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KennethLopezJr921
Mar '24

This is something I've been dealing with for a while and haven't managed to shake off yet. To better explain it, let me set up a scenario:

You got a cool idea for an illustration, which you wanna try out. But you're scared you'll back on your comic's deadline if you do. Maybe you're like me and scared the chapter you're currently working on will take 4 years like the first one did, even though that's highly unlikely to happen since I've had more comic experience now than I did when I did with the first one (so none at all). But the experience from that 4 years is still haunting you and you dont want history to repeat itself. But you see that other people are able to make banger illustrations while also not falling behind on their series releases and wonder, "how can I do that?"

This is a conundrum I've always had, and while it was somewhat acceptable prior to last May, where I was in college and the amount of free time I had was limited, but I dont start school until September, so I dont have the same type of restrictions I had when I was in school. But the fear of the chapter Im currently working on taking more than a year like the last one did is still strong, and I wouldnt be so hung up on the amount of time it took to write a chapter took around the same time to draw one. But I guess what Im trying to ask is how, how do I stop giving a shit, while also not slacking off on my comic entirely? :cry_01:

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    Mar '24

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    Mar '24
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Leyelle
Mar '24

Balance your schedule. I'm writing a novel and a comic as well as a whole bunch of other random nonsense. I balance these by making a schedule of what time frame I have to get things done within. I set aside 1-2 weeks to stock up chapters for my novel, then work on a few comic chapters, then do my other nonsense.

Often times I'll work on a first draft of a chapter and then let myself do other work, so long as I make sure to work at least a little bit toward the project with the deadline every work day, or at least most of them, I can keep moving forward while still working on the other things I want to do

IndigoShirtProd
Mar '24

I feel like if you're asking that question specifically, it's already too late. Too late in that, you don't already have a buffer ready do that you can stay on time with your release schedule. The easiest thing you could do is relax your release schedule so that it's not as often giving yourself time to build a buffer. Or just devote a small portion of the time you spend drawing comic to doing illustrative art work as well. Like for every hour spent on your comic you spen 15 minutes on illustrations.

KennethLopezJr921
Mar '24

That's why Im currently making a buffer, or at least trying to. Now's a good time as ever since I've never been able to properly have one because of how slow I've always been :/. Though Im not super worried about scheduling or having a more frequent update schedule (Im no Toriyama. God rest his soul), Im more worried about this chapter in particular taking as long as the last one did. There is a limit to how long I feel comfortable working on a given chapter, and because of how long I intend my series to be, having individual chapters take nearly half a decade to complete does not bode well. Sure, there's a 99% chance that wont happen again, but Im still scared regardless :sweat_01:

KennethLopezJr921
Mar '24
Leyelle

That's not a bad idea. My present schedule is "COMIC ALL DAY EXCEPT OF EVENINGS". I just cant let the fear of history repeat itself stop me from sticking to any other schedule :nervous_candy:

Leyelle
Mar '24

Ahh, doing one thing for too many hours in a row is a recipe for burnout. I suggest about a 90-minute spurt, then a break of at least 15 minutes to do something else, then back to work.

KevinReijnders
Mar '24

Okay, but why does your comic have a dealine? Do you have a publisher who needs to recup on an investment, or do you have a contractual obligation to get a work out. Is your business reliant on a steady output of fresh work to maintain a healty revenue stream?

Or have you self imposed an unnecessary deadline, inspired by social media hustle culture brainrot. You can just do the project for fun and put on hold to do a different fun thing.

I've been working on my story for the better part of 5 years now, with no direct end date in sight. Live will throw all kinds of wrenches in even your best laid plans (I myself am suffering through one such period again), but you gotta keep in mind that as long as it doesn't affect your livelyhood, deadlines and all that pressure you put on yourself isn't necessary.

KennethLopezJr921
Mar '24

Its a self imposed deadline admittedly, though it has little to do with social media and desire for me to see if I can draw a 100 page chapter in less than a year. I honestly wouldn't larp too much about it if writing chapters took as long as it does to draw them. In stark contrast, it takes me far less time to write a chapter than it does to draw one. That's why Im uncomfortable drawing a chapter for more than a year

vapidink
Mar '24

It sounds like you're starting to think of working on your comic as a chore or obligation while working on illustrations and other things are "fun" art. It happens with writing too where there's so much pressure on finishing a project that there's some guilt in working on other things and our passion project becomes almost a sort of job to get through. Personally, I've learned that it's important to give ourselves breaks and let ourselves do the things we want to do to keep our passion for our craft--whatever that may be. Be kind to yourself and do the fun and cool things that catch your attention now that you have the time. Going back to your comic with a fresh mind might make the process easier too.

joannekwan(ง ˙o˙)ว here to help~
Mar '24

Consider going through what you have for part 1. Are there any spots where you can get rid of some panels or sequences to condense it? Does it need to be a whole 100 pages?

