“If it pleases the gods, so be it. They may well kill me, but they can’t hurt me.”

—Plato

Hey there!

The end of 2025 brought more change than I expected. The kind that forces you to reassess what matters and how you want to show up. And if you’ve been here for a while, you know this space matters to me. Writing Gutter Thoughts has always grounded me, even during chaotic seasons.

But between running my newsletter ghostwriting business, picking up a part-time job so I can be around people again, and navigating a full life, my time has become limited. It’s just me managing everything, and I have to be selective with where my creative energy goes.

And here’s the truth: the writing that resonates most with you is the writing that isn’t rushed. The pieces where I sit down, think, read, and reflect. Not the posts written to “stay consistent.” The ones that hit hardest are the ones that go deeper.

So with that in mind, here’s what you can expect from The Stoic Creative in 2026.

1. Fewer long-form newsletters, but more writing that matters

Earlier this year, I wrote weekly for three months straight. The consistency felt good, but the quality didn’t always match the pace. Some posts stayed too surface-level. Not because I lacked ideas, but because depth takes space.

Then I noticed something. The posts that sparked the strongest response from you were the ones where I slowed down, read from multiple perspectives, and wrote from a deeper place. They didn’t take longer to write — they just had more behind them.

So moving forward, this newsletter will shift to 1–2 long-form essays per month. Not less writing. Better writing. Writing that earns its place in your inbox.

More Notes, more ideas, more sketches

Even with fewer long-form posts, I’ll be writing more overall. Substack Notes has become a space I genuinely enjoy. Low pressure. Quick ideas. Personal reflections. Creative sparks. And now sketches too.

Expect Notes to include:

• Quick creative thoughts

• Stoic insights

• Observations from my daily practice

• Ideas in progress

• Sketches and drawings

If a Note resonates, like it or leave a comment. It helps me understand what you want expanded into future essays.

2. I’m writing a mini-book inspired by Seneca

I’ve always wanted to write a book, but the time commitment never lined up. Recently, I found How To Write a Mini Book, and it showed me a new path that felt possible.

Around the same time, I began reading Seneca’s Letters from a Stoic for the first time. Immediately, things clicked. His words connect directly to modern creative life — focus, fear, hardship, discipline, mortality.

There were ideas I wanted to explore that didn’t fit neatly into a single newsletter. And they deserved more room.

So I’m writing a mini-book exploring Stoicism through Seneca’s letters, mainly how his ideas apply to creativity today. Themes like:

• Overcoming hardship

• Accepting mortality to create boldly

• Choosing your audience with intention

• Staying grounded during chaos

• Building creative rituals through Stoic practice

I’ll update you as the project takes shape.

3. Boom Kid is entering its final chapter

September 9, 2026, marks ten years of Boom Kid — the comic that shaped my entire creative life.

It’s the reason I pursued cartooning.
It’s the reason I ended up at Apple.
It’s the reason The Stoic Creative exists.
And it’s the foundation for everything that’s followed.

I almost walked away from it, but the story deserves an ending. And your response reminded me how important it is to finish what matters.

Where things stand

• The final scripts are drafted

• Chapters 5 and 6 are complete and need lettering

• There are nine chapters, and I may add a tenth

• I’ll be doing rewrites over the holidays

• Goal: finish the full series by the end of summer

• Digital release planned for the ten-year anniversary

• Physical edition planned for 2027

You can read the first four chapters for free here:
👉 Read Boom Kid Chapters 1–4

If you want the physical Volume 1 (shipping only in the U.S.):
👉 Buy the Boom Kid book

4. Gutter Thoughts will remain free

No paywalls for now.
This newsletter exists to support your creative journey, and I want it to stay open and accessible for the foreseeable future.

Looking ahead

2026 feels like a year of deeper work. A year of finishing the projects that shaped me. A year of returning to the ideas that matter most.

Thank you for being here. Your support keeps this space alive.

More soon,
Damian

This Week’s Creative Sparks

Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:

Comic Book Spark: Infernal Hulk

Hulk has always held the top spot for me. Number one, no debate.
Al Ewing’s Immortal Hulk run set a bar so high it still casts a shadow. Nothing since then has scratched that same itch.

So when Marvel relaunched the title with a new take—and that wild cover art—I had to jump in. Glad I did. The first issue hit hard. I’ve already reread it ten times.

If this is the direction they’re taking Hulk in 2026, I’m all in.

Book Spark: Hagakure — The Book of the Samurai

I recently finished Netflix’s Last Samurai Standing, and it hit me harder than I expected. Hard enough that I started digging into samurai history and philosophy on my own.

While pulling books off my shelf, I found a copy of Hagakure I bought years ago and never opened. I cracked it this week. It’s incredible. More than a guide to the samurai way, it reads like a book of philosophy you can apply to your own life right now.

Quiet, sharp lessons. The kind that stay with you.

YouTube Spark: How I Journal as a Designer, in Japan

I found this video a few weeks ago, and it stuck with me. Journaling is a core practice for any Stoic Creative, and Anton — a designer living in Japan — has kept a design journal for years. Now he’s bringing that practice to YouTube in a way that feels thoughtful and original.

Watching him work is a good reminder that even as the tech around us keeps shifting, our creative rituals can evolve without losing their soul.

Worth the watch.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.

Subscribe now

This issue is sponsored by me.

I created Cut the Learning Curve, a free 5-day course for aspiring comic creators who are ready to stop guessing and start creating with confidence.

And if you’re more of a founder or creative team who wants this done for you, I also ghostwrite story-driven newsletters that build trust and drive conversion.

“I am writing this,’ he says, ‘not for the eyes of the many, but for yours alone: for each of us is audience enough for the other.”

-Seneca quoting Epicurus

Hey there,

I’ve been reading Seneca again, and two of his letters hit me like a punch.
In one, he writes: “You ask me to say what you should consider it particularly important to avoid. My answer is this: a mass crowd.”

Avoid crowds?
That sounds impossible today. We live in them, online and off.
If you’re trying to get your comic noticed, sell your next zine, or share your art online, you have to step into the crowd.

But Seneca wasn’t warning against being seen. He was warning against being shaped by what everyone else sees.
As creators, we can’t avoid visibility. But we can choose how we move through it.

So here’s how to follow Seneca’s advice while still promoting your work with integrity, focus, and peace of mind.

Be cautious about what you consume.

One of my favorite teachers used to say: “Garbage in, garbage out.”
What you take in determines what you put out.

Seneca knew this long before the internet existed. He once stopped by the Roman arena expecting a light show and instead found blood and cheers. He left disgusted, not just by the violence but by the joy it gave people.

He wrote: “When a mind is impressionable and has not yet firmed its hold on what is right, it must be rescued from the crowd; it is so easy to go over to the majority.”

That line should hit every creator hard.
Because your work reflects what you feed your mind.
If your feed is full of trends, outrage, and “how to go viral” advice, don’t be surprised if your stories start to sound like everyone else’s.

So build a stronger creative diet:

• Keep a comics library that challenges how you think about story and structure.

• Follow artists who make you want to draw, not those who make you compare.

• Log off when inspiration turns into imitation.

Your imagination is a garden. What you plant grows back onto the page.

Find other creators on the same path.

Avoiding crowds doesn’t mean staying alone. It means being intentional about who you share your time and energy with.

Seneca wrote: “Associate with people who are likely to improve you. Welcome those whom you are capable of improving.”

That’s not networking advice. That’s creative survival.

Making art—whether comics, design, or writing—is long, solitary work. If you don’t have people who get it, who know what it means to wrestle with a single panel for hours, it’s easy to drift off course.

Find the people who remind you why you create.

Here’s what helps:

• Go to small press shows and meet other cartoonists who are building from scratch.

• Read Chapter 6 of Scott McCloud’s Making Comics, Your Place in Comics. It’s a masterclass in finding where your work fits in the creative landscape.

• Share your process. Teaching and talking through your work sharpens it.

I found my community at conventions and critique nights, where everyone was grinding on their own stories. Those friendships still push me to grow.

The crowd dulls your focus. The right peers sharpen it.

Take time to work in isolation.

Even in ancient Rome, Seneca saw distraction as a danger. He quoted Democritus: “A single man is a crowd, and a crowd is a single man.”

Solitude isn’t silence. It’s depth.
It’s the quiet space where ideas take shape.

Every creator needs that space. The work demands it. Drawing, writing, revising—all of it requires sitting still long enough to hear yourself think.

Here’s how to protect that space:

1. Spend one quiet hour early or late in the day to draw or write without interruption.

2. Take a walk alone. Story problems often untangle when you move your body.

3. Surround yourself with books and sketchbooks. They anchor you when the digital noise creeps in.

When Seneca wrote his letters, he wasn’t writing to the world. He wrote to one friend, but through that friend, to generations ahead.
That’s how enduring work gets made: quietly, one page at a time.

Promote with purpose.

Seneca’s lesson isn’t about avoiding attention. It’s about keeping your center when the crowd gets loud.

Avoiding crowds means protecting your integrity from what flattens it.

When you promote your work:

• Show your process, not your perfection.

• Post with intention, not obligation.

• Talk to readers, not algorithms.

You don’t need to post constantly to be remembered. You just need to show up honestly.
Draw, share, and repeat. Let the work speak for itself.

This week’s reflection:

Where can you pull back, tune in, and make something that sounds like you again?

That’s how a Stoic Creative promotes—with peace of mind.

This Week’s Creative Sparks

Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:

Video Game Spark: Invincible VS - Official Cecil Reveal Trailer

I’ve always had a soft spot for the Invincible universe, and Cecil Steadman is one of the reasons why. Voiced by the brilliant Walton Goggins, he’s a mix of charm and menace that’s hard to forget. So when I saw he’d be a playable character in the upcoming fighting game Invincible VS, I was hooked. The gameplay looks sharp, the art direction is beautiful, and the whole thing captures that gritty comic-book pulse perfectly. This is one I’ll be first in line to play.

Book Spark: City of Miracles by Robert Jackson Bennett

After finishing Golden Son from the Red Rising series, I wanted to return to a familiar voice — a world shaped by an author whose growth I could feel. So I picked up City of Miracles by Robert Jackson Bennett, the third book in The Divine Cities trilogy.

I’m only a quarter in, but what strikes me most is how much Bennett has evolved. When I first read City of Stairs, it took time to find my footing in his world. City of Miracles, though, pulls you in right away — confident, emotional, and sharp from the first page.

It’s a reminder that good storytelling, like any craft, deepens with time. You can feel when a creator has found their rhythm.

YouTube Spark: The Art of Discomfort w/ Leigh Bardugo

I first caught a short clip of this talk on my Instagram feed. It hit so deeply that I had to track down the full version on YouTube.

What I love most is how Leigh Bardugo speaks about art as a slow, deliberate process — one that asks us to endure discomfort rather than escape it. That truth sits at the heart of the Stoic Creative mindset: creating not for ease, but for meaning.

If you’ve been searching for a reason to make something again, start here.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.

Subscribe now

This issue is sponsored by me.

I created Cut the Learning Curve, a free 5-day course for aspiring comic creators who are ready to stop guessing and start creating with confidence.

And if you’re more of a founder or creative team who wants this done for you, I also ghostwrite story-driven newsletters that build trust and drive conversion.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”

-Aristotle

Hey there!

Consistency isn’t about quantity. It’s about sticking to a process that leads to quality.

I was reminded of this while playing indie games this year. Titles like Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 and Hollow Knight: Silksong each took years to develop. Yet, even before release, they already felt richer, deeper, and more memorable than most rushed AAA blockbusters—because of the process behind them.

It’s crazy how we live in a world obsessed with producing more, faster. Scale up. Post daily. Push content nonstop. But “fast” has never been the golden rule. In fact, the whole concept of tracking time by the clock is a recent invention. In Four Thousand Weeks, Oliver Burkeman reminds us that humans once worked only with the sun—short bursts of consistent effort stretched over seasons and years. Not 9-to-5, five days a week.

That’s what struck me: art that lasts, whether a game, a comic, or a book, always comes from process, patience, and rhythm—not volume.

So today, let’s talk about why consistency is about process, not quantity, and what indie studios can teach us about our own creative practice.

Let’s dive in.

Indie studios show the power of patience.

Team Cherry, the small studio behind Hollow Knight and its sequel Silksong, has taken more than seven years to develop their next game. And yet, their audience hasn’t abandoned them—they’ve grown. Why? Because players know that when Team Cherry finally releases Silksong, it will be polished, thoughtful, and worth the wait.

Patience works because it builds trust. Indie studios don’t flood the market with rushed sequels; they remind their fans, gently, that the process is still ongoing. That reminder—we’re still at it—becomes part of the story.

As creators, we can take the same approach. You don’t need to post daily sketches, churn out endless drafts, or flood social feeds. You need to commit to your process, show up, and share progress when it matters.

Consistency is showing up—not showing off.

Big doesn’t always mean better.

AAA studios chase deadlines, quarterly earnings, and hype cycles. The result? Half-finished games that ask players to pay extra for the “real” story. Quantity over quality.

Indie studios, by contrast, get one shot. They can’t afford mediocrity. So they sharpen their focus—whether it’s storytelling (Clair Obscure: Expedition 33), gameplay innovation, or hand-painted art. When they get it right across all three, you get a masterpiece.

Big studios often survey audiences to figure out “what people want.” That has its place, but it also limits risk. Indie creators have freedom to explore untapped ideas, forgotten genres, or personal obsessions. They create the games they themselves would want to play.

The Stoic lesson? You can’t control scale, resources, or hype. You can only control your effort and attention. Just like making comics, the real power lies in shaping what’s in front of you, not chasing what you can’t control.

Consistency is about rhythm, not output.

Too often, we think consistency means “every day.” Post daily. Publish weekly. Grind harder. But real consistency is rhythm. It’s the steady drumbeat of showing up to your process.

Consistency should feel boring. It’s about turning up, trying again, adjusting slightly, and repeating. That’s where grit lives. One day, that rhythm pays off with breakthroughs you never could have forced.

Here’s the formula:

1. Set a clear goal with a finish date.

2. Break it into a daily process you can actually stick to.

3. Show up and do a little, every day.

As Gretchen Rubin shares in Manage Your Day-to-Day, “A small daily task, if it be really daily, will beat the labours of a spasmodic Hercules.” And Angela Duckworth’s Grit puts it simply: “Grit is about holding the same top-level goal for a very long time.”

For me, that goal is becoming a ghostwriter. Every day, I time-block an hour to write. Publishing Gutter Thoughts weekly is part of that rhythm—both to sharpen my craft and to explore my creative ideas in comics.

Marcus Aurelius said it best:

“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: I have to go to work—as a human being.”

Consistency isn’t glamorous. But it’s the foundation.

Quality compounds when you trust the process.

The games I loved this year weren’t the ones with the biggest budgets or the flashiest marketing. They were the ones where small teams trusted the process, worked patiently, and focused on the essentials. And in 2025, two indie games are being considered for Game of the Year—proof that patience scales.

That’s the creative truth too. You don’t need a massive following, a giant budget, or a perfect roadmap. You need a process, patience, and the courage to keep showing up. Quality compounds when you give it time.

Marcus Aurelius reminded himself daily: do what’s in front of you with care. That’s the process.

Closing thought:

Consistency isn’t about speed or volume. It’s about finding your own rhythm, masterig your craft, and developing patience.

Indie studios prove it. And if you trust your own process, your art will too.

Looking for more of my work? Start with Boom Kid—a story about power, identity, and loyalty.

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

This Week’s Creative Sparks

Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:

Comic Book Spark: WILDC.A.T.S

I recently stopped by a used bookstore and came across WildC.A.T.S issues written by the legendary Alan Moore—the same writer behind Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. I had no idea he’d written superhero comics for Image. At only a dollar each, I had to grab them. They’re not his best work, but still a fun read. Sometimes it’s worth diving into old comics just to enjoy the ride.

Movie Spark: One Battle After Another

The trailer for this film had me hooked right away—a revolutionary story told with sharp comedy. When the hype grew, I knew I had to see it. I caught it in Vistavision, a format that hasn’t played in theaters for more than 60 years, and it was a stunning experience. This is an artist working at the highest level, and seeing that kind of craft pushes me to aim higher in my own work.

YouTube Spark: Jumper

I stumbled on this short film a few weeks ago and found it surprisingly entertaining. At first, I thought it was a remake of the 2008 movie, but it turned out to be an experiment from a small crew. Their goal: mix fight choreography with modern filming tech—motion-control arms, 360° bullet-time rigs, POV shots, and more. It’s a wild watch, and I recommend checking it out.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.

