What prevents you from making your comic?

[Raven_C]

Hmm sometimes I just end up browsing the web (youtube, Amazon, googling random things, twitter, webcomics), but most importantly there are my other illustration assignments for school. That can be really time comsuming.

[Quinn_Li]

I've have 3 comic projects in my mind that has been brewing for 6 years now. I've become so obsessed with every single detail that I want to put in that I NEED to make those comics absolutely perfect. But right now my drawing skills aren't at par with what I want it to be, so I'm not going to make them until I believe that I am good enough. I don't know, I'm not really much of a perfectionist but I'm really invested in these comics so maybe that's why I'm being hard on myself.

[Doubtcent]

Well, sometimes all you have to do is take a leap of faith and start them. Comics take a lot of work, but the hardest part is just getting them down on the page. Just starting a one shot to get a concept down allows your work to expand considerably, to stretch the limits of how your art can be, and to see how much more your art needs to grow.

[AnnaLandin]

@Quinn_Li Yeah, the most important bit for you is to start making them. Honestly, I had a look at your current comic, and I think the style is really appealing! Is it fear of drawing backgrounds that's holding you back? You don't seem to have any in Throwback Comics. The danger with letting your perfectionism get in the way of actually making stuff is that you end up never making stuff, and honestly, that's a lot worse. I think it might have been Neil Gaiman who said "It's better to be finished than to be good", and he's right. It's okay if things don't look perfect - you can always get better along the way. And really, the only way to learn is to do.

Imagine me holding little cheerleading pompoms over here and waving them at you, because I totally would if I had any!

I've been where you are (angsting over not being good enough/obsessing over details/planning and planning forever without actually drawing any pages), and I had to fight to get through it. The key really is to loosen your grip a little and let go of the need to be perfect.

[Dranif]

Laziness, other projects, homework, sleep, and that awkward feeling that something is holding me back from making my comic.

[gateofselidor]

It's interesting that people mention Netflix as a distraction, because it actually helps me work (along with other video streaming sites like Crunchyroll, BBC iPlayer etc). When I'm colouring and inking my pages, I spend a lot of time adding textures and other details, and to be honest it doesn't require a lot of brain power, so I tend to get distracted. Having my monitor set up with about 1/3 video and 2/3 Photoshop allows me to keep going without getting sidetracked.

My distractions include social media sites like Tumblr, other comics, video games, and other projects of mine. I never want to sketch out some random character designs more than when I really need to finish a page.

[zerobloodyrose]

I'm going to be a bit obvious and say school and work XD

[Kura]

Poor health, family matters, and recently, too many funerals.

[hierogriff]

While procrastination is a blight on my life as a whole, I can definitely say I'd get more pages done if it weren't for university work. It's a good course, but drawing comics will always be more fun than revising Zoology, I'm afraid.

[jessiepolfliet]

Sometimes when I have worked all day(were I draw too) I am just not in the mood to work on my comic when I get home. Other than that: school, finals, social obligations.

[Quinn_Li]

I can't help but feel a little overwhelmed being only introduced to comics/webcomics for at least a year now. I stopped reading manga since I was 10. So I don't really know the formula in comic paneling. Having said that, I will still be making a short comic, originally a short book I was working on but I've seem to have lost the flow in my words so this would be a great way to start my first comic! I'll be working on it on the summer *crosses fingers * wish me good luck

[sarahrebecca58]

Mainly the internet distraction. I might get a timer against to turn it off.

[Quinn_Li]

To be honest, yes, I have an immense fear of having the background look 'sloppy', which is why I'm still practicing drawing backgrounds (i don't post them). I'm very flattered, like extremely flattered! you think my comic style is good! I'm using that comic to work on facial expression and somewhat body poses as well, because my non-chibi drawing look very robotic. The thing, I believe is what is the root for my anxiety of creating a serious comic is because I am not good at designing. Yes, I can draw but I can't really design, like designing background, clothing, etc. But I am trying and I am going to try out a short serious comic for the first time this summer and I'm excited to see how it turns out, good or bad! And I will keep you in mind for cheering and thank you and @vincentprendick for giving me motivation!

[raymundnell]

My mom... T.T Lol. Just last night, she told my that staying up late for something that doesn't give me money is useless. But I'm not really a economically unfornate artist though, it's just that I gained money once through Deviantart commissions and seeing me working hard that time, maybe she was not impressed seeing me making comics for enjoyment. XD

[raymundnell]

I'm really envious of creator's who can multitask while drawing., XD As for me, I can't., I'm just using a netbook in creating my comics. The screeeenn is soooo small! Hahah

[goenn]

my attention span is the worst and i procrastinate a lot. Currently, what's preventing me is reruns of Kekkai Sensen. I can't stop rewatching...!!!

[Jelw]

Right now a combination of not having a lot of time where Ican be on my computer, along with having a 4"x5" screened computer with very low ability is holding me back. I've worked on a lot of thumbnailing during school(the closest thing I have to free time whoops) in a notebook but until I can get a computer that can handle large canvases on SAI without lagging, it's hard for me to work up the motivation to start. Another related wait factor is waiting to get manga studio until I have a new computer... sigh.

[noctuidae]

School things, social things, I was working on art stuff for another project for a while, and lately I've been focusing more on prose/poetry, both reading and writing it.

I'm very much the kind of person who'd rather set aside 5-6 hours so i can straight-up work on polished art or comic pages in a single day; lately i've been trying to get into a habit of spaced-out shorter sittings so i'm not just waiting for an unlikely stretch of free time.

[kitsuneonwheelz]

lack of $...lol. That's it.

[ashriott]

Other than the usual procrastination or writer's/artist's block, definitely work prevents me from drawing atm. Even if I make a promise to myself that I'd come back home and do some drawing, I'd be so tired to even sit upright. If I do, I draw for 1-2 hours at most, which isn't a lot of time to get stuff done...
When it was uni, bloody assignments get in the way and I mainly binge draw during sem breaks xD