Comments on: Pastis’ comic writing advice: Don’t try so hard

By: Shane Gorner

Shane Gorner — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:05:01 +0000

HAHAHAHA….I would say that it is NOT a huge oversimplification….I’m sorry to say, but for some people it really is a NO EFFORT scenario, and for some people the ideas just jump out at them from something somebody says. You can take any joke and make it into a comic, the real skill comes in seeing those jokes. For some people (e.g. Stephan Pasis) it IS that easy, and if the ideas don’t FLOW for you, or you have trouble coming up with material, well that’s your problem. Some are just more talented than others. Favourite cartoonists: Bill Watterson, Gary Larson, Stephan Pastis. I have always thought that my one frame comics ‘were’ a Gary Larson rip off. But hey, I didn’t know that he thought of it first, so technically I thought of it first HAHA

Also, Stephan Pastis DOES know comedy. Some people just have funnier material than others…Josh McDonald, I’m sorry to say, but some people find writing this stuff and making it funny easy.

By: Alan Jones

Alan Jones — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 04:38:05 +0000

As an aspiring toonista, I find what Stephan has to say actually pretty interesting. I “work” at coming up with good ideas, and they are often not so great. Later when I am doing something else (like my day job for instance) and just doodling/daydreaming, stuff seems to”happen” – fairly good stuff IMHO. After that the real work of implementing the idea takes place.

By: Joe Rank

Joe Rank — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 03:26:15 +0000

Karyl M.-”so I just say step away from that keyboard or drawing board and just go to the beach.”
Always a good plan, especially if there is a beach nearby…one that’s warm. An ice plated Wisconsin beach does not have the same allure as a California one…even in winter.

Taking a respite by walking on the beach, or pier, always results in new ideas or new material for caricatures.
Some times, observing is better than thinking.

KRANKY

By: Karyl Miller

Karyl Miller — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:07:45 +0000

After writing sitcoms for 30 years, I’m always asked this question. If you’re writing every day then your brain is tuned in to doing this and you can just do it. If you’re writing less often, then it’[s harder. You cannot punish yourself into writing, so I just say step away from that keyboard or drawing board and just go to the beach.

By: RS Davis

RS Davis — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:30:09 +0000

“Almost a lawyer beats almost a teacher.”

What does ‘almost a cartoonist beat’? Crabgrass and warts?

By: Joe Rank

Joe Rank — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 03:32:03 +0000

Worms!
Yum! Roly-poly worms. Squirrely-twirrely worms! Eat em up YUM!

NAH! Won’t work.

DRAT!

Will have to continue with research on canibobble cartoonistacrats.
A rare species.

By: Rich Diesslin

Rich Diesslin — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 01:20:05 +0000

Actually, just lay on a side walk in the rain and they practically crawl into your mouth … er … or so I’m told anyway.

By: Wiley Miller

Wiley Miller — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:17:11 +0000

“And Stephan Pastis eats worms.”

Yeah, but it’s hard work to dig them up first.

By: Rick Stromoski

Rick Stromoski — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 18:11:24 +0000

>>.Anything can be perceived as ‘helpful’. My elephant insurance, daily horoscope, and Sherpa account are so helpful!

The last person you should be taking cartooning advice from is anyone with a Sherpa account.

And Stephan Pastis eats worms.

By: Garey Mckee

Garey Mckee — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:37:25 +0000

I don’t know Wiley, a thesis on economics might be rather funny these days. You gotta laugh, because otherwise you’d cry.