Issues of self worth

[Noodle_Survivor]

Hey- I've been here for awhile now, and I've kinda hit the end of my rope. About a month ago, I let the readers I have here know that I'm considering either taking my stuff down for good once I've finished posting the current chapter (which is currently being re-drawn for their benefit), or going on a hiatus that I might not come back from; I've only gotten three responses back since then, and I'm honestly feeling worse now than I was then. Am I expecting too much from my readers? Am I even worth the time?

[AffectedMind]

For me it's fine. You told your readers you may dissapear, it's not like you are leaving them without a word. Did you made an announcement on your wall? Because those don't work on mobile app and less people will see it.
I was re-vamping my story, didn't really ask if that was okay, I just told them I will probably gonna do that. I was more doing it for myself since I wanted to improve my art and story.
And never say something like: Am I even worth the time? If people enjoy your work they want to be bothered by your creations as well as your person.

[Noodle_Survivor]

The wall is where I initially left it- Tapastic kept giving me errors the first time around, so I had to post it via tumblr... Same results there as on Tapastic.

[AffectedMind]

Everything depends how long time ago did you post it and how big your fanbase is. Timezones are a bummer and you need to wait a bit more.

[Chiper1811]

@Noodle_Survivor Hmmm... if there is anything I learn from drawing comics so far is.... most readers prefer to keep all opinions to themselves. When someone has a lot of comments or responses, a lot of them just amounted to approximately 5-10% of their subscribers, not to mention those who think they don't need to subscribe and check back from time to time (I was someone like that a long time ago). I too thought that only a handful of people read my comics, but slowly people in my circle have opened up and told me in person that they read my work. However, I don't think they will post any comment online.

I understand it's hard to work without responses, but if you change the way you motivate yourself you will find more courage and enjoyment going forward with your comics. My advice is choose a select few people who can be there for your physically and read your work routinely and rely on them to provide you with feedback. Don't judge your ability on the popularity of your comics, especially if you're still learning a lot of things. Read great comics, but don't get depressed because they have more readers than you, instead use them as reference to better your artwork and storytelling abilities. Continuing or stopping your comics depend on your own situation, not because of your readers.

[okellymx]

I suggest you stop looking for results so much and just make art, even if it sucks finish it. If you keep looking for everyone on the internet that gazes upon your comic to respond to you as soon as possible you will be stressed. They have lives too. Some people like me won't respond to a creator's post and simple will just unsubscribe. I understand that live gets in the way but as a reader I don't care I just want to read a story so if you make me wait, the comic better be really good or I'll stop reading. That's why I unsubscribed from a comic that should not be named.
I don't want to wait around for a story that takes months to update. Get better at drawing and writing and people will follow. As you get better more people will care. Everything is hard and stressful when you don't have experience or skills. Comics like most media aren't created alone. Webcomic creators are usually amateur artist and writers that try to should all the burden of creating comics,and expect marvelous results for mediocre work. So the only advice I have is; don't expect amazing results without amazing skills.

P.S. This is simply my opinion

[Noodle_Survivor]

I suppose. I've been stuck with largely gauging how things are going via statistics for several years now, since consistent feedback is scarce. It's just disheartening to hear nothing back from 70+ people when my peers are able to do so easily.

[Thesleepypencil]

I'll first say Viewers are always going to be important and a big motivation. But I'm also going to say they should not be the deciding factors for your comic.

Alex Hirsch said in an interview that he made gravity falls because it is something HE wanted to watch. This should be the same for anyone telling a story. It is a story they want to tell and hear. I use this as motivation when i started making comics. This is my story and i want to tell it for me.

Also told by professionals, don't go back to the begining. I use to constantly redraw and redraw and redraw pages of art so that they looked nicer. You say you are redrawing older pages for your audience, but whole redrawing makes it look better from time to time. It also sucks you into a loop of redrawing the same thing and not feeling like you are progressing. Maybe if you focus more on future pages it will light a fire? I say this only from experience because that is what i have started to do.

What I'll say is don't put to much on the viewers. Way over half of all my comments on my comics are my own replying back. And When i post things on my wall i get two Comments at most. Average is none. If you plan on going on hiatus that is a - okay it's always fine to take a break. Maybe not take it down that would be sad.

Just take some time to think about what YOU want with YOUR story. Thats all i can fully suggest

Also link it here so people can check it out?

[Chiper1811]

@Thesleepypencil I agree. Don't ever look back.

@Noodle_Survivor If I may ask, how long have you been drawing and can I see you comics? Also, if it makes you feel better, I have 68 subscribers at the moment and only one responds when I made an announcement just recently But I refuse to see that as an insult although I do yearn to hear from them. I do treasure the very few comments I have and respond to them properly, though.

[purrlpankras]

Basically this. I totally agree.

