If you are a gag writer (gagwriter) and have written for magazine cartoonists, please leave a comment or email me: pen dot drawing (the dot is a period) at gmail.com.

I gotta say, if gag writers want to,you know,  actually get some more work, they might try getting a website or a blog, or going on Facebook or twitter. Looking online for 45 minutes, I could find only one gagwriter with a  website, and the article about a guy has no email, no site, etc.

Thanks.

More cartoons:

1. In which I get syndicated.
2. How to use pop culture to influence your editor.

Here’s the question some – just a few, mind you – guys can’t resist asking me, as soon as they find out I’m a cartoonist:

“That’s cool. So…. do you actually make a living doing that?”

Is there anything ruder? It’s always when we first meet, too. Are they just now considering it as a career?

And often they had been flirting with me earlier, so there was a little buzz going on between us up til then. Good luck, pally, and adios.

Syndicated cartoonists make an ok living at 100 papers, and good at 200, so I’m told. Magazine cartoonists (which is what I do mostly, although I am in some papers, books, etc.) did well back in the fifties, when there were tons of magazines around that used cartoons every week! Sigh. Even when I started, the Cartoonists Association want list, defunct for a long time now, had varied magazines that were buying. Like Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist – I think they’re still around, but I have no idea what they really were looking for. And I remember an opera quarterly that was always looking. I would think to myself, there’s an interesting niche. Even though I hate opera, loathe it. Still, it made me happy it was out there, happily looking for cartoons that someone else would have to think up and draw!

And the New Yorker guys – it’s still mostly guys, and why shouldn’t it be? – do very well. I could go on and on here about how bitter I am about THAT, but I fear I may spiral out of control and end this post on a really down note.

My father is a Sagittarius, so sometimes he’s a little blunt, but I appreciate his advice:

“Don’t worry about it. All artists are 50% more famous when they die.”

Now, that’s the cheerful spin I inherited, and intend to share with others in this blog.

More cartoons:

1. Any cartoon gag writers left?
2. Ask a cartoonist!

• My wife and I have come up with a series of panel cartoons but unfortunately we have not found an outlet. Being realistic, and yet still believing in their value, we have come to the conclusion that maybe the best way is to sell them to other cartoonists. We were wondering as to whether or not you happen to be in that group that accept other ideas or whether individual creativity remains a priority.

A: No.

I’m not sure whether “individual creativity remains a priority”, or it’s just that I need to eat, and think I’m the best cartoonist I know. Or at least, the funniest. Or maybe, the only one I like to give money to.

I suspect that at least 75% of magazine single-panel cartoonists don’t write their own material, however, and might be happy to see your ideas. (I would be happy to be proven wrong on that number, btw.)

But since you already have them drawn up, ready for market, don’t give up trying to sell your own work! Try your local paper, or throwaway or alternative. They really do like to support local talent. And let me know what happens!

More cartoons:

1. Any cartoon gag writers left?
2. The one question a man should not ask me.