Learn From My Mistakes

I've always found writing tutorials to be rather self-indulgent, but what else is a livejournal for? These are some things I learned the hard way back when I was doing Elf Only Inn, and god knows this knowledge isn't being put to use right now, so. . .


1) Lose your catch phrase.

Why they work: Remember "It hurts and stings?" It cracked me up. It cracked other people up. Other people used the phrase in comics or forums as a reference, and that brought me new readers. So creating a catch phrase in the beginning can be an asset and it can give you a few running gags. And that leads us to the problem with using them. . .

Why you shouldn't use them: It's a running gag. Running gags suck. Running gags are the writing equivilent of filler art. If you're going to use your catch phrase, it better be in the background of a stronger joke or else you're not being funny--you're being self-referential. That makes your palms hairy. I could have come up with a million variations on a theme to produce a "it hurts and stings" and they all involved the same set up, sort of like how Garfield hates Mondays. Is that funny anymore, either? If you can pull off a catch phrase and then stop using it later, you'll be able to enjoy the early attention it draws while not turning into a completely boring hack later.

2) Don't hurt stupid people.

Why this works: You know that Stupid Person? They are annoying. Boy, it sure would be funny to tie them to a rocket and launch them into space. OMG! That would be a cruel thing to do to a person! But don't you see? I am doing this to the Stupid Person. Then we can dig it! Yes, let us now share in our mutal loathing of the Stupid Person. Oh, how we savor their misfortunes real and imagined. My hat is off to you for this funny joke. Tell this joke with the right elements and everyone will love you. However. . .

Why you shouldn't do it: You can mix this up however you want, but this is always the same joke. You set up a figure that annoys you, make him annoying the the audience, and then deliver the sweet justice of knocking him over. Don't like Britney Spears? Make a comic that shows she is a brainless pop skank and then have her get hit by a bus. Don't like rap music? Draw a rapper and then have your Indie Rock Hero deliver a scathing retort about how much rap sucks. Follow this formula with a politician and you have created an edgy and brave work of speaking Truth to Power.

This is instant comedy! This is wacky random fun! You are on your way to being on the front page of Something Awful! YOUR LIFE IS A LIE.

3) Stop pissing on the big boys.

Why this works: Writing a webcomic can be frustrating and the rewards aren't always what you expect. Meanwhile, Jerky McSpriteRipper is enjoying success in your stead. Everyone loves seeing the tall poppies get cut down, so do a parody that reveals that the Emperor Has No Clothes! Jerky McSpriteRipper is a jerk who rips sprites! Take that, gamer comic that is more popular! And did you know that Garfield stopped being funny twenty years ago?

Why you shouldn't do it: God forbid you ever cross that threshold between struggling and succeeding, because what goes around comes around. You can't really get ahead by dragging down the people in front of you, and frankly, looking back on the times I did this (as with the above things), I'm embarassed by it.

4) Culture!

Why this works: Do you have a funny opinion about a movie or a video game or a book or whatever? Sharing this opinion with others could amuse them as well! Gosh, I do remember how frustrating that one jump in World 2-3 of Super Mario Brothers was. Ha ha ha! Yes, I "B-Ran." Later, I thought of clever ways to work b-running into a conversation. Tee hee. Did you guys see Scary Movie 15? The part where they spoofed Scary Movie 12 was aweeeesome.

Why you shouldn't do it: When future generations look back on the great works of our time, they're not going to be watching Shrek 2, okay? Shrek 2 was so loaded with this kind of humor that it will seem bizarre and campy within the next few years. On the other hand, the Pixar movies will be watched for generations. The difference is that a Pixar movie touches on universal themes of the human condition that anyone can relate to, while Shrek 2's laugh lines are when Pinocchio does that thing from Mission: Impossible while wearing panties. That requires future generations to have knowledge they're not likely to have to be funny.


You can do include all of the above things in a comic without bad effect, in fact they may create some of your funniest strips. But whether or not you create a successful comic will depend on all the times you DON'T do these things. That's the difference between Penny Arcade and Imitator of the Day, or the difference between Achewood and a poorly drawn template comic.