Ben just released “Snakepit Gets Old,” his sixth book, which chronicles years 10, 11 and 12 of Snakepit comics. I asked Ben a few questions about Snakepit, autobiographical comics, and doing the same damn thing every day for twelve long years.

Disclosure: My husband was college roommates with Ben, and our former publishing company, Young American Comics, published Snakepit for a few years.

1. 12 years is a long time for an autobiographical comic. It seems like most of the time, the kind of artists who make autobio comics are also pretty fragile people and can’t keep it up for long. (Myself included.) Why do you think you’ve been able to make Snakepit for so long?

Well, you know how Snakepit is kinda boring? I think that’s my secret. other people that do diary comics usually try to change it up to keep it from getting boring, so they’ll focus on one event from each day, or they’ll try to get super introspective or go off on a crazy tangent, and eventually they lose what they were going for in the first place. Snakepit is what it is. what I do every day, broken down into its most basic form, you either like it or you don’t, I couldn’t care less. I’m gonna keep doing what works for me.

2. James Kochalka recently ended his autobio strip, American Elf, after 14 years. I recall reading that Kochalka got some negative feedback as the strip (ie: his life) changed – the early days vs. after his children were born. Your life and your comic have obviously changed a lot since you started as well – have you received negative feedback from fans as the comic has changed over the years?

Yeah I’ve had people tell me it got boring after I settled down and got married. Again, I don’t care. I draw these comics because I want to, not because I want to please a specific audience or make money or do anything other than simply chronicle what I do each day. I ripped off this idea from Jim’s Journal. I saw what made that strip work and why it was so compelling, and it’s because he wasn’t trying to please anyone but himself.

3. Everyone you interact with must feel like they know you a whole lot better than you know them. Does it ever get a little Truman Show?

Sort of, but nobody that reads the comic knows anything I didn’t choose to tell them. People always say "I know you so much better than you know me" and I reply "you only know what I want you to know about me."

4. You’ve created and shared music and comics with your fan base for years. In this collection, you got really sick and were able to raise money to help cover medical bills from your fans through social networking. That must have been pretty moving.

It was amazing. I am still completely floored at how many people were so thoughtful and giving. I really wasn’t expecting anything like that. When I went through all that crap with my kidney stone, figured I’d put it on the blog and make a few bucks. at the end I made almost enough to pay for the entire thing, it was really incredible and still blows my mind that anyone would care that much about my dumb ass.

5. Is there a semi-fictionalized version of Ben vs. the "real you,” a la Stephen Colbert?

About a year and a half into drawing these comics, I decided to get "serious" about it and make it a life-long project. Back then I thought that it was important to keep doing interesting things to keep the comics interesting, so I would occasionally make stupid decisions because they would make good comics. Later on I realized that I’m not trying to make good comics. I’m not trying to do anything at all, I’m just drawing what I want to draw.

6. Do you ever go back and re-read old Snakepit?

Sometimes it comes in really handy, like if I need to know when I got my last raise or when the lease on my apartment is up, it’s actually a useful reference material. I don’t really ever read it for pleasure though. Next year, my first book (The Snakepit Book) is getting re-issued after being out of print for six or seven years. I went back and re-read those comics and realized how much I’ve changed over that span of time. I wrote a new afterward for the book, and I don’t wanna spoil it or anything, but I had a pretty important revelation about myself and where I am in my life now versus then.

7. The title of this collection is a play on the old Garfield collections. I know you’re a big fan of Charles Schultz, as well. How have he and Jim Davis impacted your work? What other artists/writers are you inspired by?

Actually it’s a tip of the hat to Bloom County. There’s a Bloom County strip where they make fun of Garfield, and Opus is reading a book called "Garfield Gets Old, his 80th book"… I’ve honestly never been too much of a Garfield fan but I LOVE Bloom County, and Berke Breathed is one of the main reasons I wanted to start drawing comics in the first place. Charles Schultz is, of course, on a completely different level. He totally changed the idea of what a comic strip can be. Pretty much all "alternative" comic artists owe him a debt.

