Neopia's economy runs on a little thing called supply and demand. This is what makes paintbrushes and such so expensive, not that your fellow Neopians are "greedy little bullies". TNT only releases a certain amount of an item, but the price is determined by us. Let's take an Island Paint Brush for our purposes. The only way to get one of these is through random events, or, if you're lucky, freebies. So, there aren't that many. Let's just use the fictional number of "100". Now, all those Island pets are quite pretty. So you want one. So does your best friend. And your guild. And a large part of Neopia...

While it is true that most of us have a general idea of the basic Neomailing etiquette and know how to draft a Neomail to convey our message across to the other party, writing it in an effective way and making it work for you is another matter altogether. Why the big fuss over writing effective Neomails? Well, if you are able to write Neomails effectively, there are actually several advantages to be enjoyed. Not only does it enhance your chances of making a successful trade, it also helps to increase your credibility as a professional trader because you are able to communicate your ideas to others...

Inspiration falls lightly upon the prepared mind like gentle autumn leaves (and not like Extreme Potato Counter missiles unless you are a very unlucky person). To create a great comic, we must be prepared. One obvious and therefore often overlooked way to prepare is to spend some time reading comics. The past issues of the NT are a veritable treasure chest of comics. Good comics, and great comics. Read them, ponder them, absorb them. Bookmark your favourites so that when you come to write your own you can check back...