The Content Curve's daily comic challenge
just 4 panels a day to level up
Want to make comics but can never seem to find the time or motivation to do so? Maybe its time to throw perfectionism out the window and try a 14-day writing challenge where you commit to making a simple 4 panel comic everyday.
I completed this challenge at the beginning of 2024, and it did wonders for my comic making ability and courage. You can read my reflection after completing this challenge here.
There are a two main benefits:
Building courage to post many completed mini projects that aren’t “perfect” and familiarize yourself with the posting process.
Exercising your thoughts to be put into panels on paper and then uploading them on to the internet.
Challenge Instructions
Set-up
To get started, set a specific time of day when you'll do your comic making. Maybe it's first thing in the morning, during your lunch break, or before bed. Choose a time that works best for you and stick to it.
Create a Webtoon account. Create it under an alias if you feel unsure. Do not share the account with other people for the time being.
Daily challenge
Every day at roughly the same time, open up your sketchbook or drawing program of choice and create a 4 panel comic.
Create that comic fast. It can be a short scene, a conversation, a comedy sketch - anything that comes in to your head is fine. Don’t worry about beauty or readability, just focus on getting your thoughts down o paper. It doesn’t have to be high quality. It just has to be a comic.
Don’t use a prompt generator. Try to pull from your own head and experienes. You can make a comic similar to a story from a YouTube video you watched, or a fanfiction scenario that’s floating in your head, or a vent post of a traumatic experience you went through. One of the goals of this challenge is to put the storylines, thoughts, and feelings, that are floating in your mind on to paper in a comic format.
Aim for at least 4 panels. Try not to go over if you can help it.
Number, date, and title the short comcis after you’ve finished.
After you’ve created 5 comics, batch upload them to a drawing program then export them to Webtoon. Schedule them to be posted once per day for the next five days.
Create a comic once a day for 14 days. And upload them every ~5 days.
At the end of the 14 days, reflect on the challenge.
Reflection
At the end of the challenge, take some time to reflect on what you’ve learned.
What did you learn about yourself as a comic creator?
Did you enjoy the challenge?
What improvements did you notice in your comic making skills?
What did you learn?
Use this reflection to guide your future writing practice and to continue building upon the momentum you've created.
Tips
Draw on anything. If possible, try to be consistent in where you make your comic. However! If you can’t find your usual sketchbook or can’t get yourself out of bed to a desk to work, its ok. Comics can be created anywhere and everywhere. Your goal here is to complete the bare minimum everyday (4 panels). It is not to do everything perfectly. So, feel free to use any kind of scrap paper, napkin, notes app (and finger drawing) to complete your daily 4 panels. Just remember where you’ve put it when you’re done.
Drawing on paper? Use Scannable by Evernote with iOS. And Google Drive scanner with Android to create great looking PNG’s / JPEG’s of your work when you’re done. Save them to your camera roll for later uploading.
Benefits
The 14-day writing challenge is a simple and effective way to establish a writing routine, build momentum, and improve your writing skills. You'll be surprised at how much you can accomplish in a short amount of time.
This challenge is not about creating perfect pieces of writing. It's about showing up for yourself and committing to a practice of writing. Over time, you'll start to notice improvements in your writing skills, as well as your confidence and creativity.
Showing up every single day. This is a 1 hour daily time commitment. There is no time to overthink or dwell on topics. My only goal is to commit to a practice of making something everyday.
Systems > Goals. Every day there would be a new prompt and I wouldn’t have time to over think it.
Doing it at the same time. Again its the overthinking thing. To get something done everyday, you need to set aside time for it. By doing the task or working on the project at the same time and same place everyday, you significantly lighten your mental burden.