Do you have someone to talk to about your story/comic?

[VibrantFox]

there's honestly only two discord servers that i've been active in and even then it's just the qotd for one and the other got nerfed due to drama that blew up unexpectedly so that's become a new fear of mine as well thinking about it... but the rest are game related or from the art sites i'm on and thats just to keep up with news, updates or events. i'd like to get the chance to join smaller servers but i've grown incredibly picky about the company i keep so i'd probably be doing at least a bit of vetting before hopping in if that makes any sense

meanwhile with work i'm in retail so like there's a possibility i cross paths with folks who have similar interests but havent really gotten to know fellow artists. at most i've gotten fellow gamers, anime fans and someone doing fashion design but that's about it. it's still cool getting to talk about interests outside of art stuff coz honestly it's good getting out of the creating box and doing other stuff but yet to meet and stay connected with folks i could talk shop with which is why i'm looking to touch grass besides just work days and i'm overdue for a visit to the local library ^^;;

[Lensing]

Thank you for all your replies. It´s really interesting to hear your perspectives on
that topic.

Thank you for the offers, I tried discord several times, I find it really overwhelming,
that´s a platform which didn´t work for me at all.

I have to add that I do have people to talk to about art in general. I have an offline
illustrator group. I also have my family which I collaborate with on comic projects.
And I can also have a general chat with friends and family about my art classes
and art in general when it doesn´t get too nerdy.

It´s hard to find people to talk to about my passion project because even though
it´s funny & cartoony has adult themes. But maybe that means that I have to
hire an editor to give me feedback at some point.

[ButterflyEmpress]

Nope. My lifelong chronic embarrassment prevents me from sharing with anyone in real life. My mom and sister likes that cutesy anime girls I used to post to Instagram, but that's about it. I don't share any stories I have. They're all weird and niche. In addition to embarrassment, I don't like it when family insists that I profit off my art. Not that I don't want money, it's just impossible.

Online, other creators are busy with their own projects, so it's 50/50 whether or not I'll get any feedback or advice. Not everyone is good at critiquing, I know I'm not. And I just have difficulty keeping up with a social life in general so I don't have any true friends.

Whenever I need any help with my stories, it's easier to look up various articles, videos and forum threads related to them.

[ShidoDraws]

there's also the bit of advice i'd seen somewhere that was like even if you do make that comic or cartoon or whatever there's also the chance it doesnt happen or maybe not how you planned and there isn't really any gaining interest in those projects if you don't talk about them and show that passion so it's like idk...ive seen community formed and been a part of it so to fall out of it and now be struggling to get back in feels painful

Yeah, communities are tricky, and I've had my share of nonsensical social media dramas that some people try to rope me into. At one point, a subreddit almost got "cancelled" for something the moderators never did, since then I steer cleared of reddit and interact with people minimally on social media. Basically, I've concluded that social media "fame" isn't for me. xD

I would say, the Tapas forum is the only place I feel comfortable talking to people. It has helped me talk with people in real life. So, if I say something weird in English, just know I'm thinking about that grammar for the next three days. Lmao

[VibrantFox]

Yeah, communities are tricky, and I've had my share of nonsensical social media dramas that some people try to rope me into. At one point, a subreddit almost got "cancelled" for something the moderators never did, since then I steer cleared of reddit and interact with people minimally on social media. Basically, I've concluded that social media "fame" isn't for me. xD

what's interesting is the only "drama" i or mutuals of mine ever faced that weren't interpersonal was just blatant racism and i can maybe think of one instance where someone had made an assumption of me based on an interaction but rather than reach out and ask they just vague-tweeted about it and i hadnt found out till much later

but aside from those instances i've had a pretty good time with social media and i'd been pretty active in art tags and drawing challenges but what took me out was more burnout than anything. so now that i've finally recovered some and have the motivation and energy it's finding those communities again.

i will admit the forums have been the most...comfortable environment even it's mostly due to how long i've been here but it doesn't mean things dont feel prickly when certain topics come up so i've found myself drifting. but i can get the stresses when it comes to language barriers even if i'm a native english speaker myself; but i hate to hassle folks since even i make mistakes so i cant imagine faulting someone for that. i'll drop paragraphs of text in a reply and then immediately start questioning if i've gotten a point across clearly so i can only imagine the added layer of stress ^^;

[Glofernwolfe]

Yes, my partner. And she's very supportive.

