Rex Krueger
patreon
You were not expecting this. I promise.
🕑 Added 2020-01-07 14:51:24 +0000 UTCPeople often ask me what I do for a living. I say something different each time. “I am a custom furniture maker. I’m a content creator. I make things and I teach people how to make things. I’m a woodworker. I’m an entrepreneur.” I’m never satisfied with the answer.
But there’s one answer that’s true even if it’s incomplete: I’m a writer.
Writing is the only thing that I have real talent for. I’m pretty good at lots of things, but none of them came easily. I’ve always had a way with language. And then I went to school and studied literature and writing. On top of that, I’ve had a long and strange career in a number of fields. So you name it and I’ve written it: fiction, journalism, opinion, poetry, memos, instruction manuals, memoir. I even wrote a book about woodturning.
So when an old friend started a comic book studio, he asked me if I wanted to write some scripts. I jumped at the chance.
I’ve loved comics for years, and even studied them in graduate school. (yup, that’s a thing you can study.)
Comic scripts are a fascinating challenge. The writer typically decides on the number of panels per page, the layout and shape of each panel, as well as the dialog and narration. The writer describes each image in microscopic detail and even includes things like camera angles. It’s a slow and painstaking process. I quite like it.
And my old friend (named Darick Ritter, by the way) is an accomplished fine artist. His wife is a political scientist and the two of them cooked up the idea that he should start a business turning social sciences research into comics. It sounds a little nutty, but it works. Most research never reaches the general public. Even important discoveries go unnoticed. And most people can’t be expected to read scientific articles. Hell, I’ve got a PhD in literature and I have a hard time reading them. But comics…now there’s a medium where even complex ideas can be understandable and exciting.
So we contracted with a couple of professors, I wrote a couple of scripts. Darick drew them and we hired a colorist. We delivered the work and we got paid pretty nicely. Then we did another, and another.
A few months ago I took a trip down to Nashville to visit Darick and hammer out some details of our work. And while I was there, something surprising happened. Darick took me out to dinner and offered me a partnership in the business. Of course, I said no. I’ve already got a demanding business that takes all of my attention. But that’s the point. I already have a business that makes money, that pays bills, that delivers on time, week after week. Darick is a brilliant artist, but he’s new to business and he could use a little help. I already do a large chunk of the writing and we often talk about ways to organize and publicize our work. I’m already helping to run the thing. I might as well get paid.
So all of sudden, I’m a part owner of Sequential Potential Comics, a real comics studio that turns out top-quality work. I admit, I get a thrill of pride when I think about it.
I can’t show you most of the work we’ve done so far; it’s the intellectual property of professional researchers who intend to publish it. But today, we’re releasing our short piece “How Your Comic Gets Made.” It’s a single page that shows our whole process and the huge potential of research comics. (Please feel free to share it anywhere; we want all the publicity we can get.)
And there are a lot of other things on the horizon. Darick is a fan of my Youtube channel. He likes my woodwork. We’ve discussed making some instructional comics about joinery and furniture making. It’s exciting to think about this new way to communicate.
So, what’s going to change with the Youtube channel? Nothing.
You can still expect an original video from me each week (with the occasional week off.) Mostly thanks to my Patrons, my business is at a place where I no longer have to handle every single detail myself. I’m slowly building a team. I have an editor and his work is every bit as good as mine. I have an attorney. I’m looking for a Social Media Coordinator. More and more, I’m putting my attention on the things that only I can do: designing and building the projects, writing the books, and being on camera. But those things are only a fraction of running the business and somebody else can handle a lot of those other details. I don’t need to manage the website or do the graphic design. I can hire people for that and they’ll do it better than I would anyway.
So today, Darick and I are starting to push our new business. We have some wonderful clients, but we’re in the market for more. And we’re not limited to research comics. Sequential Potential is a complete comics studio with multiple writers and artists. We can do fiction, nonfiction, posters, book covers, and instructional comics. If someone wants to combine outstanding writing with top-notch artwork, we can do it.
And I always want my Patrons to know what I’m up to. If you follow me on social, you’ll see some occasional bits of our work. We might do a woodworking comic. It all works together, and even though this business is separate from my Youtube channel, my Patrons have given me the freedom to stretch out a little bit.