8. What advice do you give to artists/writers who are just getting started with zines/comix & self-publishing?

Don’t wait for somebody to do it for you. Draw that shit and scan it or make copies or however you want to do it, and just put it out there for people to see. If it’s good, people will like it. If it’s not good, keep doing it for a long time and eventually people will like it.

9. What advice do you give to musicians who are out there getting started playing shows?

This is gonna sound harsh but it’s true… Don’t expect anything but rejection and failure for decades and decades. The only person in the whole world that gives a crap about hearing your music is you, and that’s not likely to change anytime soon. (I think it’s pretty obvious where I’ve succeeded and failed in my creative endeavors, ha ha.)

10. Austin, Texas is such a cultural hot-spot, and certainly an important part of Snakepit. In this book you celebrated living ten years in Austin and also talked about maybe leaving someday. Do you see that happening? Where would you like to move to?

I’ve kicked around the idea of moving away. Austin has changed a lot in the last ten years, but then again, so has everywhere else. For all things I used to like about this town that I now hate, there are also new things that I love. I think that while I might bitch about it sometimes, I still love it here and I don’t really plan on leaving anytime soon.

11. Will we ever see Snakepit: the Movie? Would it be a documentary? In a fictionalized, Big-Budget Hollywood version, who would you want to direct? Who would you cast as yourself?

There was talk about a Snakepit movie once. It never got past the talking-about phase, but I was pretty flattered that anyone even cared enough to write a script. If I could have a Snakepit movie be made any way I wanted, I’d want Mike Judge to do it, animated, in black and white with minimal scenery, just like the comics. Mike Judge because eveything he’s ever done is totally awesome, and he lives in Austin.

12. What’s next for you? Any big projects on the horizon?

Reissuing the first book next year, I got a few little comics coming out in various anthologies, and I still do my regular column in Razorcake. Other than that I’m just plugging along and hope to keep drawing three panels a day until I’m dead.

Snakepit Gets Old is available now from Bird Cage Bottom Books. You can also find Ben Snakepit’s comics in Razorcake!

Tonight was Jonah’s Preschool Graduation! His class performed a few songs (including one with sign language and one with pretend guitars and some rockin’ choreography!) for all of the parents and grandparents, plus cupcakes and ice cream afterwards. He did a great job and we were all so proud of him. It seems so hard to believe that my little man is already graduating Preschool and will start kindergarten in the Fall! Oh, how time flies!

That’s probably not really much of a surprise. There are bound to be some weirdos out there who just love to dishes, but I’ve never met one. We have a dishwasher, so it’s not even a particularly difficult chore. But, since I don’t like to do it, it frequently gets pushed further down my to-do list. Sometimes, it’s out of sheer lazy procrastination. Other times, it’s because I’m a mama and a wife and an artist and a business-owner and there’s a lot going on and dishes just aren’t the most important priority at that moment.  Sometimes I’ll miss a day (or two) and they’ll start to pile up.

It happens.

Of course, as soon as the dishes start to pile up, my desire to do them lessens, and then it becomes a (capital C) Chore. I’m not particularly proud of my frequently messy kitchen, but I’m confessing my slovenly sins today because I suspect that I am not alone. I suspect that a lot of people have a Reoccurring Chore that taunts them. It’s an ostensibly simple task, yet, it is the source of so much dread that it turns even the most ambitious people into lazy slackers, dragging their feet and pacing around the house, in order to avoid get started.

The one thing I do like about doing the dishes is getting some time to think (many a blog post has been born there) and so, it was while doing the dishes and thinking about productivity that I discovered a little productivity secret that I’ve been applying every since.

S.W.E.T. = Same Way Every Time

Every time I load the dishwasher, I put the coffee mugs in first.

Remember what I said about dragging our feet and pacing to avoid getting started? It turns out, starting the process is the hard part for me. After I’ve gotten the coffee mugs loaded, in go the drinking glasses. Step two, complete. Next, I load all of the silverware. Then the plates. Then the pans. Check. Check. Check. If there’s much of anything left, it’s not much to deal with. It seems doable.

