Uncategorized Life After the Rocky: Year 2

Life After the Rocky: Year 2

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It’s so hard to believe it’s been 2 years since the Rocky Mountain News ceased publication. I miss it and I know so many others feel the same way. I miss the many talented friends who were a part of my life for over 26 years. I miss the wonder of working at a daily paper, the creative energy of a newsroom in the midst of a big story.

But, life brings changes. We all know that. So many of us have experienced profound changes in our lives in recent years. What we do when those changes occur is the important part. As the great Winston Churchill once said “if you’re going through hell, just keep going.”

So, that’s what we do. Like my friend, Gene, who is finishing classes for a career change. My former colleagues, Kim, and Mel became teachers. My good friend, M.E. Sprengelmeyer, bought his own weekly paper in New Mexico, where I draw one cartoon a week. For me it meant starting this blog, which by the way is 2 years old today. Yay. Happy Blog Birthday to you all.

In these past few years, besides just this blog, I created a few other blogs you can find links to in the sidebar. I also started my own creative arts and design studio, Littoonz Studios. I’m proud to say I’ve been able to keep the boat afloat with several clients like ESPN.com, the Chicago Tribune, the Guadalupe County Communicator, Mile High Sports Magazine, Colorado Rockies Magazine and, most recently, the Pueblo Chieftain. I’m also syndicated twice a week by United Features as well, which by the way, is owned by Scripps Howard, the same people who owned and closed the News. Last Thursday, essentially the same time frame the Rocky was shuttered two years ago, it was announced that Scripps is closing the doors on United Features in June and sending it’s roster of talent to Universal Press, a terrific syndicate out of Kansas City which syndicates some great strips (Calvin and Hobbes was launched there). So, more change, you see.

That said, I’m not out of the woods yet in terms of financial stability, but I’m making headway. I must be honest and tell you at times these last two years have been scary. Still is, actually. But, this is what I do, draw comics. It’s as much a part of me as the air I breathe. I believe God gave me a gift to draw and make people laugh and feel through the cartoons I create. I do my best to be a good steward of the talent he has blessed me with. So onward I walk, in faith, that this is the path I should continue to follow.

Being that I’m two years into the blog, I thought I would share a few thoughts. And I hope

you will share yours as well.

After two years we have over 603,000 page views. Our busiest day of traffic, for a cartoon about the Saints winning the Super Bowl, we had over 4,000 visitors. Those numbers are not very big, but they have remained steady, and we’re actually seeing an increase in traffic so far in 2011.

The content, for the most part, is still Colorado based. Local content really resonates with readers. It’s how we root for sports. We are Broncos fans or Saints fans or Rockies fans or Cubs fans or Huskers fans or Buff fans or what have you. Cartoons about the teams we root for obviously impact us more.

Retaining the local flavor of the blog is a bit challenging for me since I no longer have a local print media presence in Denver. Which means, well, I draw the local ones, for the most part, for free. Fun to do mind you, but not so good when it’s time to, let’s say, pay the mortgage.

Sports cartoons in and of themselves aren’t huge merchandise revenue generators. I’ve sold some prints here and there, and the calendars sold well the year we did them. My Elway book, published in 2004, was wonderfully successful. I’m in the process of creating some generic sports t-shirts and mugs and stuff that I hope can generate some revenue stream here.

I’m still toying with bringing back the caption contest. I love content that is interactive and fun for you to have a role in. It’s the fulfillment and mailing of the prizes that is the biggest obstacle.

But I’m hoping to bring the contest back in the very near future.

I’m still working on a web comic which I hope will be ready to launch soon. I want one creative enterprise that I can call my own and have complete sovereignty over. It has long been one of my goals to branch out beyond the world of sports. So far I haven’t done that. It’s by far the biggest disappointment for me in these two years that it still hasn’t happened. Here’s why. I have several different ideas and one concept I love, love, love. But I’m scared to do it for fear it will take time and energy and not produce at least some kind of income. So it’s a bit of a dilemma. But, what the heck, I’m going to do it anyway, for the love of it.

Enough about me. It’s you I draw for. You I treasure. I want to thank each and every one of you for being a part of this blog. You make it happen. I appreciate the time you take out of your day to stop by, comment, share a cartoon with friends or tell someone in your life about a comic you saw here. You’re the reason we are seeing growth in 2011. So a tip of the cap to you all. You are my personal MVP’s!

