Share your Experiences/advice

[KreativeConfusion]

I thought it would be fun to have a new thread where everyone shares their experiences on the site and any tips or tricks they wish they knew beforehand.

You don't have to go into detail or anything, just say a few things you think are helpful to know!

I'll start with some common ones.

1) make a giant buffer. Your future self will love you for this later.
2) don't get lazy with said buffer, your future self will hate you for this later.
3) draw big then resize

[jdthomaswriter]

Thank you @KreativeConfusion for posting this thread.

I myself am definitely learning from my recent mistakes with the buffer issue. While my illustrator for Lockhart is working on her series VSEPR, I will be releasing a new series at the same time so as to have the fan-base continuously growing while waiting for updated Lockhart content. Lady Arrowsmith has her (older) but newly released on Tapastic series, "Goblins of Razard" now as well.

Definitely will be creating at least 5-10 pages first before debuting the series (and release them weekly) so I can have time to properly create same amount of pages during that time. This new series will be written and illustrated by me as well.

[AnnaLandin]

I second the buffer and the drawing big>resizing thing! Both great things to keep in mind! You don't need to be as crazy as I am with your buffer (yes hi I am 50+ pages ahead of my readers), but having a big buffer is a big help.

I'd like to add these:

1.) Plan ahead
One of the worst feelings in the world is opening a new document, or placing a fresh, empty sheet of paper on your drawing table, and not knowing what to draw on it. Planning ahead - by outlining, or by doing thumbnails or by whatever method you choose - is a good idea, because it means you lessen the risk of staring at that empty page and drawing a complete blank. Know what happens next, and your future self will thank you for it.

2.) Don't be scared to challenge yourself
Don't let the feeling of "I don't know how to draw this" limit you. If you want something to happen in your comic, and you don't know how to draw it, do it anyway. Experiment! If you fail, you will still have learned something!

3.) Expect failure
You're going to fail. You're going to mess something up. You're going to make mistakes. You might mess up your updating schedule, you might make spelling-mistakes left, right and center, you might draw your characters wrong - accidentally drawing their nose crooked, or their hair parted the wrong way, or get your characters' expressions wrong. Inevitably, people are going to notice.

This is okay. This is fine. All you need to do is look at your mistakes, correct them if you can, and resolve to do better in the future. As long as the people pointing out your mistakes aren't being vicious about it, thank them for pointing it out and move on. If they are being vicious, try your best to ignore it.

4.) Be patient
Comics take a long time to make, and it takes even longer to find an audience. Nobody is an overnight success - you just have to keep plugging away, keep working on making better comics, keep putting your work out there to be seen, and eventually your comic will start gaining a readership.

But you are going to need to be in this for the long haul.

[thesisterscomic]

Firstly: Strong Bad is wise on this subject.

As for my own personal point of view:

1. It helps to acknowledge that those individuals (you know the ones) who have comics that don't seem to possess the level of quality or effort you put into yours; but are infinitely more popular, are popular because they entered into webcomics a good long while ago. They've built up their audience a decade before you. Do not compare yourself to them, they are outliers from the formula. It is not 2003 anymore.
2. Don't expect to make money or an impact on the scene. Attempt to, of course; but do not go in expecting success and riches. You are producing an item that is digestible, free to view, and unless you can maintain a proper schedule alongside an engaging marriage of style and substance; you will probably not get paid for this. Consider that maybe 1 in 100 people might be willing to toss something your way and accept that. Time and exposure may change this, but it will take a lot of both.
3. Consider that the legitimacy of your product may be undermined by the medium. Webcomics occupy a tier under comics proper, or "indie comics" you'd find in a zine. This is mainly do to the low barrier of entry, wide selection, and the level of professionalism your peers possess.
4. Plot ahead, but prepare to change and rewrite. Always important. Sometimes you have to adapt to what the audience wants, and you can do this without sacrificing ones artistic integrity or pandering.
5. If you're telling a story, start as close as you can to the meat of it. And if you're telling a story, consider if it wouldn't be better as just prose. You can make greater change plying out you novella and putting it up on an Amazon kindle service that gets you a few cents anytime one of their special customers look it over.
6. If you're doing a comedy, timing and delivery matter more than subject matter. People can laugh at anything but a bad joke; unless that joke is timed to be a non-joke or used in a way (delivery) to be a funny bad joke.
7. Don't try to peddle the same product that saturates the market unless you think you can do it better or in such a way that when I look at it I can appreciate it as a competitor to the original product. There's a lot of saturation in certain genres, if I'm hearing you wax poetically about gamers on a couch there better be something more to it (consider Blaster Nation to any number of gamer comics, it hits it a bit nicer).
8. Dialogue requires knowing how people talk, and talking to people. Sentence structure and language choice can define a character, and you don't have to go all Starfire and chuck "the"s where they don't belong. If your inspirations are drawn from genre and film, look to installments by various directors; watch the rip-off Asylum film version too and maybe even the parody porn (those guys put a lot of effort into character accuracy); see every which way it can be presented and then find your way of incorporating those various aspects.

A bit drier and unpleasant advice, but still things I'd suggest you consider before breaking into webcomics. Also, always save your files. Constantly and often. Back-up to the cloud.

[WintreKitty]

I made a tips and tricks post on my blog recently. You can check it out here.

[jdthomaswriter]

Awesome blog! Thanks for the great information! I also recommend checking out Jim Zub's tutorials on scripting and art as well!

[KreativeConfusion]

@AnnaLandin 50 pages? Dang I'm jealous of you. I can barely get past 5.

