Starting big, rather than starting small?

[DrSketchLines]

Okay, so I know that the golden rule of webcomic making is to start off small, then work on something big; but what if that the thing that you've been working on - that was previously something small - became something that you started falling in love with and now are focused on making that comic instead of your 'next big thing'?

My comic, A Wizard and a Cat, was a comic that was supposed to be... let's say a 'bombing test site'. It was supposed to be the cess pit of my failures and things so I can move on and learn from those mistakes, not to repeat them again and to make sure that my next comic project doesn't end up as warped as that. However, the thing is... I've honestly fallen in love with the concept of this comic that I'm willing to work on this far more than my 'next big thing'! It's kind of ironic, really!

I love the characters, I love the setting, I love the fact that it's so amateur, anyone can do it. The thing is, though, I am fully knowledgeable about all the flaws that the comic offers within the first Chapter. It has no flow, no writing involved and it's so evident upon reading the first two chapters, where everything was not planned and written beforehand, making every single scene drag on and on.

I know I'm shooting myself in the foot with this one, but is there anyone out there with a sort of... success story about their first comic doing kinda well? Again, I know I shouldn't be dedicating my time to A Wizard and a Cat as much as I am, but... there's just something about it, man. I love it. It has the flaws that any beginner should have, and is something I should throw under the bus the moment I learn from my mistakes. But the flaws are kinda endearing to me in a way?

What do you guys think? Should I keep working on it? Or should I, if I care about it so much, delete it and start from scratch, really build up the story and then publish it? I'm kind of at a loss honestly! I never thought that something, that was supposed to be expendable, mind you, became something so close to my heart! Again, it's so ironic!

I'd love to hear some feedback!

[DeformedSunflower]

You can look at your work now, think 'oh this sucks', and revamp it. But as you become better, you'll look back at it again and think, "Wow, why did I even think this is any good?"
In the end, you'll just fall into a loop of getting better and revamping and getting better and revamping and there'll be no end to it. As they always say, you can't undo past mistakes, but you can learn from it and avoid doing it again. So I think no matter how bad it is, you should just keep working on it.

[DrSketchLines]

That's actually the same response someone gave me a long time ago! Something I should really take to heart. Thank you so much for your response!

[SleepingPoppy]

"Start small" is a piece of advice, not a rule. If you're aware of the reason why starting with a smaller or a few smaller comics is a better idea generally, but you're committed to start with something big instead, you do you.

Personally I thoroughly agree with the logic, but I genuinely have 0 motivation for short comics, so I just went for it. only you know what works for you!

As for redoing the first bit, that's really up to you? If you had started up,landing, I'd say just move forward, but since you haven't yet, I'd say now is the best chance if you think it genuinely needs some updating. But don't get stuck in a cycle of redoing old work.

So basically my advice is "Follow your heart! ️"

Also I friggin love the title "A Wizard and a Cat". That sounds great already!

[punkarsenic]

what if that the thing that you've been working on - that was previously something small - became something that you started falling in love with and now are focused on making that comic instead of your 'next big thing'?

i think a key part of the 'start small' rule is that having the experience of carrying a project from start to finish is extremely valuable, and youre more likely to finish something small.

in which case, what you can do is: a pilot!

still make your original Short Thing, release it as a pilot for the longer thing its become, see how it goes down and get some feedback on things you might want to edit, drum up some interest as you work on the big thing.

like you say, youve noticed a lot of flaws already in your first chapter - by dubbing that as a pilot, you can bypass the 'do not get stuck in a reboot loop' rule by starting from scratch in the big thing, where youll have the advantage of that test run, and be planning for a longer project from the get go.

But the flaws are kinda endearing to me in a way?

hmm... i feel that. its good that you can look at your work with this kind of frank affection, its a good perspective.

that said, be prepared to find tonnes of flaws in all your work, its part of the learning process. if youre gonna be working on something for the next year or longer, you might wanna think about how youre gonna evaluate your work in a way that is forgiving and makes sure you can live with your past mistakes. this is something i wish id given more thought to before i started, but its also something you can learn on the go.

