When is it time to call it quits?

aqua03 2022-03-08 04:14:31 UTC #1

This might be the grand finale of the story arc of my existential crisis posts regarding my creative journey I've been doing here over the past few years.

this has been something that's been on my mind recently in general: when is it time to call it quits? when is a project just simply not in the cards for you no matter how much you want to do it when it just seems impossible for whatever reason.

I've recently come to that realization with my more serious fantasy projects like the Dragoons and Tales of Phaeton. it feels that despite the fact that I have a solid foundation and all the tools I need for them, I just keep running into the exact same brick wall that I just can't push through for whatever reason it seems, which has got me wondering if I'm really just not cut out for being a fantasy writer or anything more than a guy who writes goofy stuff like parodies and newspaper comics.

is it time to call it quits?

when is it a good time to call it quits when it seems like you keep running into a brick wall with your passion projects no matter how hard you've tried? was i really that passionate about them in the first place? Did I start out with the wrong reasons for pursuing creative projects entirely?

Mallory 2022-03-08 04:46:10 UTC #2

You know what? I've been mostly silently following your existential crisis posts for the last couple years, but this is something I actually want to know the answer to as well. Because I actually do have a very similar situation to you, with a number of UbEr SeRiOuS projects that have been baking in the oven for over a decade, but every time I feel like I'm ~ready enough~ to attempt them, I just... can't.

Right now I've accepted that I'm someone who feels a lot more passionate about children's books and children's art (because unlike the UbEr SeRiOuS project, I actually HAVE been able to get myself to sit down and work on those stories), and so for the next little while I am content with just working on the things I can. But, in the back of my mind, sit the very adult and very SeRiOuS characters that some days legitimately make me feel like I'm in pain because I'm not working on them. But every time I try the same tricks and methods that I use to work on my kidlit projects to try and get me to work on the ~serious~ stuff, I just...

That's all I feel. I've been able to pursue working on some projects (like I said, mostly stuff with child protagonists in a super cutsey style) because it just makes me happy to work on those projects as I do it. Like it just makes me happy to work on it, and it's enough to counteract the anxiety of expectations and deadlines. I just don't feel the same joy with the other projects, so it all gets wrapped up in dread and feelings of obligation and I just can't budge. Why? I don't know. Do I accept that I can never work on them, for whatever reason? Do I figure out why, exactly, it makes me feel like a cat that just ate a lemon?

So, yeah. I wanna know too.

aqua03 2022-03-08 05:04:06 UTC #3

I'm glad to hear I'm not alone in this stuff because I honestly feel the same way. When I write something goofy and short like EGT or Alpha Alpaca, I feel great, but I do feel like that cat as well whenever I want to start serious work on my fantasy ideas, even when it's something as simple as a one shot as well. In fact, I tried writing a script for a Dragoons one shot as just a proof of concept that I wouldn't publish just to get comfortable with it for the real deal and I nearly panicked multiple times when writing just the story summary.

Which is a shame, because I do genuinely love these ideas and characters I have want I do think I have something special. It's just every time I do sit down to do it I just... Can;t or I feel that something is missing or am just lacking the vision to do it.

I wish I could figure out why as well.... Hopefully we'll both get there soon.

masi 2022-03-08 05:05:49 UTC #4

This is very relatable. I think for me making comic comes in waves. When everything feels right I’m very motivated, and when I face some troubles I can’t fix with my current skills, it’d be free fall in terms of motivation. I also contemplate the things you pointed out for a long time. Coupled with my adhd, it’s really hard to get the right balance with everything—-to keep going. The thing is we have to have things outside comics that make us happy, that you know, we can rely on when things aren’t looking up(in terms of production problem/skill, motivation, failure). Treat it as ONE of our precious things, instead of THE ONLY thing we depend on. Because I think comic should be the last thing we should put expectation in. Get a new hobby, try something else, and maybe when we’re happy with ourselves accomplishing/doing other things, we can comeback later to comic with new maturity and perspective and patience on how to do comic.

I also still on my own journey figuring things out. Good luck for all of us /o/

DokiDokiTsuna 2022-03-08 07:27:23 UTC #5

...When you're dead? ^^;

In all seriousness: My usual philosophy when it comes to creative projects is that, when you think something is a good idea, give it a try and see how it feels. And this also applies to quitting: if you feel like it would be best not to work on a project anymore, stop. Give yourself a year away from it; two years. See how you feel then. If you'd still rather not return to it, let it go indefinitely.

Of course, to say something is impossible is to know with certainty that you will NEVER be able to do it, and I don't think you can know that, not when it comes to writing. ^^; You'll probably be a completely different person 5 years from now...and 10 years from now, and 20 years from now. Who knows what those people will be capable of? There's no shame in leaving a project for one of them, so to speak.

Basically, all quitting has to mean is 'not now', and 'not now' doesn't automatically equal 'never'. When you think of it that way, it takes a lot of stress out of the decision to quit.

