Does anyone else get nervous about people you know IRL reading your comics?

[Missapogee]

I'm naturally a pretty shy person. I've been working on my first comic for a few months now and I've sent links to it to several of my friends and family members. The problem is that now that I know people I know in real life are reading it, I'm suddenly way more anxious about the contents, both with the quality of the artwork and the story. Theres an emotional beat that I'll be getting to soon and I'm super excited to draw and share, but for some reason when I think about people I know IRL reading it and associating it with me, my shyness flares up and I get super nervous, even to the point of considering putting of/ changing the severity of these emotional beats (even though Im personally very happy with the way I already have it planned) ... Does anyone else get these sorts of feelings? How do you deal with them, without getting the urge to change your story?

[scribesunlimited]

Not really, no.
We've invited our friends to check out our stuff.

So we create comics, big deal. If people we know in real life can't accept what we do, they sure as hell wouldn't stay friends with us and we'd be better off without that kind of "friend". We're not in this for them - we're in this for us, because we love what we do.

[DokiDokiTsuna]

I know what you mean...no one who knows me IRL has even the slightest idea of the kinds of shenanigans I get up to with my art, both inside and outside of my imagination. 'Artist Doki' is a completely different person, and really only exists on the internet. The idea of letting people like * shudders * family members into her world is awkward at best and revolting at worst.

However, I couldn't change my content for their sake, despite the inevitable awkwardness. ^^; My art is far more important to me than the flimsy relationships I have with the few IRL people I know...if they have any issues with what I do, they can talk to me about 'em. Otherwise...¯_(ツ)_/¯

[NickRowler]

I can relate. I am too anxious to show my stuff to my family. I was also nervous about showing my stuff to my friends, tho I doubt they actually read any of it.

I find it easier to show my stuff to strangers because if they dislike it, I never have to deal with them IRL.

[BreakingChalk]

I encourage the people I know IRL to do so! (Even if they don't read it, but everyone has their priorities).

I was too hesitating to release my story because of how personal it is at certain points and how the MC has many characteristics I had/have, but I just accepted that whatever I do is part of me and I shouldn't be caring that much if people make fun of my work (I make fun of it too and it's actually educational to some sort). Depends a lot on what kind of people you deal with, who you are and what your stories show.

I'd say it's better not to take our stories too personal when they are being criticized (or mocked) in ways we don't like, but I know it isn't as easy as it sounds at times.

[KiabIce]

I feel like my art isn't good enough. Like it's not super beautiful superb artistry lol.

I guess that counts as being nervous.

[thel3tterm]

I completely understand this!
There's a very small number of people that I know IRL who I've shared it with, but all of them are already artists who also make comics or stories.
Otherwise, I prefer to keep my online life separate from my 'IRL' one.

[pilot-obvious]

There are a small number of people in real life that know I make comics! They're almost all creative types that I met in college. The people I met in college were generally more accepting and open minded so I feel comfortable showing my true self around them.

Growing up, I was "the kid that drew" so everybody knew I was an artist. I would post my art on Facebook for everybody IRL to see. I haven't posted art on FB in almost 5 years... I wonder if a lot of people think I just stopped drawing. If only they knew how deep it goes...

[therosesword]

I am very fortunate in that I had a father that insisted we be ourselves.

I did some acting when I was younger so I can hand you just about any kind of character you want, but when I'm not doing that, this is me. this is how I am and what I am and what I do. The people I've met in person after meeting them online all say the same thing: You're exactly who I thought you'd be.

I do admit to a little shyness with promoting my own work. I'm hell on wheels when it comes to repping other people. But even then, what you see is what you get.

[TheGentleArtist]

Nah, not really. I'm actually fine with them reading, plus they know my art and how I handle my characters; just know that they like it make me feel better ^__^.

[amortelito]

I can totally relate, I am nervous about anyone reading my stuff and I wanted to delete everything when I started.
I'm recently slightly more comfortable with sharing my art under my real name and with pictures of myself. I say to myself " I LOVE WHAT I DO AND I OWN IT ", I don't want to be ashamed of my work and what I love
I'm still not sharing images of my comic, but I hope I can do it soon...I'm still not comfortable.

[UrMom]

Eeeeh I'm a bit iffy about showing people my comic irl due to it being linked to how I present myself online. Off the net I'm kind of closeted about my gender and stuff, so I get a bit paranoid about a family member or someone clicking on my Twitter profile and finding out I'm "one of them". Although if they're specifically a LGBT+ person or someone super chill, who's also a fan of horror or sad stuff, then I'll show them.

Also most people don't understand the comic's contents, so I just don't like showing people because I don't want to babysit, or deal with someone saying "why is your story so sad? Why don't you make something happy?"

[cherrystark]

I get nervous when I share my series but that's more performance anxiety than anything. The IRL friends who've read it, they might not comment online but their general impressions when I ask them about it have been favorable.

[DasIstWunderblyat]

No because I don't make comic.

Serious answer: I only trust few people IRL to know my online contents I create, I block other people who I don't trust. I have no problem them seeing it without searching for or knowing who I am.

[darthmongoose]

It's something I have to deal with because I've worked as a pro illustrator on non-NSFW work under my real name... but I've never really enjoyed it because I know my work is pretty dorky and emotional.
People in the North of England are generally inclined to make fun of things that are "cheesy" or "sentimental" or "trying to be artsy/serious", so the region is more associated with silly cartoony gag type comics. Making manga where all these big-eyed people are having intense emotions is kind of vaguely embarrassing, but... I'm one of the only pros my little rural/industrial corner of the North has ever produced, so I'm the comic artist they have and they're honestly pretty cool with it. People who don't like it are usually at least polite, either not saying anything or saying "the art was very nice" or "it was very colourful". It's like... you really... don't have to read it, it's fine... You can care about me without needing to enjoy my silly self-indulgent comics!

Of course, my mum insists my comic is basically the best comic ever, even though she hates anything that isn't mine that's similar to it.

[rumpenstiltzkin]

Relating so hard with this, I dont know why but I rarely show off my comic or other art to family and friends for some reason.
I have a couple of art friends IRL that I feel comfortable showing and talking about my comic but I dont even show the comic to my partner (but they found it anyway lol)

Its such a strange thing tho to be ok posting it online for strangers and not to those i am closest with

[azzy-m]

God, yes. Not necessarily because I'm shy? But the prospect of someone I PERSONALLY KNOW in REAL LIFE reading my stuff makes me want to bang my head against the wall.

The only times I don't cringe thinking about someone I knew reading my comic is when I'm close friends with the other person, lol

[Crusoe]

Oof, I don't really share my work, because it feels like the digital equivalent of people looking over my shoulders to see what I'm doing and I hate that.
My uni friends have said they'd check out my work if I wanted them to, but nope, too much anxiety

[joannekwan]

A little since some of my work contains full-blown sex scenes.
But it's basically a 'don't ask. don't tell' policy I have with people I know irl LOL
I don't actively try to hide my work, it's there if people look hard enough, but if they feel offended, then the fault is theirs. xD

[Legendofgenii]

Yes! Especially with family, as none of them draw or read comics (or watch anime or animations, like fantasy etc.) It's another world to them I think. Usually when I post a Genii related pic on my personal Facebook I'll get a - 'Oooooh! Can you draw me and so-and-so please!'

My husband reads my comic (he's awesome, so that's ok), but I do worry what he thinks about it all sometimes. Does he actually like it or is he just being supportive - in like a pat on the head way? When he reads the romantic pages I'll have to hide somewhere out of embarrassment. Haha!