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Home , Script (comics), Webcomic

Bloggers and artists: Careers in online creativity he expansion of the Internet has Some bloggers post many times a day; others created many new opportunities for post less frequently. In their posts, bloggers T people to share their talents. Many occasionally use other media and content people share just for fun—but some do it for that aren’t possible in print. Cooking fun and money. might include instructional of cook- Online, these artists can reach a global ing techniques, for example, or news blogs audience. The rapid growth of online media provide interactive maps. Bloggers can be excites many people working in the field. self-employed, employed by print media or “There are a billion new opportunities that other companies, or work as contractors. weren’t there 5 years ago,” says Greg Wyshyn- Depending on their interests, self- ski, editor of hockey Puck Daddy. employed bloggers write on a number of This article describes careers for digital topics, such as offering financial advice or media workers. The first section focuses on reviewing restaurants. They have complete two online occupations: bloggers and web- creative control over their own content and comic artists. The second section discusses set their own schedules. Most self-employed why bloggers and webcomic artists enjoy bloggers make money through advertising their work and some of the challenges that on their . The amount of money they they face. A final section suggests sources for make from ads depends on the number of more information. And the box on page 20 times people visit their , called traffic. provides tips for developing your own blog or As traffic increases, advertisers pay bloggers webcomic. more. Well-known bloggers may also make money through sponsorships, book or product sales, and speaking fees. Jobs in digital media When employed by traditional print media The growth of the Internet and the availability companies, such as and maga- of simple Web tools have made zines, bloggers may write for both print and it easy to share content online. Many people online editions. For example, Brier Dudley, create websites as a hobby or as a way to technology blogger for The Seattle Times, Drew Liming share news with family and friends. Artists— writes a weekly column in addition to his including photographers, writers, filmmakers, regular blog entries. According to Dudley, and musicians—put their work online in the the tone of his blog differs from that of his hopes of attracting attention and building a column. “Blog items tend to be more conver- following. These artists enjoy sharing their sational and casual,” he says. creations with people around the world. Bloggers who work for newspapers or Some artists, however, are able to make are more like traditional journalists a living creating content for their websites. than are self-employed bloggers. News blog- Workers in the occupations covered in this gers receive guidance from editors who review article, bloggers and webcomic artists, pro- their posts. And like traditional journalists, duce online content as their primary source of news bloggers need to be ready to write when- revenue. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ever news occurs. Many readers turn to the Drew Liming is has no employment or wage data for bloggers Internet for breaking news, so bloggers often an economist. He or webcomic artists. Their wages vary signifi- race to be the first to post news. “You’re like worked in the Of- cantly depending on their employer and the a doctor on call at all times,” says Wyshynski. fice of Occupa- size of their audience. “You have to be on the story first.” tional Statistics Some bloggers work on a contract basis, and Employment Bloggers not as employees of news media compa- Projections, BLS, Bloggers are writers who regularly post nies. These contractors usually write for at the time he content on a Web log, or blog. These blog online news websites that publish posts from wrote this article. posts can be of any length and on any topic. many bloggers. Like news bloggers, these

Fall 2012 • Occupational Outlook Quarterly 17 There are no formal education require- ments for self-employed bloggers. However, self-employed bloggers are usually experts in the field they blog about. They previously may have worked in a job related to their blog’s topic. For example, a professional blogger who runs a home decorating blog may have experience with many different decorating or remodeling techniques. Bloggers who are self-employed or who work with a small staff usually need experi- ence with multimedia tools. Newspapers may have photographers and editors on staff, but many bloggers lack these resources and produce the photos and videos themselves. “A lot of online media isn’t just about being talented as a writer or a journalist,” says Wyshynski. “You might have to shoot and edit your own video and audio.” Webcomic artists Although most comic artists work for news- paper syndicates or companies, webcomic artists post their strips for readers online. Some webcomic artists post new strips daily; others post less frequently. Creating a widely read webcomic requires more than excellent artwork. Webcomic artists contractors submit their posts to editors for must also write scripts for their strips before review. They are usually paid per post, similar they begin drawing. In some , to freelance reporters. Many contract bloggers called tag">one-shots, each strip is a self-contained write for several different sites to increase story. Other webcomics are serials, which their income. They may also earn bonuses have long-running plots and regularly occur- for writing posts that attract particularly high ring characters. traffic. For webcomic artists, developing a good can be a quick or lengthy process. Skills and training. As professional Sometimes, inspiration strikes early in the writers, bloggers must be excellent commu- creative process, and they get an idea for a nicators and need to understand what content script immediately. Other times, webcomic most appeals to their audiences. Bloggers also artisis may spend hours—or more—strug- have to be disciplined to produce high-quality gling to craft a script that their audiences will research and writing, while trying to meet enjoy. deadlines or to post breaking news. Webcomic artists may turn to outside Bloggers employed by newspapers usually influences for inspiration when they’re having have a degree or previous newspa- difficulty writing a script. For example, Tim per experience. Some contract bloggers have Buckley, artist of Ctrl + Alt + Del, frequently journalism degrees, but it is not a requirement. uses humor in his comic. To find Like freelance journalists, contract blogger’s ideas, Buckley researches what new games are posts are judged on their own merit. scheduled to be released and what issues are