Subscribe now

This issue is sponsored by me.

I created Cut the Learning Curve, a free 5-day course for aspiring comic creators who are ready to stop guessing and start creating with confidence.

And if you’re more of a founder or creative team who wants this done for you, I also ghostwrite story-driven newsletters that build trust and drive conversion.

“The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing, because an artful life requires being prepared to meet and withstand sudden and unexpected attacks.”

—Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 7.61

Hey there!

The other day I was with two of my best friends. One of them said he hated his corporate job because it drained all his creativity.

I knew that feeling. My first two years in corporate left me the same way—empty. But I learned how to fight back. I blocked time, built habits, and slowly reclaimed my energy. The result? I self-published my first indie book for just $300. That book brought in $1,600—a 433% return. More important, I found fulfillment, my passion for storytelling, a community of readers, and a way to give back.

If your 9 to 5 leaves you drained, this is for you. Here are five ways that helped me stay creative while working full-time—and how they can help you finish your own projects.

Let’s dive in.

1. Block one hour a day for creativity.

Progress only happens when you

protect time for it. Block at least one hour a day—before work, after work, or even on lunch.

If one hour feels impossible, start with 30 minutes. Less than that, and you need to ask yourself if you’re serious about your creative goals.

Think of it as meeting the muse. Every time you show up, you strengthen the connection. Over time, those hours stack into finished pages, drawings, or songs.

If you struggle to even sit down, Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art is essential. He calls out “resistance”—the invisible force that keeps you from your work. His cure is simple: start.

If you’re not sure when to create, Daniel H. Pink’s When explains why certain times of day give you more focus. Use that insight to match your creative time with your natural rhythm.

Start small. Stay consistent. One hour is enough.

2. Start with a small project.

When you sit down, don’t show up empty-handed. Come with a purpose.

I often begin with 15–30 minutes of free writing. Sometimes it’s fleshing out a project, other times it’s just scribbling feelings. By the end, I usually know what to work on next.

But here’s the key: keep it small.

• Write a short story, not a novel.

• Sketch a character, not a full arc.

• Record a one-minute video, not a feature film.

Small projects build momentum. Finishing builds confidence. Confidence makes the next project bigger.

3. Set a deadline you can hit.

Once you’ve picked a project, give it a deadline. Urgency creates focus.

But don’t set yourself up to fail. Two weeks is too short unless the project is tiny. A month is the minimum. Three months is the sweet spot.

Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington put it best in The 12 Week Year:

“We mistakenly believe that there is a lot of time left in the year, and we act accordingly. We lack a sense of urgency, not realizing that every week is important, every day is important, every moment is important.”

That’s why 12 weeks works. It’s short enough to feel urgent, long enough to finish.

Pick a deadline. Circle it. Work backward.

4. Turn your 9 to 5 into fuel.

You spend 40+ hours a week at your job. Use it.

Keep a notes folder on your phone. Jot down:

• A phrase from a meeting.

• A new skill you picked up.

• A conversation that shifted your view.

• A frustration that sparked an idea.

Spend 15 minutes of your creative time reviewing those notes. Patterns will emerge. Inspiration will show up.

When I worked corporate, I noticed something unexpected: lessons flowed both ways. My creativity bled into work. I took more initiative, enjoyed my tasks more, and found new ways to stand out.

Stop seeing your job as a drain. Start seeing it as a toolbox.

5. Spend time in solitude to recharge your spirit.

Creativity demands energy. If your day job drains you, solitude restores you.

When I worked at Apple, I’d take walks—sometimes with coworkers around a reservoir, sometimes solo with music in my ears. Other days, I’d drop into the local comic shop. Every time, I came back with fresh ideas or solutions to problems that felt stuck.

Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way, calls these “Artist Dates.” She defines them as:

“A block of time, perhaps two hours weekly, especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist.”

Every creative should take these dates. They’re not indulgence. They’re maintenance. The more you recharge, the more consistent your creativity becomes.

Closing thought

Balancing a demanding job with a creative life isn’t easy. But it is possible.

• Protect an hour each day.

• Start with small projects.

• Set deadlines you can hit.

• Use your job as fuel.

• Take solitude seriously.

Your creativity doesn’t have to die in a soul-less office. With consistency, it can thrive—and maybe even transform the way you see work itself..

Looking for more of my work? Start with Boom Kid—a story about power, identity, and loyalty.

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

This Week’s Creative Sparks

Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week. And this week I am heavily influenced by all the video games updates that dropped. When done well Video games is a great source for great storytelling.

Video Game Spark: The Seven Deadly Sins Origin

I’ve always been a fan of The Seven Deadly Sins manga and the first two seasons of the anime. When the trailer for the new game dropped, I kept my expectations low. Most anime games end up as simple battle fighters. But this one surprised me—it looks like a full open-world RPG set in that world. For the first time in years, a game has me thinking about buying a PlayStation 5.

Show Spark: Wolverine Game Overview

Wolverine by Insomniac Games is one of the most anticipated releases yet. The official trailer just dropped—and it’s epic. But what struck me most wasn’t the footage. It was hearing the team explain what they aimed for: capturing Wolverine’s essence, choosing the right voice, and handling violence with care. I love when creators share the thinking behind their work.

Video Game Spark: Ananta Gameplay Video

When I first saw the Ananta trailer, it grabbed me right away. It was one of the first sparks I ever shared in Gutter Thoughts. Now, a year later, we finally have a full gameplay video—and it looks incredible. The 10-minute preview shows the depth of the world, the humor, the story, and the mechanics the team built. And here’s the kicker: it’s a free-to-play game.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.

Subscribe now

This issue is sponsored by me.

I created Cut the Learning Curve, a free 5-day course for aspiring comic creators who are ready to stop guessing and start creating with confidence.

And if you’re more of a founder or creative team who wants this done for you, I also ghostwrite story-driven newsletters that build trust and drive conversion.

“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.”

— Seneca, On The Shortness of Life

Hey there!

Here’s a confession: I used to hate coloring my comics (and I still kinda do).

Every new chapter, I hit the same wall. I’d sketch, thumbnail, ink—and then stall when it came time to add color. I second-guessed every palette, dragged deadlines, and lost steam on projects I cared about. Looking back at my sketchbooks, I noticed something obvious: I almost never used color. What I loved—what kept me coming back—was black ink on white paper.

That realization changed everything.

Black and white isn’t a fallback. It’s a foundation. It teaches speed, clarity, and storytelling in ways color often hides. If you’re a new or intermediate cartoonist, working in black and white can make you faster, sharper, and more confident.

Here are three reasons why.

1. Black and white gives you time to focus on what matters.

The hardest part of making comics isn’t drawing—it’s time. You’re not a team of six or seven with colorists, inkers, and letterers. You’re one person. Every extra step multiplies the hours it takes to finish.

Coloring can double, or even triple, the timeline of a project. For most indie creators, that’s the difference between finishing or abandoning a comic.

Black and white simplifies the process. You don’t waste hours testing palettes or reworking harmony. You focus on story and art—the things readers actually remember.

The result: you finish more stories.

Manga proves this point. Tight deadlines force Japanese creators to strip the process down to essentials: narrative, expression, and pacing. That’s why most series, from One Piece to Chainsaw Man, run in black and white. Story comes first.

Indie cartoonists like Michael DeForge, Simon Hanselmann, and Charles Forsman followed the same path. For them, black and white wasn’t a limitation. It was leverage.

2. You master values before you master color.

Color is just values in disguise. If you don’t understand light and shadow, your colors will fall flat.

Values—black, white, and gray—form the skeleton of a page. They show where light hits, where shadows fall, and how to balance positive and negative space. Nail values and coloring become simple.

The late Jesse Hamm explained this through the inking technique of “Burn and Bury.”

“Burn out details on the lit side of objects by thinning the lines and using less detail.
Bury details on the unlit side of objects, covering them with black shadow instead of trying vainly to preserve useless detail.”

Though he was talking about inking, the principle applies directly to values: it trains your eye to place light and shadow in a panel before you add color.

I learned this too late. For years, I treated coloring as decoration—add hues, pick a palette, done. Without a value structure, everything looked flat. Once I trained my eye in black and white, color stopped being random. I knew where to go lighter or darker. I understood contrast. Coloring became faster, easier, and more fun—even if it still wasn’t my favorite part.

That’s the benefit: once you master values, color becomes a tool, not an obstacle.

3. Constraints force you to problem-solve—and that’s how style develops.

Remove color, and you remove shortcuts. You can’t lean on a red glow to show fire or a neon aura to suggest magic. You have to invent solutions with ink alone.

That’s where style comes from.

Constraints force you to think deliberately. Do you thicken a line or hatch a shadow? Do you leave space open or bury it in black? Each choice builds a visual vocabulary that becomes recognizable over time. Readers spot your work not by the palette you pick, but by how you solve problems on the page.

Paradoxically, limits expand your voice.

A few things to remember.

This isn’t an anti-color manifesto. Some artists think in palettes the way others think in lines. If that’s you, don’t fight it. Double down on your strength.

But for many, skipping straight to color creates paralysis. You stall, procrastinate, and delay projects. Black and white cures that. It gets you moving, teaches fundamentals, and frees you to finish.

And finishing, not perfecting, grows both your craft and your audience.

My own lesson.

When I worked on Boom Kid, I tried to color everything. Every chapter dragged because I second-guessed every choice. I procrastinated, delayed, and burned out.

Eventually, I took The Futur’s Color for Creatives course. It taught me the role of values and how to see light and dark before hue. It helped—but it also gave me clarity: I don’t enjoy coloring. And that’s okay.

Now, I save color for special projects. For everything else, I go back to what brings me joy: thumbnails, inks, and black-and-white storytelling. That shift sped up my process and reconnected me to why I make comics in the first place.

Takeaway.

If you’re new to comics, start in black and white. It will:

• Give you time to finish more stories.

• Train your eye in values, the backbone of color.

• Force you to problem-solve and develop your style.

Black and white isn’t a downgrade. It’s a discipline. It’s where your voice sharpens, your speed improves, and your style emerges.

Sometimes the simplest tools unlock the deepest joy in making comics.

Looking for more of my work? Start with Boom Kid—a story about power, identity, and loyalty.

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

This Week’s Creative Sparks

Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:

Video Game Spark: Hades 2

Video games like this inspire my art style. The Hades series isn’t just fun to play—it’s gorgeous to look at. Supergiant just dropped a new trailer ahead of the 1.0 release, and I can’t stop watching it. The colors pop, and the short storytelling hooks you right away.

Show Spark: Last Samurai Standing

I was minding my business online when I stumbled across this gem of a trailer—a Battle Royale–style competition set in feudal Japan. Yes, please. I’m hyped for this series, and let’s be honest: the trailer is pretty damn sick. The series drops on November 13.

Video Game Spark: Absolum Official Gameplay Trailer

This is a game I’ve had my eye on all year. The art alone is inspiring, but the style had me curious from the start. Now we finally get a closer look at the gameplay—and it doesn’t disappoint. Mixing a beat-’em-up with a roguelike is brilliant. It’s will be glorious. Absolum drops October 9.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.

Subscribe now

This issue is sponsored by me.

I created Cut the Learning Curve, a free 5-day course for aspiring comic creators who are ready to stop guessing and start creating with confidence.

And if you’re more of a founder or creative team who wants this done for you, I also ghostwrite story-driven newsletters that build trust and drive conversion.

“By other men's labors we are led to the sight of things most beautiful that have been wrested from darkness and brought into light; from no age are we shut out, we have access to all ages, and if it is our wish, by greatness of mind, to pass beyond the narrow limits of human weakness, there is a great stretch of time through which we may roam.”

— Seneca, On The Shortness of Life

Hey there!

Every comic starts somewhere. Boom Kid, my hip-hop superhero comic, began with sparks. Moments, people, and pieces of culture that left a mark on me and refused to let go.

Writing and drawing this story has been one of the most rewarding projects of my life. It’s opened doors I never imagined, connected me with incredible people, and given me the chance to share my creative vision.

As we mark the 9th anniversary of Boom Kid Chapter 01, I want to shine a light on my process and share 9 of the inspirations that shaped this comic. Not to give you a formula, but to show how I’ve taken the things that matter to me and turned them into a world I wanted to tell stories in.

Let’s dive in.

1. Brooklyn is the beating heart of the story.

Brooklyn isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a character. It raised me. It shaped my worldview.

Every street corner, subway ride, and block party informed Boom Kid. Where else would a hip-hop superhero comic take root?

2. Rap beefs showed me the drama of larger-than-life battles.

I grew up surrounded by hip-hop in Brooklyn, where rap battles were more than music—they were culture. The Nas vs. Jay-Z beef was everywhere in my youth, and years later, Drake vs. Meek Mill carried that same electricity, except on social media’s instant stage.

That energy became the heartbeat of Boom Kid. I asked myself: what if rap beefs weren’t just lyrical duels but actual super-powered showdowns? That “what if” became the premise.

3. MF DOOM proved that hip hop and comics belong together.

When I first heard MF DOOM on his Danger Doom project with Danger Mouse, it was through Adult Swim. His mask, his comic book references, his larger-than-life persona—it all clicked.

He showed me hip hop and comics weren’t separate worlds. They fed each other. That’s why one of Boom Kid’s central figures, Bass-Slap, wears a mask and embodies that same comic-hip hop fusion.

4. The Hulk taught me about inner battles and raw power.

The Hulk has always been my favorite superhero—period. His constant struggle between calm and chaos mirrored feelings I’ve carried my whole life.

Bass-Slap channels that same duality—massive, powerful, and fueled by sound. I imagined the thunder of a bass guitar as his presence: heavy, shaking, unavoidable. That’s where his name and design came from.

5. Black Bolt validated the power of the voice as a weapon.

Black Bolt, leader of the Inhumans, barely appears in mainstream comics, but his ability struck me. His voice could destroy cities.

I’d already been inspired by thunder growing up in the Northeast, but Black Bolt showed me that voice itself could be a superpower. That idea echoes in Boom Kid’s DNA: a voice is more than a tool. They can be weapons.

6. 9/11 left scars that shaped my characters’ trauma.

The events of September 11th are something I can’t forget. They shaped my childhood and my city. “Never Forget” became personal, not just a slogan.

So it shaped my characters, too. Bass-Slap lost his father in the attack. His forearms bear the words “Never” and “Forget” when in Hulk-form. Boom Kid himself first discovered his powers the same day the towers were struck, creating a link between personal trauma and power. Their friendship deepened through that shared pain.

7. HBO’s Girls showed me the power of great writing and vulnerability.

Girls is one of my favorite shows because it stays raw and messy. It turns awkwardness into sharp dialogue and builds characters who frustrate you but still feel real.

One line sticks with me: when Marnie and Elijah talk about her relationships, Elijah suddenly blurts, “Old Man Ray?” The moment lands simple, hilarious, and unforgettable.

I gave Lena Dunham a shoutout in Boom Kid by naming a classic Boom Kid track in Chapter 01 “Old Man Ray.” It’s my thank you for putting her vulnerability on screen and proving storytelling works best when it stays raw, confessional, and unafraid to be uncomfortable.

8. Surprise album drops taught me timing and impact.

2015 gave us To Pimp a Butterfly and If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late—both released without warning. The culture shifted overnight.

That inspired me to think about how Boom Kid should enter the world. Not with a long build-up. With surprise. With impact. The timing mattered as much as the art.

9. Straight Outta Compton showed me the epic scale hip hop deserves.

When this biopic landed in theaters, it felt like a superhero movie. The characters were larger than life, the stakes high, the drama electric.

It made me imagine a “shared universe” of hip-hop legends told with the same scale as Marvel or DC. Since Hollywood wasn’t going to do it (especially after that weak Tupac film), I decided to build it myself. Boom Kid became my hip-hop superhero universe, focused on the drama behind the music, not just the music itself.

Looking back, these 9 sparks lit the fire that became Boom Kid.

From Brooklyn’s streets to MF DOOM’s mask, from rap beefs to surprise album drops—Boom Kid is stitched together from all the things that made me.

Nine years later, this comic still carries that same energy: raw, chaotic, hopeful, and undeniably Brooklyn.

That’s the beauty of inspiration—it isn’t about copying, it’s about transforming. These influences gave me the fuel to tell the story I wanted to tell.

