Bill Nichols’ Prescription:
Comics 10ccs of the Process with
Erica Schultz

What inspires you to create and keeps you going?

The voices in my head. I mostly run on piss and vinegar, and, to be honest, I have to work. I’m bad with idle hands.

Do you have a set routine?

I guess? I’m at my desk by 10am. Depending on what deadlines I have, I can spend most of my day writing or answering emails. A terrific writer, Erik Burnham (TMNT, Transformers) gave me some advice when I first went full time freelance…he said I need to write five pages per day per project. I TRY to stick by that, but I don’t always hit it.

What kind of output do you try to achieve?

I kind of answered that above. My goal is to have a draft done at least a week before the deadline so that I can let it breathe. Then I reread it and revise it before handing it in.

What inspires you WHEN you create? Music? Noise? Silence?

I’m one of those weirdos who has to write in silence. If I listen to music with lyrics, it’ll influence me. Same with when I’m lettering my own work. I usually rewrite in the lettering phase, so lyrics distract me. I may write to instrumental music sometimes, but not often. Artist Giada Belviso (Black Widow) told me about Two Steps From Hell, but I haven’t really checked out their stuff yet.

Who was the first comic book creator that influenced you to pursue this?

I don’t think I read any comic that made me say, “This is what I’m going to do.” I got started late in the game. I didn’t start writing comics until I was in my 30s. I was working at a studio, though, and I think being exposed to all the steps of making a comic made me think, “Yeah…I can do this.”

When did you realize you could follow this path yourself?

If by “yourself” you mean as a full time freelancer, it was only after I had had several years of consistent work. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have attempted it. I started writing in ’09, and I didn’t go full time as a freelance writer until ’16, so it was a while. As a freelancer, it’s always feast or famine, so, even though there are tons of books coming out that I’ve written, that may not be true for next year or even next month. It’s a pretty precarious way to live, if I’m being honest.

What do you find to be a challenge in creating?

What’s challenging? Staying motivated when A.I. garbage is bandied around as the Second Coming. A.I. is not just trash, it’s illegal, immoral, unethical, anti-environmental, and just plain shit. However, since there are so many people enamored with the latest, shiny new thing, it’s a hurdle we’re going to have to fight hard against.

What else do you have to learn?

Nothing. I’ve climbed to the top of Maslow’s Hierarchy and reached Self-Actualization. I’ve planted my flag here, and I defend it with words and blades. Everyone has something to learn every day. Isn’t that what Instagram reels, TikTok, and Reddit’s TIL are all about?

What keeps you motivated to get better?

To get better? Easy. Bills. I’m not independently wealthy, and I know that my ability to get MORE work is tied to the quality of my work. So if I keep churning out good work, better than the last, then there’s a likelihood of getting MORE work to pay the bills. Was it John Romita, Jr. who said something about being able to churn out pages so much? “You get married, get a house, have kids…you have bills, so you get your stuff done.” 

Can you turn your brain (creativity) off (and on)?

No, which is why I carry a notebook with me everywhere. I never know when an idea is going to attack my brain and derail whatever I had planned for the day. If I take the time to write it down, it’ll at least sate the idea beast long enough to get through my list of errands. It also sucks because I don’t sleep well.

Booster Shots

What advice do you have for aspiring creators?

If there is anything in this world that you like doing MORE than creating, then do that thing. The ability to do this as a career and making a living at it has worse odds than winning the lottery. It takes a grit and perseverance that many people don’t have. If you want to make comics or movies or do whatever, do it.

Do you ever worry about running out of ideas?

No. There’s always a different way to spin an idea. There’s podcasts to listen to and documentaries to watch for inspriation. And if all else fails, there’s public domain.

How do you handle the slow times?

My mind doesn’t slow down, so there are no slow times. Even if I don’t have an active writing job, I’ll keep writing on something else. And worse comes to worst, I can always go back to teaching.

How do you feel about the industry?

I think all creative industries are in peril right now because of the A.I. scourge and the lack of actual creatives in the C-Suite. When people with no creativity are making creative decisions, that’s a problem. But I have FAITH in humanity! That’s not true, I have no faith in humanity.

Do you have a website or link to promote your work?

EricaSchultzWrites.com/shop

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed by the above creator are theirs. This interview may not 

be reprinted or reposted without permission.