5 things I learned in 2015

[el_fury]

I typically don't share my comics on the Forums, but I felt like sharing this one and hopefully inspiring some other artists out there! 2015 was a big year for me. I finally bit the bullet and left my full-time job to focus more time on my comics. I've learned a lot in the process and I thought I'd share them with y'all :]

5 things I learned in 2015

Please share any lessons you learned last year! And general discussion about starting a career in comics is welcome as well.

[Miniaome]

This year was important to me career wise too. I was having trouble believing in myself and my work but I think I'm getting a hang of it and slowly embrace what I'm good at and stop being someone I'm not :o
So Here's my list:
1- Love Is hard but sometimes you find it right where you never expected it to bee
2-Love who you are
3- Take what you are and use it to your advantage
4- don't try to be who you're not, because you're not even going to do that right
5- the most valuable thing about yourself is you, your whole existence
6- Believe and love your work
7- be proud of your work, even if it isn't great because in the end it's part of who you are
8- cats are awesome

I learned more than 5 XD sorry , but yeah I think it was an important year for me, (or even important last 4 months! XD)

Thank you for sharing your comic too, I like your style and your comics made me laugh :3
I subscribed btw ^^

[nickysoh]

amazing strip and writeup! i think its always good to go for a retreat and reflect on the things that happen every year and then set new goals. That was what i learned when i was in the finance industry.

I learned a lot too in 2015 especially in Nov and Dec which is when i started posting my webcomics. mostly technical stuff and things related to webcomic which was amazing. I also learn alot of stuff spiritually in terms of relationship and most of all, i learned more about myself. lets all work hard in 2016 and strive for the better?!

[Aspie_Gamer]

5 things I learned

1. If you can commit to something you deem "hard", you can apply that same logic to other things you find daunting.

2. Don't get sucked up in dumb internet drama. This leads to my next thing I learned in 2015

3. If the lows are lower than the highs are high, its time to quit whatever it is you are doing

4. There is nothing wrong with taking baby steps towards your goal. There is also nothing wrong with NOT updating three times a week starting out until you get either a buffer or a drawing rhythm down.

5. Networking with like minded individuals like here on Tapastic is always worth a shot.

[kylemiller1985]

• Build a buffer - Having comics done well before your publishing schedule frees up your brain to think of more things. I'm already done through till April 2016. Thinking about doing an 18 page book because I don't have to stress on what to do this week.
• Social media engagement is crucial - It's one thing to have a Twitter/Facebook and post to all your friends when your comic is ready, but you need to get out there. Go through that friends page who is crazy about your work, see who else they follow, start following them, reply to other peoples posts and all of a sudden your social media is on fire and your face is melting with the awesome contained within. There are also feedback tools available in social media, use them.
• Don't devalue your work - It's tempting to think that your doing something wrong when you see the worst comics with hundreds and thousands of followers, but you don't know what they did to get there. Don't sell your comic or cheapen it just to get it out there for the sake of one extra follower.
• Watch the creators you admire closely - Ask them questions, watch their stats, and imitate their methods - that is as long as they are someone you admire.

[el_fury]

Omg badass! Good job on having comics for the next four months. I try to build a buffer, but never get more than one comic queued, and actually post late more than I should >_> Definitely start a new project! I would!

[el_fury]

Grats on the new webcomic! I'm gonna start a new one this year too. It's scary and exciting.

Also love that you put in some personal/spiritual lessons!

Definitely,let's kick ass in 2016

[el_fury]

Yeah, I like #3. I almost added a little footnote to the section on criticism about that. If you're getting more bad than good out of something, then you probably need to rethink what you're doing.

Also love #1. Thanks for sharing!

[winglesscomic]

i did the same thing and left my job too, cheers for NEET life
so here's 5 things i learned as well

1) even though i started hating my job and quit to work on my comic, i think i hate being poor even more
2) pretending to give a shit about social media has actually helped me and the reach of my comic
3) my depression will never be cured and focusing 100% on my comic hasn't changed this
4) reaching out to other artists instead of pouting about how much better they are than you produces expected results of bettering oneself
5) i still fucking hate drawing trees

[kylemiller1985]

It's not as hard as it sounds. The most important thing is to know how to say okay, this is good enough. I have put a time limit on how long I will spend on a comic strip, and so sometimes it doesn't turn out the best. In the grand scheme of things, that is okay with me because I am then free to move on to the next page and offer something new to my readers.

[SpavVy]

5 things I learned in early 2015

1. Storyboarding is a pain in the ass but super important.
2. People will use you no matter how much they pretend to care.
3. I fucking hate writing scripts.
4. People get offended over the dumbest shit. Seriously it's like 2015 was the year people decided to get so overly sensitive.
5. I finally have perspective figured out.

[kambreapratt]

Okay
1. Main Stream publishing is a very trick business
2. Computer equipment all dying at once is a bad thing and it DOES affect update frequency.
3. If you want something, ask! If the answer is "No" you aren't out anything.
4. If someone tells you "No" try harder. There are other ways around.
5. Don't put all your eggs in one basket!

