The DOs and DON'Ts of Comic Making

[PiMaster]

In the 50 comics I'm current with, and the many others I've given up on, I've noticed a few mistakes and good features that many of them repeat. And since SmackJeeves has a forum and hosts so many hobby comics, I thought I'd share my thoughts with you guys.

When designing your comic's UI, make sure you include:

• First/Previous/Next/Last buttons near the comic - Some comics don't include the first and last buttons, and others put the whole set in a place that's inconvenient to readers. Generally, it's a good idea to have the full set on the bottom and optionally the previous/next buttons on top.
  
• Clicking the comic goes to the NEXT page - Many comics don't have this feature, and I know of at least one (plotless) that goes backwards instead, which is annoying when you want to start at the beginning. This makes catching up to your comic convenient and will make the reader more engaged.
  
• A nice design - If the design of your comic's website makes the reader want to puke, they may not want to stick around to read your comic, no matter how good your plot or art may be.
  
• Centered Pages - It's obnoxious when a page is aligned all the way to the left or right. It grates on people's nerves and distracts them from the actual content. Please center your pages!
  
• Navigation - Make sure the navigation of the site, including the actual comic pages, news, links, about page, etc. are all easy to see and easy to go to. Generally you should put this on top or to the sides (be careful with this - auto-scrolling link menus can be screwed up royally on mobile systems)
  
• Comments - Quite a few comics don't include this. Some replace it with a forum. But, for the most part, it is VERY handy to have a comment section for every page as it gives readers easy access to give you tips, suggestions, or discuss what's going on in the comic. Forums can do that, but they're harder to get to.
  
• Page Access - This is more of an annoyance than anything that's really necessary, but I find it really annoying when webcomics use a system based off of dates or random hashes to name page URLs. That's stuff like comic.com/18-30-11/page-name or comic.com/742917/page-name (which SJ regrettably seems to do). If you actually care enough about this, name your URLs after the page's number, or a chapter-page combination.

Lucky for you guys, SmackJeeves already handles most of this stuff by default.

There are also many comics that don't include certain pages that can be really helpful.

These include:

• A well-written about page - This should be in EVERY comic and I have no idea why it isn't. Unless there's something astounding that catches a reader's eye, they're going to want to know what the comic is even about before they start reading 300 pages of it.
  
• A character page - While it's acceptable to not include this for small casts, larger casts can be difficult to remember, especially when they have foreign names or the comic updates less than several times a week. This is, however, optional, and if you DO include it, make sure it's only supplemental and consistent with the actual content of your comic.
  
• A links page - Show some of your fellow authors some respect, and give your readers more comics for them to read. It's always a nice surprise to find a really nice comic, finish it, and realize the author reads a comic you like.
  
• An archives page - Who wants to frantically press the PREV button in search of that one really funny page? Archives make it easy to find specific pages readers like, and can show off your dedicated upload schedule.
  
• Links to your personal stuff - Websites like DeviantArt, Tumblr, and Youtube are the go-to place for readers who like your art or humor and want to see more than just your comic.
  
• Your update schedule - Readers want to know when you update. Please please PLEASE put your schedule somewhere obvious like on top of every page, even if it's irregular updating (you can just say "whenever" or "every few weeks")
  
• Avoid big banners/ads at the top - It's nice that you have an enormous header that you want people to see, but it's irritating to have to scroll down just to see the comic. At least make it small enough that we can see the first few panels.

All of this UI stuff is fine and dandy, but what about the actual content of the comic?

• Buffer - If you haven't published your comic yet, make absolutely sure you have at least 20 pages of comic buffer and 40 pages of script. This makes updates more regular and keeps you from being stressed. If you're already publishing, try as hard as you can to make maybe an extra page per update to build one.
  
• UPDATE OFTEN - You should have an update schedule of at least once per week, and you should ONLY do that if you're busy or the art takes too long to make more than one per week. Anything slower than twice a week makes the plot as slow as molasses and easy to forget. The best update schedule is Mon/Wed/Fri, or something similar.
  
• Guest Comics/Filler? - These are OK when you're on a short hiatus, but don't include one as an extra or because you couldn't make the day's page. It's jarring to be rushing through the story and see an unrelated page out of no where.
  