I love making videos, but no one knows the future of YouTube. If I’m going to build a sustainable career on creativity and teaching, then I must diversify. I can’t be at the mercy of a single platform that someone else controls. By stretching out into new media and new business ventures, I’m ensuring that no matter what happens with videos, I’ll be here bringing you my best creative work for a long, long time.
Comments
Rex Krueger
Thanks so much! I love to write and I'll have much more writing for you all in the coming year.
caleb smith
comment is more in response to your statement "i'm a writer'
caleb smith
This is why I subbed. From the videos I've watched your script and delivery is so well done. Just about every other you tuber who does wood working lacks in this. your very personable and I think your use of language makes your teaching that much better. These post are cool to read on your bts insight.
judd
Several of my friends are PhD sociologists. Their work is absolutely critical to understanding the reality of the times we live in. Making that work accessible is a blessing for other working people. Keep at it! I dropped out of a PhD philosophy program because I saw the great value of learning to think with wide perspective, but uselessness of the ivory tower publishing mentality. Most academics WANT their work to be accessible, but the companies that own the journals want to keep the profits to themselves, and create walled gardens. The kind of work you're doing is the highest value to create a just and compassionate society. I'm a teacher of professional adults now, too. And I love it. You do a great job in the recorded media. We love watching and listening! You do such a great job. You're inspiring. I've cleaned out my little workshop, setting up a proper tool bench and cabinet, and getting to work cleaning up an old rusty Stanley #4 and building the low Roman bench, then the joiners bench. I've got cabinets to build, and gates and cribs for our twin baby boys on the way! You're an inspiration, Rex.
Rex Krueger
Technically, yes.
Bill Previte
Doc Rex!
Rex Krueger
Thank you for the books! I've read a couple on instructional design, but not those!
Rex Krueger
Yes! Wil Eisner, one of the giants of the field did that for years. I love his work.
Vincent Schaefer
You may want to check out some references on technical writing. You may have already done some research on this subject. If not below are some references. Streamlined ID : A Practical Guide to Instructional Design Miriam B. Larson and Barbara B. Lockee The Non-Designer's Design Book (4th Edition) 4th Edition by Robin Williams (Author) The first reference is a college textbook The second reference is on Amazon Hopefully it will help you, like you have helped me in learning woodworking.
Rex Krueger
You're very kind! Thanks for your support!
Michael Wysinger
Hi Rex! Wow... Talk about a little bit of a surprise! I would not have expected to learn that you have a PhD in literature. Engineering, perhaps, from the quality of your work, but this is awesome! I am a recent subscriber to your channel and a (small time for now!) patron, and I love your videos and content. You have an excellent style and you explain things in a simple, yet non-condescending manner. Best of luck in your new venture, and congratulations!
Rex Krueger
Well, if there's research about snack cakes, we'll do a comic about it!
James Kison
Whenever i see just a single page of comix, i always expect the end of the story to be about snack cakes
Rex Krueger
What a nice thing to say! I'm delighted that so many of my Patrons are passionate about science and I can't wait to share some work.
Duncan
Bravo! Congratulations! I think this is wonderful. I very much look forward to seeing what you do. I fear as far as comics go I am stuck on Pogo. (Yup another Patron showing my age. I'm a newly minted 75 year old.) But I still enjoy struggling and mostly getting hurt pretty badly reading scientific papers in fields that were never mine. So I have hope of following your work. I very much like the way you communicate verbally and visually here. So I am glad this channel will continue.
Daniel Mueller
Hmmm The military for years has been using "comics" to train soldiers as a way of keeping the message simple and on point. I can think of alot of ways your company can insert this type of business model in many industries... Good Luck
Joshua Nicholson
This is pretty darn cool. My daughter loves comics. Instructional comics would be a perfect bridge of our two hobbies.
Rex Krueger
I'm glad! Having the support of my Patrons is essential to everything creative that I do.
Rex Krueger
Thank you!
Rex Krueger
I LOVE Freakanomics! I read the first book when it came out and I listen to the Podcast, too. I was an academic for years and every time I published anything...crickets. You often don't get any feedback. When I started my channel, I reached more people with the first video than I did with any article. It was crazy how LITTLE impact I had with academic publishing. Things have to change.