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38 thoughts on “Life After the Rocky: Year 2”

  1. Very touching. Thank you for being so transparent. We feel your pain and your joy. As the late Sid Caeser said, “There are the “nows” the “was’s” and the “Gonna be’s”. A “now” is the most precious thing you can have because a “now” goes by with the speed of light. Let’s say you’re having a beautiful “now” that you want to hold on to forever. No matter how much you want to hold on to it,it’s going to be a “was.” A lot of people get stuck in and can’t let go of the “was’s”. Those get heavy and they turn into “shoulda coulda’s”, and they never have time for the new “now.”

  2. Dear Drew,

    I remember when the Rocky closed down. I was convinced the Denver Post would hire you. After all (I thought) they couldn’t be so dumb as to let someone like you get away (boy was I wrong about that!!!!!). When I got the Rocky I made a straight line right to your cartoon first before anything else. You have no idea what a void not seeing your work felt until I totally by accident discovered you had a blog.

    I understand what you talk about when you said,”God gave me a gift to draw and make people laugh and feel through the cartoons I create. I do my best to be a good steward of the talent he has blessed me with.” For close to 20 years I was involved in entertainment. I was billed as Louie “The Lip” (America’s #1 comedic lip-syncer). I worked with various rock and roll revue troupes and even was the opening act for some local comedians who admired my work. No, I never became a superstar doing this but when the audience would laugh at my routines that made me feel good. Also their applause was my drug of choice. It made me miserable when I started becoming sick on a regular basis and couldn’t perform anymore. I didn’t know it at the time but my kidney’s had shut down and now I do dialysis 3 times a week. Now I am close to being at my “performing weight again. I even looked into competing in the Denver auditions for “America’s Got Talent” only to be told that lip-syncing would not be allowed. Still the thought of performing again and practicing my routines made me feel young again.

    There is a line from the movie “The Shawshank Redemption” that sort of sums of what you did and what I try to do. Morgan Freeman said it well. “Get busy living or get busy dying.”

    All the best (and happy Blog Birthday)

    Louis

  3. Good Morning from Omaha,

    Has it really been two years? I join Louis in thinking the post would pick you up on a regular basis- i mean they print woody’s drivel, you would be a definite step up.

    I guess we just can’t sit on the pity pot and whine. as adults we know what we have to do and we roll up our sleeves and get busy doing it. Things all happen for a reason, good things, and challenging things-and how react teaches us and others a little about ourselves.

    we are all better for the challenges because we have to go beyond scratching the surface of our abilities. I think I have found my niche in law and you are striding out into the world, pen in hand, building a business with what you do best. I admire you for your ability to entertain and provoke people into thought with your ability to “draw” out your thoughts.

    Happy 2 year anniversary,Drew. we will be out in denver, probably sometime this summer. Hopefully the clock will allow for you to meet my lovely wife, daughter and son. They do exist and not just in my mind and they have been enduringly patient with me over the last couple of years.

    Keep up the good work and you know I will be here to add my two cents. thank you for encouraging me and the others who write to contribute to your site.

    Strive for excellence, nothing but your best.

    Gene

  4. Being so far away, the Rocky was seldom part of my days. Whenever I wanted info on the Avalanche, I went there, but it wasn’t very often. But I admired its style enough to bookmark its front page on the Newseum website. During the World Series in 2007 my mother and sister were in Denver, and they brought a few copies, which are still with me alongside the final edition, which I managed to buy on eBay in 2009, several days after it was published. They might very well be the only copies of the Rocky in Brazil. On the day the paper said good-bye, I decided to create an article about it on the Portuguese Wikipedia. It’s not just a translation of the English article. It is actually more extensive. I can’t say why I got this kind of relationship with the Rocky, but I miss it without ever being a regular reader. Go figure.

  5. Drew,

    I have been reading your comics since I was a kid in the Rocky. I am 25 years old now, and last week was informed my position was being eliminated and that I would be laid off. I’ve had some sort of a job since I was a junior in high school and now, poof, its gone.

    Today, the quote from Churchill and how you have handled the abrupt change in your life really hit home with me.

    Thanks for all the laughs you have given me, and I will continue to tune in.

    Thanks,

    Kyle

  6. We owe you our thanks, Drew. If I could draw, I’d draw a picture of your fans raising a World Champion Sports Cartoonist banner to the top of the world’s largest computer. And, of course, your name and rhino would be animated on the banner. But, since I can’t draw, I’ll just say “thanks!”.