• Art - Don't think you have what it takes to draw the comic? Several comics started out with low quality and evolved into beautiful works of art after years of practice, and there are some that maintain a nice simplistic style. However, there IS a limit. If your comic requires nice, detailed art or you just can't draw, you can also consider a partnership.
  
• Writing - The whole evolution of art thing doesn't really apply here. Writing is something that makes or breaks a comic -- if there's a lot of plotholes, unrealistic dialogue, or long, boring series of pages to start with, new readers aren't going to stick around.

Sorry if I insulted anyone with my examples or words -- I'll take them down on request.

[Jops]

Just some comments.

First/Previous/Next/Last buttons near the comic - [...] Generally, it's a good idea to have the full set on the bottom and optionally the previous/next buttons on top.

Completely agree with it.
Consider that a reader will scroll down to read the comic, therefore the navigational buttons have to be easily accessible form that position. Having to scroll up again (or even further down, past the blog and comments) just to click on "next" is extremely annoying, especially for new readers goign trought the archive.

Clicking the comic goes to the NEXT page

I would rate this optional. As a reader i hardly ever bother clicking on the comic and really prefer seeing a "next button" instead. However, i agree that, if clicking on the actual comic image leads you anywhere, it has to be the next page.

Comments - [...] Lucky for you guys, SmackJeeves already handles most of this stuff by default.

Again, i'd rate this a very optional. Lack of comment option doesn't prevent me from enjoying reading the comic.
This is great if you intend to build up a sort of community feel among your reader or if you're looking forward to receive feedback. However for some authors it might not be worth the trouble of dealing with spam, trolling or inappropriate comments. It's really up to the author, really. As a reader, having a comments section or not, doesn't affect my willingness to read the comic.

• Buffer - If you haven't published your comic yet, make absolutely sure you have at least 20 pages of comic buffer and 40 pages of script. This makes updates more regular and keeps you from being stressed. If you're already publishing, try as hard as you can to make maybe an extra page per update to build one.
  
• UPDATE OFTEN - You should have an update schedule of at least once per week, and you should ONLY do that if you're busy or the art takes too long to make more than one per week. Anything slower than twice a week makes the plot as slow as molasses andeasy to forget. The best update schedule is Mon/Wed/Fri, or something similar.

No can do. Just simply not an option. Unless we get days of 48 hours or i magically learn to pay the bills without a day job.... none of this will be happening on my comic. I agree that a 3 times per week would be ideal, but I just can't keep up with it.
A think every author should update as often AS THEY CAN, and try not to procastinate or go on a break without notice. But readers should not make demands of a tighter schedule or stress too much about it.
Sure, the more often you update the better it is for your readers, but don't give up on the comic entirely just because you can't update 3 times a week.

Guest Comics/Filler?

My thought about them is pretty simple: remove them from the comic archives once you don't need them anymore.
It's okay to have a guest comic week or a filler saying "Author is off for the holidays season, see you in one month". But as soon as you're back, as soon as the guest week is over, move those pages in a separate section. It's actually very bad for new readers checking out the archives to be interrupted by "Merry Xmas" or "Here's a guest comic from XYZ". They're just as annoying as commercial breaks while watching a TV show.

[Troll]

The "Furry Comics" seems to be very out of place in general in your academic.
Is there a reason to mention that? Why not mention the other demographics too.

You put a lot of comic links here, are you teaching do's and don'ts or you're advertising?
Your instructive is more like unfitting.

[robybang]

• A character page - While it's acceptable to not include this for small casts, larger casts can be difficult to remember, especially when they have foreign names or the comic updates less than several times a week.

I actually take issue with this. I've seen many a comic use the character page as an excuse for lazy character development, adding backstories and personality traits that never show up in the comic itself. Or even worse, adding obvious traits that most people do regardless of personality, like "Helps his friends when they're in trouble." I can maybe see it with a large cast, but only with sparse details like name, alignment in the work, and relevant skillset that shows up in a comic. Maybe other details if the character pages are treated as in-work dossiers, like including height, weight, marital status, rank, etc. if they're treated like government files in a military themed comic.

In my opinion, people should be able to read your work and tell the difference between characters, both physically, and personality-wise. If not, then either your characters are bland and look the same, or you introduced too many characters at once. In which case, a character sheet is just a band-aid for a bigger problem.

