For people with F/T jobs, when do you find the time to draw?

[demthorshie]

Good question. I want kids in the future and i've been wondering if there's anyone who is able to balance work/kids/comic and make it work some how.

[Doubtcent]

Usually I try to get on it as soon as I get off work until I have to go to bed.
My comics usually take from 3 1/2 hours to 5 hours to make, so it's a huge dedication of my free time.
If I decide to do anything else, (for instance I'm planning to play Undertale this weekend) I try to get something art-wise done first, either do a character sketch or thumbnail some up-incoming comics before doing anything else.
Also, I've been trying to quit watching Youtube (and failing) so that my free time isn't wasted doing nothing. Plus, videogames are being pushed to the weekends.

[Kamikaze]

I know exactly what you're going through, and I have two words for you: Time Management. It sounds soooo freaking boring and in a way it is, but it's helped us LOADS.

Case in point: A single page of our comic takes 75 to 80 hours to complete between 3 people. When we came to that number we were so shocked by it, the team kinda laughed it off and said, "Oh my god there's no way it takes THAT much time. Let's try that again." We did it again, and the same number was there. It's INSANE, because two of us have full-time jobs, and one of us has a part time job and intermittent freelance.

We found that breaking our time into blocks helped out. So for example:
Alan works fulltime freelance, and then has Kamikaze on the side.
We have time blocks sectioned out:
9am - 10 am [Wake up, breakfast]
10am - 12pm [Work]
12pm - 1:30pm [Lunch/chores/errands]
1:30pm to 3:30pm [Work}
3:30 to 4pm [Break]
4pm to 6pm [Work]
6pm to 6:30pm [Break]
6:30pm to 8:30pm [Work]
8:30pm to 9:30 [Dinner]
9:30 to 11pm [Work or Relaxing]
11pm [Bed]

By using this method and TRACKING that time, we've really been able to both live out lives and enjoy them without taking up too much time on weekends. So we have weekends for us. I'm not sure how this could work for others without seeing the data, but yeah.

I'd really suggest tracking the time it takes you to do each specific section of your comic. If you're writing track that. If you're inking, track that. The results may surprise you.

For anyone wanting to try this, check out Toggl.com it's wicked helpful and super easy to use.

Good luck!

[camillabluejay]

I've been thinking about that so much lately! I can't cut back hours at my work, it's either all or nothing. I have no idea how to make a successful patreon with no free time to do anything for it. It'd just be like, "Hey? Don't you love me enough to give me a dollar?"
And right now I live in LA for work- I miiiight could live on a 1000 dollars a month, but that's because I already have a roommate. I would have to move somewhere cheaper to make it all work.
I mean, it's all hypothetical right now- I don't have enough followers to attempt a patreon right now. But I think about it alot, when i come from work and I'm tired, but then it's time to start working on comics. I'd rather comics be the only thing I do!

[Sanz]

I work about 38 hours a week as an industrial designer, and i go to school part time two nights a week which is on the other side of town. i try to get my homework done before class ends but that rarely works when the teacher won't shut up for 3.5 hr class, anytime i get i draw, my job sometimes requires me to take project home so any free time that gets taken up, i sketch i use medibang to make layouts on my ipad for later use when i get home or anything. it's always been like that for me no matter how busy i was for some reason i always found time, as for being tired, well i'm not actually moving so i'm good till my brains says "ok we are done here get some sleep" lol.

[MannyMelancholy]

When you work F/T it will boil down to what is most important to you. We are all here because we not just love to draw but because we have that freaky inner voice telling us we NEED TO DRAW! But I understand how it can feel worn down after a full days work beats down on you. If you're like me, you have to say no to alot of things to keep the momentum of your passion going. That means taking full advantage of most weekends to work on your craft. No clubs, no bars, no parties. Although if you are the type of person who can work in such a scenario it is possible to have "drawing" hangouts with friends who can respect the creativity process.

Also, very very important please keep make time for the gym. Your health is important. I make it mandatory to do it myself because my F/T is sitting at a desk all day and then to go home and do it all evening working on my comic will DESTROY my back and make me feel stiff and achey. All you need is a solid 30-40 uninterrupted source of cardio please take care of yourselves fellow artists <3

If you are worried about slowing down too much you can do what I do and take workshop drawing classes, because then you feel more obligated to do the work/practice since you are paying for it.

Try not to worry too much about the fact that people can do more than you with their given time free-time, be proud knowing you are working your ass off through exhaustion to make you passion a possibility. Worrying what other people do can make a person very depressed trying to compete with someone who has a different life style and/or privilege. You are all awesome just the way you are by not giving up!

[TheHollyStanton]

Me!!! I work FT (7-4ish), plus I have a 1 year old at home! Truthfully, It's tough, and it makes me wish that I had started my comic WAAAY sooner (but I was always too scared!). So, I try to wake up at 4 am to draw for a couple hours before work. My little guy goes to bed at 8pm, and I want that time to be with my hubby, watch a movie, play a game, etc...
Tell you the truth, it's hard to keep up. I was 'ahead of schedule' for a while on my comic, and now I'm drawing the next strip just days before it's due. Coffee and the motivation to be inspirational to my little guy when he's older are my biggest drives!