  7. Dave, Thank you for the great thoughts about now. We so seldom live there, don’t we. Always trying to plan ahead or look behind. I agree, the goal should always be to live in the “now”. Terrific stuff, Dave.

  8. I have to agree with Sherrie – we owe you a big Thank You! I seldom got the Rocky paper, but since I found your blog, I check it every day. Wish I could draw 1/2 as good as you. And as Sherrie said, you are a Champion!!

    Thanks Drew, you always get my day started just right.

  9. Louis,

    It is the dreams that drive us. Your story is incredibly moving. “Dreamus interruptus” happens when life comes along and tries to steal or derail those dreams. That’s when we have to apply the Winston Churchill quote. We also have to be very alert to make sure that God doesn’t have other dreams and purposes for us. Let me know when you make your comeback. I want to buy the first ticket. Thanks for your loyal readership. It means the world to me.

    Drew

  10. Gene,

    Were would I be without you pal. You’ve been a loyal participant here from day one I think and have kept me going everyday with the daily reminder to “strive for excellence, nothing but your best.” Thank you, Gene.

    I can hardly wait til your visit. We’ll celebrate your successful reinvention. Way to go!

    Drew

  11. Alexandre,

    What an amazing story. The Rocky was like that in many ways. It was the size and convenience of a tab format as well as the balanced coverage we tried to publish everyday. We had an incredibly talented staff and 3 great editors and 2 terrific publishers at the helm during my tenure there. It’ so incredible that you have spread the News all the way to Brazil. Thanks for that and for being a part of the blog.

    Drew

  12. Kyle,

    Resilience is everything. Just keep going. Follow your heart. Do what you dream to do. You have a full and exciting life ahead. I can hardly wait to see how it turns out. Thanks for being here.

    Drew

  13. Sherrie,

    Thank you for such sweet comments. I always love your perspective and the insight you bring here. I so appreciate your warm kindness today. It means so much, as do you.

    Drew

  14. Jim,

    Another tip of the cap to you for being a part of the blog. So glad to know that I’m part of your morning coffee. Just don’t spill it on the keyboard. That can get pretty messy (I’m speaking from experience). Thanks for being here!

    Drew

  15. Drew–

    Congrats on 2 years for your blog!

    I was heartbroken when the Rocky was eliminated. It was a link to home, and the things I miss about Colorado. And your cartoons were a high point of the RMN. I made a couple of my former co-workers break up when I’d leave one of your golf cartoons on their desks.

    So very glad I can get my “Drew fix” here on your blog. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

  16. Just found my Drew Litton signed “Win, Lose & Drew Greatest Hits” book. Your note in it says swing for the fences to my brother & me. I am an aspiring artist now and want to draw sports (my other passion). Thanks for the laughs.

  17. Drew,

    It is hard to believe it is two years now. The time just flew! Congratulations on a fine 2-year anniversary for your blog and your independent work.

    Drew, I look at your hard work and find inspiration in your resourcefulness, perseverance, and faith. Two years ago you started with little more than your talent, a table and a blog. Now your work appears all over the United States via traditional and internet media. You branched into animation and have more ventures going than can be listed. Keep hitting those singles and doubles, and I have absolute faith one or two of those will turn into HRs!

    As one independent to another, the uncertainty is always frightening and the freedom is unlimited.

    Mike

  18. Interesting to read this and think of you all as real people. It seems that in life today things just aren’t as personal, we don’t know our neighbors, we don’t realize that the person driving that other car has a family and feelings. Drew, thanks for exposing a bit of yourself and encouraging others to do the same. Thanks for drawing and responding to us all!

  19. Dear Drew,

    I first came upon your work when I would peruse the Rocky’s website for anything sports-related, so that I could carry on conversations with my dad who still lives in my hometown of Salida. Sports was a safe topic for us – still is. Instead of going to the articles first, I made sure to seek out your latest cartoon – because that is where the real story came to life for me. I was hooked. (This all started back in the Elway-era and when the Avalanche came to Colorado.) The Rocky was my connection to all things Colorado. It enhanced the conversations between me and my dad, and brought me closer to home. I can remember, as a little grade-school girl, taking dibs on the Sunday RMN comic section before someone else got to it. I opened it wide – and with my little paper bag of penny candy from Mrs. Jackson’s candy store, I began my quest for all things funny. Nothing will ever come close, or compare, to the Rocky. Ever.