[mitchellbravo]

Seconding Robybang. A character page can be nice if it's well done and adds something "extra" to a reader's enjoyment, but it should be supplementary at most. Meaning you shouldn't need to go look at the character page to figure out what's going on, it should be self evident within the story. I've seen comics where the characters in the comic act nothing like they're supposed to according to the cast page.

Building your site is a good thing in terms of giving your reader more things to look at besides just the comic, but really the comic is the meat and potatoes. I'd say good page navigation and a well=structured archive page are more important than a cast page (and SJ allows for that automatically). An about page is also nice to provide a summary of the comic so that a new reader can check it and say "Ah yes, this does seem like something I'd like to be more invested in." Particlarly if you have a long archive that new readers might be wary of, an about page can make things seem a bit more appealing.

[PiMaster]

Clicking the comic goes to the NEXT page

I would rate this optional.

To each his/her own, I guess.

Comments

Again, i'd rate this a very optional. Lack of comment option doesn't prevent me from enjoying reading the comic.

It doesn't prevent one from enjoying a comic, but it's useful mostly for feedback from readers and less as a community builder. Sometimes I even skip reading comments when catching up to a comic, especially if it's out of the way.

• Buffer - ...
  
• UPDATE OFTEN - ...

No can do. Just simply not an option. Unless we get days of 48 hours or i magically learn to pay the bills without a day job.... none of this will be happening on my comic. I agree that a 3 times per week would be ideal, but I just can't keep up with it.
A think every author should update as often AS THEY CAN, and try not to procastinate or go on a break without notice. But readers should not make demands of a tighter schedule or stress too much about it.

Buffers are more for people considering to start a comic, but I provided that note about how to get one if it's already too late. If you have any vacation time, you can always use that to start even a small buffer (like 1 or 2 pages), which is better than no buffer.

As for update schedules, yes, you update as often as you can, but you should really consider updating at least more than once per week if you can handle it. Otherwise, stick with your own schedule.

Guest Comics/Filler?

My thought about them is pretty simple: remove them from the comic archives once you don't need them anymore.

That's a really good suggestion - mind if I add it?

The "Furry Comics" seems to be very out of place in general in your academic.
Is there a reason to mention that? Why not mention the other demographics too.

Furry comics tend to be fairly numerous and popular due to their large pre-existing fanbase. I really mentioned this because BCB's author mentioned that she would make her characters human if she restarted because they might as well be, bringing to question why any furry comics even are furry. I guess it's a little random, but it was like 4:00 in the morning and I was trying to think of more tips *-*

You put a lot of comic links here, are you teaching do's and don'ts or you're advertising?

Ever heard of examples?

• A character page - While it's acceptable to not include this for small casts, larger casts can be difficult to remember, especially when they have foreign names or the comic updates less than several times a week.

I actually take issue with this. I've seen many a comic use the character page as an excuse for lazy character development, adding backstories and personality traits that never show up in the comic itself. Or even worse, adding obvious traits that most people do regardless of personality, like "Helps his friends when they're in trouble." I can maybe see it with a large cast, but only with sparse details like name, alignment in the work, and relevant skillset that shows up in a comic. Maybe other details if the character pages are treated as in-work dossiers, like including height, weight, marital status, rank, etc. if they're treated like government files in a military themed comic.

In my opinion, people should be able to read your work and tell the difference between characters, both physically, and personality-wise. If not, then either your characters are bland and look the same, or you introduced too many characters at once. In which case, a character sheet is just a band-aid for a bigger problem.

Seconding Robybang. A character page can be nice if it's well done and adds something "extra" to a reader's enjoyment, but it should be supplementary at most. Meaning you shouldn't need to go look at the character page to figure out what's going on, it should be self evident within the story. I've seen comics where the characters in the comic act nothing like they're supposed to according to the cast page

Good points - I'll update that section.

[SpiralPen]

Concerning a Characters Page.
I'll agree that it shouldn't take the place of ACTUALLY INTRODUCING OR DEVELOPING your characters. That's the story's job. Nobody wants to have to cycle through a list of the cast before even starting your comic. That's ridiculous. That aside, however, I actually rather enjoy well-made character pages. Sometimes when I find a new comic and I want to gauge whether or not I'm interested, the "About" or first few pages don't do an adequate job of informing me. If I can skim the cast and see if I like the people this comic is about or if I think they seem interesting, it's enough of a taste to get me reading.
So I'd definitely pin this in the "Optional" category, but I'd certainly never discourage anyone from making one. I don't really ever use them as a point of reference for characters I've lost track of, unless the comic's update pace is absolutely glacial.