@Noodle_Survivor
I sometimes feel like shit when I upload my comic, but then I remember why I'm doing it, For myself.
And if people stick around and read it, that's even better. Just think, you're not going to progress as an artist on constant hiatus.
Hey, I did a totally random horror comic earlier this year just for fun and experimental reasons. I thought it was shit, but it turns out its one of my best comics I ever did.
There might be other reasons why you want to take down your stuff, but going off not getting a response, It doesn't take over night. In fact, I think Tapastic is quite a fast way to get readers, compared to other ways. I've been uploading Two Faced for months now, not every time people comment. I only get 10 likes on average. That doesn't stop me from doing it though. 10 is better than none.

Even though you only had 3 responses. Those 3 are really important.
You're drawing for YOURSELF and those readers.

You want to get good right? Make that fill you with determination ;3

[Noodle_Survivor]

It's not so much that they're a deciding factor that they're just a source of stress at this point... I mean, I largely made the comic for myself, so it's not like I had to share it- I wanted to share it. To get little feedback on how it's being received on top of other stressors I'm currently dealing with is a bit worse that a let down. Moreover, this is the only chapter I've redrawn thus far, and I really don't plan on doing it again- like I said, it was done for the benefit of the readers...

My intent in this wasn't to attention-spam the comic, and I'd feel terrible if I did.

[shazzbaa]

At about 90 subscribers, one or two comments seems like you're doing quite well! Especially given how enthusiastic those comments are. I have a little over 100 subscribers here on Tapastic, and "one or two comments on some pages" is about what I get! Tumblr is worst of all as far as feedback goes -- it's where I got the fewest responses for a long time.

@Chiper1811 speaks truth -- the percentage of people who comment and engage is always going to be a very small percentage of your total readership.

I don't fully understand your comic's goings-on in the past few months, but it looks like you took a break, reworked the beginning, and posted a different comic in the meantime? Honestly, that is when your readership is going to be at its LEAST enthusiastic, so if you're noticing a decline in response or interest, it probably has more to do with the redraw-hiatus than anything! I've personally found the decline in feedback during my hiatus really discouraging, so I understand why it feels that way, but you gotta remember there's a reason it's happening!

---

When I was first starting out, a more experienced webcartoonist told me "You have to just focus on your comic for at least 2 years before you can decide if it's for you or not." And while I think it's tough to put a hard number on webcomicking -- it might be a little more than 2 years, it might be a little less -- that advice still rang true for me. You have to go into it knowing that for a couple of years you're not waiting to see if it's catching on -- you're just updating. If you discover that process is REALLY not enjoyable before then, then I think it's fine to go "this ain't for me," but if you're discouraged that you're getting no response and you're still in that first two years of updating..... please understand, that's normal!!

I agree with everyone saying "Do it for yourself," but at the same time, I can understand really needing someone who cares and gives you feedback on what you're doing. I think I'd have a tough time making a comic and getting zero response. But you've said that your peers/friends do read and respond to your comic, and it sounds like, from looking at some of the comments you get, that you do have 1 or 2 dedicated people who tend to respond often. THAT IS AWESOME! Having a friend who cares about your story during the tough 2-3 years where you haven't really built a responsive readership is a HUGE help, and if you have to think of yourself as primarily making this comic for yourself, and secondarily you know your one friend is gonna love it -- man, I don't think there's anything wrong with that at all.

Webcomics are not for everyone; if you honestly don't want to do it or don't find it fulfilling, that doesn't reflect negatively on your worth as a person or as an artist -- it is okay to decide that's not for you! But if you like creating a webcomic and only feel like you're failing because of where you stand in terms of reader responses, then I will tell you as encouragingly as I can: Nothing could be further from the truth!

[winglesscomic]

most people don't respond or comment on anything. they just consume content and move on. I don't even read creator announcements 90% of the time. some people just want to read a story and they don't really care what a creator has to say. they just take it as it is.

yeah it's shitty you were expecting some kind of response, but getting three people to say something is better than no people. even if it was nobody who said anything, don't gauge yourself on it or anything of the sort. when I started my comic nobody would ever comment on anything and even if I asked a question or announced something there would be tumbleweed. It felt crappy and I wanted to stop because I didn't know if anyone was actually consuming my content, I knew they had to though because google analytics told me there were people here! it wasn't a lot, but it was around the number you have! anyway, I started advertising more and therefore more people came and started relaying their thoughts, and with my past update I got 8 whole comments on one page. EIGHT!!! that's a lot!

I was in a rut for a while about this whole ordeal about readers showing they actually read, realized it was stupid of me to expect them to show anything other than be a statistic for coming in on update day. Readers don't really owe you anything for reading your stuff, not even their existence, so it's hard to tell when someone's reading, but be assured that if there are people still coming then they're reading your stuff, albeit silently.

I understand that isn't going to stop you from stopping your comic or going on hiatus, but if you do so, at least don't leave with the thought of beating yourself up over it.

