Discarding my webcomic buffer?

[TheThoughtfulBoxful]

Discard (verb)

1. get rid of (someone or something) as no longer useful or desirable.

I had managed to create the first 10 pages of my webcomic in like, 5 weeks. It took a lot out of me and because of it, I was forced to break away from my project in order to reduce screen time and "come back to myself."

Now that I'm refreshed and ready to get back to work, I've discovered that the pages I made no longer line up with where I want to take my story. I don't hate the pages (I spent soo much time working on them ), but they just don't work for my comic anymore.

I really want to start from scratch, but at the same time it feels like I'm throwing away so much progress I'll never get back.

What do I do...?

[thekinginthesun]

Tough. I think I'd start over, because they don't serve their purpose anymore. It didn't go to waste, anyway. You can probably look at them and point out things you're better at today (art and story-wise). Anyway can't you keep at least some of the panels? Maybe then you wouldn't have to redo EVERYTHING.

[TheThoughtfulBoxful]

Thanks for the advice! I'll see what I can salvage...

[Requiem]

I understand that feeling. With one of my comics I have completely altered the story from where I initially thought it would end up, because I have taken so long to complete it, but I believe it is for the better.

Ideally when I finished the story I will go back and update the previous bits to make everything make more sense, not to mention update the artwork since I have improved a lot since it's initial creation.

With your work, I would say push forward and potentially go back to update the previous entries at some point.

[IdiotWithPencil]

don't discard them, try salvaging them and edit them/cannibalise them so that they do follow the story

[punkarsenic]

discard. you still have time now to turn the story where you want it to go, absolutely take that opportunity. if you can swing it that way w the pages youve made, all the better, do that, but its better to start from scratch with the story you want than to carry on with one youve moved on from.

the ten pages can be used as a promotional pilot maybe, or bonus patreon content - or just portfolio fodder!

[nikaalexandra]

i've been there, and that sucks. i agree with everyone above: you should keep them, but they don't have to be part of your primary storyline. keep them as a fun extra for people who subscribe to your patreon, for example!

[Rogerall]

you do a lot of art week for page 10, but I even the non-color manga is used in black and white

I already make it easier

[Michelle]

I say that if they don't improve your comic, scrap them. I agree with others who suggest you can offer them as a bonus content for fans down the line. But it's not worth the time and effort to make something fit when it just doesn't.

When I started my comic, I was doing it traditionally; I got about 6 pages sketched out before I realized it's way more efficient time/money-wise to do it digital. It was a little annoying having to re-draw those pages, but they also looked a whole lot better because I was coming back to them with fresh eyes and a better understanding of my comic.

An important part of doing sequential art is being ok with throwing stuff out when it doesn't work. Think of the whole picture, rather than the time spent on bits and pieces. That time isn't truly wasted if it brought you closer to what you really want!

[agentfink]

What's your medium? If it's digital, maybe you can reuse some panels or at least the composition and redraw. It already sounds like you're ready to scrap 'em because they don't fit with your new direction.

It's okay to start over if something doesn't work. That goes for story or art for pages.

[TheThoughtfulBoxful]

Thank you everyone for your responses! I'm feeling better about starting fresh now.

@agentfink I work completely digital. I'll see what I can reuse; otherwise, I'll let them drift among my other files