If you enjoyed this breakdown of the inspirations behind Boom Kid and want to keep going, last week I shared 9 lessons I’ve learned from making comics over the years. You can read it here: Gutter Thoughts 027.

Thanks for being part of the journey.

Haven’t read my Boom Kid! Well what are you waiting for? Check it out with the link below.

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

Subscribe now

This issue is sponsored by me.

I created Cut the Learning Curve, a free 5-day course for aspiring comic creators who are ready to stop guessing and start creating with confidence.

And if you’re more of a founder or creative team who wants this done for you, I also ghostwrite story-driven newsletters that build trust and drive conversion.

“I judge you unfortunate because you have never lived through misfortune. You have passed through life without an opponent—no one can ever know what you are capable of, not even you.”

— Seneca, On Providence, 4.3

Hey there!

This Tuesday, September 9, marks nine years since I published Boom Kid, my very first comic.

It’s a milestone I’m proud of, but also a moment to reflect. Over those nine years, I made mistakes, hit walls, and nearly burned out more than once. But each misstep taught me lessons that shaped who I am as a cartoonist today.

Marking this anniversary made me look back on the lessons I’ve learned. I want to share them with you in the hope they give you more clarity and make your own path through comics a little easier.

Let’s dive in.

1. Don’t limit your ideas to just comics.

Comics are powerful, but they’re slow. If you lock every idea into panels, you’ll stall momentum.

Your universe can live in other places: posters, shirts, playlists, and short videos. These aren’t side projects, they’re ways to keep your world alive between issues.

2. Share more of the universe you create.

Don’t hoard your characters or lore. Drop sketches, unfinished ideas, and fragments of history.

Manga legend Hirohiko Araki (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure) says strong character histories are the backbone of lasting stories. Build them, and share them. Curiosity fuels readership.

3. Tell short, complete stories.

When I first started Boom Kid, I wanted it to be an ongoing weekly series.

Then I pitched an early version to an editor. He didn’t sugarcoat it: “If you want to get anywhere in comics, you need something finished.”

That stung, but he was right. I wasn’t ready to crank out 24 pages. Around the same time, a friend’s 8-page mini-comics got picked up and turned into The End of the F**ing World*. That was my wake-up call.

So I created an 8-page Boom Kid issue. Colored it, hand-lettered it, put it on Gumroad. Then I did another. And another. Those small issues didn’t just build my skills—they got me a job at Apple.

Lesson: Short comics are proof of work. They’re easier to finish, quicker to share, and help you test what resonates. If I started again, I’d build a stack of 4–8 page stories, not chase an endless series.

4. Define your own category and genre.

If you can’t explain your lane, you’re competing with everything else on the shelf.

Boom Kid didn’t fit “superhero.” No capes. No bright costumes. So I coined my own: Hip-Hop Superpower Drama.

When you define your own category, you stop being one of many and start being the one others measure themselves against.

5. Embrace the dip as part of the process.

In 2016, I was broke, stressed, and deep in what Seth Godin calls The Dip — that long, discouraging slog where progress feels invisible.

It nearly broke me. I questioned everything. Some days I cried at my desk. But pushing through gave me clarity. Not bliss, clarity. And clarity is what made me a better cartoonist.

If you’re in the dip now, don’t run. Lean on community. Keep showing up. The dip isn’t proof you’re failing, it’s proof you’re on the right track.

6. Build a network and community.

Every step forward I’ve taken in comics came from community.

Wednesday trips to Brooklyn’s Bergen Street Comics. Conversations with indie cartoonists in LA. Friends who critiqued my drafts. Editors who gave blunt but necessary feedback.

These relationships kept me going when I wanted to quit. Comics are drawn alone, but careers aren’t built in isolation. Start small: say hi at a shop, comment on a creator’s post. Over time, those threads become the net that keeps you steady.

7. Figure out your theme early.

Cool characters aren’t enough. Theme is what makes stories stick.

Think of The Tortoise and the Hare (slow and steady wins) or Beauty and the Beast (don’t judge by appearance).

When I finally defined Boom Kid’s theme — managing expectations of others — everything clicked. Pick your theme early. It’s the compass that keeps your story from wandering.

8. Stick to black and white until you master values.

Color overwhelmed me. It slowed my process and sapped my confidence.

Black and white sharpened my focus on line, shadow, and negative space. Once values are solid, color becomes an enhancement, not a crutch.

Simplify first. Master the fundamentals.

9. Take breaks and walk.

Drawing all day feels safe, but sitting still is dangerous.

Back then, I walked everywhere, even in LA. Those walks gave me my best ideas and kept me sane. Research backs it up: walking boosts creativity and protects your health.

Step away from the desk. Your comics (and your body) will thank you.

Closing thoughts

If I had to restart my comic journey today, these are the 9 lessons I’d carry with me.

The takeaway:

• Don’t box your story into one format.

• Share your universe often.

• Ship short stories.

• Own your category.

• Push through the dip.

• Lean on community.

• Anchor your story in theme.

• Master values before color.

• Protect your health.

Start small, think big, and remember: every professional comic creator was once exactly where you are now. The difference is, they chose to keep going.

Looking for more of my work? Start with Boom Kid—a story about power, identity, and loyalty.

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

This Week’s Creative Sparks

Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:

Video Game Spark: Hollow Knight & SilkSong

One of the year’s most anticipated releases is finally here—Silksong, the long-awaited sequel to the beloved Hollow Knight. If you’ve played the original, you know how striking it is: a hauntingly beautiful world paired with tough, addictive gameplay.

In the lead-up to Silksong, I’ve been diving back into Hollow Knight, trying to bump my 75% completion rate to a full 100%. Whether I make it there or not, one thing’s certain—I’ll be playing both.

Show Spark: Game of Thrones Season One

This past weekend, my girlfriend and I started rewatching Game of Thrones from the very beginning. Thanks to Labor Day, we binged the first season, and I was blown away by how much I’d forgotten happens right out of the gate.

Watching it now, the Starks strike me as both stubborn and foolish. At the same time, I was reminded just how well the show fleshed out its characters. It got me thinking about how I can push myself to build stronger characters and sharper storytelling in my own work.

Animation Spark: Off the Leash

I love stumbling onto creative projects like this. I came across a short animated video by Louie Zong, whose fascination with music and Animal Crossing shines through in every frame. His influences are clear, and the impact hits fast—it feels like something that could easily air during an Adult Swim commercial break.

Check it out, and you’ll probably find yourself bopping your head while saying, “That’s adorable.”

That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.

Subscribe now

This issue is sponsored by me.

I created Cut the Learning Curve, a free 5-day course for aspiring comic creators who are ready to stop guessing and start creating with confidence.

And if you’re more of a founder or creative team who wants this done for you, I also ghostwrite story-driven newsletters that build trust and drive conversion.

"It is said that if you would have peace of mind, busy yourself with little. But wouldn't a better saying be do what you must and as required of a rational being created for public life? For this brings not only the peace of mind of doing few things, but the greater peace of doing them well. Since the vast majority of our words and actions are unnecessary, corralling them will create an abundance of leisure and tranquility. As a result, we shouldn't forget at each moment to ask, is this one of the unnecessary things? But we must corral not only unnecessary actions but unnecessary thoughts, too, so needless acts don't tag along after them."

— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 4.24

Hey there!

Nine years ago, I made eight pages of a comic called Boom Kid. Those pages got me hired at Apple.

But here's what happened next. I stopped creating. I kept telling myself I needed perfect tools, skills, and timing to create anything. I waited. And waited. And waited some more.

This thinking kills creativity in three ways:

• You cling to old methods that worked once

• You hoard new skills instead of using them

• You wait for the "right moment" that never comes

The cost? Nine years of creative paralysis.

Today I'll show you how to break free from each trap.

Let's start.

Trap 1: You worship your old success.

When Boom Kid worked, I thought I'd found the secret formula.

Same brushes. Same software. Same everything. I was scared to change anything. What if I lost the magic?

But here's what I missed: my success didn't come from the tools. It came from trying new things. I experimented with everything back then. Digital brushes. Analog techniques. Different lettering. Wild color choices.

The willingness to experiment made the work good. Not the specific tool I used.

Nine years later, I still use the same old brushes. Why? Fear dressed up as loyalty.

A houseplant teaches a better lesson. When it outgrows its pot, you don't keep it cramped. You give it space. New soil. Room to grow.

Do this instead:

• List your current tools and methods

• Ask: which ones do I keep from habit, not results?

• Pick one to change this month

• Remember: the tool that got you here won't get you there

Stop worshipping your past. Start building your future.

Trap 2: You collect skills like trophies.

Since Boom Kid, I've learned tons. New brushes in ClipStudio Paint. Templates from Halftone Hospital and Johnkillink. Better lettering techniques.

But I never used them.

I told myself I'd try everything "when I finish the whole comic." I was hoarding improvements like a creative pack rat. Waiting for the perfect moment to use them all.

Last week I saw Ben Stiller and Seth Rogen talk about their work on the Happy Sad Confused with Josh Horowitz podcast.

Both comedy legends said the same thing: they become beginners with every project. They don't wait for perfect readiness. They show up and learn while doing.

Seth was so nervous directing Martin Scorsese that he went to crazy lengths not to look stupid. But he still showed up. He still directed.

Skills rot when you don't use them. Like fruit in a drawer.

Try this:

• Pick one new skill you've been saving

• Test it this week on something small

• Use new techniques on pieces of projects, not whole ones

• Focus on progress, not perfection

Stop hoarding skills. Start spending them.

Trap 3: You wait for tomorrow.

The biggest trap is believing in perfect timing.

For nine years, I told myself I'd embrace new tools "when the time is right." When I felt ready. When everything lined up.

Perfect timing is a myth.

There's a popular saying: "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." Same with creativity.

I created Boom Kid when I had nothing to lose. No reputation. No brand. No pressure to be perfect. That freedom made the work shine.

Now I have all these imaginary standards to protect. But protection kills creativity.

Your houseplant doesn't wait for the perfect season to grow. It grows when you give it what it needs. Water. Light. Space.

Your creativity works the same way.

Do this now:

• Pick one creative choice you've been delaying

• Set a deadline for this week

• Start a small side project where mess is welcome

• Remember: you already did the hard part when you started

Perfect moments don't exist. Productive moments do.

How to repot your creativity.

Ready to stop letting fear kill your progress? Here's what to do:

This week:

• Check one tool you keep from habit

• Test one new skill on something small

• Set a deadline for one choice you've been avoiding

This month:

• Replace one outdated part of your process

• Use one technique you've been saving

• Start a messy experiment project

This quarter:

• Let yourself outgrow past success

• Embrace being bad at new things

• Focus on moving forward, not being perfect

Remember

Your creativity is like a plant. Keep it in the same small pot and it will stunt forever.

The hardest part isn't learning new skills or finding better tools.

The hardest part is letting go of what got you here to make room for what will get you to where you're going.

What's one thing you've been meaning to try but keep avoiding? Hit reply and tell me. I want to hear about your messy experiments.

Looking for more of my work? Start with Boom Kid—a story about power, identity, and loyalty.

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

This Week’s Creative Sparks

Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:

YouTube Spark: Untitled 05 - Kendrick Lamar | An INVINCIBLE Edit

I love a good mash-up. And I love Invincible.

Maybe it’s the kid in me who grew up on Adult Swim and Toonami, but I’ve always enjoyed seeing people take anime footage, chop it up, and remix it with music. Back in high school and college, my friends and I made our own. They always reminded me of those quick Toonami bumps.

That’s why this one hit so hard: someone fused Invincible with Kendrick for a 54-second clip. The edit is sharp, the timing perfect—and I couldn’t stop replaying it. The juxtaposition just works.

Video Game Spark: Back to The Dawn

Sometimes I like to unwind with a game, and I recently stumbled across Back to The Dawn—a newly released prison-break RPG that’s equal parts strategy, story, and strange coziness.

The world is immersive, the gameplay tactical, but what really grabbed me was the art. Pair that with a story that pulls you in, and it’s a reminder that some of the best games are still coming from smaller studios.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.

Subscribe now

This issue is sponsored by me.

I created Cut the Learning Curve, a free 5-day course for aspiring comic creators who are ready to stop guessing and start creating with confidence.

And if you’re more of a founder or creative team who wants this done for you, I also ghostwrite story-driven newsletters that build trust and drive conversion.

This is Part 6 of Gratitude is the Process—a 6-part series on how Stoic gratitude helps comic creators push through rejection, burnout, and creative blocks.

You can start from part 1 right here (it’s the mindset reset I wish I had when I started).

The Stoic Quote of the Week

Keep reminding yourself of the way things are connected, of their relatedness. All things are implicated in one another and in sympathy with each other. This event is the consequence of some other one. Things push and pull on each other, and breath together, and are one.

— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 6.38

Hey there,

After six weeks exploring Stoic gratitude for comic creators, we’ve talked about finding appreciation in creative valleys and staying present during the grind. One final piece ties it all together.

The final piece is this: real progress isn’t about numbers, milestones, or recognition. It’s about the quiet victories you earn in how you approach your work, handle challenges, and keep creating when no one’s watching.

Most creators overlook this and keep chasing external markers anyway. That’s why even talented artists burn out, doubt themselves, or quit right before a breakthrough. When you shift your measure of success to the victories you can control, you remove that constant source of frustration and build a creative practice that lasts.

The truth is, if you’ve followed this series and applied even a few Stoic principles, you’ve already won victories most creators never notice.

Here are five Stoic victories worth recognizing and celebrating.

1. You find gratitude in the grind when drawing feels like a fight.

It may feel the least like winning, but it’s the most important change you can make.

Think about those sessions when your hand cramped, the page looked wrong, and every line felt off. Most see these as failures. But if you keep going and find even one small thing to be grateful for, you’re developing something rare.

The Stoics called it “love of fate,” embracing even the hard parts. When you sit down knowing it might be frustrating or disappointing, and you’re still thankful for the chance to create, you’ve stepped beyond the amateur mindset.

It shows up when you:

• Breathe through frustration instead of abandoning the page

• Say, “I get to draw today,” even when your skills feel shaky

• Appreciate one small detail in an otherwise disappointing piece

• Show up again tomorrow despite yesterday’s struggles

Marcus Aurelius wrote about finding gratitude for obstacles because they strengthen character. These grit-filled days are the kind of quiet victory that rarely shows up in a portfolio but shapes who you become as an artist.

2. You move through creative valleys without losing perspective.

Every creator hits stretches when nothing feels right. The art looks amateur, the story falls flat, and progress feels invisible.

If you keep going without quitting, you build one of the most valuable creative skills. You prove to yourself your practice doesn’t depend on inspiration or perfect conditions.

Seneca wrote about preparing for setbacks while enjoying good times. You learn that valleys are temporary, necessary, and not a verdict on your talent. The victory isn’t avoiding dips. It’s carrying gratitude through them.

Seeing a slump as part of the journey, not the end of it, is another quiet victory. It shows you’ve built the perspective to keep going when many would walk away.

3. You develop your own creative philosophy instead of chasing trends.

This victory is subtle but powerful. You stop letting trends dictate your work.

Many creators get stuck in comparison loops, copying what’s popular, doubting their instincts, chasing attention. But when you anchor your work in your own values and vision, you gain what the Stoics called “internal control.”

It looks like confidence in your creative choices, even without immediate validation. It’s appreciating others’ work without feeling the need to mimic it. It’s having your own standards for progress that don’t hinge on algorithms or public approval.

Epictetus taught that freedom comes from focusing on what’s within our control. Staying true to your creative compass is a quiet victory that builds long-term stability and self-respect in your work.

4. You overcome perfectionism and start before you’re ready.

Publishing work that isn’t perfect is a victory that stops many creators in their tracks.

Perfectionism is fear in disguise. It’s the voice that says, “It’s not ready yet” about everything. Learning to begin messy and improve through repetition is what separates working artists from eternal hobbyists.

You know you’ve won this battle when you:

• Post work-in-progress without apologizing for roughness

• Start new comics before every problem is solved

• Share panels that capture the right feeling even if the technique isn’t flawless

• Treat mistakes as information, not failures

This kind of action-first approach is a quiet victory because it shifts your identity from “someone who wants to make comics” to “someone who does.”

5. You stay present in your creative practice instead of living in “someday.”

This is the most advanced victory and the one that transforms comic-making into a sustainable practice.

