How do you accept that people genuinely like your work?

[aqua03]

So this is something that I just realized I have a massive problem with: I have trouble accepting that people genuinely enjoy my work. I always feel that when people compliment my work, that it's more out of just being polite than an actual compliment, namely because I always struggle with being a massive perfectionist and can always spot at least a dozen or so things wrong with my work and I'm usually super hard on myself because of that.

Have any of you ever struggled with such a problem? If so, how do you handle it? Also, how do you handle the constant need to prove yourself and one-up those you feel are better than you? because I realized that's kind of a problem I have here in which I feel I need to be a super successful artist or something right out of the gate, or else my efforts were wasted.

Thanks for the help and advice, you guys are the best!

[kimketli]

I experience the same. But doesn't really know how should I solve it. Sorry.

[lil-sea-salt]

I mean the difference I find is in the details. I always have my art around perception and memory and the people who really connect with my work are those who notice those things. I always prize the people who can do that and my work is solely aimed toward that one two fan who truly understand me. It make take some time for them to find you but they always will.

One of my fav artist is avogado6. he's very mysterious and every art piece is the most beautiful stories. i admire his work, but i never copy it. i always think i want others to feel the way he makes me feel by using my own struggle to make the same type of a piece. i adore him, but i know i am and will never be him because the way we draw and the journeys we have are different.

everyone is on their own path. just because someone is at a certain point career wise doesn't mean it's going to be furfilling for you. i didn't know that i wanted the things i want now a year ago or two years ago. why be somebody else, when you can never be as happy being a fake person. try to be you and figure out who that is.

[VibrantFox]

it's honestly still a struggle for me to accept compliments at times especially when experiencing imposter syndrome but one thing I try to do is just give people the benefit of the doubt. like sure it could be a pity compliment but in some situations you have to think "they wouldn't bother saying or doing these things if they didn't mean it"

we're often our own worst critics so it's easy to point out our own flaws or mistakes or the things we don't like but even still some people may really enjoy your content. a habit that try to form that's not directly related but still proves helpful is rather than focus on all the stuff i hate about a comic i made or an art piece is to switch and find one or a few things that i really like about something i did even if it's something small. it's a good way to get yourself i think to get used to being more positive about your art but in a nice paced kind of way and eventually you can find more things you like in your own work.

[IndigoShirtProd]

I'm still under the impression that no one genuinely likes what I do. No matter how fond I am of my art work, there's still a big part of me that's feels like I could do so much better and I just fall back on my laurels. But there's always a part that honestly enjoys what I make. I think when you find that, you understand why others also entertain your work. Always be open to hear what others might say to compliment, because the devil is in the details.

[spadesart]

honestly, seeing people genuinely like my comic and engage with it fully renews my interest in it. i was starting to feel really disconnected from spire, until someone on discord asked for the link and gave me excited updates as they read it. it gave me a new energy to keep up with it that i hadn't felt in months. i only get something like this twice or three times a year but every time i go back to working on it afterwards its like im jumping into it for the first time again.

[aqua03]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. One of the main things that brought this on was an incident that happened a while back on the forums where I couldn't accept that people liked my stuff and I ended up exploding and genuinely hurting someone's feelings, so I feel I really need to start working on such a thing doesn't happen again.

[vothnthorvaldson]

It's a bit surprising for me that someone can enjoy my comic, because I did not think it with an audience in mind, but rather for my own enjoyment.

So I can't say it never crossed my mind that no one could enjoy reading it. However, as soon as I got a few comments that were picking up small details, making correct or plausible assumptions on future events, or even getting some obscure references I was not even fully aware of myself... well I understood it's a clear sign some people actually like it, and that's enough for me. I don't really ponder on what other comments or people not commenting mean. I just accept things as they are.
I suppose I would maybe worry if I had only very generic, works-for-everything compliments, but that's not an issue right now.

[Penni]

I think one of the big things that helped me with this problem is taking a step back. While it can be hard to objectively but sometimes you have to step back and say "Hey I worked hard on this and while I can be better, I deserve this."

I still struggle with compliments but you have to be able to give yourself credit for what you've done while still accepting you can improve. There will always be someone better than you, but that doesn't mean what you're doing isn't worth it. It doesn't mean you won't grow.

Compliments means people are recognizing you're hard. Take a second and allow yourself to have the moment

[Shanny8]

I accept that people like my work and I am thankful that they do...but I still have this thing where I'm overtly critical of my work on certain levels. Despite the fact that there are people who do like my stuff, I continue to try to get my work to the level where I can accept it more than I currently do. There are times when I can sit back and smile at what I've created or done, but I also know I can be better; my work can be better.

[nscomics]

Just assume they enjoy it and keep up the good work. Recognition is sweet but doing something because you love doing it is sweeter. The more you do it, the better you get so really the compliments are just the spoils of victory.

