Do you sometimes feel tired about your comic(s)?

Pcate 2016-10-07 23:11:27 UTC #3

Lmao I'm there all the time. Lately I've been more stable due to the fact I also started uploading my comic to its fanpage in FB. So I'm getting more feedback besides what I get on tapastic. But still I feel you HAHA.

I don't really know yet how to deal with this feeling, little motivations from friend or a single comment can make me raise from the ashes again and keep going for a week or two. Shaneoid77 speaks some true stuff tho.

Many cool comic artists say that, when you start making comics "you gotta draw for yourself", and yes we start making stories we like, but if no one appreciates it with us it starts to become...boring? and it's a horrible feeling.

shaneoid77 2016-10-07 23:41:55 UTC #4

@Pcate is right, a big part of being a webcomics creator is working on exposure, which can be a big job in itself.

Bluu 2016-10-07 23:50:08 UTC #5

Especially if you have insecurities like me. You start making up these crazy accusations like "It's the art, it's sucks doesn't it" or "Everyone's eyes are on someone else who's better than I am". I actually thought one of my subscribers was just a bot at one point and I always compared myself with other comic artist. It really hit my self-esteem and it was just me that was making myself feel worse, all it ever was doing was sucking the creativity out of me and that made me want to delete everything that I posted. I don't know how other people do it because motivation can only get you so far and this feeling that I made up myself that nobody expects much from me really stabs my feelings, but I know this is something I want to do. Motivation or not, quitting is the worst and last choice I would ever pick. 17 people are reading my comic and that's all I could ever ask for.

shaneoid77 2016-10-08 00:27:27 UTC #6

That's great to hear, and I'm glad you pushed through it. You may have inspired a lot of people feeling the same way with this post.

serverpanda 2016-10-08 00:34:01 UTC #7

I know these feels. I know them too well. I'll admit to knowing them so well that I quit A LOT in the past. But this time I made up my mind that it was going to be different and it... really is. I think part of it is to make friends in the community. Get outside of just posting comics and start interacting with people in a positive way. Maybe talk about comic stuff! Or join the comic chats on Twitter! I found those helped so, SO much. It makes a person feel not so alone-- or not so down and out about what they do because other creators are so welcoming and friendly! I've found that in the end we're all just one big community and helping each other is the best thing we can do. Others have realized that too and knew that a long time before I did.

shaneoid77 2016-10-08 00:40:16 UTC #8

I second that!

ComicBookHour on Twitter is good fun! Do join in!

Shanny8 2016-10-08 02:49:41 UTC #9

The only time I've felt tired about working on my comic is when my arm pains were flaring up, which made it hell working on pages. Other than that, I've always felt that I had to have patience when working on my comic. For the past few months I have been trying to get lots of eyes looking at my comic; when I see my comic being well received, it makes me feel good about working on it even more.

Kawaiiyusra 2016-10-08 04:05:37 UTC #10

Well I failed all my French class and don't speak a word of french so I think you're good, lol
Comics are a lot work and can be tiring because having ideas are fun making them happen is not all fun. It takes a LONG time for most comics to get noticed because there are so many of us. This is a vague estimation, but most popular webcomics don't start getting popular until their 3rd year of frequent updates, Sounds kind of grim, but all you can do is just keep making them. I took a look at your comic Stockholm and it looks pretty good, but it's still a fresh comic with only 39 pages. BUT you have like 400+ fans that's amazing. I'm going to hit 100 pages soon with my comic soon with barely 200 subs XD if you can get to at least 200 pages (a full manga) then I think you'll be good.

monotone_ink 2016-10-08 04:08:50 UTC #11

Almost all the time

TACOBERTO 2016-10-08 05:11:06 UTC #12

All the time. I pay for something I'm unable to do on my own so that adds in another layer of exhaustion and sadness. Of the small fanbase I have (and it is fucking tiny) I expect one half are pity likes and the other are attracted to one very specific aspect of my comic.
I know a disingenuous comment/sub/fave when I see it

shaneoid77 2016-10-08 05:19:44 UTC #13

Even at an estimation, that's pretty helpful. I suppose so many people drop out, readers will want to know if someone is worth sticking around for.

Wow I'd love even half of that lol, I think at 400 you're doing really well!

AnnaLandin 2016-10-08 06:32:42 UTC #14

Yes, I do sometimes feel tired and sad when it comes to my comic. Creating things has its ups and downs, especially when you're creating something you care about.