It’s easy to think, When I get published… When I hit 10K followers… When my art improves… But that kind of mental time travel pulls you out of the moment where real progress happens.

If you can find satisfaction in today’s drawing session, today’s story puzzle, today’s creative decision—regardless of the outcome—you’ve reached something profound.

The Stoics called it memento mori—remember you must die. Time is limited, so value what’s in front of you. When you’re fully engaged in the work at hand, you’re stacking the kind of quiet victories that add up to a lifetime of creative fulfillment.

In Closing

If you see yourself in any of these five victories, you’ve achieved something remarkable. You’re not just learning to draw comics. You’re building the resilience, perspective, and discipline that sustain creative careers for decades.

That transformation is worth celebrating, even if the outside world doesn’t see it yet.

If you’ve been enjoying these reflections, take a break and check out something I’ve been pouring my creative energy into. Boom Kid is a raw, heartfelt story about power, identity, and loyalty.

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

This Week’s Creative Sparks

Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:

Show Spark: Foundation

I started watching this show when it first came out. I loved season 1, but I fell off during season 2—it had a slow start, and it took me a while to connect with the characters again. But now season 3 is here, and from the trailer alone, it looked incredible.

Foundation is a stunning show. Watching season 2 has completely pulled me back in—so much that I picked up the books again. I’m new to the world of Foundation and Isaac Asimov, but this series has been a real spark in my own sci-fi creations. Every time I watch, I can’t help but grab my sketchbook and start drawing.

Book Spark: Red Rising

I. Can’t. Stop. Reading. This. Book.

Every time I get a break, I grab it and dive back in. It’s that good. And from what I hear, it’s not even the best in the series—which is wild. It’s entertaining, explores some great themes, and even teaches me a lot about writing style. Another spark that’s hitting my sci-fi itch.

Movie Spark: Dune Part 1 and 2

We rewatched two of my favorite films.

If you haven’t seen these two films, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

Do I need to say more?

That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.

Subscribe now

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

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This is Part 5 of Gratitude is the Process—a 6-part series on how Stoic gratitude helps comic creators push through rejection, burnout, and creative blocks.

You can start from part 1 right here (it’s the mindset reset I wish I had when I started).

The Stoic Quote of the Week

Do now what nature demands of you. Get right to it that’s in your power. Don’t look around to see if people will know about it. Don’t await the perfection of Plato’s Republic, but be satisfied with even the smallest step forward and regard the outcome as a small thing.

— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

Have you ever notice when the moment you finish a few solid pages, your brain immediately fast-forwards to signing your first comic book contract.

You nail a character design, get some likes on your latest comic strip, or finally figure out that tricky panel layout, and suddenly you're mentally rehearsing your Eisner Award acceptance speech instead of inking your current pages. Your ego hijacks the present moment and sends you on a fantasy trip to a future where you're the next big thing in comics. Meanwhile, your actual comic sits unfinished because you're too busy daydreaming about animated adaptations and merchandising deals.

I've been guilty of this plenty of times. Get stuck in the idea of making a comic and all the benefits it will bring. And find myself not in the present actually working on my comic. It happens to the best of us.

So today, I'm going to share 5 proven ways to reel your artist brain back to reality and stay grounded in the present moment—where all the real comic creation happens.

Let's dive in.

You need to recognize when you're mentally time traveling.

Most cartoonists don't even realize they've left their drawing desk until they've wasted hours fantasizing about their graphic novel hitting the bestseller list.

The signs are subtle but consistent: you stop focusing on the panel you're drawing and start imagining how impressed editors will be with your finished series. You catch yourself researching publishing deals before you've completed your first chapter. You're mentally spending royalty checks you haven't earned yet. You're planning your acceptance speech for the Eisner Awards before you've even submitted to your first anthology.

Here's what I do: I write "Are you drawing or dreaming?" on a sticky note and place it on my computer and inside my sketchbook. When I drift off into fantasy land—dreaming of building complex worlds like Jonathan Hickman—I see that note and know I must focus on the task in front of me. This simple visual reminder has saved me countless hours of unproductive daydreaming.

The moment you notice you're time traveling, you can course-correct. But you can't fix what you don't acknowledge.

You must anchor yourself with micro-deadlines.

Future fantasies thrive when your comic goals feel abstract and distant—so make them concrete and immediate.

Instead of thinking "I'm creating a webcomic series," think "I'm finishing these 3 panels in the next 90 minutes." Instead of "I'm building a fanbase," think "I'm posting 2 comic strips and responding to every comment today." Instead of "I'm becoming a professional cartoonist," think "I'm completing this character sheet and background sketch before lunch."

Micro-deadlines force your brain to focus on what's directly in front of you because there's urgency attached. When you have 90 minutes to finish 3 panels, your mind doesn't have time to wander into "what if Netflix adapts this" territory. It's too busy figuring out speech bubble placement and making sure your character's expressions are consistent.

I break every aspect of a comic project into daily micro-deadlines. When I do this, I notice my brain literally can't time travel when it's under gentle but real pressure to deliver specific pages today.

You need to practice radical gratitude for where you are right now.

Gratitude is the antidote to ego-driven future fantasies because it forces you to appreciate your current artistic reality instead of escaping from it.

As we've been exploring in this "Gratitude is the Process" series, this is about Stoic gratitude—acknowledging what you've actually built right now, not what you hope to build someday. Instead of "I'm grateful I can draw," practice: "I'm grateful I have the discipline to ink 2 pages today." Or: "I'm grateful 23 people actually read my webcomic this week." Or: "I'm grateful I finally figured out how to draw hands that don't look like mutant spiders."

This type of present-moment gratitude kills the ego's need to time travel because you're actively appreciating the comic skills you've already developed. Your brain stops trying to escape to an imaginary future where you're signing autographs because the present becomes genuinely satisfying when you acknowledge your actual progress.

Every morning, I write down 3 specific things I'm grateful for related to my current comic work. Appreciate the gains you've made from where you started and stop focusing on the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

This is gratitude as process, not outcome.

You have to celebrate small wins immediately.

Most cartoonists wait until they get picked up by a major publisher to celebrate—which trains their brain to always be looking ahead instead of acknowledging present-moment progress.

The solution is to celebrate every small win the moment it happens with both acknowledgment and a small reward. Nailed a difficult perspective shot? Take 30 seconds to acknowledge that you just solved a visual problem most people can't even see, then reward yourself with a 10-minute walk or your favorite tea. Posted a comic that got 12 genuine laughs? Pause and appreciate that you made 12 real humans smile with your art today, then watch an episode of that anime you've been enjoying.

These micro-celebrations and rewards train your brain to find satisfaction in the present moment instead of constantly seeking it in some imaginary future where you're keynoting conventions. When you regularly acknowledge and reward your daily comic progress, the ego stops needing to fantasize about massive publishing success because it's getting fed with real, present-moment wins.

I have a simple rule: every time I complete a page or nail a character expression, I take 10 seconds to say "That's solid work" out loud. Then give myself a small reward—maybe a making matcha latte or a short walk outside. It sounds ridiculous, but this combination keeps my brain anchored in what I'm actually creating instead of what I might create someday.

You must remember that the present moment is where every line actually gets drawn.

Here's the reality check your ego doesn't want to hear: all future comic success is built from present-moment pen strokes, and present-moment pen strokes can only happen when you're mentally present at your drawing table.

Every panel you complete, every character you develop, every joke you nail, every visual storytelling technique you master—it all happens right now, in this moment. Not in some fantasy future where you're signing your 20th movie deal, but in the mundane, unglamorous present where actual pages get created.

When your brain tries to time travel to your imaginary comic empire, remind yourself: "The only moment I can actually draw something is this one." Your future self will be grateful that your present self stayed focused on the work instead of getting lost in dreams about the outcomes.

The most successful cartoonists I know aren't the ones with the biggest dreams about Tv or movie adaptations, but the ones who can stay present with their process long enough to make those dreams inevitable.

If you’ve been enjoying these reflections, take a break and check out something I’ve been pouring my creative energy into. Boom Kid is a raw, heartfelt story about power, identity, and loyalty.

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

This Week’s Creative Sparks

Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:

Exhibition Spark: Director’s Inspiration: Bong Joon Ho

Bong Joon Ho has been one of my favorite filmmakers—long before I even knew his name. I was obsessed with The Host when I was younger, but it wasn’t until years later, after seeing Snowpiercer and Parasite, that I realized they were all directed by the same person.

So getting to experience his work up close at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures was a real joy. Seeing his inspirations, storyboards, and creative process left me buzzing with ideas. I went straight home and started drawing, and I haven’t stopped all week.

If you’re in Los Angeles (or planning a visit), I highly recommend checking it out. The exhibition runs through January 10, 2027.

Animation Spark: Fortnite x Power Rangers Trailer

I don’t play Fortnite, but I’ve always loved classic Power Rangers. So when this live-action trailer popped up, it immediately grabbed my attention.

What I love most is the marketing brilliance behind it. They could’ve played it safe with animation, but instead, they leaned into what makes Power Rangers iconic—the live-action choreography. The Sentai genre takes pride in those action sequences, and here, something that could’ve felt cheesy comes across as epic. Fortnite made the right call.

Book Spark: Spectators

I got my hands on an ARC of the upcoming graphic novel from one of my favorite comic book writers, Brian K. Vaughan, with artist Niko Henrichon. This is a project I began backing about a year ago on Substack, and even though I jumped in halfway through its release, I was instantly hooked.

Spectators is a metaphysical visual novel that dives deep into themes of life, death, sex, desire, romance, voyeurism, the afterlife, and more. It’s an honor to be selected for an advance copy of what might be Vaughan’s most literary graphic novel to date.

I’m halfway through and loving it, so expect a spoiler-free review soon.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.

Subscribe now

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Enjoying Gutter Thoughts?

Imagine having newsletters like this crafted specifically for your brand or business. Whether you’re a creative storyteller or a brand strategist, I’ll help you turn your unique voice and ideas into engaging, value-packed content.

Ready to level up your email game? Let’s talk about how we can co-create emails that captivate your audience and drive real results.

This is Part 4 of Gratitude is the Process—a 5-part series on how Stoic gratitude helps comic creators push through rejection, burnout, and creative blocks.

You can start from part 1 right here (it’s the mindset reset I wish I had when I started).

The Stoic Quote of the Week

Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason, the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim.

— Aristotle, Ethics

I used to hate revisions.

There's something brutal about staring at a page you thought was finished and realizing it's... not. That panel composition that felt so right yesterday now looks awkward. The dialogue that seemed snappy reads clunky. And don't get me started on the feedback—those well-meaning critiques that feel like someone pointing out every flaw in something you poured your heart into.

But here's what I've learned after years of creating comics: the revision phase isn't the cleanup work. It's where the real comic gets born.

"The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." - Marcus Aurelius.

The Stoics understood something we creators often forget—obstacles aren't roadblocks to our destination. They ARE the destination. Every revision round, every brutal critique, every panel I have to redraw is teaching me something I couldn't learn any other way.

Let me share four practices that transformed how I approach comic revisions. Try these yourself, and watch what used to feel like creative purgatory become the most meaningful part of your process.

Thank Your Critics Before You Read Their Feedback

This sounds ridiculous, I know. But before you open that email or scroll through beta reader comments, pause and say out loud: "Thank you for caring enough about my work to spend time improving it."

Don’t think it. Actually say it.

This small ritual changes everything. The Stoics believed obstacles reveal character, and feedback can be one of our biggest creative obstacles. When someone takes the time to critique your work, even if it's harsh, they're giving you something precious: attention.

The opposite of criticism isn't praise. It's silence. And silence means no one cares enough to engage.

Handle feedback this way:

• Read it once and let yourself feel whatever comes up. Defensiveness, frustration, that sting of someone pointing out something you missed—let it all surface.

• Then reread it, slower this time. Look for the gold. Even in the harshest critique, find one specific insight that can make your work stronger. Thank the person for that specific thing.

Remember this: the feedback that hurts most often contains the truth you need to hear.

Celebrate Killing Your Darlings as Creative Courage

Every comic creator has that panel. You know the one—beautifully rendered, perfectly composed, BUT completely wrong for the story.

Create a folder on your desktop called "Beautiful Mistakes." Fill it with panels, pages, entire sequences that you love but have to cut. When I started doing this, each deletion used to feel like losing a piece of myself. But Stoicism taught me something powerful: love what serves the greater good, not what serves your ego.

Do what’s best for the story.

When you cut that gorgeous panel that slows down the pacing, you're not losing art. You're gaining story clarity. The willingness to sacrifice good work for great work is what separates the comics people finish from the comics people abandon halfway through.

Make it ceremonial:

• Screenshot before you delete anything. Save your killed darlings—sometimes they'll find homes in future projects.

• Name each sacrifice: "I'm cutting this because it disrupts the emotional flow." Make the decision feel purposeful, not wasteful.

• Count your cuts. Track how many panels, pages, or ideas you remove. Each deletion becomes evidence of your commitment to the story over your attachment to individual pieces.

Remember: the best comic creators aren't the ones who never make mistakes. They're the ones brave enough to fix them.

Transform Technical Work Into Purposeful Practice

Lettering passes. Panel border cleanup. Speech balloon adjustments. This stuff can be a drag and at times feel thankless. But it's where your story becomes readable.

The Stoics found meaning in every task, no matter how small. That tedious lettering session isn't busy work. It's the bridge between your visual ideas and your reader's understanding. Every properly placed word balloon guides their eye exactly where you want it. Every cleaned-up panel edge creates the invisible framework that makes your story flow.

Transform technical work into gratitude practice:

• Set tiny intentions for these sessions: "This lettering pass will make the dialogue 10% clearer." Give boring work a clear purpose.

• Study how professional comics handle these details. Notice the craft. Appreciation for good technique makes your craft more meaningful.

• Ask yourself during every technical pass: "How does this serve my reader?" Every adjustment becomes a small gift to the person who'll eventually read your comic.

Hold onto this truth: the unglamorous work separates comics that get read from comics that get forgotten.

Approach Revision as Discovery, Not Damage Control

Here's the biggest shift: stop seeing revision as fixing what's broken and start seeing it as discovering what's possible.

You didn't get it "wrong" in your first draft. You got it started.

Every revision round reveals possibilities you couldn't see before. That panel that's not working isn't a mistake—it's information about what your story actually needs.

Change your questions. Instead of asking "What's wrong with this panel?" ask "What is this panel trying to accomplish, and how else might I accomplish it?"

Treat revision as your laboratory. It's the safest time to try unconventional solutions because you can always revert to the original approach. So don’t hold back and experiment freely.

Document your process. Keep notes about why you make changes. Future you will thank present you for that creative reasoning (and it makes great social media content, too).

Embrace this truth: every revision teaches you something about storytelling that no tutorial can.

Learn to love this process. I mean really love it, not just tolerate it. Do that and you'll create work that readers actually want devour.

When stressed remember: the mess you encounter in your creative process isn't the problem. It’s the path.

And when you start walking that path with intention, it becomes exactly where you needed to go.

Amor Fati.

If you’ve been enjoying these reflections, take a break and check out something I’ve been pouring my creative energy into. Boom Kid is a raw, heartfelt story about power, identity, and loyalty.

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

This Week’s Creative Sparks

Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:

Movie Spark: Fantastic Four First Steps

I went to see this movie against my will.

Even though I’m a huge fan of the Fantastic Four characters and comics, I wasn’t excited about it—mainly because I’ve been let down before. But my girlfriend really wanted to go, so she took me.

And I’m so glad she did.

I didn’t just like this film—I loved it. Sure, it has its flaws, but overall, it was a solid superhero movie. What I appreciated most was how little it had to do with the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. No multiverse nonsense, no cameos—just a focused, well-told story.

It’s the kind of film I’d happily see again.

Movie Spark: Eddington

This was one of my most anticipated films of the year, and I had the privilege of seeing it on opening weekend.

It also happens to be the first Ari Aster film I’ve seen—and I really enjoyed it. It’s meta, satirical, and surprisingly funny. The story revisits a time we all lived through, but filters it through the lens of a small town, which makes the whole thing feel surreal.

At times, it’s almost like an out-of-body experience watching those early pandemic moments unfold on screen. This film makes you feel.

Because no matter who you are or where you were, the pandemic touched your life. I highly recommend giving this one a watch.

Book Spark: Red Rising

This book has been on my TBR list for about three years. I’ve been told over and over that it’s a must-read—with the caveat that you have to push through the first book, because the second is where it really takes off.

