strangely freeing, rather than pulling ideas from anywhere, there\u2019s certain parameters to ground my thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personally, I like writing dry humor and using very minimal dialogue.  Oftentimes, there are at least two ways to deliver a punchline and I always try to pick the one that sounds more like a \u201cThey Can Talk\u201d comic rather than someone else\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The easiest way to find your own voice is to write.  Pick up a pen or pencil and write down every idea, good or bad. Someone got me a really nicely bound journal and I found myself hesitant to draw in it -- it felt more like a portfolio than a sketchbook.  Now, I get the cheapest sketchbooks I can find, which keeps me from hesitating to fill a page with nonsense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Pick Equipment\/Software<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My comics always start with pencil and paper before turning into a digital illustration.  If I have an idea, I try to get it on paper as quickly (and sloppily) as possible.  When it comes time to sit down and see if a comic actually works, I have a handful of rough sketches to reference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started drawing comics digitally with a Wacom Bamboo tablet before eventually upgrading to an Intuos Pro.  I only recently switched to a Cintiq 16 and it\u2019s been the biggest change since I\u2019ve started making the comic.  I\u2019ve actually been adding more detail to my illustrations because I\u2019ve been able to draw them faster and easier with the Cintiq.  I still use my Intuos Pro in place of a mouse, but the Cintiq is my primary drawing tablet now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I use Photoshop to create the digital versions of my comics.  Aside from the panel outlines, I draw every comic with the brush tool and with the pressure sensitivity turned off.  When I started my comic, my pressure sensitivity on my stylus was broken and after replacing it, I left the pressure sensitivity off in order to keep the look of the comic consistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For someone that draws comics digitally, I really don\u2019t take advantage of Photoshop\u2019s capabilities.  I\u2019ve started making the switch to Clip Studio Pro and have found that as long as I have a brush tool, I could really create my comic using any basic illustration software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. Stick to a Schedule<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t overstate how important it is to stick to a routine. It\u2019s easy for creative projects to fizzle out if they\u2019re neglected.  I draw one comic every Sunday night, even when I really don\u2019t feel like drawing one.  I can look back at my catalog of comics and easily notice times when I was struggling to come up with a last minute idea or second guessing the idea immediately after posting it.  I think it\u2019s important to plow through those obstacles and just keep at it.  Some people might think that skipping a week would be better than posting a subpar comic, but sticking to a routine has really helped me build an audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making a webcomic is usually a solitary endeavor so the burden is on you to stay committed and motivated.  The good news is that commitment has tangible rewards, whether it\u2019s a growing audience or building a catalog of work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5. Share and listen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My comic started on Tumblr and has since grown to include Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s necessary to dump your content anywhere and everywhere, but it\u2019s easy enough to experiment and see where people are responding to your work.  I\u2019d suggest focusing on two or three primary platforms, plus your own website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Share your comics with friends or family.  Just get someone else\u2019s input, or even work with a creative mentor.  My goal anytime I share a comic with someone is to make sure that the joke is clear.  I\u2019m fine with someone not liking the joke, but I\u2019d rather that than have someone miss the joke entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, while internet comment sections can be nauseating, I think it\u2019s worth venturing in to see what people are saying.  If there\u2019s criticism that\u2019s worth hearing, you might be more likely to hear it from a stranger than you are from your best friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n