    It is hard to believe that two years have passed since the Rocky stopped the presses. As difficult as that day was – and as hard as the challenges have been – look at all you have accomplished in two years! Blogs, cartoons in other publications, animated cartoons for ESPN, and the birth of your own studio! That is so awesome – and to think, it is only the beginning!!!

    Drew, you amaze and inspire me. I have been through my own share of changes – ones that I never expected – that have had me questioning what it is I am supposed to be doing career-wise, life-wise. I even went back to school, thinking that learning another skill set was the right thing to do. I graduated almost two years ago, and haven’t really made any effort to seek a job in my “new profession.” Why? Because I am afraid of failing, yet again. Learn from my mistakes and my self-doubt. Please don’t let the fear of doing a web comic hold you back. Anything worth having takes risk. When I was working full-time and going to school full-time, I found a quote that I posted on my desk. It is still there. It reads, “Focus on where you want to go, not on what you fear.” (Tony Robbins) I’m not sure where I want to go. You are. You have wonderfully creative ideas flowing from your heart to your hand, and they need to be put down in ink. Remember your motto: “Create joy,” because you do just that, and have made this dedicated fan’s life much more enjoyable. 🙂

  20. Drew,

    Hard to believe that two years have flown by, especially when you are having fun. Your site has been one of the few sites I visit on a daily basis. Your cartoons speak more than a thousand words. I also check out your “partner in crime” Ed Stein at his site, edsteinink.com, he too speaks volumes.

  21. Drew, I join the others in thanking you for what you give us. Unfortunately I still find myself in “Churchill mode”, but it is often interrupted and made lighter by simply turning to your page.

    Though I left Denver over 22 years ago to return to Louisiana and my folks left 10 years or so ago to move back to the east coast my dad and I still checked The Rocky every day. Several times a week my dad and I commented to each other about what you had drawn on any given day. Just another fantastice way for the two fo us to have something to share in conversation. Thank you for what you did then and for what you do now in keeping that ability to share with my dad ongoing.

    On a side note, I would love to see the return of the caption contest. Of course I almost always thought I had a perfect one only to see that someone was much more creative and spot on that I was.

    Happy anniversary and I continue to wish you much personal and professional success.

  22. Drew:

    I’ve been sitting on a little fact these long and many months of commenting, but this seems like the perfect time to mention it: You United Features toons were a regular and welcome arrival for me. You see, I was a sports editor for a pair of local dailies in Oklahoma in the 90’s, and frequently published your artwork.

    Laying out 2-3 pages daily isn’t a snap, especially when you are tasked with also providing as much local coverage as possible, and doing all the writing and most of the photography. The occasional wire story and/or pic was very helpful in rounding out the section…as was a nice cartoon from some fella up in Denver.

    What made it especially helpful was that there are so few sports cartoonists out there, not to mention that most local dalies don’t have the resources to support a cartoonist period. Add to that how little space local papers reserve for national/international stories (If you want to read about the NFL, you’ll buy the Tulsa paper), and a Drew Toon was making a big statement on a small stage.

    So, a belated thanks from a guy who, 15-11 years ago, frequently made deadline by the grace of a helpful 3 x 5 piece of art that perfectly summed up the forming pennant races or recent free agent signings for his readers. Trust me, there’s several dozen others like me who appreciate you for the same reason right now.

    Keep up the excellent work!

  23. Felicia,

    I love your name by the way. It’s so elegant. Thank you for the great note. It makes me very happy when I hear that people share cartoons with friends, family and co-workers. And golf cartoons are so much fun to do. Knowing it was one of those makes me even more overjoyed.

    Drew

  24. Reggie,

    Sounds to me like you have been swinging for the fences. Way to go. Glad to know another aspiring artist. And drawing sports no less. Very cool. If there is ever anything I can do to help feel free to let me know.

    Drew

  25. Mike,

    Wow. Thanks for the incredible words of encouragement and well wishes sent my way. You have no idea how much your note means to me. I really, really appreciate it. We free agents have to stick together you know. I do love the freedom. I’m getting to fulfill a lifelong dream of being able to go to work each day in shorts and a Hawaiian shirt.

    So it’s all good. Now if I could just get used to the High Wire without the Net.

