How do you stay Motivated?

keii4ii 2015-03-21 23:25:10 UTC #19

This is an advice I've seen on a weight loss/ health site, and while I agreed with it (still do) strongly when I first saw it, I'd never thought of applying it to creative endeavors. Makes sense, though!

Dranif 2015-03-22 02:19:24 UTC #20

Lately, I've been low on motivation, and the closest thing to motivating myself lately is telling myself that if I keep putting it off, the next day the pressure will only get harsher.
I used to work best under pressure, but not anymore....

KreativeConfusion 2015-03-22 02:29:35 UTC #21

I love my story and I do want to share it, its just some days I just wanna lay on the couch and watch movies all day XD

KreativeConfusion 2015-03-22 02:31:09 UTC #22

i wish I had buffer but it doesnt always work for me. I end u procrastinating mor then ever XD though I will try th thoughtful comment thing. it seems like a fun way to just relax and explore the community

KreativeConfusion 2015-03-22 02:40:01 UTC #23

@getsuart Haha, im kind of the same way, however at the moment I dont have much of a following. I remember doing that in high school tho when I would share comics with my friends!

@gateofselidor All that sounds really great and I have to agree. Discipline really just seems to be the answer to my problem. I guess i better just keep trucking through this till my energy is back!

@raziment haha sounds real deep!

@jjfresh that is what ive been doing so far. I guess I'll just have to stick to this method then (untill I somehow get a nicebuffer going anyways XD)

AnnaLandin 2015-03-22 06:30:13 UTC #24

Being a workaholic helps. XD

But to be serious. I find it easier to keep going if I work on the comic chapter by chapter. Finishing the storyboards/sketches for an entire chapter in one go, and then going back and alternating between inking and colouring helps keep me on track. Also, having scenes/chapters/characters I really want to draw in later chapters helps me keep my steam up, because my readers need to read/know all the stuff that comes before that if they're to enjoy it.

Grassblades updates twice a week, but I've gotten to a point where I have a.) a big enough buffer that I don't need to draw this week's update right before I update, and b.) am familiar enough with characters/setting that the drawing is pretty quick and painless at this point, so the actual work doesn't take up my entire week.

It also helps to have sideprojects going on - shorter comics or illustrations I can switch to and work on whenever I feel like it.

kitsuneonwheelz 2015-03-22 08:28:13 UTC #25

I am motivated by the memories of everybody I've lost and how they encouraged me:)

CalimonGraal 2015-03-22 13:24:29 UTC #26

So far I've been keeping myself motivated (or at least enough to get an update up on time) by either listening to music (which sometimes makes me procrastinate even more lol) as I draw, or pretty much forcing myself to draw pages if I'm cutting way too close to the deadline date (which I've basically drilled into my head not to miss said deadline or I'm going to end up swallowed up by laziness lol)

...Plus the want to tell my story and show my characters helps too 8U
//though my lack of confidence in my writing abilities hinders my motivation a bit orz

TristanJensen 2015-03-22 15:28:53 UTC #27

I've almost never finished anything. It's not that I'm lazy (ok, not a lot at least) I either loose interest or find something else that I think is better (often both).
What motivates me to keep going is knowing that if I finsh it it'll be the first time I made a goal that I stuck with. And I don't think I'll be stopping soon (it's been at least five months now) that's pretty cool.

thatphilippekid 2015-03-22 18:57:30 UTC #28

Publicly announce an update schedule; e.g. every Wednesday. If you fail to meet it, you're a failure in your fans' eyes. It's surprisingly effective, yet stressful.

carloswebcomic 2015-03-23 08:45:35 UTC #29

Oh god that's so true! Keeps you from slacking off real good.

KreativeConfusion 2015-03-23 13:23:15 UTC #30

well good for you! I'm glad you dont let bad things put you down

KreativeConfusion 2015-03-23 13:30:25 UTC #31

@thatphilippekid thats what I've been doing it's been helping,

@CalimonGraal haha seems like that's everyone motivation XD and hey keep going, I'm sure your story is great!

