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What does it really take to build a creative career that lasts for decades? In this episode of Drip, Trickle, Flow, Flood, we sit down with award-winning cartoonist Dave Coverly, creator of the internationally syndicated comic panel Speed Bump. Dave shares how he went from years of rejection letters to syndication, why developing your own creative voice takes time, and how he built multiple income streams through cartoons, books, greeting cards, illustration, and licensing. We also talk about the realities of making money as a creative, handling criticism, navigating social media, and why loving the work itself may be one of the biggest advantages you can have.
Dave also talks about his upcoming book, My Support Dog Ate My Comfort Food, a collection of his best dog cartoons from the past decade, coming in October.
For artists, writers, freelancers, and anyone trying to turn creativity into a sustainable career, Dave’s story is a reminder that success rarely happens overnight. It’s built one idea, opportunity, rejection, connection, and income stream at a time.
1. Persistence matters more than an overnight breakthrough.
Dave spent roughly eight to ten years pursuing syndication before Speed Bump was picked up. Instead of hiding his rejection letters, he hung them above his drawing table as motivation to keep submitting. His career is a great example of what can happen when you stay in the game long enough for preparation and opportunity to meet.
2. Your creative voice is something you develop through doing the work.
Early in a creative career, it’s natural to be influenced by the people whose work you admire. Dave explains that eventually something shifts: you stop imagining someone else’s version of the work and begin seeing your own style in your head. You can’t shortcut that process. You have to create enough work to discover what your work actually looks and sounds like.
3. A sustainable creative career often needs multiple income streams.
Speed Bump became the anchor of Dave’s career, but it isn’t his only source of income. Over the years, his cartoons have expanded into books, greeting cards, children’s books, licensing, illustration, and other opportunities. One of his smartest observations is that creators should look for ways their existing work can continue generating revenue without having to create something brand new every time.
4. Build relationships with curiosity, not an agenda.
Throughout his career, Dave reached out to cartoonists he admired to learn from them. Those connections weren’t about asking someone for a job or an introduction. They started with genuine admiration and curiosity. That approach helped him learn the business of cartooning, find mentors, build friendships, and eventually become someone who can offer the same encouragement to younger artists.
5. Make the work for yourself first.
One of the most important pieces of advice Dave received early in his career was to make himself laugh rather than trying to predict what everyone else would find funny. After decades of creating Speed Bump, he knows he won’t hit a home run every day. The job is to keep creating, meet the deadline, trust your voice, and come back tomorrow to do it again.
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