[DrSketchLines]

Ah, I never thought of the first chapter as a sort of 'pilot' to me before. I should keep that in mind. I also would hate to get stuck in the 'repeat the same start loop' over and over again. It's happened to my very first comic, since I just couldn't stand the flaws from the beginning lol! Maybe in hind sight, that was my real 'testing grounds for error'.

Yeah, you're right about the 'tons of flaws in my work' thing. I'm going to have to give myself more time, even if that makes the views dip.

Thanks so much for the insight

[DrSketchLines]

Personally I thoroughly agree with the logic, but I genuinely have 0 motivation for short comics, so I just went for it. only you know what works for you!

Yeah, I don't have any motivation for short comics either. I was thinking of starting a project of an anthology of short comics that have stories that don't go anywhere! But I'd like to work on A Wizard and a Cat at the moment lol spend all my efforts on that for now.

And I'd really hate to get stuck in the 'reboot loop'. I found myself stuck in that loop when I made my very very first comic, Stale. I kept rebooting the beginning because I could never stand the beginning's mistakes. But as punkarsenic says, I should probably view that as a sort of 'pilot' and if I think that the pilot holds up, even if it's got some flaws, then it's worth continuing.

And thank you for the compliment on the title I'm also loving your comic so far as well! Most importantly, thank you so much for the input! I so appreciate it!

[McAmps]

Do what makes you happy :3 I'm doing a long comic too. I might regret it later, but for now, I'm having a blast! And learning so much too~

[DrSketchLines]

Ah! You're doing a long comic too? I should read it some time

And also, after reading everyone's replies from both topics posted tonight from SmackJeeves to this website, I can say that even if you make mistakes, I think you should keep going Because if you don't, you'll end up in a 'reboot loop' like I did if you keep disliking your errors

Glad you're not falling into the same trappings as I have! And I'm glad you're learning. I had to be taught to night, and i'm glad everyone told me things , including you!

[amortelito]

I totally get you. I started with my most important comic...while knowing NOTHING about web comics. I think the first chapter helped me a lot to grow as an artist and to see mistakes I would have never seen If I have not uploaded it for others to see. Sometimes you have to just do it and screw up.

What helped me a lot to "reboot" my series when I learnt form my mistakes was that my first chapters was a stand alone adventure (it is important for the story but easily can be pulled out of the main plot and be read later or summarized so that others can catch up). I moved that chapter and then I "started over" by posting the definitive introduction, and main story. I think this is a way in which you can work on your big project but just showing a small part of it. If your pilot works then there is no need for reboots but is a good plan to think about it as trial.

[ar-ninetysix]

I.. started off wanting to go big. Magnum Opus-es? Opi? The big bois that I wanna put all my effort into. But I came to realize just how huge and out-of-reach these ideas are. So, I thought that I'd put those on hold for much smaller projects, one-shots.. this didn't last long, because I couldn't hold back on my creativity lol so they became mini-series. I'd eventually drop a few of those and stick with one.

This one mini-series actually stuck with me enough to have me decide that that was a more achievable goal while also being the most fun... but again, my creativity ran too far with it but I hit a wall. Now I wanna make a series that's sort of.. on-going, but with a loose plot. Separate arcs and stories following this small cast of "main" characters I have in mind with an underlying plot going on for all of them. My main stuff that I wanted to work on initially are so far back in my mind now lol

There's no right way to go about it, your huge series might be a flop while your expendable story's what ends up working, maybe it's the other way around, who knows xD Just do what feels right to you, if you screw up then uhh... life goes on, learn from mistakes, do it better the next time lol

[Jenna_A]

Honestly, I think the start small advice is bunk. Whether it's a big project or a small one, choose a project that you are passionate about! If you're heart is not in it 100%, you aren't going to last long and the process will be less appealing. I'm currently working my first webtoon (which is planned out to be a very long running story) and it's having some success and heck, I've even been able to start building a fan base. I'm coming up on my one year anniversary with it too which I'm super proud of! Sure, the first few chapters (in my opinion) are not some of my best work, (I picked up digital drawing only a few months before starting) but you gotta start learning somewhere! Plus I can always go back and re-draw them later- which I plan to do. If you just keep planning and planning....it's not gonna go anywhere. Just take the leap and get creating!