In order to “SWET” the dishes, I first had to break it into manageable Steps.  Looking at one step of the process at a time is so much easier than looking at a mish-mash of all of the steps.  When it’s been “one of those days,” and the Chore seems completely overwhelming, I give myself permission to take a short break after completing any step. Each time I complete a step, I can move on to the next step or take a break if I need to. If I take a break, I know I can pick up where I left off. Thinking of the entire Chore as a series of Steps also makes it easier to see how much I’ve already accomplished.

The next time I had to do the dishes, I repeated the same steps in the same order. And then I just stuck to it.

Then something magical happened: I continued to “SWET” the dishes, and the process became automatic. I didn’t have to “think” about the Steps, or even really think about the dishes at all. As soon as I got started, I could stand there and let my mind wander while my hands completed the task, robot-style. There’s even a sort of meditative quality to the repeated process.

Don’t Fret, SWET!

Now, don’t get me wrong. I still don’t like to do the dishes. They still pile up for a day or two when I get distracted by other projects. But the sense of overwhelm has been greatly reduced. If I do feel intimidated, I just tell myself to load the coffee mugs. Most of the time, that’s all it takes. The process has become automatic, so I don’t have to make any decisions or even think much at all about what I’m doing.

I’ve incorporated the “SWET” technique into other parts of my day as well. Along with making dreaded tasks easier to take on, it also helps make repetitive jobs and repeat work more consistent and efficient (Yes, even with creative work! Even though each of my Art Journals are entirely one-of-a-kind, each one is put together the same way every time.) When I helped Jonah to clean up his room last weekend, we broke it up into Steps by categorizing types of toys the same way I do with the dishes.

We’ve all got the day-to-day boring chores or tasks that we don’t want to do. A lot of the time, it’s not a matter of laziness. I’ve often felt frustrated that I felt held back by this kind of job because I have “real work” that I’d rather work on! Tackling the small jobs by doing them the Same Way Every Time leaves me with a cleaner apartment, more time and calmer mind.

Apparently, it’s a good thing to “SWET” the small stuff. 

I was working at the shop yesterday, when Tod messaged me and told me he’d gotten me a surprise. I love presents but hate surprises, but my guesses proved futile and I was forced to wait until I got home to see that he’d scored me a sweet bike!

It’s a rad Huffy Rally 3-speed that he got for free(!) and is in amazing condition considering the price tag. I love the bent back handlebars and the colors and yeah.

It’s been a long time since I’ve had a bike. (The last one I had was a garage sale-find from before Jonah was born and I’m not sure the tires were every properly inflated because there was nowhere to ride where we lived in Richmond. Then I got pregnant…) Not only am I looking forward to the exercise and fresh air, but it’s a very practical solution for getting around in a town that’s only about two miles long.

So yeah, I’m pretty happy with my surprise. ;)

PS: I also updated my Etsy shop with a few more Recycled Art Journals this weekend! Stop over and take a look if you’re in the market for a new one for yourself, or if you’re looking for a gift for someone special in your life. There are currently over 40(!) one-of-a-kind Journals currently available, with plenty of colors and themes to choose from!

Here’s a sneak peek at a new project I’ve been working on… Geometric Necklaces made from book cover pieces! I’ve got a few things to tweak in order to make these sturdy enough to sell, but I’m super happy with how this prototype came out and have been wearing this one around myself. I’m hoping to have a batch of these in my Etsy shop within the next week or so. :)

What do you think?

Here’s my reply:

First: know that EVERY CREATIVE PERSON, no matter how old, how talented, how experienced, goes through this. Try not to think of it as a creative drought, but remember that there is always a natural ebb and flow to creativity.

Second: Understand that creativity doesn’t play nice with tension and stress. It’s a tricky puzzle, because most of us feel good when we’re creative, so we try to BE creative in order to de-stress. Then we put ourselves on the spot and end up feeling worse. Try to find ways that work for you to de-stress that DON’T require being creative. Reading a book, taking a hot bath/shower, going for a walk, getting some good sleep, having a good cry, whatever it is is that works for you.

