6 Week online Course | Instructor: Ryan Browne

Kickstarting Your Comic or Graphic Novel

$495.00

Learn all of the elements that go into creating and executing a compelling Kickstarter!

What makes a good Kickstarter Project? Ryan will walk you through the platform, how it works and how to prep your campaign. Learn about the design elements, who is on Kickstarter and what they pledge.

This six-week intensive class teaches you all the necessary tools and tricks for creating your own Kickstarter campaign. Additionally, you will learn about presentation, add-ons and all of the Kickstarter elements.

During the course, you’ll learn how to pre-plan on the creative side of your campaign and plan the actual campaign itself. Doing the Numbers! Find out all the numbers you need to know and learn how to make sure the numbers make sense to build a cushion for yourself.

Please note that the course lectures are pre-recorded, but you will have access to a dedicated message board for questions, comments and homework. Your instructor will review the message boards throughout each week and go through your project and planning with you. You’ll still get that personal touch!

We focus this class on Kickstarters. Find out all you need to know about creating and executing your own Kickstarter campaign!

  • You will learn from highly respected writer Ryan Browne (God Hates Astronauts,Curse Words).
  • You’ll get Ryan’s lessons and lectures and discussions!
  • You also get exclusive access to a dedicated class member-only online forum.
  • You’ll have access to recordings of any class in the series for the duration of the class and a few weeks after its conclusion—so you never have to miss a class!
  • The course is limited to keep the class intimate and ensure that every student gets the attention he or she deserves.

Ryan Browne is a Harvey Award Losing comic book writer and artist. He has successfully funded and fulfilled 5 Kickstarters with bewildering flair and tireless pizzazz! He has worked professionally in comic books since 2012 when he finally had greased the right palms and was allowed to make his book Smoke and Mirrors for IDW. Since then, he is known for his work on CURSE WORDS (Image Comics/Kickstarter), GOD HATES ASTRONAUTS (Kickstarter/Image Comics), Blast Furnace (Kickstarter) and Quantum And Woody (Valiant Entertainment). His newest project is also with Charles Soule and ALSO for Image Comics–but he can’t talk about that now.. Follow his wild and confusing swearing on Twitter and Instagram.

Kickstarters are great, but what if I don’t know anything about the platform?

Our courses are geared for the beginner as well as the experienced artist. Ryan will take you through all the “foundational elements” upon which great Kickstarters are built. And that starts with understanding the platform and the basics of a campaign.

What do I actually do in this course?

Every student will create and plan their own Kickstarter campaign from start to finish. You’ll have professional Kickstarter to use and reference.

What if I don’t have a comic book or graphic novel ready for Kickstarter?

If you don’t have your Kickstarter ready to build, that’s totally fine. The videos highlight everything you need to do to plan planning–if that makes sense. Self-publishing can sometimes have a backwards process where it’s important to set the scope of the project based on printing and shipping rates and then figure out the comic that fits best into those constraints.

Who is Ryan Browne and why is he teaching my class?

Ryan has many years of experience under his belt and regularly works for Image and IDW. Ryan has many successful Kickstarter campaigns including CURSE WORDS (Image Comics/Kickstarter), GOD HATES ASTRONAUTS (Kickstarter/Image Comics), Blast Furnace (Kickstarter). 

Like all of Comics Experience’s instructors, Ryan is not just a top professional in his field; he’s also an accomplished teacher. Comics Experience is pleased to be able to pass that working knowledge on to you!

What do I do after the class?

Once the course is over, you’ll have been taught how to approach a Kickstarter campaign. It’s important that creators learn to think on their feet (well, in their computer chairs, anyway).

You’ll be able to confidently approach your own Kickstarter campaign. The idea with all our courses is that you won’t need us once the course is over. You’ll be able to create a campaign on your own!

What else will we be doing?

Ryan’s class sessions are recorded so you don’t have to worry about missing one! You’ll also have exclusive access to a dedicated class member-only online forum where your class can meet online 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the duration of the course.

The forum is where you’ll be able to post your work for your class to review, comment on, and make suggestions. And likewise, you’ll be asked to comment on your fellow students’ stories as well. You’ll problem solve together and find new ways to create and work around story challenges!

Do I need to know a whole lot about comics?

Absolutely not. All Introduction courses are designed for beginners and those seeking to improve their craft. One thing we pride ourselves on at Comics Experience is our ability to teach to any individual’s skill level.

We have an excellent track record with our students and it’s our top aim to keep it that way. New to comics? Come on in, we’d love to show you around! Old pro? Let’s sharpen those skills and learn a few new tools! Everyone’s welcome and the group learning will help everyone improve!

Do I need to be a computer wiz for the class?

Nope. Not one bit. You need to have high-speed Internet access. We recommend that you have headphones with a microphone to plug into your computer, but that’s by no means necessary. 

Once you’re in your first class, we’re sure you’ll get comfortable very quickly.

What computer programs do I need for this course?

The basics are the same and have been since the beginning. If necessary, we’ll do some general troubleshooting with folks as they encounter differences in different versions of software. We’ll show you!

What if I miss a class?

These classes are pre-recorded, released once a week and available to view via streaming link for the duration of the course. And on top of that, you’ll have exclusive access to the Comics Experience forum set up just for the class. You’ll be able to interact with the rest of your class all course long at any time! The last class will be a live Q & A session with Ryan Browne and Andy Schmidt, recorded and added to the classroom forum for review.

If I don’t live in the United States, can I still take the course?

You bet. We’ve had students from Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and Africa. Some of these students have not been able to attend live but they’ve viewed the recordings and interacted with their classmates online!

Learning about comic storytelling is great, but do we get any practical industry advice?

You’ll get a LOT of practical industry advice. Networking is one of our main topics in all of our introductory courses. It’s essential for anyone who wants a career in comics. We discuss relationship building, ways to get your foot in the door and where to go to meet the right people.

If I don’t want a career in comics, and just like making comics or even just want to learn more about the art form I love, is this class right for me?

Sure it is! How better to expand your knowledge and understanding of comics than by engaging with creators? That’s what most of our students are—they’re creators. It’s a great place to learn just for fun. 

How do I sign up?

Purchase the course and you’ll get an email confirmation and instructions within two business days giving you everything you need to get started with the course.

If you want to create a Kickstarter for fun or become a pro, your journey starts here!

To participate in our live online sessions you will need:

What if I need to cancel my enrollment?

Unfortunately, Comics Experience cannot provide a full refund for course enrollment once the course is purchased.

  • From the time of purchase until twenty-one (21) days before the class start date, 50% of the course fee can be refunded.
  • Between twenty (20) and seven (7) days prior to the class start date, 25% of the course fee can be refunded.
  • Six (6) days or fewer before the course start date, no refund will be issued.
  • We appreciate your understanding and compliance to help us keep costs down and to continue offering high quality courses.