Concerning Buffer.
I actually think this is rather important. Everyone likes to think that they'll always nail their deadlines and that a few missteps won't spell the end, but the harsh reality of it is that real life happens and when it does, it tends to get in the way of comic-making. When your comic goes over a week without updates, people will start to lose track of what's going on and their investment in the events, no matter how much they like it. Especially on a site like Smack Jeeves where the majority of users watch up to 50+ comics and get multiple updates and stories to keep track of every day.
Again with the "HOWEVERS", though. While it is important to keep the SJ audience and "lifestyle" in mind when you think about your updates, don't think of them exclusively. When it boils down to it, your comic will read seamlessly from page to page when it reaches completion and you don't want to make that experience broken or jarring because you focused too much on appealing to a crowd with divided attention.

when it comes down to it, buffer is an excellent way to avoid or work around keeping up with an update schedule. More on that next.

Concerning Update Schedules.
THESE ARE ENTIRELY OPTIONAL. As one who reads WAY too many comics, I can say that my opinion on update schedules is that they are very, very optional. In fact, I would actually lean more towards NOT implementing one. At first glance, an update schedule appears to give you and your readers a comforting solidity. You have a deadline to meet and they have a date to expect content. In reality, that deadline can become hellish and every time you miss it, you end up having to apologize or make up for it by doing even more work. Or you fall off the schedule completely. As for the readers. Readers may come to be more attached to the certainty of the update schedule than the actual content of the updates. Seeing the banner for your comic at the same time every week can dull them to it and make them feel entitlement. If you miss an update, they'll feel more betrayed or let down, rather than pleasantly surprised when you update out of the blue.
Different styles work for different people and not every reader is the same, so this in NO WAY applies to EVERYBODY or EVERY COMIC. I just think this issue is far more optional and debatable than most people tend to think it is.

That's... about all I have to say on the matter, I think.
Oh, I guess not. Second wind.

Concerning Art.
DON'T BE DISSUADED BY YOUR ART SKILLS. Art partnerships are DIFFICULT, FRUSTRATING, and NOT IDEAL. It requires dual-schedule managing, a lot of shared trust, and it doubles the potential for real life stepping in the way of progress. That and you have to deal with a lot of waiting and occasionally, compromise. It is not for everybody and it is NOT an easy way out of drawing your comic. The bottom line is, if you want to make a comic, MAKE A COMIC.
Your art will improve every time you draw. Don't believe me? Draw for an entire week. Don't look at anything you drew. Draw for a second week and compare the results.
YOU WILL GET BETTER. It is impossible to draw and not improve and the harder you try, the better you get. Inspiration is fickle and you need to strike while the iron is hot. Want to make a comic? Do it. Watch your art get better as you go. If you ever become SO unsatisfied with the early portions of your comic, you can go on hiatus and redo them later down the road. You will feel much better actually putting out content and expressing yourself creatively than you will sitting around waiting for your art to hit the magic level where you're 100% satisfied with it.

Spoiler! :

That's NEVER.

Concerning Appreciation, Fans, and Content.
Your comic is not for everyone. No matter what you make, not everybody will like it. In fact, maybe NOBODY likes it. And you know what... That's okay. Because making a comic should first and foremost BE FOR YOU. Do not make a comic for attention or appreciation. Yes, everybody wants others to enjoy their work, but if YOU don't enjoy working on it thanklessly, it may not be the best project for you. Don't cater to what people want to get more fans or attention because you'll become a slave to something you're not really passionate about. Comics are hard work and you need to make sure YOU enjoy them before the fans.
An exception to this would be the Choose Your Own Adventure genre, I suppose.

Concerning Fan Comics or Fanfiction.
THIS IS 100% OKAY UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE PUBLISHED. Sometimes, people's imaginations work the best when working within the confines of a pre-established world or canon. Sort of like working with Non-Fiction *doesn't* require you to create your own worlds and concepts. There's nothing wrong with making fancomics or fanfiction. It can be fun, creative, and most importantly: enjoyable. If you have fun writing it, you should do it and if other people are enjoying it, all the more reason to continue. HOWEVER, DON'T GO INTO THIS GENRE THINKING YOU'LL BE GETTING PUBLISHED. Unless you make a really professional looking Doujinshi and sell 20 or so of them at a con for 15 bucks a pop, you won't be making a whole lot of money off of fancomics. You are practically leeching off of an existing franchise that does NOT want you making money off of it. If you're looking to become a recognized comics author or you want your comic to become a book, DO NOT WRITE FANFICTION. Getting recognized for publication requires originality, but not all comics have to go that route. If you're just working for fun, go right ahead and do whatever you want.