Rex Krueger
I'll share some as soon as I can. It's tough because the researchers have the (very understandable) desire to keep their work quiet until it's been published. But after a bit, I'm sure we'll be able to let some out.
Rex Krueger
And thank YOU for making it possible!
Rex Krueger
You're SO right. The military uses them, too and they're very effective.
Rex Krueger
You're very kind. And you're totally right about visual communication: it gets the job done.
Rex Krueger
Thank you for saying so!
Rex Krueger
I can spell it; there's a $ at the end!
Alan Smith
I love the idea of instructional comics!!!
Mark L
Very cool!
Michael Ross
Sounds like a worthwhile idea. A favorite podcast of mine is Freakonomics. The co-producer Stephen Levitt, who rarely speaks except as a reference, PhD, teaches econ at U of Chicago. He lamented that some research he did, and published about teaching math in the US had almost no reach. Never cited and only had 6 copies distributed after many months of work. The talking mouth of Freakonomics talked him into doing a podcast about it since it would get a guaranteed multiple million people listening to it. I enjoyed it, It was illuminating. There needs to more ways for research to get in front of people. I would like to see graphic presentations about woodworking.
Mike J
Oh and you are too modest. You also have a true talent at teaching. You pare down the BS that abounds in this craft/hobby and give us the essence, accurately and succinctly. It's woodworking distilled and I, for one, am a fan.
Mike J
WOW, Awesome!!! This is great to hear, good on you diversifying and spreading your creativity! Thanks for all you do, can't wait to find some of these comics out in the wild.
Mike Willey
Now theres a comic I can get stuck in on. I'm fairly new to woodworking and your approach to instruction vs clips of someone making something in fast forward, has helped greatly. I have a similar thought process about how to get something accomplished. It's great to see another modest craftsman rise and shine. Thank you for the great content.
The Idle Hands Workshop - Stephen Miller
I love the notion of instructional comics... I'm about to show my age here but I remember as a cub scout some of the comics that were out showing you how to use a knife, chop logs, and all kinds of other scouting stuff.
Nic Beurskens
Dude this is awesome! So much of our society relies on visual arts as efficient communication today. I tend to only read real books as entertainment anymore. The bulk of my information and learning comes visually because of the time savings. ( Slow assed reader that I am) I love the idea of diversifying your streams of income and growing in multiple mediums! I'm genuinely stoked to see your business grow!
Dick Edie
Sounds like things are really falling into place for you. Well done, you've worked hard to build this. Good luck.
Mark Petersen
Rex, that's great! I can easily see your "side hustle" becoming your main work. Good for you. It strikes me that news media would welcome work like you're describing. They're always trying to find ways to explain relatively esoteric research. They may have their own graphics people, but some of them would rather outsource that work if they could. Can you spell "royalties?"
William Allen
Freaking awesome! I can't think of a better way to explain wood working! When I was in Junior high school (grade 7-9) my history teach had written several graphic novels about history, Founding of Rome, Crossing the Rubicon, Waterloo, Hastings, and so on. It make History absolutely fascinating! I think your friends idea to do comics to explain developments in science is FREAKING AWESOME. :D Congratulations
Howard Tuckey
Excellent! Just don't spread yourself too thin - https://seths.blog/2015/12/is-it-too-little-butter-or-too-much-bread/
Matt Mohon
So you are bringing out obscure but researched ideas in an entertaining medium? Sounds like a winning idea...I've always loved xkcd comics for it's simple yet smart content...look forward to seeing this.
Robert Bullock
Thanks for the update. Sounds lime you’ve got some great things going on! Good luck!
Tony Papenfuss
Very cool business idea. Best of luck!
Jim "Mr. Measure Twice" Marchetti
Write on Rex! ;-)
Matthew Leigh
Zach Weinersmith (from SMBC) has done a few of those. One on the legislative process, a book on emerging technologies and the latest one on immigration. It's a good medium for communicating things to people who wouldn't ordinarily care.
Rex Krueger
Thank you!
crister eriksson
cool! good for you rex!