Also I really agree with the planning ahead thing. You don't have to thumb nail everything or do anything super detailed or in depth, just get a rough idea of what you want to happen next. What I personally do is try to doodle a little scene everyday, even if it's just my character saying something silly, it helps me remember what I'm gonna be doing next.

@thesisterscomic I agree with the whole "You won't suddenly be big" idea too. It's something you have to remember and to just focus on doing your best on every page. People will come, slowlY but surely they will come.

[gnekomikero]

1. don't quit just do it
2. Dedication - no interest no dedication no determination? better stop webcomic because it is not for you
3. make it as a hobby not for money
4. don't hide it. SHOW IT! Yes, don't be shy to post it on 9gag imgur reddit fb etc. Advertise it with courage. Believe or brain wash yourself that your comics is good no matter they say. because it is your art "STYLE"
5. BELIEVE (Have faith with your talent and your comic) remember it is made of your sweaty hands, blood, heart and soul.

[AnnaLandin]

50 pages? Dang I'm jealous of you. I can barely get past 5.

I finished 52 pages before I even started posting chapter 1! This isn't my first rodeo in the webcomics-world (though my first attempts were terrible and we shall not speak their name), and I've been reading webcomics for about 16 years, which means I've become familiar with the struggles of other creators as well - I know how much of a challenge it is to keep up a regular posting schedule. Life always gets in the way! So I knew I'd better get myself a massive buffer to take some of the pressure off.

[hushicho]

Do your best, don't take everything to heart, especially when it sounds like people are trying to crap on your hopes and ambitions, and don't be quick to believe people even if they sound like they know what they're talking about. Do the reading, do the research, and make up your own mind about what you feel is right before buying into anyone casting aspersions about your future.

Don't feel pressured into anything like conventions, a certain graphics program or equipment, or any arbitrary numbers or sites; don't feel like you have to engage in something, especially if it requires money and doesn't seem like a sound investment; and don't neglect your personal health -- don't push yourself so hard you injure yourself or drive yourself into sickness.

Don't compare yourself to others. Most of the ways people latch onto for comparison are meaningless and ultimately just end up getting you down about things that don't matter or can't be helped. Be proud of what you're doing. Love your comic. Act as a professional and expect to be treated as one. You will make an impact if you have the dedication to follow through with your story to any length and take it seriously.

Webcomics, like most internet-based publishing, is slowly getting more respect. Don't take someone's disrespect of the medium or you seriously, because they most likely are just speaking out of ignorance. Just be sure you take it seriously as you want to be taken, and put your best into what you do.

[KreativeConfusion]

@AnnaLandin Ahhh I see. (I understand that feeling with comics, I look back at some of my old ones and while I'm surprised how much I did I can't stand to look at them.)

Don't feel pressured into anything like conventions, a certain graphics program or equipment, or any arbitrary numbers or sites; don't feel like you have to engage in something, especially if it requires money and doesn't seem like a sound investment; and don't neglect your personal health -- don't push yourself so hard you injure yourself or drive yourself into sickness.

This one is important. I remember when I was younger I kept thinking if I had this or did that I would be so much better. You guys don't have to be like the cool kids to get better, practicing at your own pace is the best way to keep going.

[Vikiro_Hop]

My current series was callled self defeat because of all these ideas and preconceptions I had for my first comic. In the end I just ran around and circles being too analytical to get anything done.

My only advice is start. Doesn't matter what skill level you are just go out and try. People really underestimate the humble beginnings most artists have to go through. Waiting until you are ready is just not productive

[demthorshie]

My 2 cents:

1. Love your creations first and foremost! When you're really passionate about what you do, it really shows and people tend to pick up on it quickly!

2. This has been said a billion and one times before but consistency is gold in the webcomic world. Be consistent, sporadic update patterns lead to readers missing updates or giving up reading altogether if you rarely ever update. You give your readers something to look forward to when you can keep up with a regular update schedule.

3. Don't expect too much too soon. You aren't going to get thousands of followers off the bat and you're probably not going to get rich over night from your comics any time soon either. Take it one day at a time, even if only for sanity's sake!

4. Appreciate your fans, even if you only have a few! Thank them, Interact with them regularly and let them know how much you appreciate their support.

5. Don't feel discouraged if you get some haters along the way! If you've managed to attract the pockets of scumbags throughout the internet, you're probably also reaching a pretty wide range of people at this point, haters and non-haters alike, which ultimately means you're doing something right.

[momoriin]

Holy I was burning out from pressure and thinking my webcomic isn't worth it. It's simple but this hit me right to the core. I need these words. xD Thank you!

[moonsun]

Sorry but what is this "buffer" you are all talking about?

One good tip that helps me all the time is flipping your image.
Those who do it will know. ^^
Those who don't and wonder why your drawing is wrong but can't see why, FLIP AWAY!

Another tip for is using the adjustment layer on Photoshop to desaturate. It really helps for the composition. Basically, you will want things in the front to be darker than the ones in the back (and vice versa for a night scene). The reading of an image will be much easier as darker (and/or more saturated things) will pop out

[Devika]

Sorry but what is this "buffer" you are all talking about?

It means that you don't post all your pages as soon as they're done, but have prepared pages in advance. For example, if you post one page a week, and have five more pages done but not posted yet, you have five week's buffer if you stick to only posting one page a week and keep making pages at the same rate. This helps in case you can't draw for a week or two, for whatever reason (sickness, work, breakups, what have you).

[moonsun]

Aaah!
Then yes, definitely agree with that!