But honestly? I’m reading Red Rising now and enjoying every minute of it.

The writing is short and abrupt, but there’s something poetic about it. I keep pausing to highlight lines that hit. Some call it YA, but to me, it reads far beyond that label.

I’m glad I finally picked up the series. As I work on my comic projects, Red Rising has become the perfect escape during breaks—a brutal, beautiful ride that keeps my storytelling brain engaged.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.

Subscribe now

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

Let’s Connect

Enjoying Gutter Thoughts?

Imagine having newsletters like this crafted specifically for your brand or business. Whether you’re a creative storyteller or a brand strategist, I’ll help you turn your unique voice and ideas into engaging, value-packed content.

Ready to level up your email game? Let’s talk about how we can co-create emails that captivate your audience and drive real results.

This is Part 3 of Gratitude is the Process—a 5-part series on how Stoic gratitude helps comic creators push through rejection, burnout, and creative blocks.

You can start from part 1 right here (it’s the mindset reset I wish I had when I started).

The Stoic Quote of the Week

“Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily.”

— Epictetus

Have you ever stared at your comic project art and felt stuck?

Most artists face creative blocks at some point. But what if the best way forward isn’t pushing harder? Instead, it might mean pausing and practicing Stoic gratitude. Stoicism teaches us that gratitude isn’t just about feeling good. It's also about cultivating a deeper sense of appreciation. It's a practical tool that helps us unlock creativity, reconnect with our art, and overcome obstacles like doubt, comparison, and burnout.

Today, I'm sharing six simple Stoic gratitude practices. These will help reset your mindset, break creative blocks, and bring back joy to your art.

Let’s get started!

Accept that you CAN draw and you're already talented.

Stoicism teaches us to accept reality. If you're drawing, you can draw. Everyone can get better, but that doesn’t mean your current work isn’t valuable.

The important Stoic idea here is knowing your drawings don't need to be perfect—they just need to support your story. Take the artist ONE, who made "One-Punch Man" and "Mob Psycho." His original drawings were simple (some even say bad), but they clearly told his stories. He understood that clarity mattered more than style. The more he drew, the better he became. Getting better comes from regular practice.

So remember, your talent already exists. Tell your story with confidence and let your drawings support it.

Start each morning with gratitude before you draw.

Stoics believed morning thoughts shape the day. Spend a few minutes writing down three things you're thankful for about your art, your progress, or just being able to create.

Your Stoic morning gratitude could include:

• Being thankful for yesterday’s efforts.

• Appreciating recent small breakthroughs.

• Valuing your freedom to create.

These moments set clear and positive intentions and get you excited to draw.

Value your unique artistic style instead of comparing.

For artists, comparing oneself can quickly become harmful. Stoicism teaches us to focus only on what we control—our actions and creative choices.

Instead of comparing, appreciate what makes your art unique. Your quirks and imperfections are actually your strengths. Celebrate the things that make your art yours.

Your art doesn’t have value because it looks like someone else’s. It’s valuable because it genuinely represents you.

Use walking meditation to find gratitude and clear your mind.

Stoic philosophers often walked to clear their thoughts and reflect. Walking can boost creativity and gratitude.

If you're stuck creatively, try walking mindfully. Pay attention to:

• Your feet touching the ground.

• The rhythm of your breathing.

• The simple beauty around you.

Walking gives you new views, helps you feel grateful, and opens your mind to fresh creative ideas—exactly what you need to break free from a block.

Thank your past self for your progress so far.

Everything you've drawn and every mistake you've made has brought you here. A Stoic appreciates the journey that shapes them.

Stop and think about past projects. Honestly thank your past self for the effort and hard work. Recognize how much you’ve grown and learned.

Being grateful for your journey gives you energy and helps you keep creating.

Find gratitude in the imperfections that define your style.

Stoicism sees imperfections as natural parts of life. Similarly, your artistic "mistakes" actually define your unique style.

Next time you feel stuck or too critical:

• Sketch for 15 minutes without judging yourself.

• Later, look at those sketches with curiosity and gratitude.

• Appreciate the unique choices you made.

Creative blocks become easier when you see imperfections as valuable parts of your art style.

Remember, creativity grows stronger with Stoic gratitude. Keep practicing gratitude, and your art will keep getting better.

If you’ve been enjoying these reflections, take a break and check out something I’ve been pouring my creative energy into. Boom Kid is a raw, heartfelt story about power, identity, and loyalty.

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

This Week’s Creative Sparks

Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:

Video Game Spark: The Alters

A good friend of mine, someone I really trust when it comes to games, told me he was playing this, and the way he described it immediately piqued my interest.

You’re stranded on an unknown planet, completely alone. The only way to survive and get back to Earth? Duplicate yourself. Each variant of you specializes in a specific task, helping you adapt, explore, and stay alive.

Within the first 10–15 minutes, I knew this game was for me. The sci-fi elements, emotional storytelling, and engaging gameplay make it not just addictive but deeply rewarding.

Yes, it’s a great video game. But it’s also a work of art. Every time I play, it feels like I’m directing my own HBO series.

Highly recommend this one to everyone—gamer or not.

Music Spark: Let God Sort Them Out by Clipse

I spent this past week deep in this album. Every track feels vibrant and cinematic, like watching a TV show unfold in your headphones.

The storytelling is out of this world. And what I love most is that The Clipse hold nothing back. They speak their truth, even if it means ruffling feathers or calling people out.

It’s albums like this that remind me why I fell in love with Hip-Hop in the first place.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.

Subscribe now

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

Let’s Connect

Enjoying Gutter Thoughts?

Imagine having newsletters like this crafted specifically for your brand or business. Whether you’re a creative storyteller or a brand strategist, I’ll help you turn your unique voice and ideas into engaging, value-packed content.

Ready to level up your email game? Let’s talk about how we can co-create emails that captivate your audience and drive real results.

This is Part 2 of Gratitude is the Process—a 5-part series on how Stoic gratitude helps comic creators push through rejection, burnout, and creative blocks.

If you missed Part 1, you can catch up right here (it’s the mindset reset I wish I had when I started).

The Stoic Quote of the Week

“The raw material you’re missing, the opportunities..! What is any of this but training—training for your logos, in life observed, accurately, scientifically.

So keep at it, until it’s fully digested. As a strong stomach digests whatever it eats. As a blazing fire takes whatever you throw on it, and makes it light and flame.”

–Marcus Aurelius, Mediations 10.31

Have you ever wondered why some comic creators quit after their first rejection while others push through years of "no" to eventually break through?

I've been thinking about this question a lot lately. Because I've watched so many incredibly talented creators just... vanish. They start with this amazing energy, pouring their hearts into their work, and then they hit what Seth Godin calls "The Dip."

You know that place—where the initial excitement has worn off but success still feels impossibly far away.

For comic creators, The Dip is especially brutal. You spend months crafting what you think is the perfect pitch, submit it to publishers, and get those soul-crushing form rejections. You post your webcomic online and hear nothing but digital crickets.

Meanwhile, you're watching creators with half your talent somehow go viral while your masterpiece gets completely ignored.

The emotional toll just builds and builds—self-doubt, impostor syndrome, that constant voice asking if you're wasting your life chasing an impossible dream.

After diving deep into ancient Stoic philosophy and talking to comic creators who've actually survived this gauntlet: gratitude isn't just some feel-good concept. It's the most practical mental tool you can develop for this creative battlefield.

Today, I want to walk you through exactly how Stoic gratitude transforms The Dip from a creative death trap into your greatest advantage.

Because once you understand these five shifts, everything changes about how you navigate the tough times.

Let’s dive in together.

1. Gratitude completely reframes how you see rejection.

Look, I'm not going to pretend rejection doesn't hurt—it absolutely does. But here's where things get interesting.

When Marvel passes on your pitch or your webcomic gets zero engagement for the third week running, your brain automatically goes to that dark place. You find your self saying:

• "I'm not good enough.”

• “I'll never make it.

• “Maybe I should just get a real job."

But Marcus Aurelius, who literally ran an empire while dealing with wars and plagues, taught us something revolutionary:

"The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way."

Think about that for a second.

Every rejection is actually data wrapped in disappointment. Every "no" is a teacher showing up in your life, even when you didn't ask for the lesson.

When you practice gratitude for rejection you're not being delusional. You're being strategic.

That editor who rejected your superhero comic? Be grateful they saved you from spending two years developing something that wouldn't resonate with readers.

That harsh critique on your art style? Thank them for showing you exactly what to improve instead of letting you waste months going in the wrong direction.

Here’s what I actually started doing:

After every rejection, I write down one specific thing I'm grateful for about the experience. Sometimes it's the feedback, sometimes it's the practice I got pitching, sometimes it's simply the courage I showed by putting myself out there when most people never even try.

This one habit has completely changed how I approach setbacks, and it'll do the same for you.

2. Gratitude transforms that killer comparison trap into pure inspiration.

Social media makes avoiding comparison basically impossible, right?

You're scrolling Instagram and boom—you're staring at creators younger than you landing book deals, getting movie adaptations, building massive followings seemingly overnight.

That familiar sting hits, and suddenly you're either paralyzed by inadequacy or desperately trying to copy whatever's working for them.

But here's where Stoic gratitude works like magic:

When you see another creator's success, instead of asking "Why not me?" ask "What can I learn?"

Instead of feeling bitter, become genuinely curious.

Epictetus taught something profound: we don't suffer from events themselves, but from our judgments about those events.

I started practicing this when I noticed my social media scrolling was making me genuinely miserable.

Now when I see a creator I admire absolutely crushing it, I immediately think of three things I'm grateful for about their success:

1. The inspiration they're providing me.

2. The proof that what I want is actually possible.

3. The techniques I can study and adapt to my own style.

It's wild how this simple shift changes everything.

Other people's wins become your free masterclass instead of your personal torture session.

3. Gratitude anchors you to your actual progress instead of your imaginary problems.

The Dip has this sneaky way of making all your progress completely invisible.

You’ve been drawing consistently for two years, but you're still not where you want to be. You've written fifty pages of your graphic novel, but no one's reading them yet. You're definitely improving (your friends tell you so) but it feels like you're running on a treadmill because you're obsessed with that gap between where you are and where you want to be.

Marcus Aurelius kept a daily journal where he practiced gratitude for small wins, because he understood something crucial: progress compounds, but only if you actually acknowledge it.

For comic creators, this means celebrating every tiny victory along the way:

• Completing a single page.

• Learning a new shading technique.

• Getting one genuine comment from a reader.

• Or simply showing up to create when you absolutely didn't feel like it.

Here’s my personal practice that’s been a game-changer:

At the end of each creative session, I write down three things I'm grateful for about the work I just did.

Maybe it's a panel composition that finally clicked, dialogue that made me laugh out loud, or just the fact that I drew for thirty minutes instead of doom-scrolling social media.

These micro-celebrations aren't just feel-good moments—they build the momentum that actually carries you through The Dip.

Believe it or not you're making more progress than you realize, but The Dip tricks you into only seeing what's missing.

4. Gratitude builds unshakeable resilience by giving you perspective.

When you're drowning in The Dip, it's so easy to feel like you're uniquely cursed.

Like you're the only creator struggling this hard. The only one facing constant rejection. The only one questioning whether you have what it takes.

But Stoic gratitude provides provides this reality check:

Every comic creator you admire has been exactly where you are right now. Here’s a few examples:

• Jim Lee was rejected repeatedly when he first started. He kept every rejection letter, studied what wasn’t working, leveled up his skills, and eventually became one of the most successful comic artists of all time. Now? He’s the Chief Creative Officer at DC Comics.

• Brian Michael Bendis spent years getting turned down before breaking through with Powers and eventually becoming one of the most influential writers at Marvel.

Even wildly successful creators still face The Dip with each new project—they just learned how to dance with it instead of fighting it. That’s what makes them successful.

Stoic gratitude reminds you that struggle isn't personal. It's universal.

You're not broken or behind schedule.

You're joining an ancient tradition of creators who pushed through difficulty to make something meaningful.

Be grateful for the struggle itself, because it's proof you're attempting something worthwhile rather than settling for safe mediocrity.

Whenever I'm tempted to quit, I remind myself:

The difficulty isn't a obstacle in my way. It’s the fuel for the fire to keep me going.

It's what separates people who talk about creating from people who actually create.

Every obstacle you face is building the exact skills and resilience you'll need when your breakthrough finally comes.

5. Gratitude completely transforms your relationship with time (and this might be the most important one).

The Dip feels eternal when you're in it.

You want success now, recognition now, financial freedom now.

Every day that passes without a major breakthrough feels like proof that you're falling behind some invisible timeline.

But here's what I've learned:

Impatience kills more creative dreams than lack of talent ever could.

Comic creation is fundamentally a long game, and rushing it will destroy you faster than any external obstacle.

Stoic gratitude teaches you to be thankful for the journey itself, not just the destination you're hoping to reach.

• Every hour you spend creating is an hour you're becoming the person capable of achieving your goals.

• Every page you draw is building skills you'll desperately need when opportunity finally knocks.

• Every story you write is developing that unique voice that will eventually resonate with exactly the right readers.

The ancient Stoics understood something we've forgotten:

We can't control outcomes, but we can absolutely control our effort and attitude. So remember:

• Be grateful for the ability to create at all.

• Be grateful for living in an era where you can share your work with the world instantly.

• Be grateful for the time you have to develop your craft instead of rushing toward some arbitrary finish line.

This perspective shift changes everything about how you show up to your work.

Instead of feeling like you're waiting for your life to begin, you realize your life is happening right now in The Dip, in the struggle, in the daily practice of becoming who you're meant to be.

The Dip isn't a punishment you have to endure. It's a privilege that's shaping you into a real creator.

And Stoic gratitude?

It's the tool that transforms that forge from a place of suffering into a place of growth.

Start practicing this today.

Your future self will absolutely thank you for it.

If you’ve been enjoying these reflections, take a break and check out something I’ve been pouring my creative energy into. Boom Kid is a raw, heartfelt story about power, identity, and loyalty.

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

This Week’s Creative Sparks

Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:

Cartoonist Spark: Jesse Hamm

Lately, I’ve been diving deeper into black and white cartooning—and I keep coming back to the work of Jesse Hamm.

I first stumbled upon his posts last year while exploring X (formerly Twitter). Unfortunately, Hamm passed away in 2021. I didn’t know much about him when he was still with us, but what I discovered was that he was a goldmine of insight. Most importantly he loved comics.

Jesse was a wealth of knowledge. To this day, I find myself returning to his X feed and diving into his PDFs whenever I need guidance. Even in his absence, his work continues to inspire cartoonists like me.

Video Game Spark: Absolum

Video games are art—no question. And this piece of art looks sick.

The trailer is absolutely gorgeous, and the game looks just as good. It’s a rogue-lite, side-scrolling beat-’em-up from the brilliant team at Arc System Works. This one’s high on my must-play list.

Every time I watch the trailer, I feel like busting out my sketchbook and drawing some fantasy characters. That’s how you know it’s special.

YouTube Spark: 100 Years of History in 100 Films

KaptainKristian has become one of my favorite YouTubers when it comes to film and exploring them. He was one of the first creators who introduced me to the video essay format—and he does it so well. Diving into topics about film most people tend to overlook—like the food of the Lord of the Rings.

His latest piece, where he tells the history of humanity through film, is nothing short of brilliant. It’s creative, thoughtful, and a powerful reminder that stories matter. They shape how we see ourselves and the world around us.

Highly recommend giving it a watch.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.

Subscribe now

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This week kicks off a special series called Gratitude is the Process: Stoic tools to help comic creators stay focused, consistent, and inspired.

Over the next few issues, I’ll explore how Stoic gratitude isn’t just about “feeling thankful.” It’s a practical mindset for pushing through creative blocks, navigating long projects, and staying steady when progress feels invisible. If you’ve ever felt stuck, burned out, or unsure whether your work is even working, this series is for you.

Today’s issue is the field guide: what Stoic gratitude really means, how it differs from toxic positivity, and how it can become a quiet anchor in your creative routine.

The Stoic Quote of the Week

“While it’s true that someone can impede our actions, they can’t impede our intention and our attitudes, which have the power of being conditional and adaptable. For the mind adapts and converts any obstacle to its actions into a mans of achieving it. The that which is an impediment to action is turned to advance action. The obstacle on the path becomes the way.”

