We don't have enough promotion threads

[DasIstWunderblyat]

Small rant

Why these kind of topics always at some point devolve into "My series deserves better because it's better, because I am a professional, and because I take it very seriously"? As if none of the other series(popular or not) are better, made by professionals, and taken very seriously? These kind of people always say "Tapas owes you nothing" when other people are complaining about their series lack of success. When it comes to their own series, Tapas suddenly owes them everything as if their series are #1 Tapas most-read series. Which one is the correct one?

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That aside, I am relieved that Staff's Pick is back and is put up there! I am not too hopeful to get my own series on it (and it would be detrimental for Tapas for featuring such unprofessional unpolished shit ), but at least the section is back to help the tiny chance community creators have! I wish this section can be more developed in the future!

Also how long is the time consideration for a series to be put in "New from the community?" I kinda wish there is a clear guidelines for every community-geared features, with a description of what that is and its purpose. So creators can now what to do to up their chance to be featured and if they eligible, and readers can know what it is behind those selection. It can straighten misunderstanding or unfairness, as I myself have been staff's picked where I shouldn't and it felt unfair.

I kinda feel up for now that the mechanism or criteria for Staff's Pick and Seasonal Features (like the previous Women's History Month) is enigmatic. I have seen people voicing their displeasure about it, which while it confused and disappointed me too (I did not pitch, so this isn't about me), I can accept an explanation. I also feel disappointed that the last feature is not cycled, as IIRC it was written as such in announcement (CMIIW). Those features can be the only hope for community creators who aren't new, and it is no shit that being on the front page will boost your readership. Some transparency and extra space for it would be better.

Lastly, I kinda think premium series should not be in staff's pick. I have seen multiple times when the series featured in those huge front page banner is also in staff's pick and thought "Wow that's putting a hat on a hat." I am fully aware that premium series≠popularity and success (I have seen premium series with worse stats that mine), but the spot used to feature a popular premium series in the Staff's Pick (which often have been featured somewhere else) is better being used for community or smaller premiums.

[Nen]

Your rant is very good and powerful, I would give you an award if I could.

Whenever these threads pop up, the comics that complain about this stuff usually haven't had the required amount of effort put into it to actually complain. They come in and complain about the system keeping them down when really they've been working on a comic for a year tops and with art that shows they haven't gotten to a more developed stage in their growth as an artist; and no one says anything or will say anything because to do so would be considered "keeping them down" when really we're just acknowledging that the current landscape demands more and we should either do as much as it demands or accept that we won't hit that big spike we want to hit.

[EncryptedWriting]

I agree with you. I think there should be two main threads for artists and novelists. One for 1k + reads (or subs) and one for less than that. Obviously, all these postings are, I guess, just pointless. I wish the mods could think of a better way to do so.

[carloswebcomic]

Why these kind of topics always at some point devolve into "My series deserves better because it's better, because I am a professional, and because I take it very seriously"? As if none of the other series(popular or not) are better, made by professionals, and taken very seriously? These kind of people always say "Tapas owes you nothing" when other people are complaining about their series lack of success. When it comes to their own series, Tapas suddenly owes them everything as if their series are #1 Tapas most-read series. Which one is the correct one?

Whenever these threads pop up, the comics that complain about this stuff usually haven't had the required amount of effort put into it to actually complain. They come in and complain about the system keeping them down when really they've been working on a comic for a year tops and with art that shows they haven't gotten to a more developed stage in their growth as an artist; and no one says anything or will say anything because to do so would be considered "keeping them down" when really we're just acknowledging that the current landscape demands more and we should either do as much as it demands or accept that we won't hit that big spike we want to hit.

I'd say it's because art is an extremely personal, high effort, low return activity.

I am very fortunate to have a good following with decent exposure because of it, but there are a lot of people who work very, very hard, maybe harder than me, without much in the way of returns.

Of course that doesn't mean every comic should be popular or have tons of readers. Reality doesn't work that way. But I think it's only fair that everyone is given the opportunity to realise their potential.
People should have the chance to have their comics succeed based on its own merits as opposed to the whim of algorithms or if they are lucky to catch the eye of staff.

However, with the way app stores monitor content, it seems this is no longer possible here on Tapas.

[Nen]

People should have the chance to have their comics succeed based on its own merits as opposed to the whim of algorithms or if they are lucky to catch the eye of staff.

It is exceedingly rare for anything of value to not be gaining success on its own merits, it's common for garbage to get more than it deserves but it's rare for content of value to go unnoticed and not talked about. Not saying it doesn't take a long time sometimes but imo that's just the cost of doing business.

If the content is good, it will be noticed more often than not. As someone who consumes excessive amounts of content, most unpopular things are unpopular because they're not good enough to be considered interesting in any way.

[Eyre]

No one can say conclusively that "hard work" works, because no data exists on the people for whom it didn't.

Everything in this thread is speculation and anecdote, because no information exists regarding those works worthy of above-average merit that have not acquired it.

(feel free to substitute 'hard work' for 'artistic skill' or 'making content worthy of merit')

...Someone did reply in this thread saying that they'd worked on comics for five years before eventually giving up, though they deleted their reply 20 minutes after posting it.

It is extremely hard to find unpopular things on the Internet, as they [sorting algorithms] have no data to recommend them. [...] to answer the question at the heart of [this] Debate, we need to find failure - we want to find the people who gave up - people the modern content platform hides by design.

...

really we're just acknowledging that the current landscape demands more

Is it true that the current landscape need be incompatible with this:

I think it's only fair that everyone is given the opportunity to realise their potential.