[therealbereth]

Keep in mind that people reading or looking at your work don't see the images in your head. They only see the product you publish. So it simply doesn't matter that you think you could be better in regard to anatomy or storytelling or whatnot: your readers don't see that.

Try to separate the creator in you from the consumer. Try to see your work through the eyes of someone who doesn't know its ins and outs, and I guarantee you, accepting that people like what you're doing will come easier to you.

I know, for example, that I struggle with descriptions of surroundings because I'm very much character-focused in my work. But knowing that gives me the chance to improve on it with every word I write. And people already liking what I do now with descriptions? It only tells me that I've come a long way since starting with my craft. Knowing where I can still improve only makes me look forward to giving people a work of (even) better quality. And I can do that because I know I can be both creator and consumer of my own work. And if I set myself in the role of the consumer, I might still see the little faults (note: what I consider faults, but no one else might see the same), but I can also enjoy what's already there.

You surely haven't been doing this for only a few days now, right? Just take solace in the knowledge of where you come from, and where you still got room to grow—while people already appreciate what you're doing right now. Isn't that the beauty in writing and creating comics?

[unknown_user]

Oh. It happens for me as well.
From one side, I passionately want more and more and more people to read and like my work. From the other - when they really do it, I start to worry and doubt is this sincere or all of them are just pretending?
I'm so messed up.

[Rei19]

Whenever I receive abundant compliments of my work, I get overwhelmed. I feel happy, satisfied, and giggly. I feel proud that I created this art/fic/novel and that people are enjoying them enough to tell me so. It's rare enough for people to take the time to comment on something (in regards to small or average creators), so it means a lot to me when I receive them. I get motivated to finish my work and even create more.

But then, the moment passes. I forget about those compliments real quick, and I feel empty inside. Like, okay, I don't think they really appreciate it. They're just being polite and they commented on my work just to give me some appreciation, not necessarily because of the content I made. Because of this, I begin to feel more and more insecure of my creations. Are they even worth it? Would they even notice if I stop writing/drawing? If I don't update this for years? I'm just forgettable, right?

This is my actual thought process when I receive those compliments. XD Like you, I struggle with them, probably in a slightly different way from yours, but I still do. To remedy this, I usually go do something I enjoy, be it a favourite hobby or watching new dramas. Then, if I still feel unmotivated, I go back to my story and read every single comment about it. It makes the acceptance easier, and it usually makes me happy enough to enjoy what I'm doing for them.

As for feeling the constant need to prove myself to others who are better than me... well, I can't help feeling envious of them, of course. They can draw people so well, they can create this sort of detailed background, they can write descriptions amazingly, their plot twists are perfect... but it all comes down to one thing: they're them, and you're you. You never know, someone out there thinks the same about you. I've learned to not put myself down all the time, so I just admire my favorite creators and move on with my own creations. I get inspired to be better, and the most important thing to note is that I enjoy it every step of the way. It's what creating should be. You should be happy doing it. Otherwise, there would be no fulfillment.

(Because I'm both a writer and an artist, I placed both situations in this response, so I apologize if it all reads as confusing! )

[monotone_ink]

The thing is even if I did, I can never know for sure.

Human communication is fundamentally rigged--I have no idea what they're thinking, and vice versa. It's easy to settle that they're doing it out of politeness, because choosing to believe that they actually like my work poses the risk of that belief being a lie.

We're all trapped in the belly of this horrible machine, and it's bleeding to death.

[DasIstWunderblyat]

You don't need to think for it when almost nobody feels so towards your work

I would just sincerely thank them, the fact I agree with them or not is another matter (no matter what they say, if I think my work doesn't meet my personal standard I'll still feel dissatisfied). They're doing it on a good intention and that must be appreciated. I also will ask them if they have feedback or something else to say, feel free to.

Actually I find the written communication online can conceal many things that less likely to be helped in direct conversation (voice tone, body language, facial expressions).

[LCT_m_a_d]

What really helps is learning to develop a healthy relation with your own craft (if not your comic). I was guilty of accepting a lot negative things about my own craft and potential. This left me constantly insecure about what every comment or silence actually meant. "Are they just like farming, Are they supportive of me but not really interested in my art ideas, If they are silent did I do something wrong on this update?"

I knew my newer series was a good project because it was something other creators really need in their lives, so it was easier to find signs of that. (It does help that the series got a little more community love).

[vworksart]

I definitely deal with this. I just keep spamming the words in my head "There's at least one person that truely likes what you do, so do your best for them."
It's a little difficult sometimes though, especially when you don't hear it as often, but I just try to keep those words in mind and whenever I do get a compliment, genuine or not, I make sure to show gratitude for it and remember not to whip out the classic "it's not that good" response even when I think it sucks haha.