@annalandin Drawing all that out seems like a good way to go. I gotta try that next time I have a day to myself! Having a buffer would be amazing, I had to skip last week's update cuz I got hit with a cold

Kagekabuki 2015-03-26 09:47:29 UTC #32

I don't really have an answer but I just wanted to say that this thread is so helpful and I'm glad that I'm not the only one who feels this way I've tried to have a buffer before but I didn't manage to get more pages done before it ran out XD. I'm trying to do clusters of 4-5 pages at a time so that people have a bit to read before the next update, but with uni/work it is hard to update frequently. What keeps me going is the fact that I'm redrawing my comic, and I'm desperate to tell the rest of the story haha!

Foxjorch 2015-03-26 10:56:49 UTC #33

When I have something fun to tell

sarahrebecca58 2015-03-26 15:15:20 UTC #34

Similarly to how I do so with writing fiction, that is that I usually keep a permanent notebook around handy to do some drawing off line. Which is no problem if you do traditional, a little trickier if your more of a digital girl.

I happen to be more traditional.

SeanKPrower 2015-03-26 15:29:42 UTC #35

My biggest tip is that I've recently took to listening to audiobooks while I draw. I only listen to the story if I'm drawing. A good story makes you want to continue listening and as a result, carry on drawing. It's worked really well for me. I also listen to a lot of documentaries on my favourite subjects and the time flies by for me.
I have a couple of different projects on the go too. I do my webcomic here and I'm also working on an illustrated novel so I have the option to jump between projects if the other doesn't fire me up. My workspace is decorated with inspiring quotes and autographs of my heroes and I find that always helps.

Jrej 2015-03-27 02:44:01 UTC #36

Hello there,
I totally understand the feeling.
When I was doodling stuff a few years back I would always want to change theme.
But now I finally decided I had to focus and tell this one story that stuck.

So I wrote bulletpoints of what happens in each chapter. Leaving a little bit of flexibility so I don't know exactly..
And I really wanna draw it to see how it turns out...

I discovered I can only work under pressure.
I set a goal of one page per week, and I always draw at my lunch break from work.
With the clock ticking, there is no time to doodle, wonder or browse Internet.

If I don't do it, who will? The story just has to be told...

talissacosta1 2015-03-27 03:45:05 UTC #37

I just think that if I keep on doing my comics, I am not a complete failure and waste of space.

This is such a depressing comment, I am sorry. XD

But I saw authors saying that they have hours when they are more productive, so they try to adjust those hours in a healthy way, and that sometimes it is good to stop and just doodle/sketch/write to recover tour energy and motivation.

But I think it is also good to not give a looong break.

anon13984047 2015-03-31 21:26:19 UTC #38

My initial motivation, independent from feedback or appreciation from the folks around me or on the Interwebs, comes from really wanting to tell this story in a (relatively) unique fashion. Everything's been done before and there's nothing new under the sun, of course - but designing a story, characters and art style that's really YOU - I find that this is highly motivating. There's plenty of lookalike stories out there - there's plenty of readers looking for something weird or different, even if it's far from perfect. Perfection is pretty boring, anyway

Also, I really immerse myself in the minds and hearts of my OC's, often writing associative texts, poetry or 'automatic writing' to find out who they are and what they want. This can be motivating because they become more than just vehicles for the story - they actually push the story along.

However, if no one Out There actually enjoys what I create, or gives feedback and appreciation, I tend to get quite frustrated. But taking it slow and letting myself be inspired by other creator's awesomeness (and hardships) keeps me on track. Also, I really appreciate the comments I get!

Hope this was of some help to thee <3

This does relate only to my current, long-term webcomic btw - I've done plenty of other short comics before, but really having the time to work on this story, create lavish pages and not squish 10 panels into one measly black-and-white page is very liberating!