Chewing Pencils

Tip 1: Become a Good Storyteller

We kick off our trip back into the top ten tips with storytelling. Funnily enough, not much has changed with this tip - and I doubt it ever will. Just yesterday I had a young guy raving to me about a web based comic that he read every day. He said that the jokes were great and he could relateto many of the things that happened in this comic world. But at the end of the conversation, he said to me, “You know, I don’t understand why it’s so good - all the drawings are nothing but stick figures…”

And it was true. The example he showed me was nothing but stick figure drawings sitting at a crudely drawn kitchen table. But the dialogue was brilliant! The storytelling carried the bad drawing and communicated perfectly what the artist was trying to convey.

So, if this is the first time you’ve visited the “Top Ten” make sure you get this - making some money our of cartoon drawing means you have to be a good storyteller. If you can draw as well, that’s just a bonus!

Here’s w reminder of some of the other things from the original post:

It is a popular misconception that cartooning is all about drawing. But if you take a look at some of the comic strips and editorial cartoons that appear in the papers each day, you’ll quickly release the simple fact that some of these guys can’t draw for peanuts!

Yet, there is no denying that they are successful cartoonists, some of whom have become extremely well known and wealthy from what they do. Why? Not because they are good drawers, but because they are good, often great, storytellers.

Cartooning is all about communicating a message. Your cartoon might contain the best artwork you’ve ever produced, but if it doesn’t communicate anything no editor or publisher will want to touch it. The message might be a joke intended to raise a smile. It might be a political comment. It might be instructional, motivational, persuasive or many other things. But it MUST convey a message.

Thus, one of the most important things for an aspiring professional cartoonist to get his or her head around is the art of storytelling. Here are some of the things that have helped me become a better storyteller and thus a better cartoonist.

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Basic writing training.

I didn’t do a course as such, but read some books on how to write well. My favourite is John Marsden’s Everything I Know About Writing. I think it’s out of print now, but you may be able to pick up second hand copies around the place. Some of the exercises he suggests in terms of generating ideas are pure gold!

Many cities will have writing groups or centres that will offer short courses on writing skills/storytelling that might be worthwhile if time and money allow.

Use good writing tools.

By this I mean keeping a good dictionary, thesaurus and english grammar book by my desk at all times. While cartoonists will often break the rules of writing, it is important to know the rules so you can break them properly.

Write the story before drawing the pictures.

Whatever the message is that you’re trying to convey, write the dialogue you intend to use before drawing any pictures. Edit it down and use a minimum of words - less is always more in this game. And don’t forget that the pictures you use will (must) also contribute to the story.

You will find that producing your cartoons ‘words first’ will actually have a large impact on what it is you draw and contribute to a much better piece in the end.

Use a test audience.

When you’ve decided on the words you are going to use, and before you commit to drawing the images, test the dialogue on somebody. A husband,wife, partner, workmate or neighbour will work fine. Watch their facial expressions and see if the story/message generates the sort of response you’re after.

Read/watch good stories.

I just put this here so I have an excuse to watch tv and read books all day! But seriously, learn all you can from those that tell good stories.

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