Alright... for real this time, I think I'm done.
Except for the "Furries" bit. I don't know how to broadly categorize this, so I'll just stick it down here at the bottom. There's nothing wrong with making a comic about Furries. Even if they could be human. It's mainly a choice of style. Some comics draw humans as bizarre-looking, nearly abstract figures with demented proportions. Yet they are still conveyed as human. Replacing humans with Furries really has no damage on the story whatsoever. If you're telling a good story and you want your characters to be animals, go right ahead. Think Animal Farm.
An exception to this is don't unnecessarily complicate WHAT your characters are. Don't write a story about a fire-manipulating demon prince if the story has nothing to do with him being a fire-manipulating demon prince. In THAT case, you should tone things down. If a character has powers or an appearance that breaks the atmosphere and world your comic has been building for no reason, you should reconsider things. Having ALL of your characters be represented as something fictional is alright, though, as it becomes a part of the aforementioned atmosphere.
Take Daddy Long Legs on this very site, for example. The characters don't HAVE to be insects and arachnids, but they are and it makes the world of the story a bit more stylish and intriguing.
I guess to simplify, don't let style get in the way of story or vice versa. You need a balance.

Lastly (for real for real), I'd say the most important DO of making comics, is HAVE FUN.

[PiMaster]

Concerning Update Schedules
THESE ARE ENTIRELY OPTIONAL. As one who reads WAY too many comics, I can say that my opinion on update schedules is that they are very, very optional. In fact, I would actually lean more towards NOT implementing one

Do you realize how hellish it would be if no comic implemented an update schedule? Schedules tell the readers when to expect the comic to update so they don't have to visit the 10, 20, 50, or more comics they've found over time every single day. Plus, they give a nice way to organize comics (I have bookmark folders for each schedule, and my "whenever" folder is almost too full).

DON'T BE DISSUADED BY YOUR ART SKILLS. Art partnerships are DIFFICULT, FRUSTRATING, and NOT IDEAL.

Should I take down the art partnership suggestion?

Concerning Fan Comics or Fanfiction.
THIS IS 100% OKAY UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE PUBLISHED. Sometimes, people's imaginations work the best when working within the confines of a pre-established world or canon.

I'll update that.

There's nothing wrong with making a comic about Furries. Even if they could be human.

Alright, fine. I'll take off the furries section.

[SpiralPen]

I don't follow or take note of any of the comics I read updates schedules, if they even have one. I'm much happier being pleasantly surprised by whatever updates when.
That and I read Homestuck religiously, which updates sporadically. It really doesn't detract anything from the experience.

[darkenergy]

Website wise, if I have to scroll every single time a new page loads I am far less inclined to keep with it, in particular if there's a big archive to catch up on. Giant headers are acceptable on title pages and that's it.

[mitchellbravo]

Website wise, if I have to scroll every single time a new page loads I am far less inclined to keep with it, in particular if there's a big archive to catch up on. Giant headers are acceptable on title pages and that's it.

I share this, but only if it's the banner/site bunchies at the top that are making me have to scroll. If it's just because the comic is too long to fit on the screen, then that's acceptable. Is this the same for you or do you find the long-comic also irritating?

[darkenergy]

Website wise, if I have to scroll every single time a new page loads I am far less inclined to keep with it, in particular if there's a big archive to catch up on. Giant headers are acceptable on title pages and that's it.

I share this, but only if it's the banner/site bunchies at the top that are making me have to scroll. If it's just because the comic is too long to fit on the screen, then that's acceptable. Is this the same for you or do you find the long-comic also irritating?

I'm fine if it's the comic, especially since browsing on my phone makes it unlikely anything will fit properly anyway. The worst is when it's because of ad space.

p.s. found something new that drives me up the wall...when the comic is all the way to the left of the screen. yes, guys, there is a way to center your page :O