Extras
6. Comics do NOT pay well (I'm talking main stream too) Ad revenue IS DOWN no matter what other places say.
7. Everything can be bought and faked. You shouldn't do it, but people do. Don't let it discourage you that someone is doing "so well" because it doesn't mean they truly are.
8. Puppies are cute but a pain in the butt and cats are easier to take care of (since we now have both)

[goenn]

1. Strive to improve but don't burn yourself out,,,
2. Relieve stress or else it'll come back to you as super realistic dreams!
3. Rest often but don't slack off!
4. Life can kinda suck at times but don't ever give up!
5. Friends are complicated ^^;;;

[ErithEl]

1. There will always be people who are popular in what they do for reasons you cannot fathom. Don't compare yourself to them.
2. I look so much better with short hair.
3. Q&A's are awesome and really fun to do!
4. Some days it's OK not to work on anything creative. Some days just the thought of drawing is too exhausting, and it's OK to actually take the day off from it without feeling guilty.
5. Awful/rude/condescending/creepy customers at work are just really funny "can-you-believe-this-happened" type stories to vent about later on.

Bonus: The greatest thing I learned in 2015 was that...the year went really, REALLY fast and apparently it's already 2016! O_O

[el_fury]

Haha, I like #1. I can be bitchy and judgmental about popular comics I don't like. Then when people started criticizing my stuff, I was like "oh, I guess I'm probably that person to someone else". Now I have a "you do you" attitude about it and try to learn from what they're doing right, because obviously did something smart to get where they are.

[el_fury]

Congrats on 5! That shit is hard.

[Shanny8]

I can def agree with 5 & 6.

[joannekwan]

1. Starting a webcomic (let alone 3) is tough but rewarding.
2. Working on passion projects really puts other things into perspective.
3. Making internet friends is fun!
4. Having an outlet for stress is a must.
5. Indulge yourself once in a while!

[Shanny8]

Things I learned from last year...

1) The HATE is real. Even though there are those who can critique, some envy what you're trying to do and will try to make you doubt your abilities or skill level. Ignore those people- even if your skill level isnt quite where it needs to be, if you're a true student of art & learning, you'll get to where you need to be eventually. Like another post stated- you do you.

2) Art is hard- especially on the business/financial side. I've had to put off certain moves artwise, coz finances became tight.

3) You're never too old to learn- I feel great putting aside my fears & biases in learning how to use a Wacom tablet, Manga Studio(digital inks- still learning), and taking on the elephant in my room known as digital coloring. Trying to keep up the desire to learn as much as I can!

4) Dont self impose a deadline or timetable if you dont have to- it's okay to have a deadline; it helps get things done, but dont put unrealistic pressure on yourself. Just do what you can do, and be patient...it all works itself out in the end.

5) Sleep is a beautiful thing- get some when you have the chance!

[jessicasurline]

1. Critiques - Learning to have thick skin with comments is one thing but the true art of taking a critique is realizing that even harsh comments have a silver lining. I try to think of it this way: the person felt it was important enough to take time out of their day to analyze your work and make a list of potential improvements. They may not have said it the most eloquently but the point is they cared to help you get better. After all, if we were perfect this would all be boring.

2. Balancing time - This I have always struggled with but making time for both work and play is crucial. It is hard to get stuff done if you are worked to the bone but it is also hard to have fun if there is too much to get done by a deadline. I have made a calendar for my art so I can keep track of progress and what is coming up. This way I can make time to relax but still keep my work on track.

3. Keep Curious - Curiosity is a double edged sword sometimes. It is healthy to keep inquisitive about life and always learning. Though the knowledge can be a hard pill to swallow sometimes. On the other hand though, by braving the unknown in search of the new you can find amazing things! I learned so many new techniques and limits to using Copic Markers. Not to mention more about the direction I want my life to go and what questions I will need to look into to get there.

4. Gut Instinct - Simply if it feels wrong or if makes you truly unhappy it is time to find a way to change it or leave the situation. I'm not talking about relationships here (though same rule would apply). I'm talking about other life situations. If I find myself wanting to cry at work despite everyone telling me its a good job, something at my core is rejecting the situation. When the gut says this isn't working, sometimes its worth it to go with self preservation over money and time. I'm poor as all hell now (just like majority of my generation) but I was never really rich anyway so why sacrifice myself when I could be working towards my real goals in life.

5. Flexible - Being mentally prepared for change is key. Nothing is as stable as you might think and life always has a surprise waiting just ahead. So don't stress out about things not going exactly as you plan because there are happy accidents. This applies heavily with traditional art I have found! Keeping flexible means you can also stretch yourself by trying more things than you might believe you can get done. Some times you can surprise yourself. Just be vigilant in what is going on and you might find yourself moving through potentially hard situations like water.