[Jrej]

It's good to read all your experiences. I really feel like I'm part of the club.
It took me a while to find my rythm. And I think I actually tried everything.

I work in hotels, with a lot of changing schedules and commute to work,
I switched all digital to draw on the ipad and got the best stylus I could find.

I draw on the way to work, trains, buses, during breaks. The ticking clock with no wifi is the best motivatior you can find. The thing is my wife doesn't like to see me draw once I get home. I guess she sees it as free work I put in which doesn't make sense to her.

That leaves me very few moments to produce my weekly page. But that's what keeps me going. Never worked more on my comic than right now.
The more time I had... The less I actually drew.
Ironic, don't you think?

[bjornar]

Some time ago I started to put small timestamps on my drawings. I put timestamps for when I start and stop sketching, when I start and stop inking, coloring and texting. After a while I have a pretty good image of how much time I need to do a set amount of pages, and I now plan ahead by putting aside 1-2 hours per evening dedicated to drawing.

[DeadAccount]

I do most of my comic work on weekends - unfortunately, this plan fails if I have weekends plans, but i try to work around that. It's definitely tough some weeks, but I found that livestreaming my process helps me to stay motivated and get things done without much procrastination, so I'd definitely recommend doing that!

[sarrowsmith10]

I'm not a doctor, but I have a masters degree in business and during my thesis days I matched the hours my husband spent at the ER easily. Having a career where you are on call 24 hours a day has just got to be so hard to do anything with your life beyond your career. Anyways, you have my respect!!

[sarrowsmith10]

You know, I haven't seen too many new parents being comicbook creators. (It's kinda strange) I work F/T 8-5p M-F and I also have a 7mo old at home that likes to nurse all hours of the night. So, once he goes to bed I can only rationalize maybe an hour or two of wake time to work on comics before I really feel like I should be sleeping when he is sleeping... because when he is awake, there is just no comic making. Anyways, its nice to hear that others are sort of in the same situation. I'm cheering you on, because I know how hard it is!

[winglesscomic]

@sarrowsmith10 i'm sry this is off topic but i fuckin love your avatar................. i'm going to get a corgi one day........

[starsyscomics]

When I first started my full time job as a designer, I would keep paper next to my keyboard and draw for a little break every now and then. Nothing intense, but enough to keep me from getting rusty. Now, in my responsibility-laden old age (3 years later), my drawing is banished to evenings and weekends only. It's draining for sure, since I'm always working on a tight deadline. Not much time for fun art or relaxation, but if your illustrations and stories are what you love most... it's worth it. And figure out ways of working fast and improving efficiency! - Andrea

[bouncyegg]

I'm jealous of all of you who design or draw as a career!

http://tapastic.com/series/thebouncyegg

[DMBrigman]

I try to dedicate a little bit of time every evening, at least an hour. I do get most of my work done on the weekends. It can be hard to balance personal obligations and my comic but I am trying my best. Having a set of tools that save time is essential. I work digitally in Manga Studio and that helps me work faster. I do have to remind myself to cut down on details a little bit and color more simply so the production time per page stays at a week.

[AffectedMind]

I recently got a job and boy, it is extremely difficult to find time to draw. I'm exhausted during the week and I only draw at weekends. My schedule is fucked up and I'm on short hiatus right now. I absolutely hate the full time job. The only good thing you earn some money (minimum wage here) and gain experience so someday you can dump the low-payed job and find a better one. I'm currently working on my own buisness, so I can kinda sort out this huge mess I'm in right now.
I really admire people who work full time and find time to draw.

[Dozzer]

I just discovered this recently. The best thing I've implemented into my workflow is setting STRICT, yet REASONABLE goals. Strict, because you need discipline in order to push content, but it's important that it's a reachable goal.

I set my goals too high and the moment I didn't reach one goal, I lost steam. It's important to pace yourself. It helps sets expectations for your readers. Once you meet some goals, set them higher and higher until you find the right pace.
(You can sorta say the same thing about exercise)

Series: The Middle Crowd

[AmberRose]

"A body in motion stays in motion, and body at rest stay at rest."
A thought that has recently come to play for me finding energy to complete my work. I have a full time job working at a Deli which is constant hassle and bustle, and although I usually is pretty exhausted by the time I get home if I set my desk up with my current project before I get to work and go work on it as soon a I get home. My body seems to stay in that "working mode" till I call it quits around 8 or 9 pm. If I stop and plant myself on the couch as soon as I walk in the door by body tends to slow down and I tend to fall asleep or don't want to move anymore than I have to. I do rest completely on Sundays, but the rest of the week and even on my days off from my job. I work on my comic/or art projects.

[sarrowsmith10]

Haha, thank you. It's of my doggie. <3