Activity
Mon
Wed
Fri
Sun
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
What is this?
Less
More

Owned by Mike

Creative Illuminati

89 members • Free

Learn from an Amazon Bestselling author and illustrator to turn your ideas into real comics, games, and more with low-cost tech. #CreativeIlluminati

Memberships

SkoolMagazine

38 members • Free

The Skool Hub

4.4k members • Free

the skool CLASSIFIEDS

1.2k members • Free

Read SkoolMagazine Here

70 members • Free

Midnight Monster Club

23.2k members • Free

Advertise Your Skool

768 members • Free

Influencer Growth Lab

1.7k members • Free

Skool Nexus

107 members • Free

67 contributions to the skool CLASSIFIEDS
FREE self-publishing tutorials at Creative Illuminati
No more gatekeepers. Print on demand lets you publish, sell, and restock instantly: with zero permission needed. Creative Illuminati teaches the workflow to finish and ship fast. What will you create next? https://www.skool.com/mikes-sketchbook-7350/about
FREE self-publishing tutorials at Creative Illuminati
2 likes • 1h
@Alli Gatlin Love your group!
1 like • 44m
@Julianne Anderson
Censorship Hurts Creators
Comics and graphic novels are facing a new wave of censorship. The impact? It lands hardest on independent creators: those without big publishers or legal teams behind them. When a few vocal groups drive organized book bans, it’s not just well-known series that get targeted. Indie writers and illustrators are the first to feel the chill, often forced into self-censorship or kept out of libraries and classrooms altogether. This climate of fear makes it tougher to tell authentic stories, especially for marginalized voices. When comics dealing with gender, identity, or real-world issues are pulled off shelves, everyone loses. The truth: censorship isn’t just about what’s offensive, it’s about who gets to decide what stories are seen. Have you faced or witnessed comic book censorship? Share your experience below. Let’s keep the conversation going and support creative freedom: especially for independent creators. Learn more or join the Creative Illuminati community: https://www.skool.com/mikes-sketchbook-7350/about
Censorship Hurts Creators
0 likes • 2d
@Grant Hepworth I agree that there are materials that should and shouldn't be in schools in classrooms. In the case of graphic novels, they are a format, not a genre. Graphic novels exist in every subject matter, including classic literature and education. I was reading at a college level in grade 4 because my school had graphic novels of classic literature, which helped me learn to read and appreciate classic stories, and I then searched out the original material and read at a very young age.
0 likes • 2d
@Grant Hepworth It all depends on what it is and where you are. Of course, there is material that is appropriate for different age groups. There should be oversight. Something appropriate for a grade 10 student is likely not going to be appropriate (or of interest) for a child in Kindergarten, and of course, should be located in different sections, based on age group.
Scripting for Speed with Software you Already Own!
Let me guess. You have a killer idea for a comic or graphic novel bouncing around in your head. Maybe you have had it for months. Years, even. But every time you sit down to write the script, you get stuck somewhere around page three, staring at the blinking cursor like it owes you money. Here is the thing. Most creators treat comic scripting like writing a novel. They agonize over every word, build elaborate outlines, and wait for inspiration to strike. Meanwhile, the project sits unfinished in a dusty folder on their desktop. After 30 years as a writer, I can tell you that waiting for inspiration is a luxury professionals do not have. Deadlines do not care about your muse. And the good news is that the same approach that gets news stories filed on time can get your comic script done faster than you ever thought possible. Even better, you do not need expensive software to make it happen. You probably already own everything you need. Read the full article at: Creative Illuminati
3
0
Scripting for Speed with Software you Already Own!
Really, Really BIG News on SUBSTACK...
📺 Substack TV Just Changed the Visibility Game Substack quietly launched a TV app (Apple TV + Google TV), and this matters if visibility is part of your growth plan. Here’s why I’m paying attention: If you build your Substack correctly and publish video posts or go Live, your content can now be watched on actual TVs. Lives automatically become video posts. No extra steps. This isn’t about chasing. It’s about being seen in longer, calmer, trust-building ways. Most people won’t benefit from this because their Substack isn’t set up for visibility or consistency yet. That’s the part I help with. Inside my community, I’m walking people through: - How to structure a Substack for visibility (not just writing) - How to use video & Lives without more tech stress - How to turn Substack into an authority and client-attraction channel If you’re using Substack (or thinking about it) as a visibility platform, this update is worth understanding. Happy to share what I’m teaching and testing. Join us in the You World Order
3 likes • 6d
Can’t wait to learn more from you @Jill Hart
0 likes • 6d
@Jill Hart
Censorship hurts everyone
Censorship of comics and graphic novels has been on the rise. Diverse, independent voices are often the first to lose shelf space, especially when stories tackle real-world topics, identity, or challenge the status quo. Removing these stories isn’t just about a few books: it limits which voices can reach readers, while big publishers with influence usually avoid the line of fire. For a healthy creative community, everyone’s story needs space to be heard, not erased. If your work or reading has faced censorship, share your experience in the comments. Let’s amplify each other: your voice matters. Learn more at https://www.skool.com/mikes-sketchbook-7350/about. Creative Illuminati.
Censorship hurts everyone
0 likes • 9d
@Grant Hepworth I feel like that’s how they have changed strategies instead of just outright banning the book and getting it more attention. They just make it incredibly difficult or impossible to ever actually get because they restrict the access to the material.
1 like • 8d
@Grant Hepworth I shall. Also, I was thinking about how you said that Marvel and DC could become a thing of the past and how it is both true and untrue at the same time and already happened. Honestly, neither of them are the companies that they once were. They are basically just names and logos that were purchased by media companies who are just going to flog and squeeze every dollar they can out of the IP value for as long as they can. The name on the product may say Marvel, but at this point, that’s just a corporate marketing strategy.
1-10 of 67
Mike Gagnon
5
266points to level up
@mike-gagnon-4589
Amazon bestselling author and illustrator with a passion for comics and teaching.

Active 41m ago
Joined Nov 20, 2025
Canada
Powered by