"Comics are hard!" meta-comics. You know the ones. A character says "Time to make comics!", super hyped-up, and the next panel is the dude looking resigned over how hard it is. It's one of the most recurrent jokes I've seen around here and it's past time we retire it -- especially considering I've yet to see anyone doing something particularly clever with this set-up.
Personally, I think this joke's a bit rote -- too meta, too easy --, but I figure it could work if they could answer why it's so hard to make a comic, and go on about the specifics. From all the stuff listed here so far, I think there's enough material here to make it work. Nearly every complication is listed here, so good luck trying to dodge every bullet!
Fantasized self-inserts. I don't mind self-inserts, but I really don't like those that serve nothing but to show-off how awesome, snappy, and/or (worst of all) "unique" the artist is. Most of the ones that work tend to downplay the self-insertion value a lot, valuing a good joke over any sort of personal commentary, allowing themselves to be more creative with their self-insertion. Those that don't tend to do absolutely nothing with the medium other than to supposedly show off the author's personality first and foremost. It's such a wasteful turn-off.
I particularly don't know how to fix this one, because it's too closely related to the way someone expresses his ideas and thoughts. However, I'd say the best way is to create some sort of believable in-between you and fiction when making a character to represent yourself. If it's too you, then it might come across as being too dry unless you're capable of coming up with new, fun stuff every day that's easy to translate into comics.
If it's too fiction, then it might come across as fake and overly fantasized. The choice of making him/her the hottest shit around may be a bit too tempting to pass -- or even, they may very well not be aware they're allowing it all to happen. They just keep adding more and more stuff without realizing they're doing more harm than good.
If it's to deliver your own perspective on things, I think taking an in-between point of view's the best way. It allows you to say whatever's on your head but from a point of view fully creative while still tethered to reality. Creativity's found on limitations, and I don't think going wild on wish fulfillment helps in shaping ideas.