–Marcus Aurelius, Mediations 5.20

You know that feeling when someone gives you gratitude advice and it feels completely useless? Like when you’re starving and your friend hands you cotton candy to satisfy your hunger.

Really?

I know I have.

Those fluffy "just be thankful!" posts completely miss what we're actually dealing with as creators:

• The sleepless nights wondering if your comic will ever find its audience.

• The rejection emails that land in your inbox like little punches to the gut.

• That impostor syndrome that creeps in at 2 AM when you're questioning everything you've poured your heart into.

Here's what I've discovered through my own messy creative journey: there's a different kind of gratitude that actually works for people like us.

It's called Stoic gratitude.

And listen, it's not about pretending everything is perfect or putting on a happy face when things suck.
Instead, it's about building real resilience while you're creating something meaningful in a world that doesn't always understand what we do.

So today, I want to share this ancient practice with you. A practice that's been helping creators navigate uncertainty for over 2,000 years.
I'll show you exactly how it can transform your creative process and your mindset.

Let's dive in.

This isn't your typical self-help gratitude advice.

Look, I'll be straight with you—I used to roll my eyes at gratitude advice all the time.

Most of what passes for "gratitude" in the self-help world is basically emotional bypassing with a pretty bow on top.

It asks you to ignore real struggles. It wants you to pretend you're grateful for things that genuinely suck.

• Got another rejection? "Just be grateful for the learning experience!"

• Spent your last $50 on art supplies? "At least you're following your passion!"

That's not Stoic gratitude. That's toxic positivity masking itself as philosophy.

Here's what Stoic gratitude actually is:

• It starts with brutal honesty about reality.

• It doesn't ask you to be thankful for bad things happening.

• It asks you to find genuine appreciation for what you can actually control.

This works even when everything else feels like chaos.

It's gratitude with backbone.

It was designed by people who understood that life is genuinely difficult.
They knew that pretending otherwise helps absolutely no one.

The Stoics were dealing with plagues, wars, and political upheaval.
They needed a gratitude practice that worked in the real world, not just in motivational quotes.

How my creative journey taught me to think of gratitude differently.

Here's something I've learned through years of creative ups and downs:
Gratitude can actually be your secret weapon.

Think of it like this—it's resistance training for your mind.

Just like lifting weights builds physical strength, practicing Stoic gratitude builds your capacity to handle creative challenges without completely falling apart.

It's not about feeling warm and fuzzy.
It's about developing unshakeable creative resilience.

When you practice Stoic gratitude, you're essentially training your brain.

You learn to find stability and appreciation even when external circumstances are completely unpredictable.

Which, let's be honest, describes the creative life perfectly.

One day you're riding high on positive feedback.
The next you're wondering if you should just give up and get a "real job."

But here's what I've discovered through my own journey:

This practice doesn't just help you survive the ups and downs of creative work. It actually makes you a better creator.

When you're not constantly at the mercy of external validation or circumstances,
you can focus on what really matters: the work itself.

You start creating from a place of internal stability instead of a desperate need for approval.

Why comic creators especially need this approach.

Creating comics is uniquely challenging, and I think we need to be honest about that.

You're not just writing or just drawing.
You're essentially making movies on paper, frame by frame.
And this often takes months or years before anyone else sees the full vision.

You're writer, director, cinematographer, and editor all rolled into one.

The scope is massive.

The timeline is long.

The feedback loop is often delayed.

This creates a perfect storm for creative anxiety and self-doubt.

You're working in isolation on something complex. There's no guarantee that it will connect with readers when it's finally finished.

Traditional gratitude practices focus on immediate positive outcomes.
They don't work here.

Comic creation is all about delayed gratification and long-term vision.

Stoic gratitude, on the other hand, was designed exactly for this kind of scenario. Here’s why:

• It helps you find genuine appreciation for the process itself, not just the potential outcomes.

• It trains you to value your daily effort, your growing skills, and your commitment to the craft.

• This works regardless of external recognition.

When you can be genuinely grateful for the opportunity to tell stories through sequential art, even on the hard days, you've unlocked something really powerful.

What's coming next in this series.

Over the next few weeks, we’re getting practical with Stoic gratitude, tailored specifically for the messy, magical world of making comics.

You’ll learn:

• How to stay grounded during the brutal middle stretch of a project

• How to break free from perfectionism

• How to show up daily even when life’s chaotic and the work feels invisible

We’ll dig into practices that help you stay present, not just future-tripping on success or obsessing over past mistakes.

And we’ll wrap with something I’m excited about: a guide to spotting the creative wins you’ve been overlooking.

This isn’t feel-good fluff.

It’s real-world Stoic thinking for creators dealing with long timelines, delayed feedback, and solo work that can mess with your head.

Every tool is built for the emotional and logistical grind of comic storytelling.

By the end of this series, you’ll have a gratitude toolkit that builds true creative resilience— the kind that helps you keep going, not pretend it’s easy.

Next week: We dive into how Stoic gratitude helps you survive The Dip, the soul-sucking middle part of every big project.

If you’ve been enjoying these reflections, take a break and check out something I’ve been pouring my creative energy into. Boom Kid is a raw, heartfelt story about power, identity, and loyalty.

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

This Week’s Creative Sparks

Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:

TV Series Spark: Ironheart

I went into this show with very low expectations. I loved the comic series, but the MCU has been pretty underwhelming lately.

The first episode felt confusing and lackluster—though it had a few funny moments. Then I saw all the bad reviews piling up and thought, “Okay, let me at least watch the first three episodes before forming an opinion.”

Well, well… I was wrong. This show is amazing so far.

The first episode isn’t the strongest (let’s be real, in the age of streaming, the pilot barely matters), but episodes 2 and 3 had me on the edge of my seat and craving more.

Movie Trailer Spark: Relay

I love a good thriller. I’m not exactly sure how to describe this one—but I know it’s got all the right ingredients: suspense, espionage, forbidden romance, and it’s directed by the same person behind Hell or High Water (which I absolutely loved and highly recommend).

All I have to say is: yes, please.

Movie Trailer Spark: Ghost Killer

I watch a lot of movie trailers, and this past week had some great ones. But one in particular really piqued my interest.

I’m a big fan of movies that mix karate, kung-fu, and action. Add in some humor, and I’m all in. I mean, come on—who wouldn’t want to see a movie about the ghost of a hitman who possesses a young woman to get revenge on his enemies?

It’s ridiculous in the best way, and I can’t wait to watch it.

YouTube Spark: You’ll Find This Video When You Need it Most by Alex Hormozi

The title couldn’t have been more accurate. This video found me when I was in a rough headspace—and I’m glad I hit play.

In it, Alex Hormozi shares four practical frameworks for moving forward when life feels heavy or uncertain. It’s longer than a typical YouTube video, so you might want to break it up into parts. I know I did.

But it’s worth your time. There are some real gems in here—especially if you're feeling stuck or hopeless.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.

Subscribe now

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The Stoic Quote of the Week

A Stoic quote to inspire and motivate, helping to stay grounded in the creative process.

“Choose not to be harmed—and you won't feel harmed. Don't feel harmed—and you haven't been.”

—Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 4.7

Weekly Creative Focus

Whether diving into creative work or spending time learning and reflecting, here’s what’s been on the mind and plate this week.

I used to be terrified of feedback, especially about my comics.

Picture this: You’re sitting in a cramped coffee shop, your latest pages spread across a sticky table, waiting for your mentor to arrive. Someone leans over your shoulder and points to a panel you’ve spent three hours perfecting.

"That character expression doesn't match the dialogue," they say casually, like they're commenting on the weather.

Your face flushes hot. Your hands ball into fists under the table. The familiar surge of defensiveness rises in your chest like bile.

How dare they judge my art?

Well, this happened to me.

I'd defend every creative decision like my artistic soul depended on it, my voice getting tighter and more strained as I explained why they were wrong, why they just didn't get it. What should have been a productive conversation became emotional warfare.

Looking back, I realize I was protecting something fragile: my identity as an artist. It felt so intertwined with every line I drew that criticism of my work felt like criticism of my worth as a human being.

But that all shifted when I started writing at Apple.

As a writer working closely with design teams, I discovered feedback wasn't optional—it was essential.

Design reviews, user testing, stakeholder meetings. My work was constantly evaluated and improved by teams of people who saw things I couldn't.

And here's what surprised me: the feedback wasn't meant to tear me down. It came from people who genuinely cared about making the product better.

The Stoics understood this principle long before corporate creative teams existed. Epictetus taught that we suffer not from external events, but from our judgments about them. My emotional pain wasn't coming from the feedback itself. It was coming from my belief that criticism meant I was failing as an artist.

Now I carry these lessons with me whether I'm working on comics, collaborating with other creatives, or tackling any project where my ego might try to grab the steering wheel.

Feedback has become my secret weapon for rapid improvement instead of my greatest fear.

Here are the five strategies that completely transformed how I receive feedback, and how you can extract maximum value from every critique without losing your mind.

Strategy 1: Separate the feedback from the person giving it.

When someone gives you feedback, your brain immediately starts writing stories.

Stories about their intentions, their qualifications, whether they "have the right" to critique your work. This storytelling process, not the feedback itself, is what triggers your emotional response.

I learned this during a brutal portfolio review early in my career. The reviewer's tone was dismissive, almost cruel. But buried in his harsh delivery was a single insight about my use of negative space that completely changed how I approach composition. The message was valuable but it was obvious the messenger was just having a bad day.

Practice this mental shift: treat every piece of feedback as raw data, regardless of who delivers it.

Ask yourself: "If this exact feedback came from someone I deeply respected, how would I receive it differently?"

This simple reframe allows you to evaluate content objectively rather than getting tangled up in feelings about the source.

Strategy 2: Thank them immediately, then process privately.

Your initial response to feedback sets the tone for everything that follows.

And most of us get this spectacularly wrong.

The natural reaction is to defend, explain, or justify when we feel criticized. Our inner voice starts scrambling: "But you don't understand what I was trying to do!"

This defensive response accomplishes two destructive things:

1. It shuts down the feedback giver (so you get less valuable information)

2. It reinforces your emotional attachment to being "right" instead of being better.

Viktor Frankl understood this best. He wrote:

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."

When someone gives you feedback, there's a crucial pause between hearing their words and reacting to them. That pause is where your power lives.

After reflection, I respond with this automatic response I developed: "Thank you for taking the time to share that with me. I really appreciate your perspective." That's it. Nothing more. Then I excuse myself and process the feedback privately.

This approach accomplishes several things at once:

• It keeps the feedback giver engaged and willing to share more insights in the future

• It prevents you from saying something defensive you'll regret later

• It gives you time to separate your emotional reaction from the actual content

• It positions you as someone who values growth over ego

Remember: thanking someone for feedback doesn't mean you agree with it.

It means you value their willingness to help you improve. By consciously choosing your response in that crucial space between their words and your reaction, you're practicing the very discipline that separates reactive people from those who truly grow.

Strategy 3: Look for the 10% truth in every critique.

Even harsh, unfair, or poorly delivered feedback usually contains some kernel of truth.

And that kernel is pure gold for your development.

Your job isn't to accept 100% of every critique you receive. Your job is to mine each piece of feedback for the small percentage that might be accurate and useful. This mental approach completely changes your relationship with criticism because you're no longer trying to defend against it—you're trying to extract value from it.

Think of it like panning for gold.

Most of what you sift through is dirt and rocks, but you're not there for the dirt. You're there for those few precious flakes that make the whole effort worthwhile.

When you receive feedback, ask yourself these three questions:

• What's the one thing in this feedback that might be true?

• What's the one behavior or technique I could adjust based on this input?

• What's the one insight here that could help me improve, even if everything else feels wrong?

This approach works because it acknowledges that feedback is rarely 100% accurate while still allowing you to benefit from the parts that are. You're not accepting everything blindly, but you're also not rejecting everything defensively.

Strategy 4: Reframe feedback as market research about your creative impact.

Instead of thinking "They're criticizing me," think "They're giving me market research about my current impact."

This reframe is powerful because it shifts your focus from protecting your ego to understanding your effectiveness.

When someone tells you your comic's pacing feels rushed, they're not attacking your storytelling ability, they're giving you data about how readers experience your narrative flow.

When someone says your character dialogue sounds unnatural, they're not questioning your writing talent. They're reporting on how your words land with a real human brain.

I've started thinking of feedback like user testing for my art.

In UX research, when a user struggles with an app interface, the developer doesn’t blame the user—they improve the interface. When a reader struggles with my story, I don't blame the reader. I look at how I can tell the story more clearly.

This perspective allows you to treat feedback like a scientist examining experiment results. You're not emotionally invested in the data being "good" or "bad.” You're interested in what it reveals about your current approach and how you might adjust it for better results.

Strategy 5: Focus on what you can control moving forward.

Emotional attachment to feedback usually comes from ruminating on the past: "I can't believe they said that," "That's not fair," or "They don't understand what I was trying to do."

This backward-looking focus keeps you stuck in emotional quicksand.

Instead, train yourself to ask forward-looking questions the moment you receive feedback:

• What specific action can I take based on this input?

• How can I apply this feedback to improve my next pages or project?

• What's one small change I can make immediately?

This approach transforms feedback from a judgment about your past performance into a roadmap for your future improvement. You're no longer defending what you created. You're planning what you'll create better.

Final Thoughts

The beautiful thing about this strategy is that it makes you grateful for feedback because you can see its immediate utility.

When someone's critique helps you create better work next time, it becomes much harder to take it personally.

The goal isn't to become emotionless about your creative work—that would rob your art of its soul. The goal is to channel your emotions in a productive direction.

Let your feelings motivate you to improve rather than defend. Your passion for your art should fuel your growth, not your resistance to getting better.

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

This Week’s Creative Sparks

Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:

Movie Spark: The Phoenician Scheme

I saw the new Wes Anderson film this week, and honestly, I went in with no expectations. I’d seen the trailer once and completely forgot what it was about.

But by the time it ended, it had become one of my favorite films by the renowned director. The visual style hasn’t changed much, still very Wes, but the theme hit deeper than I expected.

This film is a beautiful exploration of memento mori, a philosophy I hold close to my heart. It’s now officially in my top five Wes Anderson movies.

Video Game Spark: Neverway

I watch a lot of game trailers—but this one genuinely piqued my interest.

I’ve always had a soft spot for pixel-animated games. They carry a sense of nostalgia, but more than that, they tend to focus on strong mechanics and storytelling over flashy graphics.

So when I saw a pixel-style game that’s not only visually stunning but also blends in horror elements? I was all in. NeverAwake looks like one to watch.

Animation Spark: Cowgirlies

Lately, the YouTube algorithm has been serving me a steady stream of indie animation—and I’ve been loving it.

This short popped up on my feed, and I was instantly hooked. I caught myself quietly laughing over my morning cup of coffee.

Curious, I dug a little deeper and found out that Cowgirlies has actually been featured in short episodes on Adult Swim. Definitely worth checking out if you enjoy offbeat humor and creative animation.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.

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Welcome to Gutter Thoughts, where I share insights into my creative process and philosophy each week. From exploring big ideas to finding inspiration in comics, books, shows, and movies, this space is all about staying creative and grounded.

Weekly Creative Focus

Whether diving into creative work or spending time learning and reflecting, here’s what’s been on the mind and plate this week.

A Stoic Trick to Level Up Your Characters

Plotting and character arcs can stall—especially for advanced creators who’ve already mastered the basics.

This week’s insight pulls from an unexpected place: Stoic journaling.

At its core? A deceptively simple method Marcus Aurelius used to examine his own inner contradictions, one that modern comic creators can use to reignite momentum in their storylines and character arcs.

Here’s the question worth asking:

What if the emotional block in your story isn’t in the character, but in you?

By the end of this post, you’ll learn the single daily prompt that gets your characters moving again, because it gets you moving again.

The Stoic Principle Behind the Problem

The Stoics believed that clarity in action comes from clarity in thought. Marcus Aurelius, arguably the most famous Stoic, used his journal not to record events, but to interrogate his own responses to those events.

His question was simple:

“What part of me is reacting?”

This was far from being self-indulgent. It was strategic. It helped him detach from unhelpful emotions and act from a clearer place.

Now imagine applying that lens to your protagonist. Or better yet—to the part of you that is stuck writing them.

Plot plateaus often aren’t structural. They’re psychological.

The stakes don’t feel real. The motivation feels weak. The climax doesn’t land. Why?

Because the writer’s internal state is muddy. And when the writer is unclear, the character can’t evolve.