Next, IMMERSE yourself in other people’s work. If you’re a painter, visit an art gallery. If you’re a baker, look at recipes. If you’re a photographer, browse other photographers galleries. If you’re a writer, read. If you draw comics, go read some of your old favorites. You get the idea. Don’t go in looking for specific ideas or inspiration, but be inspired by the art itself — or the skill of the craft, or the satisfaction of the end-product. Tumblr (and the Internets at large) are a veritable buffet of inspiration. The goal is not to look for ideas of “what to do/make” but to fill up your “OMG I HAVE TO DRAW RIGHT THIS SECOND OR I WILL CUT SOMEONE” meter. Sometimes, that’s enough.

AND/OR: Spend time doing a more monotonous part of your art or craft. A lot of folks I know get inspired by cleaning out their art/craft supplies. Spend time cleaning all of your brushes. Fold and staple a stack of mini-comics. Sort through and categorize all the recipes you’ve been bookmarking. The idea here is that you are doing something kind of NEAR your art/craft/hobby (bonus: it’s productive) and keeping your hands busy while letting your brain go in “auto-pilot” mode. Sometimes, this is the key to major break-throughs.

AND/OR: Change it up! New supplies, a new project, a new technique, a new craft/hobby altogether… Even just drawing outside instead of at a desk can be a major game-changer. Try something you’ve never done before — even if you’re no good at it. Even BETTER if you’re no good at it. Learning/experiencing something brand new can be a be a real creativity charger. If you normally draw people, try focusing on fashion or buildings. If you typically knit, try crochet or needlecraft. Yes, I am absolutely encouraging you to “cheat on” your art. :P The goal here is to come back to your art with a new perspective.

When in doubt, try to push through and make SOMETHING. If you hate it, finish it anyway and move on to the next one. Share or don’t share. But keep making.

Keep at it and remind yourself that the “flow” will come back. It will. 

Got burning questions? You know what to do.

I hope you have a great birthday and a fantastic year ahead, full of exciting challenges and incredible opportunities. I’ll be right here by your side, as always. Can’t wait to see what’s next.

PS: Your present will be late.

It was wonderful. Just incredibly gorgeous and enjoyable to watch. I honestly left the theater afterward without a single complaint. The costumes alone are just breath taking. Here are some pretty shots:

PS: Be sure to watch Colbert’s Book Club!

Things are shifting into place.

I want to write again. I’m going to (attempt to) be writing here again. I’ve got some big ideas (as always.) I’ve been planning some fun things for this summer.

I will probably be making some web site tweaks in the near future. That always seems to happen when I come back to blogging…

Oh! Here are some new Art Journals! Available in my Etsy Shop :

I love this Thomas Edison quote. It rings very true to me that more often than not, our successes and failures are determined by our perception of our actions, rather than the actions themselves. 

I believe that when we “grow up,” a lot of us lose an important aspect of our life: playtime! As a mama, I get access to coloring books, LEGOS, cartoons, Batman action figures and stickers (oh my god, so many stickers) and lately, I’ve been trying to set aside time to indulge in “play time,” both with and without my son.

I loved coloring in coloring books as a kid, and as an adult I find it soothing and therapeutic. It’s artistic but requires minimal effort. (Glitter crayons are the best.) Playing with Play-doh is so such nice tactile therapy; but outside of bakers kneading bread and crafters sculpting clay, there are few adult activities that offer us anything similar. Why not?

Just a lyrical phrase that popped into my head… I’ve been writing some songs about Time Travel, but just a line here and a line there, it’s all scattered throughout my art journals and sketchbooks.

Little pep talks to myself are an important reoccurring theme in my Art Journal pages.

I love Carl Sagan and I love this quote. Gratitude and happiness go hand in hand.

A little summary of what I’ve been up to lately. (Previously)

Tod and I were discussing this idea the other day. It’s naïve to assume that all happy, positive and optimistic people aren’t effected or don’t succumb to stress.

I liked this quote on tumblr today:

“Patient acceptance is often considered a weak and passive response to problems that we do not have the power or courage to solve. In reality, however, being patient is far from being passive. There is nothing strong or courageous in reacting to hardship or insults with anger – all we are doing is being defeated by our delusions.”

— Geshe Kelsang Gyatso – “How to Solve Our Human Problems”

 

Mmm.. tea. :)