I always keep going, though, and eventually the sadness and exhaustion goes away, and I'm back to enjoying what I do.

Helpful tip? Carry on as though all of those comments, subs and favourites are genuine. Act as if they are, and keep doing what you do. Distrusting your fanbase isn't going to help you, and it's not going to make them more genuine - and I do think they're more genuine than you believe.

I know it sounds like new age bullshit, but positive thinking DOES make a difference. If nothing else, it makes you happier, which will ultimately impact your comic as well.

vongcw 2016-10-08 11:29:41 UTC #15

I've been hearing about this twitter thing and wondering how I can get in. Would you be able to kindly give me a quick idea of how it works? Or maybe we could have a whole thread for it?

shaneoid77 2016-10-08 11:42:21 UTC #16

@vongcw Hey no problem. Join @ComicBookHour on Twitter, they host a Sunday Q&A there at 10.00am PST (1800 GMT). They pose about 5 questions each week pertaining to certain aspects of comic book creation, and a lot of people join in from the webcomic world. There's also @WebComicChat which does the same thing on a Saturday I believe. Hope this helps

punkarsenic 2016-10-08 11:48:22 UTC #17

i think this happens to everyone, and a lot more for creators who's comics dont have a massive following.

id suggest taking a step back and really thinking about the story - if you can find a new direction or advance what youve thought of the plot, it can really help motivate you. otherwise, you might find that you just dont like it, or its a dead end - in which case , you know to stop. thats alright. you have every right to stop making a comic if you dont enjoy it.

it's also fair to take a mental health hiatus, if thats what you need.

and also it can help to focus less on your subscriptions and how many likes / comments you get. if that factors into your motivation, itll let you down no matter how popular your comic is

NiLukka 2016-10-08 14:14:32 UTC #18

It's so nice to hear other people's feelings and opinions on this matter because, as many of you, I sometimes feel unmotivated, too.

I quit drawing two years ago - and I thought it was going to be for good. I had already started my comic BSandL but I thought it was crap and I was a crappy artist. I compared myself to other artists A LOT. But then, little by little, I got over it and found the joy in drawing and writing stories again.

One thing I've learned over the years is that when you feel unmotivated, it is not a time to stop. Motivation is not to be trusted, it is a feeble thing. Just keep going and once you feel the motivation and excitement surge into your veins again, you'll thank yourself for not quitting. (Complete exhaustion is a different thing, of course - take care of yourself and don't burn yourself out!) When I doubt myself or my comic, I try to remember the encouraging comments I've received. As long as there's even one person reading what I make, it's worth it.

On the other hand, if you feel a comic is an utter failure and you don't like it anymore, maybe it's time to step back from it, do something else for a while and look at it later with fresh eyes. Then you can decide whether it is time to give up. I don't think it is a bad thing to give up on something that doesn't bring you joy, as long as you don't quit because you feel like you or your comic is not good enough. I've been down that road and it's not a nice road to travel. (I still don't think I'm "good enough" but that doesn't stop me from doing what I love and improving my skills while I do it.)

ToonDoctor 2016-10-08 16:53:28 UTC #19

No never. It is not easy to do but I cannot think of stopping.

Seed 2016-10-08 17:15:56 UTC #20

Hi and thank u for all your comments.
I didn't expect so much answers!

It's hard for me to explain clearly what I feel because of the language barrier.
But I understand all you said to me and I'm feeling less alone right now.

You're totally right in all you're saying and I have to positiv again and again even if sometimes it's hard.

Writting comics is all my life and I know, deep inside, that if I give up I'll make a big mistake.
I have to focus on all the great comments people are saying to me (since I start publishing on the web all my readers have been really, really kind to me), I think it's important, you're right.

I'm publishing on several platforms (Tapastic, Smackjeeves, Mangadraft and Amilova - this two last are french platforms) since 2 years almost and I have to be objective : I have readers and it's a really good thing.

I'm so glad about all your kind comments, it warms my heart, really!

Many thanks to all of you, you're so sweet, and sorry (again) for my english and for my bad mood!

ToonDoctor 2016-10-08 18:00:02 UTC #21

Il te faut continuer! Ç'a en vaut la peine!

indagold 2016-10-08 18:12:52 UTC #22

I don't make comics because of others. I make it because I want to and I don't give up.