But Can a Journal Prompt Really Fix a Character Arc?

Now, you’re probably thinking: “Sure, Stoic journaling is great for self-help. But how does that help me fix a second act that’s going nowhere?”

Here’s the thing about creative plateaus: They’re rarely about the story mechanics.

They’re more about your unwillingness to let the character face what you haven’t faced.

Don’t worry we’ll explore what that means and how to work through it.

The Exercise: The Mirror Method

This Stoic-inspired journaling practice is called The Mirror Method, and it works like this:

Step 1: Pick the scene or plot moment that’s giving you the most trouble.

It could be a turning point that falls flat or a character choice that feels forced.

Step 2: Ask yourself this Stoic-style question: “What part of me is avoiding this choice?”

Write down whatever comes up: shame, fear, boredom, confusion.

Step 3: Answer from your character’s voice: “What part of me is reacting right now?”

Let your character respond in a raw, uncensored journal entry.

Step 4: Compare both entries.

Where do your emotional hesitations and the character’s misdirection overlap? That’s your clue. That’s the block. That’s the truth you’ve been dodging.

Step 5: Rewrite the scene based on the emotional truth revealed.

Let the character say what you wouldn’t. Let them do what you’ve been resisting.

Sometimes we need to stop thinking so hard and start listening instead.

Get out of your head, and into your character’s. What are they truly struggling with? What frustrations are shaping their actions? And what path would they actually take to solve it?

Why This Works (And How I’ve Used It)

I used this exact method while plotting the antagonist for a comic I’m working on.

I couldn’t figure him out. I knew he needed to be the opposite of the protagonist, but I wasn’t sure how. Every version I tried felt flat—too abstract, too generic.

So I opened my notebook and used the Mirror Method.

First, I asked: “What part of me is avoiding this decision?”

Then I let the character respond: “What part of me is reacting right now?”

That’s when things began to become clear for me. I realized I was overthinking the concept instead of listening to the conflict.

My protagonist wants to lead quietly, from the shadows. The antagonist? Well, he wants the spotlight. Not to help people, but to be known. To be remembered.

That contrast wasn’t just strategic—it was emotional. And it gave the story its tension that was desperately needed.

I didn’t find that through plotting. I found it by getting honest on the page. That’s the power of this exercise. It doesn’t just help your character speak. It helps you get out of the way, so the story can move forward.

Conclusion: The Plot Isn’t Stuck—You’re Just Not Listening

Plateaus in storytelling don’t always mean your ideas are broken. Sometimes, they mean you’re resisting clarity.

And clarity starts by facing your own contradictions.

Here’s what we covered:

• Stoics journaled to clarify emotion, not to vent.

• Marcus Aurelius asked: “What part of me is reacting?”

• You can ask: “What part of me is avoiding this scene?”

• Use The Mirror Method to surface hidden resistance and emotional truth.

• Let your characters tell the truth you’re afraid to say.

Try it this week.

Pick the scene you’re stuck on. Ask the question. Let the character answer. Then rewrite the moment from that new truth. You’ll develop a character arc with emotional weight. While becoming a writer with a clearer vision.

After you’ve made a breakthrough hit reply and share what you’ve unlocked.

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

This Week’s Creative Sparks

Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:

Video Game Spark: Invincible VS Official Reveal Trailer

This past week I saw the trailer for a new game—and my jaw hit the floor. This gem came out of nowhere and smacked us in the face (in the best way).

The trailer kicks off bloody, hilarious, and full of energy. The animation has a stop-motion vibe, and the voice acting sounds just like the show.

As a longtime Invincible fan, it made me genuinely happy. Even though the comic ended years ago, the universe keeps giving. It's hands down some of the best superhero content ever created.

Basketball Spark: Luka Doncic in the gym lifting weights and Victor Wembanyama practicing as a Monk

One thing you should know about me: I’m deeply inspired by sports—especially basketball.

Right now, I’m working on a basketball-themed comic, and this short video lit a creative spark. Watching two young athletes push themselves to the limit felt like something straight out of an anime.

It gave me a few new plot ideas on the spot. Trust me, this one’s already saved to my swipe file.

Comic Book Spark: The Umbrella Academy: Plan B

Gerard Way is easily one of my top five comic writers of all time. He just gets storytelling—whether through music or comics, he always delivers something epic. And Gabriel Bá? He keeps blowing me away with artwork that feels simple at first glance but reveals so much depth on every page.

So when Umbrella Academy returned for Volume 3, I was all in. Like always, I start the first issue thinking, “Okay, this is cool,” and by the end, I’m saying, “Holy shit, this is gonna be a wild ride.”

I’m especially hyped for this installment because we finally get to dive deeper into the comic book version of the Sparrow Academy.

Animation Spark: PUNCH PUNCH FOREVER! - Toothless Aggression

Punch Punch Forever is an animated series I stumbled across on YouTube—and from the first episode, I was hooked.

Created by Speedo, the show feels like a Saturday morning cartoon with a twist. It’s got that gritty VHS aesthetic, complete with static, fake ads, and the most random cameos. It’s the kind of weird, offbeat humor you’d expect from Adult Swim—and exactly the kind I live for.

What makes it even cooler? Speedo still publishes his work on Newgrounds. The animation is wild, the art is amazing, and he’s quickly become one of my creative inspirations.

If you want to dig into his process, especially for this episode, I highly recommend reading his post-production wrap-up.

The Stoic Quote of the Week

A Stoic quote to inspire and motivate, helping to stay grounded in the creative process.

“In this way you must understand how laughable it is to say, ‘Tell me what to do!’ What advice could I possibly give? No, a far better request is, ‘Train my mind to adapt to any circumstance.’ . . . In this way, if circumstances take you off script . . . you won’t be desperate for a new prompting.”

—EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 2.2.20b–1; 24b–25a

This quote stood out to me this week.

As Ryan Holiday points out in The Daily Stoic, we can’t rely solely on external instruction. Constantly searching for the “perfect” answer or fix only leaves us stuck.

Instead, we need to pause, look within, and trust what we’ve already learned. Spend time in solitude. Write down what’s on your mind. And then, most importantly, put it into practice.

That’s where real breakthroughs happen. Not from more advice. But from taking ownership.

What’s one lesson you’ve learned recently that you haven’t put into practice yet?

That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.

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Imagine having emails like this crafted specifically for your brand or business. Whether you’re a creative storyteller or a brand strategist, I’ll help you turn your unique voice and ideas into engaging, value-packed content.

Ready to level up your email game? Let’s talk about how we can co-create emails that captivate your audience and drive real results.

Welcome to Gutter Thoughts, where I share insights into my creative process and philosophy each week. From exploring big ideas to finding inspiration in comics, books, shows, and movies, this space is all about staying creative and grounded.

Weekly Creative Focus

Whether diving into creative work or spending time learning and reflecting, here’s what’s been on the mind and plate this week.

8 Daily Actions to Launch Your Comic Without Burning Out

Starting a comic is exciting—until it’s not.

There’s that initial creative rush, followed by self-doubt, perfectionism, burnout, and maybe a few late-night Google searches like: “Why is making comics so hard?”

Here’s the truth: the best comic creators don’t just have good ideas. They have consistent habits that keep them moving. Even when the ideas feel flat, the drawing feels stiff, or the writing feels off.

If you’re a new comic creator, the single best thing you can do isn’t buying a fancy iPad or reading another craft book.

It’s setting up a routine that protects your creative energy from the things that usually kill it: overwhelm, inconsistency, and unrealistic expectations.

So today, I’m going to walk you through 8 essential daily actions to help you make comics without burning out.

Let’s dive in.

1. Start your morning with a journal, not your phone.

Before the world starts pulling at your attention, spend at least 10 minutes writing in the morning.

Your morning pages don’t need to be profound. Just dump your thoughts. Let them be messy. Clear your mind before you dive into the work.

This helps you:

• Catch self-doubt before it spirals

• Notice resistance or recurring fears

• Reconnect with your purpose

Think of it as a warm-up set for your creative muscles.

2. Remind yourself: the best comics take time.

There’s a dangerous pressure to move fast.

We see finished panels on social media and think, “I’m falling behind.” But what you didn’t see were the 12 drafts, 4 discarded pages, and 3 months of rewriting that came before that post.

Say it with me: slow comics are still progress.

Your job isn’t to finish fast. Your job is to finish well—and to still be standing at the end.

3. Create a swipe file of inspiration.

You need fuel for your fire.

Every day, save something that made you feel something: a panel, a color palette, a moment in a movie, a quote, a TikTok edit. Use Notes, Notion, or a dedicated sketchbook.

Over time, this becomes your idea bank. A library of “what good feels like.”

Bonus: on the days you feel stuck, it becomes a spark.

4. Listen to the right people. Mute the rest.

Not every opinion matters.

Here’s a short list of voices worth keeping around:

• People who make comics (not just talk about them)

• People who’ve finished what you want to start

• People who make you want to open your sketchbook

Anyone else—especially those who love critiquing but never create—should be kept at arm’s length.

Criticism is useful. But only when it’s earned.

5. Keep your comic scope smaller than you think.

Most creators fail because they aim too big, too fast.

If this is your first comic, aim for 4 pages. Not 40. Aim for a short scene, not an grand saga. You can always build up towards a larger narrative later.

Smaller scope means:

• Faster wins

• Less overwhelm

• More chances to iterate

Remember: less is more—especially when you’re building confidence.

6. Build from what you know.

Start from the personal. Your fears, your relationships, your dreams, your disappointments.

It’s tempting to invent sprawling worlds with complex lore. But readers connect to emotion first, not exposition.

Write what hurts. Draw what lingers. Base your story on something real, then layer in the fantasy or sci-fi.

Your truth will carry your fiction.

7. Touch your project every day (even for 10 minutes.)

Consistency doesn’t mean grinding for 6 hours a day.

It means opening the file. Making a tiny change. Writing one line of dialogue. Sketching a rough panel.

This does two things:

1. Keeps your project warm in your mind

2. Builds the identity of “someone who makes comics”

Momentum isn’t about speed. It’s about frequency.

8. Forgive yesterday. Show up today.

Some days you’ll do nothing. You’ll scroll. You’ll avoid. You’ll beat yourself up.

That’s okay.

The real danger isn’t skipping a day—it’s turning that skipped day into shame that derails the whole week.

Every morning is a new page.

You get to decide what happens next.

Final Thoughts

Making comics isn’t just about panels and pacing. It’s about have the right mindset and momentum.

If you take anything away from this, let it be this:

• Stay consistent, not perfect

• Stay small, not scattered

• Stay curious, not critical

You already have what you need to make something great.

It’s just a matter of showing up.

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

This Week’s Creative Sparks

Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:

Live Show Spark: Subversia

I was recently invited to a live show by a friend from back home who now lives in LA. I always knew he was into filmmaking, but this time, he took it to a new level. He told me the show was a way to bring his film ideas to life—through a psychological live performance.

The best way to describe it? A mix between SNL and Black Mirror, as he would explain it. It was amazing. It was funny, sharp, and, most importantly, relatable.

What stood out most was seeing the art come to life in real time. It felt raw, honest, and the audience wasn’t just watching. They were part of the experience.

If I didn’t have a Knicks game to catch later that night, I would’ve stayed for the second showing.

Game Spark: MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls | Announce Trailer

This week, PlayStation announced a fresh lineup of games (not that I even own a PlayStation). But one trailer instantly grabbed my attention—MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls.

Why? Two reasons:

1. It’s Marvel.

2. It’s Arc System Works.

Arc Systems is legendary in the fighting game world. Their art direction, animation style, and gameplay mechanics are consistently top-tier. Tōkon looks stunning and plays like it’ll be a blast. I can’t wait to get my hands on it (once it eventually lands on Xbox, of course).

If you want to understand why Arc is so respected, here’s a breakdown of their studio process. It's a masterclass in visual storytelling and design.

Joe Quesada's Drawing the Line Somewhere

Birth Of An Unseen World — Part 2

Before we dive in, if you missed Part One, click the orange pill below and get caught up…

Read more

10 months ago · 20 likes · 5 comments · Joe Quesada

Newsletter Spark: Joe Quesada’s Birth of An Unseesn World—Part 2

When it comes to Marvel Comics, you can define entire eras by the names behind them—and one of those names is Joe Quesada.

Joe was Marvel’s Editor-in-Chief when I was just getting into comics. He was behind so many of the books that pulled in new readers like me. On top of that, he’s an incredible artist.

So when I found out he was teaming up with the legendary Christopher Priest for a new book, I knew I had to subscribe. The book, The World To Come, looks epic—and even better, Joe is sharing behind-the-scenes commentary on Substack.

It’s inspiring, insightful, and a blast to read.

Instagram Reel Spark: Jessica Walsh’s Hot take

I stumbled upon this gem of a video this week, and it was a joy to watch. As someone who studied graphic design, it really hit home.

One of my personal beliefs has always been: sometimes creative decisions are made simply because they look good. Not every choice needs a deep, philosophical meaning behind it.

It’s easy to get lost in the manifesto, the theory, the thought process. But at the end of the day, what matters is that your project makes sense—and that you keep moving forward.

The Stoic Quote of the Week

A Stoic quote to inspire and motivate, helping to stay grounded in the creative process.

“Why then are we offended? Why do we complain? This is what we’re here for.”

—SENECA, ON PROVIDENCE, 5.7b–8

This quote stood out to me this week as we started a new month.

I’ve been trying to figure out how to build freedom and security at the same time using the skills I have. Some days I feel like I’m making progress. Other days, I’m not so sure. The uncertainty gets heavy. I catch myself slipping into frustration—thinking about how things should be instead of working with what’s right in front of me.

Reading this quote reminded me that struggle is part of the process. Complaining, worry, and anxiety don’t move me forward. They just drain the energy I need to keep going.

This is the path. Accept it. Deal with it. Keep showing up. Because I know what I’m here for—to be a great storyteller.

So now I’ll ask you:
What’s your mission?
What are you here for?

That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.

Subscribe now

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

Let’s Connect

Enjoying Gutter Thoughts?

Imagine having emails like this crafted specifically for your brand or business. Whether you’re a creative storyteller or a brand strategist, I’ll help you turn your unique voice and ideas into engaging, value-packed content.

Ready to level up your email game? Let’s talk about how we can co-create emails that captivate your audience and drive real results.

Welcome to Gutter Thoughts, where I share insights into my creative process and philosophy each week. From exploring big ideas to finding inspiration in comics, books, shows, and movies, this space is all about staying creative and grounded.

Weekly Creative Focus

Whether diving into creative work or spending time learning and reflecting, here’s what’s been on the mind and plate this week.

5 steps to build a daily creative habit with Stoicism

Can you really build a consistent creative habit without relying on motivation?

If you’re like most creators, your workflow a times can be coin toss. Some days you’re in flow, others you ghost your work completely.

You may say things like “I’ll get back into it tomorrow.” And when tomorrow becomes today you say it again, and again, and again.

Here’s the thing, most creatives aren’t lazy. They’re overwhelmed, distracted, and relying on feelings to decide when to work. And that’s a recipe for inconsistency, burnout, and guilt.

But there’s an alternative: anchoring your creative process in Stoic principles—the same ones used for centuries to train minds to remain steady through chaos, failure, and fear.

So today, I’m going to show you how to build a repeatable, emotion-proof creative habit using 5 Stoic-inspired steps—and the common traps you’ll want to avoid.

Let’s dive in.

1. Start before you're ready.

Seneca wrote: “While we wait for life, life passes.”

Too many creators wait to feel ready, when they’re inspired, rested, or caught up on life. But real progress comes when you act before the ideal conditions show up.

The Routine: Choose a daily “start trigger,” a cue that tells your brain, “now we create.”

• A timer

• A playlist

• A location

• A specific notebook or app

Even if it’s just 5 minutes, the key is to start. Action creates momentum.

The Common Trap To Avoid: Believing your work must be “great” before it’s worth doing. You’re not here to impress anyone. Just show up ready to execute.

2. Set a minimum viable output.

Epictetus taught: “Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily.”

Creativity loves constraints. When you give yourself a minimum daily goal, you eliminate decision fatigue and lower the barrier to entry.

The Routine:

• 100 words

• 1 panel sketched

• 10 minutes on one scene

• One idea in your notes app

Make it so small that you can hit it even on your worst day. Because the real win is not volume but consistency.

Common Trap To Avoid: Making your daily goal too ambitious. High standards are great for editing. Not for starting.

