Bill Nichols’ Prescription:
Comics 10ccs of the Process with
Scott Kurtz
Scott is the very talented creator of the strip PvP and along with a few of his other creators is a fount of wisdom about the business including promotion and merch among other things.
-Bill
What inspires you to create and keeps you going?
I love making comics. I fell in love with it at a very early age and it’s only grown since then. People inspire me. Their stories. Other artists inspire me with what they’re putting out into the world. I pull inspiration from all around me.
Do you have a set routine?
I wish I could say that I did, but I’ve been doing this for 23 years now and I’m still kind of doing it by the seat of my pants. The last four years threw all possibility of routine COMPLETELY out the window. Between personal stuff with family, the horrible Trump years and the pandemic, I’m lucky to have produced anything at all.
What kind of output do you try to achieve?
I try to do five comic strips a week and work on a graphic novel as I go along. PvP has been running since 1998 and I want to keep that fresh and current and moving forward. But I’m always working on a side hustle and doing new stuff too.
What inspires you WHEN you create?
When I’m writing I need complete silence. I can’t even listen to music. When I draw, I love to have talking on in the background. A TV show I can “watch” or podcasts. Law and Order is a great TV show to run in the background because you can only listen to it and miss NOTHING. It’s like a radio play.
Who was the first comic book creator the influenced you to pursue this?
The very first was Jim Davis. After him was Berke Breathed and then Jeff Smith. Jim taught me what a cartoonist was, Berke taught me comic strips could be very subversive and intelligent and Jeff taught me comic strips could be comic BOOKS!
When did you realize you could follow this path yourself?
I never think I can. I always worry It’s going to end. But I never ever doubted that I would try. I’ve just been successfully “trying” for 25 years now.
What do you find to be a challenge in creating?
I really want my work to connect with people. I want them to feel something important after they read my stuff. On the surface, I’m going for a laugh, but underneath I want to make people feel something deeper. I don’t know that I always accomplish it.
What else do you have to learn?
Patience. I have to learn to be more grateful for what I get to do. I have to learn how to stop worrying so much about what I’ve accomplished or where my career is going. Oh…and perspective.
What keeps you motivated to get better?
Seeing what other artists are doing. there are so many talented young kids out there today making stellar comics. I just can’t believe it. It makes me want to get better and keep improving my own work.
Can you turn your brain (creativity) off (and on)?
Not especially well, no. Recently someone told my wife how lucky I was that I can work whenever I want and she said “Oh Scott’s always working.” And I asked her later what she meant and she told me “It’s obvious that you’re ALWAYS writing. Always jotting down mental notes and always splitting things up into panels.”
booster shots
I’m for them. Listen to the CDC and get vaccinated. If they say take another shot, sign me up. I’ll take two or three. Whatever the scientists that eradicated Polio think, I’m with THEM. (heh).
What advice do you have for aspiring creators?
Learn to love the process and worry less about results. If you’re in your 20s or 30s, go crazy. Take chances. Now is the time to explore and try things out. You have SO much time ahead of you and you can always get a regular job later. You won’t try crazy things when you’re in your late 40s or 50s. Not as easily. You don’t have to have it all figured out at 20. Go play.
Do you ever worry about running out of ideas?
No. I just worry people won’t like my ideas anymore.
How do you handle the slow times?
Not particularly well, but much better since I started talking to a therapist and taking Lexapro.
Website?
You can find me at www.pvponline.com and www.tabletitans.com
DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed by the above creator are theirs. This interview may not be reprinted or reposted without permission.
Bill Nichols
Author, Artist, Editor for ShoutFyre.com
Bill is the creator of Arteest & Ursula comics, writer for Ringtail Cafe, co-creator of Savage Family, writer and inker of HellGirl: Demonseed. Editor for ShoutFyre and Sketch Magazine. Co-author of Camelot Forever novel series.
