If creating comic is not your full-time occupation, how do you find the time to do it?

[globuline]

Hi all!

I joined Tapastic last year. I had a full time job which was really taking a lot of my time (travelling, staying late at work...). I have been trying to keep up on doing my comic, A frog's life (creating and promoting it), but this year, overall, I didn't do much. And it's not like my style and strips are taking that much time to do, it's more finding the energy to do it.
That became really frustrating and I have this sort of frenzy to catch up all the time now. And now that I'm no longer in that job, that's exactly what I'm doing !

So, do you feel it's tough too do find the time / motivation / creativity / whatever fuels your comic after a long day at work, especially if you're not a graphic designer / illustrator... ? How do you do it???

[elixiadragmire]

Oooooh thats a tricky topic. I'm a full time illustrator and graphic designer, 9 to 5 and I have an hours drive to work so I know how draining it can be all though I do draw all day in the office too (which is a blessing and a curse)
I tend to re-fuel on video games!! Get home, log into WoW do my dailies, have a laugh with guildies doing a dungeon run or rping then out and do some work until bedtime. I also tend to sketch all the way through my lunch breaks too. Finding time is tough, especially when you work full time and run a house too but I like to draw so it takes up my hobby time

[Raven_C]

I'm in university and I don't currently work, although I do plan to do an internship in the near future. That being said, being an art student is really time-consuming, so I only really have time to do comic stuff during the weekends. I try to squeeze in that time to at least do a page in addition to portfolio work and volunteer work. -sigh- Even with all that, though, I still am able to motivate myself because I love drawing my characters. Lately, it's been incredibly helpful listening to art podcasts - - just listening to artists talk about art/comics and their own craft motivates the heck outta me! I know it's a hobby but disciplining myself to draw comics as if it's work (and not just solely for fun) helps me personally.

[UzukiCheverie]

Well, currently I'm not working (yet; I just got a job with Starbucks and I start in a couple weeks ouo) so the only thing that takes up my time besides comics is, well, school, which is average of 6 hours a day. When I start working though, it'll just be part-time, so I could be looking anywhere between 18-24 hours a week, if I'm lucky.

Right now though, and in the future, the way I find time is simply to -make- time. If I have to sacrifice a few hours of sleep, so be it. Anytime I'm not working, I'm drawing. If I finish assignments early in class, I don't sit around twiddling my thumbs - I work on comics. If I want to play games, I'll finish the project I'm working on and then reward myself with maybe an hour or two of gaming. Eleven in the morning on weekends is my gaming hour - so from eleven to around noon-ish I'm mostly playing Mario Kart, and then after that it's all drawing and comics for the rest of the day.

So yeah, I'm pretty busy xD But I make the time as best as I can for everything, and balance is key u o u

[lira]

I'm a freelance artist :'). Which is why at some point my comic started updating less and less, since I never got enough free time, even working the seven days of the week.

Hopefully with the Tapastic support program I will be able to update more. Also going to events and such helps a lot. You lose a lot of time, but make some money and meet cool people.

[globuline]

Well it seems I'm not the only one struggling. :/
Reading you guys, I have the impression that you have to be unemployed, a student or be have super motivation powers to do that everytime you have a chance... ><.
@elixiadragmire, I used to play WoW a lot as well, but for me it's just a huge loss pf productivity...
@raintowns, could you share the links of those podcasts?

[elixiadragmire]

@globuline hmmmmmmm yup! But I gives me a GOOD burst of energy because a) I nuke thing in dailies to burn work stress b) lightened up by laughing with guildies and the RP lets me peek into alternative trains of thought. And I logout after an hour or two so I don't burn out of the game and can work

[PotooGryphon]

Every spare moment I can cram it in. I work a full time job, husband and three cats, so I thankfully don't have too many obligations. All errands/chores are done in one day, I also have a day of pure online self-promotion for Oops, and the other 5 days a week is left to comics after coming home from work and taking care of the cats.

[elixiadragmire]

.... My husband does all the cleaning >.> thou I do cook so that save time!

[PotooGryphon]

Yes! That's the only way everything can get done, to split it up like that. lol Having a partner in making comics/life is great. :3

[globuline]

Haha, I agree! Mine's cooking while I clean.
And I do my comics and he proofreads and critics me !

[PotooGryphon]

Oh my, a proofreader is invaluable! We both kinda such at it, so I had to ask a grammar strict friend to help us.

[Raven_C]

@globuline you can check out this thread. There are a couple of podcast suggestions there (mine as well)!

[duong99]

Being in highschool, and working on college applications, I have little time, so when I am able to draw comics, its usually a 2 hour break I have late at night.

[evonnechua]

I'm an interior designer and i love to draw so much. I usually draw with a pen because it would be faster for me to work with my stories, plus im not familiar drawing in a computer (Sadly). I usually draw after work, i spent about an hour to a strip of comic. And usually i bring along my book and my pen and draw whenever i have new ideas about it.

[globuline]

Thanks @raintowns! I didn't see that thread! A whole new lot of things to do ^^.

[L4213]

currently studying at a college and still can't work (apparently you have to be 19 in the PH to get a part time job :X ) but my schoolwork always ends me up staying up late. i usually sacrifice sleeping time to let myself get drawing everyday! (sometimes i only get 1-2 hours of sleep, im a monster :X)

but i make sure to make the most out of my time whenever i have days where i have all the free time, (like a sunday) on days where i have the chance, i just draw like mad and hope to make enough stuff to showcase for the week. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't :X

[shaundmcmillan]

I was a full time graphic designer/web designer, but now I am a high school computer art teacher. While my students are doing their art, I also find time to do mine. I don't have a family, but I'm also a minister at my church so it is in fact pretty hard to commit to any kind of comics.

I can just about find enough time for illustrations but not quite comics. There's just so many layout problems and more work to do. This last couple weeks I actually did all my layouts and roughs for a couple comics, but ended up never doing the clean up work to finish them cause I had already spent too much time and was ready to move on to the next idea/project. Not sure what to do about it. Here's a link to one such unfinished project https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3meg4gysom3zuuk/AAA6w9DZWjJPyb25J1fYtSoua?dl=0

[IAMO]

It is tough.

The best advise I can give is to set up a schedule to work on your comic every day, just as you would do with any other job. It might be just 1 hour or a couple of hours per day, but use that time exclusively to create and promote your comic. Establish rules: no distractions, no interruptions during that schedule.

Stick to that schedule. Don't be late and don't overwork.

Good luck!

[scarlet_wings_kaili]

I'm at art school now, and I'm finding myself swamped with assigned artwork, and I'm somewhat struggling to find time for my own. But I do feel that I can still make time for comics, but I have to be careful of my schedule. Because my current schedule is unpredictable, lately I've been sticking with one-shots, such as Fish. I try plan my comic making time during breaks, so it lessens the amount of stress during exam weeks, but honesty, I'd rather be making comics all year around!!!!
Motivation is hard, and I had days where I fought against the lack of it. From what I learned is that if you're lying in bed, staring at the ceiling... and feeling sick about your comic, it is probably wise to get some rest first. I don't know about your habits but for me I burn out if I try too hard, and I will not be productive until I recharge. But other than that, what motivates me is the story. Personally I like the journey more than the destination, but if the journey has no end it becomes very non-motivating... In other words, it's good to have an ending (or any destination), because it will give you a goal.