?

Surely we have all accepted by now that no one actually knows what the current landscape demands, and so we cannot know whether it is reasonable or not. But, we do know that at least this much is true:

It's no secret that every platform out there, if you want success on it basically wants you as a full-time, unpaid worker.

While I can sympathise completely with your lack of patience with those replying to this thread and others like it purely out of self-interest, surely you can agree that there is far more to this discussion than some folks complaining about audience-building/getting good at art being hard work? At the very least, surely you can acknowledge that your claims rely on evidence that is purely anecdotal, and that you can't actually know how much you don't know, because no means exists by which you could search for evidence that would challenge your assertions.

[jimena]

Reading the title I was like: NOT ENOUGH?????
just came here to say that

[carloswebcomic]

If the content is good, it will be noticed more often than not. As someone who consumes excessive amounts of content, most unpopular things are unpopular because they're not good enough to be considered interesting in any way.

One man's rubbish is another's treasure.

Just because you don't deem something to be good enough by your criteria, it doesn't mean that there's a group of people who aren't looking just for that thing. But maybe they'll never find it if it's not visible.

Have you ever discovered some obscure band from the early 80's that blows you away but no one talks or even heard of them?

Exposure and visibility is not a given. Even on the internet.

[DasIstWunderblyat]

I am sure this is how some creators feel right now

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Another long rant, I deeply apologize

I am fully aware of that sentiment. Deep inside their hearts, there must be even a trickle of care a creator has for their own creation. Some even love it like their own child and understandably wish the best for it. It is very natural wanting your brain (not human) children to be acknowledged, respected, popular, and profitable.

I am envy itself in flesh and bones, seeing other people's (who I don't care about) success make me burn like a demon being boiled in Jesus' blood. It is a known, undeniable fact that this world is unfair. That you can work as hard as you can to no avail. That you can make your series as best as you can with your utmost care and effort, yet it can still flop while another series you consider "unworthy" thrives like it's mocking you. It is normal to feel that it is unfair, it is normal to say that it is unfair, because it fucking is.

What cross me is when people is not merely voicing their frustration, but actively implying that they deserve to be treated better because they're better than everyone. It is all selfish "me, me, and me!" not "I wish my condition can improve."

I agree some premium series are questionable shit, I agree some community series are amateur garbage. However, generalising them all as unworthy while thinking your series should be put on the pedestal, and even going against an idea that might open the possibility of success for many creators because you don't want to be lumped with series you look down at is far over the line. As much as I have been labelled am a malicious and mean-spirited person here, as much as I realize that my series itself is flawed, it is not acceptable.

I appreciate that you (in general) work hard, but I would appreciate it of you acknowledge that it's not only you who work hard. I applaud that you (in general) make a quality series with so much thought put into it, but it's not only you who do so, and there are naturally those who do better than you but receive less. I understand that numbers and validation can blind your vision, and make you addicted to the point you lose your confidence without it (me). I know some people are neurodiverse that they struggle with empathy (me).

However, such way of thinking will only halt your growth and alienate you. People won't like associating with people who are ungrateful and put others down, as isn't art world is about networking? People won't like to support those who always think they deserve more. Plus, you can't see your own flaws and improve where you are deafened by your own pride or personal echo chambers. Have some humility in yourself and your work instead of blind pride, that way you can assess your creation better. To say the most clichéd shit ever: aren't we creating, because we love it? Not because of pride, not because of proving that we are better than others.

[carloswebcomic]

Another long rant, I deeply apologize

Sorry, who is saying that they need to be treated better than anyone else and blaming premium comics?

Who are you directing this to?

[DasIstWunderblyat]

Not you for sure, "Those people" in my previous rant or everyone who think so which is not an individual.

I am sorry if you feel offended. Did I accidentally reply to you (oops.)? Because I accidentally did so and changed it, so hopefully it is resolved.

It is actually more like "Well Carlos said that, but anyway. . . ." Which I think it is unfair to make it a reply for you.

[carloswebcomic]

Not you for sure, "Those people" in my previous rant or everyone who think so which is not an individual.

I am sorry if you feel offended. Did I accidentally reply to you (oops.)? Because I accidentally d

Fair enough! No worries.

People need to be aware that success is not a given either.

[jensrichard77]

I made this, maybe it could help at some point. At least it is a little different than the many spams, this has some rules to help the hard work.

This is where you can promote your hard work that we all could learn from. This is where you, as a hard working creator, can share your effort for all of us to enjoy. Rules: 100-1000 subs. Consistent for 2+ years 20+ Episodes Latest update 30 days ago Here is mine that I want to share with the community:

[carloswebcomic]

Aaaaaand now there are like ten promo threads at the top of the forum. XD

Welcome to the new normal!
It's getting to the point where people need to post on every promo thread because there are so many of them that they get lost among the other ones.

[Kelheor]

Purge, we should purge them nothing new under the Moon...

[jensrichard77]

Step 1: Click here:

Step 2: Select "muted"

[jensrichard77]

Aaaaaand now there are like ten promo threads at the top of the forum

And here I was thinking that I did a positive thing to help out the veterans and hard workers to have a promotion thread for us, but all I did was adding some swam....

[Kelheor]

If you can't see the problem it doesn't mean it doesn't exist anymore

[carloswebcomic]

I think your idea of a targeted thread is good.
Too many sporadic threads to promo comics that are all over the place..
Right now it's total chaos. I think some order and structure is what is needed.

[jensrichard77]

I think some order and structure is what is needed.

Is it possible to have a limit of how many post you can reply to or create in one category?