How to keep your resolve

[bluefairy]

I don't know why most people do comics... there are so many, have you noticed? Most of the people that visit this forum are people that love comics to the extent that they want to do it as well. But what is this urge to express yourself in this particular way? Why comics? For example, I find writing much easier way to tell a story, instead of visualising it. If I had to write my story I can do it for a month or two, experience all the fun that I can and I can move on to making up another one. But instead I work for years to visualise it and my story is still in the beginning. You don't know guys... oh, sorry, I am sure a lot of you are like me..... it's been more than 10 years for me. I started to think about this comic 2001-2002 ....I've started anew so many times and now I can see I've improved in the way I draw, the way I tell a story... but... so what? This doesn't seem to give anything to anyone. It's just another one of them all and if I disappear suddenly, nobody is going to miss me, not really. It's not like I have tones of readers and I don't seem to have moved too many hearts. What was this urge that made me keep on going like crazy, it's not as if I am going to save the word.. I don't seem to even give that much of an enjoyment, as it is all too short and slow and... Sometimes I feel as if there is no use at all...
Well, I have these moments of severe discouragement. My family now is in a situation when I cannot keep going like that - I spent most of the little free time I have to draw comics, and I am not even working. Now I have to probably seek for a job and forget about the making of comics. And after all these thoughts how useless it may be anyway, I feel as if I am suffocating in the thought that I have to give it all up.
Why give up? - some will say. Do it when you can, after work, or at week-end.... But ... I don't think that is possible. I have two little children, I have to do tones of housework as well...and going to work...
But.. Hey! My intention when starting to write this was different, not to wine about my desperation... I wanted to tell you what I think is a good way to keep your resolve and in a way to encourage my own self by doing so. Some of you may find this ridiculous, but it worked for me a few times, I just have to gather all my strength to do it again. We are all experts in visualizing, right. So this is how you do it:

First, you have to forget all the logic. Logic is an obstacle in this, so - no logic! Now imagine that what you want is on the street a few buildings from your house. You have to walk to get there, so it takes time but it is all the effort you need to make. It is already there, waiting for you and you have to just go and get it. Now ... when you imagine this, you have to feel how sure and calm you would be if that was really the case - No rash! No worrying! Just the calm, joyous believe that it is a matter of little time and you will have it, your dream.
That's all! Magics done! I will not worry about it, it's just around the corner! I can just enjoy the journey now, instead of worrying how to achieve it with inhumane effords.
I think this is called faith, ah? So, let's have some faith in our dreams!

I feel much better now Thank you for listening!

[robdesouza10]

Thanks for sharing. There are two things that I find help me. First, sometimes "just do it" gets me past frustration and fear of failure. By that I mean even when I'm unsure or feeling down about my time, my art or my ability, I tell myself to just do it and move on.
Secondly, I acknowledge and accept that there will be times when I simply cannot or will not be able to make comics. That's why when I am in the right state of mind or when I do have time and energy, I try to be as productive as possible. Kind of like storing food for the winter.

[ghostnxs]

Thanks for sharing. I've stopped trying to make money with my comics. I traded fun for the possibility of gaining money rather than just doing what I love. I've given up on one dream(based on money) and picked up another, I wanna be a scientist.

[bluefairy]

Thank you so much for sharing as well I didn't have time to answer right away, but I liked your way a lot! It's true, the best way is to just do it, whatever your inner condition and doubts about it. After all what made me do comics was never about views or about sharing them on the first place. It has always been about my pure love for this way of expressing my ideas and feelings. I remember that I had a time when I was even hiding them from everybody, because they were such a deep, sacred part of my soul. Really good! Thanks!

[bluefairy]

Oh, scientist is a good dream May be a more realistic and achievable one! I doubt people make comics to make money - it is too hard and if one rally wants to make money, one will do something else. The only reason for me to want to make drawing comics into a money earning hobby is - I just want to justify the time I spend to do comics, because otherwise people around me and the situation around me will sooner or later make me stop... or make it impossible to spend even a little time on it. I don't want to stop ... and I don't want to do some stuff that I hate while only having one thought in my head: When is it going to end so that I can have some time draw a bit ...:)

[ghostnxs]

I've also found that If I focus on making money as an artist I loose my ambition and the fun. I find myself making compromises which defeats the purpose for me creating art. I dislike forcing myself to create something in the hopes that I'd get paid. I've started to embrace failures and mistakes. When I was a kid I didn't care if what I drew was wrong I finished it anyway because I knew I would get better.

[bluefairy]

Yes, so true! If you have money as a focus, this will drain your strength and energy.... Focus should be the feeling , the love for it, the joy of creating... That's what I am afraid to loose by the way, if I am made by circumstances to do something else, that will eat all of my time