[Thesleepypencil]

If it is one stressor out of others than take a break so that you can handle the other stressors. There is no problem with that you need to take care of yourself before your comic

I still reiterate, while having viewers and knowing people like it can be motivating. Don't focus on them, what reasons other than your viewers do you want to continue or quit, and use those reasons only. I know it's hard to look past viewers believe me i have been there. But as a creator sometimes you just have to.

Also thus is a thread that is talking about your comic. It wouldn't be attention spam to link it. Especially since i and others want to read what is apart of this topic. What would be attention spam is if I promoted my comic. Which would be distasteful. You worry about viewers and comments, that can change just by linking and promoting said comic.

Like in my last post. What is important is you, do what is best for you. You can do it!

[Mharz]

First of all, don't judge your self worth based on the numbers. Ask yourself why are you doing webcomics? Are you doing it because you want to tell a story? for fun? or is there an even more deep reason to it? It's true though not having any people commenting can be stressful. I feel sad from time to time but that's just the way it is and that doesn't I won't stop drawing webomics because my desire to draw and express stories that I could never ever express with words alone is stronger.

I have to admit I'm pretty guilty myself on not commenting on people's comics or art. It's mainly because I can't find the right words to say or don't know what to say. I'm scared that I might offend other people and I don't want to get into an argument. Sometimes I'm just waaay too shy to just say anything. I believe that others might be thinking the same thing I do so I'm not fretting much about it.

And I advice against redrawing pages you really won't progress into your story. Just focus on improving future pages. I personally find it fun and inspiring to see the artists' improvement that transpire throughout the pages.

[BraveHeartTatsumaki]

I had this issue some days ago, so firstly I know how you feel, as many here also does too.
Is like a process we all go through when we draw comics, "is it good?" "will people like it?" "but my art sucks actually frm my view..." and etc etc etc....
But you know what? I learned that even if people like it or not, firstly, you must enjoy drawing your comic, mainly yourself, it's your story, not someone-else's comic, no, YOURS. If you enjoy it, slowly more people will like it too.
I'm good example, I have 31 suscribers, half of them are real life friends who doesn't even read it, the rest are people from here in taps who also I think they read it but not comment, from that number, only 2 comments, I barely get 3 favs in my drawings and that's if I'm lucky and the position of the planets and the stars are good too. I really thought about dropping but later I realized that people will slowly arrive, and I need to have patience in it, and if there are at least 2 people commenting, then there will be more in the future, same for you,even if you have few, you reached to those few ones no? Then more will arrive soon too. The best thing is to remember why did you start drawing comics, what is your view in it, what do you want to show.

[Tentakustar]

I think most people already covered some of the general stuff about your comic. one thing i definitely want to emphasis though is have faith in your comic. if you do not have faith in your comic who will? and im sure you've probably heard that before but it's very true. having faith not only means that you know it will be good but also allows you to have fun with it as well.

Don't think too much about the views or if people are paying attention to your comic or not. my view on this is " this is the internet, people are definitely going to find my stuff." and thing is they will. whether you like it or not haha. let me just say this too... time can be a pretty stressful thing to deal with when your just simply not seeing results. but you can't let that bother you. you just have to keep going and going and going. you keep working until you are finished with this comic. regardless of where you stand at that moment.

this is where the "I'm doing it for me" part plays in. because you finished it,because you wanted to see it finished. and then if you have any other plans of a new story. go on to the next and then the next...etc. keep going at it. not for months but for years... show how passionate you are! and let it burn never going out!

I know you said you are going on hiatus. but I say, if webcomics is your thing, don't give up on this comic. challenge yourself and say you will finish it. do this however if this is a story you feel worth sharing and that you would enjoy yourself.:)

[Noodle_Survivor]

I mentioned before that I've been making this for myself- But I've invested more time in this than is healthy over the last few years, and not much has changed from when I started and now. My original plan was just to take it all off the internet, or at least what I could of it- no comics online or art pieces means no worrying over lack of feedback and statistics. However, Hiatus or complete removal of art, it doesn't mean that I would stop creating comics. It just means that I would stop sharing them. I never expected much out of posting online, only that things would progress as I worked hard- Probably a foolish way to be optimistic.

[Noodle_Survivor]

I'm doing webcomics because I want to. I enjoy stories, and a visual medium allows for more engaging works. Again, the point of putting them online was to share them- Stressing over whether they're being read or not has become normal at this point.
The art for the pages online were horrible, and I'm four chapters ahead in my work- the reworks were done for the benefit of the readers, and at the suggestion of one that I haven't heard from in quite awhile.

[keii4ii]

Find/make friends who will give you genuine attention. They don't have to praise everything you make, but they should give you actual attention and honest, constructive feedback. Perhaps not on every single page, but definitely for every major scene. And do the same for them if they make stuff.

And if you are having it really, really, REALLY REALLY bad, this could be unrelated stress affecting your creative side. I suffer from that problem. Take care of yourself, assess your situation and see if that helps with your comic related stress.