Day Jobs and How They Show Up in Your Work

[DanielRKM]

@noenoh That sucks. If you end up posting your stuff, drop a link. I'd love to check it out (regardless of its up to your standards).
I am constantly bummed that I'm not putting out my best work (I started my book a few years ago but just started posting in October- so my style has progressed a lot but my current posts don't reflect it yet). I still dig my story (and can't wait for it to catch up to where I'm at as an artist today). I just wish it was up to my current standards. But if you post anything, let us know.

[nathanKmcwilliams]

I'm a janitor. It will not show up in my work XD no one wants to see that.

[HippieGhost]

I am EMT on the front lines of covid, so... I go through a lot. I think a lot of the turmoil I've gone through shows up in the traumas that my character's experience, but like most EMT's I used humor to get through it, and that dry humor shows up a lot in my work.

Before that, I worked in a small mom and pop deli, and I used to deal with a lot of... interesting customers. My story The Shopkeeper actually focuses on a character stuck in retail hell, so you can see a lot of that in what they experience.

They're all part of The Aphuanian Tales, which you can find below.

The Aphuanian Tales | Tapas

[toohalloo]

I used to be a labour temp, and then a line cook for a couple years - I think the kind of carefree nonsense talk in the back / out in the field, as it were, leaks into my works whether I want it to or not! A lot of back-and-forth banter, casual refs, but without the homophobia and misogyny because I don't want to portray that in any work.

Currently, I'm a legal assistant, so I work a lot with documents to put together the full story of a case. I was already using a lot of epistolary storytelling in my non-comic work, but now I know how to use a copier and write correspondence, and that definitely shows up in my work both as a visual artist and comic writer.

Intergalactic Hockey League | Tapas

[Caro]

former janitor here! and same!!! I don’t think I’ve put it in any of my comics except for one reeeeallly early on which was a short ten page lil horror comic about a night janitor working at a weird empty call center.

I feel like someone could spin janitorial work into something neat though but uhhh its not gonna be me!!!

[crowstories]

Oh wow, I had no idea! Thank you for doing what you do.

[crowstories]

I'm a copywriter and website manager, so I guess the writing would be the most relevant thing, though it's a pretty different kind of writing. General problem solving and the ability to meet deadlines also helps.

[HippieGhost]

Thanks. It's a lot but I get through it My hope is to eventually do enough with my writing that I can do that full-time, though honestly even just one person checking out my stuff is enough to make my day.

[snowy]

Male nurse. Dropped a character called Nurse Tony in my second arc.
Here I am, starting the night shift, cleaning up the mess the temp left.

[HippieGhost]

That is such a mood.

and this is a sentence that will drive the character length up to twenty

[pilot-obvious]

I am a multimedia specialist for a psychotherapist entrepreneur. I primarily edit videos, photos, and create graphic designs/motion graphics.

I feel like some of the psychology stuff we've talked about will make an appearance later on in the story. Also, the mentality that some of the psychotherapists I work with have is just very thoughtful. I don't really know how to describe it, but they make me think about the world and my purpose, goals, impact, etc.

On the technical side, this job has opened me up to a world of copyright free resources that I use. I've definitely yoinked a few textures from work to use in my art. Also, this job has helped me become more mindful of social media. and how to use it better. To people who buy their likes, retweets, and followers... I see you! Stop that!

[nathanKmcwilliams]

I worked janitorial in a hospital for a few years. We always complained about the nightshift messing stuff up. It's a vicious cycle XD

[snowy]

Nightshift in a hospital is literally about cleaning shit up. Our janitors love me. They bring me homemade cookies. So there.

[Kaydreamer]

My day job is as a singing teacher working between a few state high schools in my area. Before that I was a full classroom music teacher and music program coordinator, but that was exhausting so I scaled back to what I'm doing now.

The way my inclinations as a teacher show through my writing is probably through a positive focus on growth mindset as a positive trait in my characters. I'm constantly pushing my students to change the words "I can't" into "I can't - YET" so they internalise the lesson that if you practice something, over time you will improve at it. It'll be subtle, but my characters tend to reflect that.

Also, most of my main cast can play a musical instrument and/or sing in some capacity. I just can't resist.

[Kirara312]

My day is food prep at a school. It doesn't really through my work except the school part maybe.

[jacintolopeztr95]

Well, under a capitalist regime they also underpay...

[Comic.Kikikora]

I recently asked to either take paycut or leave in my day job ... I chose to stay because I need the stable income ... But it really damage me mentally ...

At the same time, my comic is getting less sub growth, likes & comments ...

I am very depressed these 2 months

[DanielRKM]

@Comic.Kikikora That's rough. I was worried the whole "day-job" topic would be triggering for reasons like this. I hope you find the time and resources to help you where you need it. It's so hard not to judge ourselves (harshly) based on our jobs/pay or by how much gratification we get from others. For the first 3 months of posting my comic, I had at least 3 nights a week where, after putting my kids to bed, I would curl up in the fetal position and agonize as to why my comic couldn't get followers. It felt like no one cared, and it sucked (it still does sometimes). Dropping my work in the void. Not seeing people reach back.
But the more I see the progress in my art/storytelling, the more motivated I am to keep going. After all, I made my book for me and my kids first. I didn't grow up in a world that valued people who were different or differently abled. I wanted my kids to have a guidebook (with some humor, action, and adventure thrown in). So yeah, I'd love others to connect with my work, but I know I'd make this book regardless, even with no audience. It's my own self help.
Also, your numbers beat mine by thousands of percents. Your feelings are valid, but you're doing it. I hope you keep going (but you take care of you first).
Your book looks to have a lot of heart and that's awesome. I can't wait to find the time to sift through it more thoroughly.

[Iridium]

My daily jobs will be featured in the form of agriculture and other more ancient occupations, I think. Since Menmar is kinda set on an Ancient Times to Early Middle Ages sort of period, working classes are far more common and bound to appear. Also, the main character, Nadhine, is a blacksmith, so she will sometimes be depicted forging new toys xD

Menmar (EN) | Tapas

Menmar (PTBR) | Tapas

[ReneVergence]

I'm still a student and my MC doesn't live a very typical life, so there isn't much of a chance for that to translate over except for some friend and mentor relationships.

I'd say dealing with mental health more so carries over because we've both got some pretty sucky issues. His story is kind of therapeutic for me since its making me look at my own problems and appreciate some of the more healthy and supportive relationships in my life more.

Okay, I'll stop now since this is turning into a weird life journal dealio.

Here's the link if you're curious.

Kingdom Come | Tapas