    Drew

  26. Sherri,

    You’re such a gem. I’ve always believed in just being myself. I owe all of you so much gratitude for what you do for me. I’m glad we can come here to talk like this. We’re all in this together.

    Drew

  27. Oh Peg,

    You are so amazing. What a sweet gentle heart you have. Your words brought tears to my eyes. I’m so thankful you friended me on facebook and that we are getting to know each other. You really are an inspiration to me. You are such a great writer too. So here’s a thought. If I promise to get the web comic up you have to promise to pursue your writing more. Deal? good. Because I can’t wait to show up at your book signing.

    Drew

  28. WM,

    Thanks for all of the great insight you bring to the site. Cool to know that you spend time over at Ed’s place as well. His site is really great and I encourage everyone to check it out at http://www.edsteinink.com

    drew

  29. SJR,

    Thanks for the note. I’m inspired by so many artists who remain “indie”. Guys like Eric Powell who produces the comic/graphic novel Goon and singer songwriter Roger Clyne and his band the Peacemakers remain “indie”. It’s really the only way you can have complete sovereignty over your own work. I appreciate your encouragement.

    Drew

  30. Michael,

    One of the reasons I got into drawing comics was because of my grandfather. When I was a boy he would read me the Sunday funnies while I sat on his knee. I thought anything that can bridge the age gap of some 60 years and bring two people together like that was something I wanted to be a part of. so your note really hit home with me. Peg’s note was like that as well. Thank you so much for sharing that.

    give my best to your father for me.

    Drew

  31. Badger,

    You’ve been holding out on me, pal. Your note made me laugh. I had no idea. Glad to know that you thought enough of the work then to run it and enough of it still to continue to follow it here. That is just too funny. It was always a dream that somehow my work would help to convince sports editors across the country to hire other sports cartoonists to draw locally for them. I felt like the late great Willard Mullin’s legacy needed to carry on in American newspapers. But alas, those of us in the business didn’t see the iceberg until it was too late. Now papers are dumping their editorial cartoonists at an alarming rate.

    Anyway, great comments, Badger. As always.

    Drew

  32. Drew,

    Those are the kindest words I’ve heard in a long time. Thank you. I feel the same way. You’ve got a deal, okay? I will, if you will. Have a beautiful day!

    Peg

  33. Drew,

    Thank you for this blog, brings a smile to my face everyday that I visit. I use to love reading the Rocky growing up in a small town in western colorado in the 1980’s, and seeing what you would draw. I joined the Navy and went around and the world so I missed most of your drawings of the 90’s, I am still away from home and now live in Seattle (thank goodness for the internet)I started to read the Rocky again earlier in the decade. When the Rocky closed I felt that I lost a friend for the second time.

    One of my favorite drawings that I saw in the Rocky happend during, as you called it the slow time of February of 1989, during the high school state wrestling. My wife lets me travel each year to the Colorado high school state wrestling championship and each year I think about that drawing. Thank you for all you do and the memories you have provided

  34. Hi Drew,

    Wow, time flies….2 years. I do miss the Rocky, but it would have been much worse if I hadn’t found your blog. I’ve been enjoying your drawings for more years than I can remember, they were one the best things about the Rocky. I’ve never been a fan of the Post, and when they didn’t pick up your cartoon it just reinforced my opinion of it.

    Your cartoons have always been able to capture the joy, the sorrow, the humanity of sports. In one frame you capture the essence of what you want to say. I truly enjoy your cartoons and have some posted on my cubical walls (my favorites)–and post new ones outside my door…my co-workers have gotten in the habit of coming by and reading them.

    Anyway, I just want to say, Congratulations on your second year, and best wishes and continued success in the future; and thank you for some wonderful memories of the world of sports!

    CJ

    (a fan for life)

  35. Jim,

    Thanks for the kind note. I didn’t venture out to the state wrestling tournament as much as I would have liked but I’m sure glad I did in 1989.

    I’d say I’d send you the original but I have no idea where it might be.

  36. CJ,

    The highest compliment you can pay any cartoonist is tell them that you have their cartoons hanging up in your cubicle at work. Or the refrigerator at home. Thank you, for helping to make my day!

  37. As a twenty three year old Graphic Design/Journalism student who grew up along the front range, it’d been my dream to work as a layout designer for the Rocky. While I was away on a two year mission for my church I found out my dream would be a dream deferred, I was happy to find out that Drew was still around when I got back though. Hopefully when I graduate there will still papers to work for…

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