When do you feel you've improved?

[keii4ii]

How do you know you've gotten better at what you do as a comic creator?

As an artist, I know I've improved when I look at my older works I used to like, and suddenly they look hideous 8D But I don't know how to prove to myself that I got better at writing?

What about you guys?

[UzukiCheverie]

Definitely the "looking at older work" method. Also, doing those yearly collages - taking a painting or two from each year and putting them in one big collage with the year labeling each one. Not only does it help you see how far you've come, it also helps you to see what style you've developed (it's also super fun to make these <3)

I also feel like I've improved when I suddenly feel like I'm able to draw something without much of a second thought. For example, I used to always struggle when drawing fullbodies, and really had to focus to get it right; now that my anatomy and line confidence has improved, I find I'm able to draw something without having to redo it as much, and the process feels a lot smoother. There are still some things anatomy related that I struggle with (.... hands. And male bodies, I'm a lot better at drawing females) but I'm constantly improving.

[Puppisama]

When your comic is easier to read, it feels natural. You see, normally the first pages are kinda weird to read, but when you improve it feels more natural the reading. Comparing your newest works with the oldest is a way to see your progress but also being able to find tiny mistakes from the older works you didnt see before.

[carloswebcomic]

I know I've improved when I look at my comic and I don't feel the urge to gouge my eyes out with an ice cream scoop.

I'm still waiting for that glorious day.

[PurpleGround]

Definitely looking at previous works. I still remember every page I've drawn is "the best". but then after several page I've looked back again, they feel awful. That's when I know I've improved.

[Rabbit]

Honestly, I also have no idea how to tell if my writing has improved XD I actually sometimes read stories I wrote like ten years ago, and I'm just like wow, I'm really enjoying this!
I wonder if I've improved at writing at all..

[shazzbaa]

There are things I can do now that I couldn't do before, or that were harder to do before. Even just things I know a lil more about how to approach than I did before. For me, that goes for both art and writing!

I think this isn't a true gauge across the board, because obviously your perception of how good you are goes up and down and "improvement" isn't a steadily uphill movement anyway, but like... if I'm looking at an upcoming scene, and I'm thinking of how to set it up in ways I didn't know to even consider before, I feel that I've gotten better at writing. Being able to look at a rough draft of a page and see where the pacing is off and identify it is something I wasn't always able to do, so when I can do it sometimes, I think, hey, I've gotten a little better!

[Aspie_Gamer]

I feel my art has improved a bit since starting my comic last summer. Specifically, I think I'm now settling into the style of the comic though I also feel I still have lots of practice ahead of me. haha

[Rudydemon]

Looking at previous works definitely helps. I write a lot of notes around my sketches, outlines and thumbnails, so seeing how I originally envisioned the story, I am usually like "Wow that story was originally really bad" and I can see how the world building and story telling has gotten better.

Also studying on storytelling and comics creation helps. I listen to a lot of podcasts and go to panels and learning new things about storytelling and looking at my work and seeing which mistakes I have made and now don't make can help me see my improvement.

I am also a part of a local Drink and Draw of comic creators, so I share my work with a lot of them. Seeing the understanding on their faces about my work, or not having as many questions, or getting the right questions definitely helps me know I am getting better. Plus they are all pretty good at giving an honest critique. Quite a few are comics professors, and/or professional comics creators and have gotten pretty good and giving and receiving critiques.

I think having some of them look at my work and be like, "Wow I can tell your writing is getting better", or "That paneling looks amazing:" or "Im like these new colors your have been working with" really helps me to know I have grown as a creator.

[Shanny8]

My formula for writing is that I write it, and come back weeks later. If I dont hate it, or want to make changes to it, then it's pretty much good for me.

Art wise, if I dont change the layouts before I start tight penciling or it puts a big smile on my face after inks, then the art is good.

Color is the only area that I still question myself. Though I have learned a lot of stuff, the basic obstacle of understanding theory keeps me from feeling confident about my color.

[joannekwan]

When I can do things faster, or if it just comes to me quicker, I know I'm getting the hang of it and improving.

[WakaXO]

Looking back at my older works is my go to method for measuring my improvement, followed by how long a page takes me to finish/how frustrated a page makes me... but for measuring my writing? I guess I can tell I have improved in that area when my characters feel real, and I can get across what I need to in their dialog without being long-winded (A real weakness of mine).
Oh, and I know I am improving when I can spot my plot holes and if its too late to fix them, rewrite until the make sense.

[AnnaLandin]

Definitely by comparing to older work! Just last night I was comparing the earliest pages of Grassblades to the ones I'm currently drawing, and feeling proud that I'd levelled up.

When I started Grassblades, I agonised over drawing architecture and more than two characters in a panel - these days, I draw crowded castle courtyards and complex architecture and I don't even have to think about it first. It takes a long time, and I still make mistakes, but I do it without having to convince myself first.

As for writing... I think it helps me that I tend to work on Grassblades a whole chapter at a time. It means I'm able to go through a bunch of different drafts of the dialogue, and really consider the dramaturgy of each chapter as I plan it out. I'm able to pick up different plot-threads and weave them into what's happening in each chapter, hint at stuff, give information to readers piece by piece, etc.

Looking at older work for comparison is good for writing as well; whenever I feel like I suck at it, I pull out the terrible older comics I've made and comfort myself with the thought that at least my dialogue is no longer that awkward, at least my characters are people now instead of cardboard stereotypes, and at least I know where I'm going this time, and not letting the main plot just disappear on me.

As a general rule, I've noticed that moments when I'm struggling with drawing/writing something, and everything comes out wrong, is usually the moment right before I level up, so to speak.

It's like I've suddenly gained the the eye for spotting my flaws, which is the first step to getting rid of them.

[eleoza]

Yes xD Looking at earlier pages, yep yep.

[Chopythes]

Like everyone else has said ;D

Looking back at older work, but also on storytelling: When you change stuff you think sounds corny or makes you cringe.

Like this example: I've had a darling story for almost 10 years now and decided to rework it: Protag had this "magic" book that told things that had been and was going to be. Changed that to an iPad or something like it (because honestly, in a modern day world, that felt so dumb to me xD).
The story's still the same, but the characters has changed their nature, making their goals going against the other characters goals, which to me, that's a huge improvement xD
I think that's going to make the story a bit more interesting? I hope so :D