Given the chance, Bored Panda reached out to Amanda with a few interesting questions!
Amanda shared with us, "I began making comics as a way to blow off steam and channel my anxiety into something positive. When I first started, I was working full-time, attending law school in the evenings, raising a toddler, and dealing with some huge upheavals in my personal life. Comics gave me a way to escape and sometimes even express some of that stress in a way that was creative and fun. I gravitated towards comics because, at that time, I got so much joy from reading comics created by other awesome webcomic artists. I thought it would be really cool if I could also create something that other people would enjoy reading. I also love comics because they can sometimes transcend language in ways that many other forms of humor can't. For example, one of my comics had no words at all, and I often see it reposted by pages and profiles from all around the world. It tickles me to no end knowing that people in different countries who speak different languages can find the same jokes funny."
When it came to her creative process, the artist said, "I always start with the joke or the story I'm trying to tell. Even though it is a visual medium, the writing will always be the most important element of any comic (even ones with no words)." Amanda believes that the essence of a comic lies in its storytelling, which can overshadow artistic imperfections if the narrative is strong.
Amanda feels she has "evolved a lot" since her initial foray into comic creation, exploring different series and audiences to discover her unique voice. She finds the most joy in niche comics, such as those about her favorite book series or law school experiences. "Looking back, I've received some pretty cool recognition for my comics from people and organizations that I respect and admire, and I consider those my biggest artistic achievements."
Currently, the artist is at a crossroads, having recently left her law firm job to ponder her next career move while focusing on writing. "I've always dreamed of writing a fantasy novel, so that is where my creative energy is focused for now," she shared.
On the topic of motivation, Amanda also expressed to us, "Motivation is fickle. I have never been able to count on motivation or inspiration to strike when I want it, and I think that is true of most creators. I think that forming habits and developing discipline is essential to powering through challenges and overcoming the blank page. Being a lawyer has actually helped me there, as lawyers do a lot of writing. I write when I don't feel like it. I create outlines and organize my ideas before I start writing. When I get stuck, I look at my outline for direction. If the story diverges from the outline, I let it happen. I also try not to put a lot of pressure on the first draft. The first draft of anything is always going to be s***, and that knowledge helps me get words onto the page in those moments when I feel like a total hack."
