Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: January 24th
ALWAYS POSTED A WEEK EARLIER ON PATREON
Podcast Update: A Break Behind the Scenes, Not on the Feed
This is still the part of the year when I take a short break from actively recording podcasts, but thanks to having a strong queue of episodes already lined up, the release schedule hasn’t skipped a beat. New episodes are continuing to roll out right on time, which feels really good.
Behind the scenes, I’ve been shifting some focus to getting more episodes of Vermont Artists and Authors uploaded and organized. It’s a bit of catch-up work, but it’s satisfying—making sure those conversations are accessible and easy for people to find.
This seasonal pause has been intentional and productive. It gives me the space to tidy things up, prep ahead, and make sure everything is in good shape before jumping fully back into recording again.
Project Update: A Slow Week for Appliance
It was a slower week working on Appliance. Between everything else going on, I didn’t get as much time with the project as I would’ve liked. That said, I still checked in with it—rereading sections, thinking through ideas, and keeping the world and systems fresh in my head.
Even during slower stretches, staying connected to the project matters. It keeps the momentum from fully stalling and makes it easier to pick things back up when more time opens up. For now, it’s slow progress—but still progress.
Book Review: You Can Draw Manga: Chibi Characters – Big Heads, Big Smiles, and Big Creative Energy
One of the great joys of being a parent is getting a window into what your kids are excited about—and recently, that window came in the form of You Can Draw Manga: Chibi Characters by Samantha Whitten and Jeannie Lee. My 11-year-old daughter has this book, and she was genuinely excited to show it to me and share the drawings she’s been creating with it.
This is a wonderfully approachable how-to drawing book. It breaks down chibi characters—those super-cute, big-headed, tiny-bodied manga figures—into simple, easy-to-follow steps. The instructions focus on basic shapes, expressive faces, hairstyles, outfits, and poses, making it feel accessible even if you’re just starting out. There’s no pressure to be perfect, just encouragement to draw and have fun.
What really stood out to me was how empowering the book feels. My daughter wasn’t just copying drawings—she was experimenting, adding her own details, and clearly building confidence with each page. The book gives just enough structure to guide young artists while leaving plenty of room for creativity.
Seeing her proudly flip through her sketches and explain how she drew certain expressions or characters was a reminder of how powerful the right book can be. You Can Draw Manga: Chibi Characters doesn’t just teach drawing—it invites kids into a creative habit, one doodle at a time.
It’s fun, informative, and genuinely encouraging. If you’ve got a kid who loves drawing, manga, or just making characters come to life on paper, this book is a fantastic companion—and a joy to share together.
Personal Update: Optimism, Momentum, and a Rebuilt Lego Kingdom
The last few weeks have come with a handful of unexpected expenses—mostly car-related—which is never fun. That said, I’m still feeling very optimistic about the year ahead. There’s some really good momentum building with advertising sales on both the paper and the radio, and it’s encouraging to see that steady support from the business community.
We’re also in the process of installing new broadcasting software at the station, which is a big step forward. Alongside that, we’re making solid headway on establishing regular contributors for the paper. Having more consistent voices involved is exciting and helps strengthen what we’re building long-term.
On the home front, there was a bit of drama when Iggy accidentally broke his sister’s Lego city that they had built together. Emotions ran high for a bit, as you’d expect—but cooler heads prevailed. They worked together, rebuilt the city, and by the end of it all, peace was restored in the kingdom.
A few bumps along the way, but plenty of forward motion—and lots to feel hopeful about.
A city rebuilt
🎙️ Been Here. Still Awesome. Still Limited. 🎨📚🎲
For a while now, we’ve been offering a tried-and-true promotional opportunity through the Storycomic Patreon—and if you’re an independent creative, it’s still one of the best ways to sustainably share your work and grow your audience.
Here’s what our Patreon members have been benefiting from:
✅ Permanent Promotion
Your website or project link is featured in the show notes of all podcast episodes for as long as you're a patron. That’s long-term visibility across every platform where our show is streamed.
🏆 Founders Club Access
The Founders Club remains limited to just 15 spots. No expansions, no waiting list—once it’s full, that’s it. These early supporters have their names (and links) locked into the Storycomic platform.
📢 Monthly Promotion at the Super Club Level
At the Super Club tier, members receive a minimum of one promotional post per month—whether it's a new release, project update, or spotlight on their creative work.
Founders Club patrons include amazing creators like:
Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese.
Explore their work:
🎯 If you're a creator—author, game designer, comic artist—this is your signal. This system is working. Don't wait until the last spot is gone.
Let’s keep building the kind of community that lifts each other up.
—Barney Smith