Four months ago I let you know what was going on.
About two months before that post, I had run out of money, had some tough conversations with Scott and with Erica, left the Halfpixel office (now Scott’s office) and feeling low, I had to go back to a day job. I do graphic design for a company in Dallas by day, and at night, I prune the bonsai that is Starslip Crisis.
In these six months I’ve learned more than I wanted to about what it is to run a business. Even as I helped write How To Make Webcomics, I ended up getting a crash course in its lessons. Most nights I’m in bed at 3 AM and up at 7:00 AM.
You guys have been really supportive of me in your e-mails and your comments on the forum, and I’m truly thankful. In a week or two, my contract at my day job is drawing to a close, and I’m going to be looking for part-time or other contract work so I can pay rent.
But based on what I saw in the last couple months that Erica’s been handling the shipping, I think Starslip Crisis is already enough to bring in a full-time wage — at least if it’s cultivated. Right now we really don’t spend much time together, and eight hours of my day are occupied elsewhere, so I’m either at work, or we’re shipping, and not growing Starslip into the bastion of sci-fi humor it should be.
I’m looking forward to having a couple weeks to regroup and refocus, and I’ve been planning out the year.
If I can come back to webcomics full-time — if you help me come back to webcomics full-time (!) — then I will not do Starslip Crisis, or Chainsawsuit, or a twice-weekly pop culture strip, or a thrice-weekly brand-new strip.
No, friends — I will do all of the above. I have concrete plans for four concurrent strips. I just need the time to give to them.
I figure on top of everything else I’m doing, I still put out Starslip once a day — if I had nothing else to do but draw, I could do all the strips I wanted, right? It isn’t how I used to think. This had to happen for me to learn that.
I’m even more committed to becoming the hardest-working, most-accessible webcartoonist, so I’m going to do it for your love. There’s a longish thread in my forum about what readers can do to help out. A lot of the posts have been overwhelming in their support. Thank you!
So I’m asking you guys — even if you can’t pick up anything from the store, blog about the strip, Stumble it, link it! It really makes a difference. I will fight the good fight for each and every one of my readers!
And if you can pick up anything from the store… Starslip Crisis: Volume 2 is in progress, and it’ll look all handsome next to your fat Volume 1. It’ll probably go to print in a month or so. More details in weeks ahead!
I’m also doing Emerald City Comic-Con in May, and San Diego Comic Con in July. If I get invited to others, I will travel out to your neck of the woods too.
Keep coming around and keep spreading the word. I read and respond to every e-mail, and I wouldn’t be here without you.
It’s been 4 months already? Wow… time flies.
Really hoping you’ll be able to get the finances together, would so love for you to end up able to do cartooning full-time.
That is good news. I’m really glad to hear it. I listen to WW at work (catching up to current) and I somehow feel a part of this comic just by being a reader and getting a glimpse at what goes on behind the scenes. I really appriciate the strip and all you do. I think I’ll be able to help out by getting my wife a Jinxlit. She likes squishy things. {:0)
Thanks for keeping the strip going,
Kris, I stand by my belief that you’re one of the best webcartoonists out there, and definitely the producer of the cutest plush (I carry Orchid von Daisy-Rose with me everywhere I go and he’s beginning to have more friends than I do). I’ll keep supporting your work as long as you keep doing it. As someone said a few months ago in a blog comment, “live the dream, man!”
Everytime Mr. Straub has a post that is really optimistic about where he is going I have a vision of him eating raw eggs, running up steps, drawing pallets of comics and living in a giant Miami mansion like some sort of “Rocky/Scarface” montage with “Take it to the limit” playing in the background.
Starslip is a great comic, and I’m glad you always find time to write it every day. Keep up the good work, and I’ll do my best to mention it any time comics come up!
Best of luck!
Dammit Kris, you scared the hell out of me with that false start quitting comics. Phew. Anyway, I wish you nothing but the best.
Kris, I got one word for you:
Engage! (in my best picard impersonation)
Okay, I got a few more words (who am I kiddin’?). I got all pumped up just reading your blog. Kick names and take ass Sir! Way to come out swingin’! Failure has got nothin’ on you, man! Balls to the wall!
DRAMA! Is that all you bring to the table is “Drama”?
Kidding. Keep up the great work, draw like you’ve never drawn before! ROCK that pencil brutha!
I guess this means I need to buy something from the store…hold up, let me get my card, sign me up for a PLUSH!
Your Big Fan,
~J
Good for you, Kris!
I’ve long thought multiple strips was the way to go. So many webcomics do just fine running only 2 or 3 strips a week. So why kill yourself with one comic that runs 5-7 times, when you can have two (or more) creative outlets that can appeal to different audiences? And if one flounders and doesn’t take off, then kill it and start a different one.
Like playing the stock market and not having all your eggs in one basket. If your stocks were in eggs and baskets. Or something.
Besides, if anyone has the talent to pull it off, it’s Kristofer Straub.
I’ll see you at both ECCC and SDCC!
I’ve been clicking all your ads. Does that matter for Project Wonderful ads? If not I’ll just click your non-PW ads (only the global warming thing at the moment.
