Commentary on "How to Negotiate"
Here's a strip I wrote as part of "The Adams Experiment." There are a couple more like this, which I intend to dole out in the next couple of weeks while I ramp up to increase my output. One thing I've learned from this experience is that I'm capable of writing and producing these things much faster than I currently do and still being proud of the result.
This strip was meant as a sequel of sorts to How to Exhibit Good form. I hope you enjoyed it.
This strip was meant as a sequel of sorts to How to Exhibit Good form. I hope you enjoyed it.
posted by Scott Meyer at Friday, August 31, 2007
22 Comments:
I like it just fine. Shows you have skillz...cartooning old skool.
I liked this one too. I think with the horizontal format, it is smart to continue the same situation/characters from panel to panel like you did here, as it adds even more continuity. It might be a little much to introduce different characters in different scenarios in each of the three panels if you keep up this format.
I know this cuts down on some of the freedom you have on a given topic, but might be the tradeoff you have for going with a more traditional strip format.
I seriously prefer the four panel style. In the first place, you get another joke and they are almost always solid. In the second place, you have more room to work with for the premise set-up and the dialogue.
When I read the newspaper comics today, I don't get the laughs I get with Basic Instructions, and I have laughed big on many of these. I would like to hope that Basic Instructions is worthy enough on its own that you wouldn't have to alter your preferred style, but perhaps that's not realistic.
Artistic integrity versus financial success - the conundrum continues.
This comic felt like a single panel of the "old-skool" 4-panel. It was funny, but only one-fourth as funny.
Your last three 3-panel strips were great, but this one was just two sparse.
"Jump-cutting" from scene to scene, while keeping the theme running throughout the multiple situations is what contributes to what I like to think of as the Scott Meyer brand of funny.
If "ross" up there at comment number two hadn't mentioned it, then I wouldn't have known that I disagreed with him.
I liked it fine. It's not as much material as a larger strip, as others have said, but that shouldn't surprise anyone. If it gets you syndicated it's worth it. Maybe when you're pulling in millions you can insist on going back to your old format.
Oh, I agree with frank on changing the scene between panels... but only sometimes. I do like that it stays static sometimes. It adds to the minimalist feel.
This 3-panel horizontal format has really started to grow on me. I like it now.
Not your very best, but certainly commercial-grade-funny. Good use of the space available for a 3-pannel newspaper-format strip.
Thinking further, the only weakness is that the dialog is not as funny as most you do. The premise and the intructions are great though.
I'm getting used to this format, also. I didn't like it at first, and I still think the larger four panel better suits your work, but the sacrifice is worth it if it means syndication.
Great strip, btw! Been reading it since Scott A. pointed it out. Just wanted to say hi before you get all famous...
I couldn't quite get into it at first but I've been loving the 3-panel format recently, Scott! Please keep it up.
four panel please. otherwise it looks too crammed up and not easy on the eye. screw minimalism.
Hey Scott - it'd be helpful if you made the links on this blog appear like links. Right now I have no idea which word to click on to go somewhere.
You don't have to be endlessly funny in every panel. I burst out laughing at the joke in the 3rd panel, I think this method will work great for newspapers, and I still think your humor is awesome.
Sorry, I've got to be a spelling nazi. It's 'sequel'.
So it is. Thanks.
3 panel still works just fine. Although the comments on the 4 panel are kind of funny. The 3 panel comics give you the biggest chance to be widely syndicated, which could net you a great deal of money and exponentially expand your readership. I like the 4 panel look too, but the 3 is more than acceptable, sometimes an improvement, and the potential gains huge. Plus as everyone has said multiple times you can do the 4 panel for Sundays.
Looking forward to expanding this to mimic the workload you'll have for the dailies, keep up the great work!
If I had a womb, I'd offer to bear your children. Alas.
This may be a dumb question, but aren't there any other ways to get syndicated besides daily?
Matt Groening's "Life In Hell" is a weekly comic, and it seems to be syndicated, or at least it appears in a LOT of different places. It also has an "irregular" format: a squarish shape, sometimes a single panel, sometimes nine, and sometimes 16....
The income potential is probably smaller for weekly (vs. daily) comics, but perhaps you would still earn enough to quit your day job. Lots of folks would be happy to be able to "make it" on that level, even if they didn't get to be kajillionaires like Scott Adams--although maybe you wouldn't, and that's fine.
I am wondering if Matt Groening would be willing to mentor you or at least give you some one-time advice. A person can have more than one mentor, and he seems awfully nice in interviews.
Just some opinions and observations from a random person on the internet.
Scott,
What's your view on people 'spreading the word' by pasting Basic Instruction onto other blogs etc?
your perspective on scott adams' advice and the "experiment" is right on - you'll never ruin the strip as long as you treat it as the car tinkering scenario. i just want to point out one thing - all of scott's advice is based on a single premise: that you should pursue a newspaper syndication deal. his myopic focus on this strategy is well-intentioned but dead wrong. the style and philosophy of your humor will never work in newspapers. it's waaayyy better than most newspaper strips but doesn't belong there. he's right that it may be the most viable/lucrative financially, but it is simply not the right venue for basic instructions. i believe you should pursue alternative distribution ideas and eventually you will find a successful one. you're too talented not to. continue working with scott - he's smart and experienced - but forget about newspapers. my two cents.
I just read the one about how to deal with a rash. It's my favorite yet!
like it..insightful:)
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