We all have parts we must slog through to get to the good stuff. Maybe push yourself to do an hour of part 1 work and then treat yourself by doing something more exciting be it part 2 work, a fun illustration, or something aside from drawing all together.

KennethLopezJr921
Mar '24

I can only condense stuff during the storyboard phase. I dont wanna do that right when Im in the middle of drawing the actual comic. But I guess the reason I wasnt too worried that the chapter Im working on is 93 pages long is because the first one was nearly 200 pages long so I figured it could've been worse. That I cant really condense action scenes in the same way I could with dialogue scenes

Also did I bring up the fact Im working on this Chapter in parts? I cant remember if I did 0_0

KennethLopezJr921
Mar '24

THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This describes what Im going through PERFECTLY!!!!!!!! :cry_02: This is basically how I've seen drawing my comic over the past couple of years, and I always feel doing anything that isnt my comic would be disadvantagous. But at this point in time, I dont think taking a break from it will drastically effect my projected due date for this chapter, right?

irresponsiblepics
Mar '24

Any drawing away from your comic will benefit your comic.
It will give you a break from your self imposed obligation and doing something different will help improve your drawing skills thus speeding up your comic creation process.
Do it at your own leisure. You will benefit from it. Locking yourself into it will only make you enjoy making your comic less.
I'm a carer and have limited time but I do my comic page over a 2 week period (evenings or weekends) and do other stuff (concept art for future eps, photography, video editing) when I feel sluggish on the comic front.
They counter each other creatively and gives me the space to enjoy each.
Don't make it a grind. It's not your job.

ThunderChicken
Mar '24

I’ve had serious writer’s block for several months, mainly due to some health issues within my family (both of my parents are essentially at EOL stage and it has fallen on me to guide them through to the end). I can concentrate enough to draw, and I find drawing relaxing, but I can’t concentrate on writing.

So I put my story on a hiatus and did a bunch of drawings, both of my own characters and of others (DTIYS events). Ive also revisited some old drawing techniques I used to use (monochrome, shaded with crosshatching, as though drawn with ballpoint pen). I've even changed and refined my drawing style. The new style looks a bit “rougher”, but working with my own limitations (my hands shake. A lot.) it works. I have found it all to be greatly therapeutic.

2DLenzy
Mar '24
1

I'm currently one of those who's trying to do random illustrations and has their comic schedule somewhat suffering. But despite panicking over a late/forgotten release, I just enjoy not working on it too. It's okay to juggle a chore with something a bit more enjoyable. And these extras are a good way to practice/work on a different set of skills (textures, bgs, poses, shading, etc). I'll admit it's a bit aggravating that my comic won't look as good as my "illustrated style", but I've kinda accepted that working in two different rendering styles is a bit of skill development on its own, so I'm maintaining that goal, sorta.

I too had a deadline to release a bunch of pages within a set time limit, but after failing to keep up my schedule(for several weeks, even now), I've just decided to slow tf down and release when a page is finished, not because of a schedule. At the end of the day, the story, and viewers will still be around.

Edit: For the record, Im also a "comic all day" person with no social life and had ghosted her IG friends to focus on this time vampire XD. Might do a short hiatus after this story arc to make a friggin buffer. Keep on chugging, with breaks, that is...

thepenmonster
Mar '24

I prefer not making the comics I'm constantly writing because comics are a lot of hard work for a non existent reward. Some illustration or sketching is less effort and I get the same results.

yumeryuu
Mar '24

I’ve learned that when I get a little too focused on my writing, I’m having issues with life and escapism. I try to keep doing other things.

vapidink
Mar '24
KennethLopezJr921

If you want to take a break and do other things, you should! Honestly, taking a break and coming back to your comic might remind you of why you were passionate about it in the first place. If your deadline is a self-imposed one, maybe ease up on it. You're doing this for yourself, so it doesn't matter what pace you go at as long as it gets done and you're happy with the end product.

Lensing
Mar '24

It doesn´t matter if you do other things on the side as long as you are
finishing your projects. Put deadlines for your projects which are realistic
and give you enough room to do the other things.