18 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Fall 2012 of interest to the gaming community. He also design is like making a comic,” he says. “It draws inspiration from his personal life. “I’ve can be quick, but it usually takes a long time.” gotten many ideas from interactions with my Webcomic artists are able to communicate friends and family,” he says. directly with readers, which allows them to After they’ve written the script for a strip, understand which products and scripts appeal webcomic artists begin drawing. All art- most to their audience. Many webcomic artists ists have their own style. Some draw highly spend part of their day replying to email from detailed characters and landscapes; others use fans. Some webcomics also have message a minimalist style. Many webcomics are in boards that allow artists to communicate with full color, but some artists prefer to work in their fans. To share information with readers, black and white. Depending on the complex- webcomic artists sometimes write personal ity of the artwork, drawing a strip may take blogs on their websites. anywhere from a few minutes to many hours. Many webcomic artists also connect Most webcomics are available online at with readers by meeting them at conventions. no cost, so comic artists have to find alterna- Artists may travel to conventions to speak on tive sources of revenue. Like bloggers, many panels and interact with fans and peers. Many webcomics make money through advertise- artists also bring their products to conven- ments. Webcomic artists also earn money tions, where they can sell their merchandise from selling products, such as t-shirts and directly. compilation books of their , to fans. Skills and training. Not all webcomic When they’re not planning or drawing artists are formally trained. In fact, many comic strips, webcomic artists are frequently are self-taught and have refined their artwork creating new products to sell to fans. Accord- through years of practice. The artwork of dif- ing to , artist of Questionable ferent webcomics varies widely, and practice Content, coming up with good products can is essential for each artist to develop a unique be a challenge. “Coming up with a t-shirt style.

Fall 2012 • Occupational Outlook Quarterly 19 Tips for developing your own blog or webcomic Creating a popular blog or webcomic takes a published update schedule, such as one new both hard work and luck. Here are some tips a week, stick to it. If readers see to help you be successful. that you’re not following your own schedule, Find your niche. There are already many they might stop visiting your site. blogs and webcomics online. To distinguish Engage your audience. Communicate yours, develop your own style or become an with your readers through e-mail, message expert in a specific subject matter. If your boards, or . If your audience feels content is unique and entertaining, casual personally invested in your blog or webcomic, browsers are more likely to become regular they’re more likely to read it regularly and readers. To cultivate a group of fans, it may be support you financially. And the more you beneficial to limit your scope. For example, if understand your audience, the better you’ll be you want to write a blog of restaurant reviews, able to create content and products that appeal you might focus on restaurants in your local to them. area or on a specific type of cuisine. Search for revenue. Find creative ways Update regularly. The more frequently to make money. If your blog or webcomic you add content, the more often regular read- attracts a large audience, you can make money ers will come back to your website. If you through advertising. However, even a smaller post several times a day, regular readers might group of dedicated readers can be profitable. check the site multiple times, increasing your Dedicated readers are more likely to finan- web traffic. This doesn’t mean that you must cially support your blog or webcomic, either update the website constantly. But if you have through donations or product purchases.

Excellent artwork alone does not ensure “And you’re having a conversation with people success as a webcomic artist; artists also must everywhere.” write scripts that appeal to their audience. To Self-employed bloggers and webcomic improve their scripts, many artists practice artists enjoy having control over their work writing dialogue and developing characters. and making their own decisions. They set Because each webcomic operates as his or their own schedules and write or draw without her own small business, operating it success- supervision. “I have the freedom to work and fully also requires skill in business and math. to write stories and jokes that entertain me,” These skills help artists evaluate companies to says Buckley. find the right manufacturer for their products, But establishing a popular blog or web- to price merchandise, and to complete tax comic is difficult. New blogs and webcomics forms for their small businesses. face competition from an immense crowd of previously existing sites. With so many competitors, new sites struggle to stand out. Rewards and challenges Even the best blog or webcomic may never be Sharing content online is often rewarding. read by an audience large enough to make it Bloggers and webcomic artists can gain a profitable. global audience for their work, and they fre- Blogs and webcomics that are able to quently develop close relationships with their attract a following usually have to wait years fans. Unlike traditional media, digital media before they’re financially stable. Bloggers workers who post online can communicate and webcomic artists frequently develop directly with readers from all over the world. and maintain their websites as side projects “You can get feedback instantly,” says Dudley. while working full time in another job. If

20 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Fall 2012 the website becomes profitable, then it might Buckley, “I’d still want to do this because I turn into a full-time job. But building a large enjoy it so much.” audience usually takes a while. “You have to be willing to be poor,” warns Jacques. “There aren’t any instant millions.” For more information Bloggers and webcomic artists constantly search for ways to monetize the work they put To learn more about writing and artistic occu- online. Even , the most com- pations, as well as hundreds of others, check mon way to make money, isn’t a guaranteed the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), source of revenue anymore. To view blog and online at www.bls.gov/ooh. The OOH does webcomics, many people now use Rich Site not have information specific to bloggers and Summary (RSS) feeds to see updates from webcomic artists, but it does include profiles their favorite websites all in one place. RSS of similar occupations, such as writers, jour- feeds frequently remove advertisements from nalists, and fine artists. posts and don’t count towards a webpage’s In addition, an article about traffic totals. This decreased traffic reduces appeared in the fall 2008 Occupational Out- the amount of money bloggers and webcomic look Quarterly. It is available online at www. artists make from advertisers. In response to bls.gov/ooq/2008/fall/yawhat.htm. the increasing use of RSS feeds, bloggers and Because the occupations in this article webcomic artists are searching for new ways are relatively new, there are no established to make money while continuing to put their associations for bloggers or webcomic art- content online for free. ists. However, some professional bloggers and Despite these challenges, many bloggers webcomic artists have posted advice for aspir- and webcomic artists are passionate about ing beginners. To find this information, search sharing their work directly with readers. online for “how to become a blogger” or “how “Even if I couldn’t make the living I do,” says to become a webcomic artist.”

Fall 2012 • Occupational Outlook Quarterly 21