[applebun]

Unfortunately for all the people around me, I yap about my comic to everyone. I have a bunch of friends who actually listen, and I swear at this point they know all the spoilers. The comic also used to be a collab, so there’s my former collab partner as well who actually knows the most spoilers.
The only person I never talk to about my comic is my mom. She’s not allowed to read it and I never tell her anything about it. I love my mom, but I can definitely live without the “why do you write about such things?” type of comments she’d make if I let her read my series. (It’s pretty dark, and she doesn’t appreciate that, which I’ve known ever since she caught me reading The Promised Neverland as a teen and completely freaked out about how I supposedly “enjoyed looking at dead children’s bodies”.)

[Inspector_Spinda]

No one really has given my advice for the story. But I have gotten some artistically since I have a lot of artist friends more talented than me but not so many writerly inclined

[MarvinDziamski]

I don't realy. I have this very big fantasy world with so much lore i could talk for hours.
But i am it's only "fan". Nobody to ask me: How did you come up with...? Who is your favorite character? Who is stronger ... or ...?
And i build in so many references that pay off later, little easter eggs and stuff.
It's sad thinking about my world that there is no one discussing it, having theories or expectations.

[Lensing]

That´s probably the best stories, the ones that you can´t tell your parents about
seriously

[Lensing]

Maybe one day.
My brother wrote a book and also drew pictures of the characters,
he created a little universe which plays in medieval times in our
hometown. I went to his reading and there were kids who had
questions about the characters, there were also adults who
seriously thought that it´s a true story.

[GamerPrincessXI]

I had one YouTuber review it at least three times. Both of my artists put it on different servers to promote it. And I commissioned an artist to croquet a doll of my main character, Renee. I don't talk about my webcomic to anyone irl. My story is being funded by my job since I don't draw it, myself. I do however animate. I created a new banner and could put it as the new banner but that's fine. My new banner is below, it took four days to animate, all in OpenToonz:

[Leonotis]

Not really. I mean, one person asks about it sometimes, but they don't actually want me to delve into it much besides, 'Oh, it's going good.' I just post updates on my Instagram or Facebook, but I usually get nothing from people I know.

[Lensing]

That sounds very familiar, especially the not delving too much into it.
It´s something that I kind of understand because it can get too specific and
things only the creator understands / or cares for. But it can also mean
that they don´t care and don´t even listen.

I don´t even have that one person to be honest, at least not for my passion
project. It´s also something that I kind of accept because it´s a slightly erotic/sex
comedy. And I understand that it can make people uncomfortable. Even though
my stuff is harmless as 1950s sex comedy.

The frustrating part for me is that I listen to other people, comment their comics,
make i.e. comments about the expressions, help them pick what´s best. Even
when I send them a super harmless sfw panel the maximum I´m getting is
a like.

[MattiesMoments]

I try to talk to people on here or make posts on my socials about my book.

I do have a few friends that are being beta readers, but it's been a few months and I haven't really heard anything back about it. Soooo... yeah.

I'm hoping maybe some more people will read it here on Tapas and I can get some more feedback about it. That would be super helpful.

If you're curious! Check it out! I'd love the help and to talk to people about it!

Read Veil of Ashes | Tapas Web Community

[Chibicat16]

I wish I could but something is eternally stopping from inviting them in. I dont know why. maybe I have nothing to share really or I'm not ready to. But it really stops me eventually from drawing and the whole thing.
so anyways I wish I did but I get stopped by too many other questions to answer myself.

[Fixed]
I don't and it kinda sucks too. I don't have any friends.

[Lensing]

I´m not sure if I understood you. What stops you from drawing?

[Chibicat16]

the feel of not being wanted by anyone. like if I draw something will anyone other than me like it. in my real life community.

[Lensing]

I understand that feeling well,
it can feel like why even bother.

Have you ever shown it to anyone?
Or uploaded / published something?

[Chibicat16]

I show it online. but I don't think anyone cares.