Survivorship Bias

Comic Lab

We've all heard successful creators complain that younger hopefuls "just don't want to do the hard work." They disregard the complicated nature of achieving their status and dismiss aspiring novices on the basis of one single factor. Survivorship bias is undoubtedly a result of flawed reasoning. ...But is it bad advice?

Brad and Dave discuss survivorship bias in the creative community and its impact on success. They acknowledge that survivorship bias exists but argue that it is not the sole determinant of success. They emphasize the importance of hard work, honing skills, and making adjustments based on feedback. They also discuss external factors that can impact a creative career, such as personal circumstances and societal biases. The hosts share their own experiences and offer advice for aspiring creators. In this part of the conversation, the hosts discuss the importance of perseverance and being consistent in order to achieve success in comics.

Also, they also address the question of working below one's artistic skill level and offer advice on finding a style that balances speed and quality. The hosts then share their thoughts on the transition from traditional to digital art, including the benefits and drawbacks of each. Finally, they discuss the value of selling original art and the potential challenges of leaving a legacy through physical artwork.

ON TODAY'S SHOW

• Survival bias
• Working below your artistic skill level
• Leaving original art in favor of digital

CHAPTERS

00:00:00

Introduction: Dumpster Pools in Philadelphia

00:05:37

Chapter 1: Understanding Survivorship Bias

00:13:06

Chapter 2: The Importance of Hard Work and Skill Development

00:22:52

Chapter 4: Challenging Survivorship Bias and Acknowledging Others' Struggles

00:26:57

Chapter 5: Advice for Aspiring Creators: Listen, Learn, and Adapt

00:31:03

Perseverance and Consistency

00:34:31

Working Below Your Skill Level

00:46:24

Transition to Digital Art

00:48:08

Selling Original Art

00:56:29

Leaving a Legacy Through Artwork

TAKEAWAYS

• Survivorship bias exists in the creative community, but it is not the only factor that determines success.
• Hard work, honing skills, and making adjustments based on feedback are crucial for success.
• External factors, such as personal circumstances and societal biases, can impact a creative career.
• It is important to be aware of survivorship bias and not dismiss the challenges faced by others.
• Listening to advice from experienced creators and being open to course corrections can increase the chances of success. Perseverance and consistency are key to achieving success in comics.
• Finding a balance between speed and quality is important when working below your artistic skill level.
• Transitioning from traditional to digital art offers benefits in terms of control and quality.
• Selling original art can be a way to generate income and share your work with others.
• Leaving a legacy through physical artwork may not always be practical or desired by loved ones.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.