3. Remove the noise.

Marcus Aurelius said, “If you seek tranquility, do less. Or more accurately, do what’s essential.”

Most creative routines fail because they overlook the possibility of distraction. Tabs open. Notifications buzzing. Phones vibrating. It’s impossible for you to create clearly in chaos.

The Routine:

• Turn your phone to Do Not Disturb

• Close all tabs except your creative tool

• Create a “focus ritual” (tea, stretching, breath-work, a walk, journaling, etc.) before you begin

Reduce the noise around you.

Common Trap To Avoid: Mistaking research, scrolling, or “planning” as progress. Simplify to amplify.

4. Reflect without judging.

Stoics practiced evening journaling to reflect on their behavior, not to self-shame, but to gain clarity.

The best creativity thrives on iteration—not perfection. And the best way to iterate? Look back without beating yourself up.

The Routine:

At the end of each day, ask:

• Did I show up today?

• What blocked me?

• What helped me get started?

Use these notes to fine-tune your system—not to question your talent.

Avoid The Common Trap: Skipping reflection because you didn’t hit your goal. Even the “off” days carry insights.

5. Keep showing up, especially when it’s boring.

Clean pages are romantic. Dirty pages build legacies.

In Meditations, Marcus Aurelius wrote over and over that life is repetition. The same is true for creativity. The breakthrough doesn’t come from one epic session—it comes from doing the reps, even when it feels dull.

The Routine:

• Keep a calendar or tracker.

• Reward streaks (not volume).

• Normalize boredom, it's part of mastery.

Your job isn’t to always feel inspired. Your job is to keep showing up until inspiration has no choice but to meet you there.

Avoid The Common Trap: Mistaking boredom for a sign you’re on the wrong path. It’s often the signal you’re getting better.

Final thought: Consistency is your superpower

Stoicism isn’t about suppressing emotions. It’s about not letting them control you. And having control over them allows you be a resilient creative.

When you build a daily creative habit rooted in Stoic principles, you don’t just get more done—you become the kind of creator who creates no matter what.

Not because you feel like it.

But because you said you would.

Keep showing up. Your future self is already thanking you.

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

This Week’s Creative Sparks

Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:

Show Spark: BET on Netflix

Years ago, when I had nothing better to do, I stumbled onto a Netflix original anime called Kakegurui. To my surprise, I actually enjoyed it. Fast forward to this month: a live-action adaptation of the manga and anime dropped—called BET.

I had low expectations. Most anime adaptations just don’t work. But this one held its own. Instead of copying the original, it took a different approach: influenced by the source material, but confident enough to be its own thing.

It’s wild, funny, and over-the-top—just like any good high school teen drama should be.

Movie Spark: Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning

I’ve always wanted to see a Mission: Impossible movie in theaters—so I recently watched the entire series just to catch the latest one on the big screen. (Let’s be honest, Tom Cruise is going to keep making these until he literally can’t.)

The Final Reckoning wasn’t my favorite of the bunch, but I loved how it cranked up everything these movies do best: suspense, anticipation, and payoff. They tell you exactly what’s going to happen—then take you on a wild ride to get there.

It’s a masterclass in tension and release, and a style of storytelling I’m studying to level up my comic-making process.

Sports Spark: The NBA Eastern Conference Finals

I love basketball, and I love the New York Knicks. This series against the Indiana Pacers has been one of the most entertaining in recent memory. These two teams have one of the longest-running rivalries in the NBA. We don’t like each other. Watching them battle it out to make history for their franchises has been intense, inspiring… and, for me, mostly frustrating.

Even if you’re not a fan of the sport, I highly recommend tuning in. As for me, it’s already sparking ideas for a new story.

The Stoic Quote of the Week

A Stoic quote to inspire and motivate, helping to stay grounded in the creative process.

“Work nourishes noble minds.”

—SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 31.5

This week was a bit of a mental struggle. But this simple quote reminded me: when in doubt, get to work. Not just on what pays the bills, but on what strengthens both the mind and the spirit. Action brings clarity, and sometimes, that’s all you need to move forward.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.

Subscribe now

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

Let’s Connect

Enjoying Gutter Thoughts?

Imagine having emails like this crafted specifically for your brand or business. Whether you’re a creative storyteller or a brand strategist, I’ll help you turn your unique voice and ideas into engaging, value-packed content.

Ready to level up your email game? Let’s talk about how we can co-create emails that captivate your audience and drive real results.

Welcome to Gutter Thoughts, where I share insights into my creative process and philosophy each week. From exploring big ideas to finding inspiration in comics, books, shows, and movies, this space is all about staying creative and grounded.

Weekly Creative Focus

Whether diving into creative work or spending time learning and reflecting, here’s what’s been on the mind and plate this week.

3 Storytelling Lessons I Didn’t Expect to Learn at WonderCon

A few months ago, I thought I was going to WonderCon just to network.

Instead, I walked away with a crash course in storytelling that hit harder than most writing workshops I’ve paid for.

The truth is: nothing will sharpen your storytelling faster than being in a room full of creators who love to talk about their work, their process, and their struggles.

And while I went looking for inspiration, I walked away with three unexpected lessons that shifted how I think about worldbuilding, dialogue, and story momentum.

So today, I’m going to share those 3 lessons with you—and show you exactly how to apply them to your next project, whether you're writing a comic, screenplay, or email sequence.

Let’s dive in.

Lesson 1: The only way to get good at pitching your story… is to pitch it.

One of the most surprising things about WonderCon was how ready I felt.

For years, I put myself through the awkward reps: pitching my comic to strangers, introducing it at events, talking about it in emails, DMs, meetups—anywhere I could. I used to ramble, over-explain, or trail off. But I kept going.

So when I showed up at WonderCon and someone asked, “What’s your comic about?” I didn’t freeze. I delivered.

And here’s what really clicked:

Every single time I pitched it that weekend, I got better.

• I cut what made them drift.

• I doubled down on what made people lean in.

• I refined the language so the idea felt tight, clear, and easy to remember.

By the end of the con, I had a pitch I felt confident in. But I wouldn’t have gotten there without putting myself out there before it felt “ready.”

Here’s the takeaway:

Pitching doesn’t get easier before you do it. It gets easier because you do it.

Lesson 2: You are only as strong as the community around your work.

Every booth at WonderCon told a story—and I’m not just talking about what was on the page.

The way the creators engaged with fans, other artists, even other booths… it all added energy to their work.

There were zines trading hands, illustrators recommending colorists, writers giving each other tips on pitching to publishers. Storytelling wasn’t happening in isolation—it was social.

This taught me something big: you’re not just building a story—you’re building a story ecosystem.

Your story lives longer, travels further, and hits deeper when:

• You talk about it out loud

• You let others help you sharpen it

• You contribute to the creative ecosystem around you

We all want our work to spread. But spreading starts by connecting.

Here’s the takeaway:

The more you collaborate, contribute, and connect, the more your stories resonate.

Lesson 3: Surround yourself with people who are also betting on themselves.

WonderCon was full of talented people—but what stood out even more was the mindset.

I met a graphic designer-turned-comic creator who got into comics because he wanted more control over his creative output. Comics gave him the space to experiment and express what commercial projects never allowed.

I talked to a cartoonist I’ve followed for over a decade. He told me how his style evolved over the years to get different types of work. The key, he said, was learning how to adapt to new projects without losing the authenticity of his voice.

I met artists tabling for the first time, nervous but proud, putting their work in front of people anyway. One illustrator, now a WonderCon favorite, told me how they used to set up outside the convention—just to get close, just to be seen.

These weren’t just cool stories. They were reminders.

If you want to stay in this game, you need people around you who are committed to the long haul.

Because when you’re surrounded by people:

• Taking risks

• Adapting and evolving

• Sharing their journey

You can’t help but feel more permission to do the same.

Here’s the takeaway:

Your creative momentum multiplies when you’re in proximity to others who are building, adjusting, and showing up anyway.

Bringing It All Together

I expected WonderCon to be fun.

I didn’t expect it to remind me why I started writing stories in the first place.

To summarize:

1. Clarity wins. Know how to talk about your story in one sentence.

2. Build in public. Your community is part of your creative success.

3. Stay open. Everyone’s got a story to tell—and it might unlock something in yours.

Your next breakthrough might not come from sitting at your desk.

It might come from the next person you talk to.

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

This Week’s Creative Sparks

Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:

Animation Spark: 70 Years of Godzilla: New Roar In Southeast Asia

Last year marked Godzilla’s 70th anniversary—easily one of my favorite IPs of all time. I grew up watching the movie marathons on TV, completely hooked. This year, the celebration continues with new comics, books, and more. One standout is this beautiful short video tribute to Southeast Asia. I could watch it on repeat.

Video Spark: Why you’re overplanning instead of creating

Crown Obsidian Comics—aka Ethan—is one of the most talented comic creators on YouTube. I stumbled on his video about making a graphic novel last year and picked up some solid tips. In this video, Ethan breaks down why planning is essential, how easy it is to get stuck in that phase, and what steps to take to plan the right way. It’s a great watch if you’re ready to start your comic.

Comic Spark: Vision and Scarlett Witch #1

I love when I pick up a comic cold and end up loving it. That’s exactly what happened here. Steve Orlando’s storytelling immediately pulled me in. It ties back to a popular 2015 series and keeps you hooked until the last page. The art by Lorenzo Tammetta, paired with Ruth Redmond’s vibrant colors, makes this book a visual standout. If you're into WandaVision or geeking out over the 50th anniversary of Wanda and Vision’s wedding, this mini-series is worth checking out.

The Stoic Quote of the Week

A Stoic quote to inspire and motivate, helping to stay grounded in the creative process.

“That’s why the philosophers warn us not to be satisfied with mere learning, but to add practice and then training. For as time passes we forget what we learned and end up doing the opposite, and hold opinions the opposite of what we should.” —

EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 2.9.13–14

No matter how much you learn, if you’re not putting it into practice, none of it really matters. Over the last two months, I’ve been studying what it takes to craft a great newsletter—but I let the writing part slip. That changes now.

Starting today, I’m putting what I love into action. You’ll notice a few updates going forward:

• One newsletter, not two. Stoic Sparks and Gutter Thoughts are now one. No more juggling. Just one space for everything I want to share.

• No more paid tier (for now). Gutter Thoughts is free. When I bring back a paid option, it’ll be for bonus content—not the basics.

This is me, practicing what I’ve been learning. Thanks for sticking with me. I’m excited about where this is headed.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.

Subscribe now

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

Let’s Connect

Enjoying Gutter Thoughts?

Imagine having emails like this crafted specifically for your brand or business. Whether you’re a creative storyteller or a brand strategist, I’ll help you turn your unique voice and ideas into engaging, value-packed content.

Ready to level up your email game? Let’s talk about how we can co-create emails that captivate your audience and drive real results.

Welcome to Gutter Thoughts, where I share insights into my creative process and philosophy each week. From exploring big ideas to finding inspiration in comics, books, shows, and movies, this space is all about staying creative and grounded.

Weekly Creative Focus

Whether diving into creative work or spending time learning and reflecting, here’s what’s been on the mind and plate this week.

Think Like a Mangaka: A Blueprint for Long-Term Creative Success

The Secret to Longevity in Comics

Most aspiring comic creators dream of crafting an epic, long-running series. But few actually make it past their first few chapters. Why? Because they burn out before they even hit their stride.

Meanwhile, manga creators (mangaka) churn out weekly chapters for years—sometimes decades—without losing momentum. How? They’ve mastered a streamlined approach that allows them to create consistently without sacrificing quality.

If you want to build a long-term creative practice, you need a system that works with you, not against you.

Here’s how to think like a mangaka and set yourself up for success.

1. Keep Your Creative Process as Simple as Possible

Manga is typically created by a single person. Sometimes, a mangaka works with a co-writer or a small team of assistants, but at its core, the process is a solo endeavor. With relentless deadlines, they must keep their workflow efficient.

By following the mangaka mindset, you can simplify your process and produce work more consistently. Here’s how:

1. Plan your pages quickly and loosely. Get your ideas down on paper (or in digital notes) as fast as possible. Refinement comes later.

2. Keep your art black and white. This allows you to control detail levels more easily and finish pages faster.

3. Stick to a simple grid system. While Western comics often push dynamic panel layouts, many top manga rely on straightforward grids that prioritize readability.

By simplifying your creative process, you’ll gain two major advantages:

1. Faster project completion.

2. Quicker feedback, allowing for adjustments and growth.

One of the best lessons I learned while working as a writer for Apple was a reminder plastered across the marketing team’s building: Simplify. Simplify. Simplify.

2. Master the Art of Creating Memorable Characters

If your characters aren’t compelling, readers won’t stay for the story. Characters are the driving force that pulls audiences into your world.

Hirohiko Araki, creator of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, puts it best in Manga in Theory and Practice:

“If you have an effective character in place, you will be undefeatable. Taken to the extreme, this means that compelling characters negate the need for story or setting. That’s how incredibly important they are.”

One of Araki’s secret ingredients for strong character development is character histories—a deep dive into a character’s background that influences their personality, decisions, and presence on the page.

Before you start drawing, take time to flesh out details. Nothing is off-limits:

• What’s their favorite TV show?

• Do they have any tattoos? If so, why did they get them?

• What’s a childhood memory that shaped them?

This is a practice I use for every character I create. It’s an ongoing process—whenever I discover something new about them, I add it to their file.

In 2019, I got a tattoo from one of my favorite manga. I didn’t choose a scene from the story—I chose a character. The plot was solid (a 7.5/10 for me), but it was the characters that kept pulling me back. They made the world feel alive.

Your characters should do the same.

3. Create and Share One-Shot Projects

A one-shot is a short, self-contained comic—ranging anywhere from 2 to 50 pages—with a clear resolution (or an open ending that still feels satisfying).

The Shonen Jump Guide to Making Manga encourages new creators to start with one-shots before diving into long-form stories. Here’s why:

• You’ll complete projects faster.

• You’ll get feedback sooner.

• Publishers and readers can quickly assess your storytelling skills.

Many legendary manga began as one-shots:

• One Piece started as Wanted!, a short standalone story.

• Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto drew multiple one-shots before his breakout series—one of which was even adapted into an anime movie.

A lot of aspiring creators want to jump straight into a full-length series. But what if your story doesn’t connect? What if you realize midway that you don’t enjoy telling it? A one-shot lets you test ideas and refine your storytelling before committing to a long-term project.

Bringing It All Together

If I could go back and redo Boom Kid from the beginning, these are the exact steps I would follow. They would have saved me from burnout and helped me finish faster. But I’m okay with that—because now, moving forward, I will be applying them.

And you should too.

By simplifying your process, developing deeper characters, and starting with one-shots, you’ll set yourself up for long-term creative success. Whether you’re crafting manga, webcomics, or indie graphic novels, this blueprint will help you create better work, faster.

Read Boom Kid: The Ultimate Beef

This Week’s Creative Sparks

Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:

Book Spark: Chain Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

I’ve been hearing about this book for the past year—a future where prisoners fight for their freedom. Sign me up. I worried it might lean too much into familiar tropes, but on the last day of Black History Month, I finally gave it a shot, and oohhh, I’m so glad I did. Only two chapters in, and I’m already hooked. Not only is it delivering on its premise, but it’s also packed with interesting characters and deep world-building. I can already tell I’m going to tear through this one and still want more.

Music Spark: Life is Beautiful by Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist

I saw that three artists I’ve been vibing with a lot lately dropped a new track, so I clicked to check it out. Turns out, it wasn’t just a single—it was a whole album, and man, I loved it. Waking up on a Sunday morning and hearing these melodies was a vibe. It’s been a long time since I’ve played an album from start to finish, but this one had me locked in. Whenever I need a reminder that, despite everything, life is beautiful, I throw this record on.

The Stoic Quote of the Week

A Stoic quote to inspire and motivate, helping to stay grounded in the creative process.

“Above all, it is necessary for a person to have a true self-estimate, for we commonly think we can do more than we really can.”

—Seneca , On Tranquility of Mind

This quote hit me hard this week. It’s a reminder that being honest with ourselves is everything. We need to take stock of our skills, desires, and goals—what can we actually accomplish? How much can we really handle? And most importantly, we have to stop comparing ourselves to others, especially those who are five or ten steps ahead. Learning from them is great, but our focus should be on what we can do right now—consistently. Only when we get real with ourselves can we take the right steps toward success.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.

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