​Balancing creativity and parenting is no easy task, and Richy K Chandler explores the challenges in When Are You Going To Get A Proper Job?, the new graphic novel from Singing Dragon. Part autobiographical story and part self help book, it’s a fantastic mix of enjoyable and engaging story and genuinely useful advice on making the most of your time if you’re an artist or creative. So take a look and see if it inspires your inner muse!

Publisher: Singing Dragon
Writer: Richy K Chandler
Artist: Richy K Chandler
Price: £11.99 from the Singing Dragon web store

Tariq is a cartoonist who is struggling to balance his life as an artist with that of being a father. So along with the help (and hindrance) of his flaming muse, Malcolm, he attempts to redress the balances and in doing so chronicles his time balancing both parts of his life. He does this via a mix of ongoing slice of life style stories which see him struggle through school pick ups, tight deadlines, his wife working full time, as well as balancing his creative concerns with commercial necessity. But also through a series of self help infographics that break down how he goes about rectifying these problems and offering sage like wisdom to anyone in a similar place.

Chandler’s art style throughout is a mixed bag, and ranges from a quite simplistic, almost child like cartoon style which he uses for the main part, and then a more traditional, almost vintage, pen and ink cartoon style for the infographics. The colours are light and airy which gives it a really lush and bright tone to the story and stops it feeling too gloomy. While he also uses a slightly more painted/mixed media style for some later pages, which breaks up the flow and again helps make the story feel more diverse and enjoyable – as does the presence of Malcolm the Muse, whose flame like musings which make for a great narrative device.