Kris,
I just wanted to add that I’m glad you are moving ahead with all your comic projects! I’ve been a fan of yours since the days of Checkerboard Nightmare, and am always glad to see you release your many versions of creative webcomiking. Honestly, until you explained the situation, I was afraid there had been some falling out with Scott or someone else in the Half-pixel gang (or other web “drama” which seems to happen online). So thanks for keeping it real - I think we can all understand that and wish you the best.
I don’t know if doing many extra comics is the way for you to go. Looking at some of the top comics (Ctl alt del, PVP, Penny-Arcade) I see people who focus on one strip and do it well. Before putting your efforts into four brands put it in one or two brands. Use extra time to make extra strips so you have a buffer for conventions and such. You can also use it to hone your strip(s) to grab a larger audience. You can promote it (for example send a copy of your book to people who might mention it to new audiences like Glen Reynolds of Instapundit)
I like your comic and I would hate to see you burn out trying to do four strips.
I just clicked every ad on the front page. (And read the content therein, for integrity).
I agree with alecthemad. Try just adding one strip for a while. I have no idea how long you put in on your web content now, but it scares me that you’re figuring how much more you can do based on your current, burnout schedule.
Just reassure us that you’ve worked it out, and running four strips will take less time than your 20 hours on the clock right now.
Anonymous,
Clicking the project wonderful ads does matter to us bidders. I’m gonna help you not only click harder, but smarter. You see, there are two types of advertisers:
I know I advertise here largely because I like Straub’s work, even though I tend to acquire less readers for my money here than on sites full of bored people (Dresden Codak). I’m assuming a few of the other advertisers here (like Jump Leads) also make a point of advertising here in order to combine the benefits of advertising generally with the benefits of supporting Straub specifically.
The other types, though, the T-shirt salesmen, they’re the ones with the deep pockets. With T-shirt companies, if they sell one shirt because of an ad on Starslip, they’re a dozen times more likely bid high on the ad space here (I’m pretty sure this happened on my site once, and the same intimate toy shop held a ridiculously high bid for a month). Obviously I’d advise you fill your closet with Lincoln shirts first, but if you happened to invest in the occasional garment from an advertiser, you might increase Straub’s value to advertisers beyond the amount of money you had to spend in the first place.
Just know that if you can pull all of that off, I will crap myself from the level of awesomeness. Its like waking up and getting punched in the balls, except your going to ENJOY it!
you are the kindest and most honest person when it comes to speaking about your life with your fans
good luck, god bless
Kris, I admire your honesty and forthrightness with us, the fans. Also, 4 strips? Excellent, though I think my brain may not be equipped to handle the awesomeness that is 4 Straub strips…Best of luck!
Deann Elid
De Annelid
The Annelid
Haha, nice (hidden) pun! It makes me wonder what else i’ve missed
Congrats on the great news. Actually, I don’t know how you have kept up with the work you have done in the past few months on top of a full time job. That’s amazing…and inspiring. I hope all goes well.
One thing I have been meaning to ask: Do you have buttons or banners I can add to my site(s)? I would be happy to put them there and I think others would do the same. Just an idea. I will also try to mention Starslip when I can to friends and family.
Once again, congrats and thanks for keeping the good times rolling even through the hard times. Here’s looking to the future.
Here’s part of your problem. It’s only been three months (Jan-Feb, Feb-Mar, Mar-Apr).
And CAPE! You’ll be at CAPE, May 3, 2008, right? Free Comic Book Day! My most favorite day of the year. Better than my birthday! FCBD!
Good luck on your plans. I’ll buy the book when it comes out.
This post put a big smile on my face.
Kris.
I NEED this comic. I will not finish my PhD without it. Is that enough pressure?
As I started reading I was afraid that this was Kris’s Dear John letter to us all. But, I can say that I am behind you Kris, go for it. And we fans will do our best to support.
[…] Kris Straub conquers the world! In a week or two, my contract at my day job is drawing to a close, and I’m going to be looking for part-time or other contract work so I can pay rent. But … I think Starslip Crisis is already enough to bring in a full-time wage — at least if it’s cultivated. Right now we really don’t spend much time together, and eight hours of my day are occupied elsewhere, so I’m either at work, or we’re shipping, and not growing Starslip into the bastion of sci-fi humor it should be. […]
Well, Blow Me Down! First we meet Dave’s daughter, now this announcement… My, support, you got it , man. I gave up all my credit cards so I’ll have to find an alternate way to pay you now - when can I pre-order Book 2?
Colleen, you are AMAZING. I sent three packages to you today, fyi, so be on the lookout for them! (PS - Isn’t Dave’s daughter too cute? She looks just like her mom. I’ve been oogly-googlin’ over the photos all day.)
Well, I guess this was the excuse I needed to buy the Chex History of Webcomics book. I’ve been dying to read it for ages, but never got around to it… but this seems like very much the cause to support. Good luck Kris and Erica, I hope the plan comes together!
ya know..i didnt even notice the eyepatch till he pointed it out!
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