People ask me, “How do you come up with your ideas?” I usually smile and say, “I have a crack comedy team working in the Legislature and on the City Council.” While it is a simplistic answer, it is pretty true. I have great material in Mississippi. Most days my ideas are right on the front page.
But it’s harder than that. Coming up with ideas is like running. The more you do it, the easier it gets. But there days when I have temporary writer’s block. I never panic — but I sweat out the processes. I am blessed that I always come up with an idea. Always.
I don’t take suggestions or ideas from others. Sometimes they suggest ideas are good. Most of the time, they aren’t. But the point is, if I sign my name to it, it will be my idea. For that reason, I rarely (never) look at other cartoons. I have many friends in my profession and will occasionally check in on them. But otherwise, no. I don’t want an idea slipping into my head and me throwing it up later thinking it’s mine. If I am going to catch hell for a cartoon, it will be my idea.
I start each morning with the news, a paper (I still like a printed version although spend a lot of time online) and scan my Twitter feed. I look for things that I find amusing and think would make a good idea. I do rough sketches and then present them to my boss, Brian Tolley. He will pick the one he likes (he’s the editor) and I will roll with it. I pencil it, ink it, scan it and color it on the computer. The whole process has to take less than six hours (I used to spend about 10). I then post it online and email it so it can be placed on a page for the printed version.
I’ve drawn thousands of cartoons. I pray I will draw thousands more.
And I do too :)