Hi. I'm Mack Williams, award winning editorial cartoonist of The Red & Black. Many of you ask me daily, "Mack! Will you go out with me?" To which I respond, "No, you are a 32 year old man!" Also, many of you ask me "Mack! How do you make such swingin' editorial cartoons everyday?" Well, my friends, here, at long last, is the answer to your question!

When I wake up in the morning, I check outside my door for my daily newspapers. Then, while eating a bowl of Apple Jacks (They don't taste like apples!) I read, cover to cover, USA Today, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The New York Times, The Red & Black, The Savannah Morning News, The Blackshear Times, and of course, Il Manifesto. After reading these newspapers, I begin to think to myself "Which of these news stories can I best represent in cartoon form?" Using my sketchbook, I start to layout and brainstorm on several ideas. I usually sketch anywhere from 12 to 15 pages a day, just fleshing out my ideas.

At 12:30, I throw a couple of Hot Pockets (There are 13 different varieties!) in the microwave, and relax while I watch The Young & The Restless...That Victor Newman is one suave cat! After the show, I take my 3 or 4 best ideas and begin to get them down on paper. Using a Eberhard Faber DESIGN Drawing 3800 HB pencil on 18" x 24" #4 Bristol Illustration board, I usually draw 3 different ideas for the day.

Once I'm through penciling the piece, I letter the word balloons. I first lay out the words with a Non-Photo Blue sketching pencil before I go over them in ink. When I am lettering in ink, I prefer to use a Pilot Precise V5 rolling ball pen, for that extra smooth line. With the lettering complete, I can now begin on the inking. This is the most delicate part of the operation. I prefer to use a Rapid-o-Graph technical pen, with a .5 mm tip for the detail work, and a .66 mm tip for the outline, and such. For large areas of black, I use a #5 Sable brush. Any errors or such are easily removed with a little white acrylic paint. After giving the drawing time to dry, I use a kneaded rubber eraser to get rid of the leftover pencil marks.

I go through this process for two or three cartoons every day, then pack them in a waterproof art portfolio, and carry them to The Red & Black offices. When I arrive, I usually wait about an hour and a half in the reception area, before the editors will see me. When they finally have time to talk to me, I present my work...which they promptly reject. After explaining why they hate the cartoons I've done, the editors give me their idea, and tell me exactly how they want it drawn.

Since I left my art supplies at home, I grab a sheet of typing paper from the cabinet above the computer printer, and a pencil from a Copy editor's desk to draw the cartoon. There's no pencil sharpener around, so if I break the point, I usually sharpen it with my teeth and finger nails. Then, using a Sharpie marker I found in someone's desk drawer, I ink and letter the cartoon before finally turning it in to my editors.

Well, there you have it! Now you know all the work that goes into being an award-winning editorial cartoonist. I know it may sound like a lot of work, but it is well worth it when I get to see the smiles on every one of your faces as you read about Freddy and Mike's latest misadventures!

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