This is an issue that I feel has come up a lot in your threads...and I honestly wonder where that question comes from.
Like, do you think that everyone with a successful series has some kind of specific 'correct' motivation...? ^^;

I think, if it were only possible to pursue a creative project when you have the 'right' reasons, the concept of a hack wouldn't exist...in any case, what more do you need besides desire?? I think that's all that art is; a human being deciding they want something to exist. I don't trust anyone who would argue that you need some kind of special quality beyond that.

I know how frustrating it can be to want to make something and repeatedly find yourself unable to...but I really think it does more harm than good to rationalize that inability as you doing something 'wrong'. An environment of blame doesn't exactly foster creativity...

In fact, that's the kind of self-talk you usually hear from artists who are burnt out...in which case, you should probably do what they do and get away from your work for a while (whether that means quitting or not). Go back to doing less serious things; take the pressure off.
Like...you gotta stop all the overthinking. ^^; If that means going for a few weeks where the only time you pick up your pen/pencil/stylus is to draw aimless scribbles, so be it. It will take a conscious effort; it may feel like a waste of time, it may even hurt a little...but you really need to do it once in a while.

P.S. there's nothing wrong with parodies and newspaper comics. ^^ I follow plenty of people who specialize in those things, and I would never in a million years wish they would stop doing what they're great at to produce 'epic fantasy' instead. There is enough room in this world for both.

igneriss 2022-03-08 07:30:15 UTC #6

To me personaly the time to call it quits is when either your project brings you much more stress than joy and is starting to drain out your energy, or you realise that you actually don't like the story / characters / drawing this type of stuff at all.
That doesn't mean you can't later return to this story/characters! I called it quits with 6,75, but then returned after 2-3 years with a fresh look and motivation to draw, and it's much more enjoyable for me to draw (...and there is also a number of other projects that I gave up on and they are still waiting for me to return to them, which may or may not never happen).
Constant doubts might be first signs of burnout Or a call to sit down and think what exactly it is in the project that you doubt, and if there is a way to fix. I guess there is no point in forcing yourself to draw something just because you feel like you should. If you really like it, return to it when you feel ready. If in the meantime you get another idea that you want to draw, that's even better.

TheLemmaLlama 2022-03-08 07:58:15 UTC #7

To summarise what I think are the most salient points from the responses you've got so far:

Drop it for now. Sleep on it for a few years. You might come back to it with renewed vigour and a different perspective
'Serious' stories are not inherently superior to 'goofy' stuff. So even if you never end up doing that serious project, it doesn't make you a failure as an artist or '''just''' a guy who writes goofy stuff like parodies and newspaper comics.

I think I said this in the previous thread on your existential crisis, but one of the comics I'm planning stems all the way back to a project I attempted 8 years ago. And I'm glad I gave up on that project, because it was a pretty by-the-numbers dealio where I was just basically using tropes from my inspirations without understanding what made them great. By sleeping on it for 8 years, it has morphed into something with more depth and nuance than anything I could've come up with back then.

But to actually add something new: don't measure your passion for a project by the energy you have during the actual creation process. I don't even enjoy drawing, yet is someone says I'm not really passionate about my comic, I WILL ... think they're a bit of a poopy-head. People say 'if you don't enjoy it, then why do it?', and it comes from a good place, but creation is just a pain in the ass in general and even people who do enjoy the actual process itself are going to have parts of it they don't like. Passion is your willingness to keep going through that pain-in-the-ass process because you feel that the end result will be worth it.

If you sleep on this project for a few years, you'll realise you're passionate about it when it keeps hanging around in the back of your head rent free until one day, you can't help it anymore and have to take action. This might require your idea to evolve a bit into something worth being passionate about, which will likely happen naturally as you accumulate experiences and change as a person :]

smokesalty 2022-03-08 09:23:13 UTC #8

Sometimes it's okay to just shelve your projects. And also, do what feels best for you. I've seen a lot of your forum posts asking for advice on this type of issue but at the end of the day, the one that decides is you.

No one is not cut out for something- it takes time to build your skill and motivation (and sometimes motivation is low on a project you love, that's normal.) If it's constant no motivation and you're not excited for your project, then you need to start asking yourself why you're doing this project.

Here's my little storytime as someone whose decided to shelve their fantasy story for a couple years:

I have had this story since I was 13, so the characters and story mean a lot to me, and my dream has been to make a big epic story with them. It's why I wanted to get into comics, and it was the only thing I cared about making.

However, this story has been re-written 3 times as of course a 13 year old isn't going to be absolutely amazing at writing. I told myself I'd start the story when my writing and art were 'good enough.' That's where the problem laid for me. How was I going to improve my writing and art if I wasn't actively doing it?

In short, I realised my story and my art were not at the level I wanted for my 'magnum opus.' I decided I'd take one of my smaller stories and make it a comic I'd do to learn making comics (that turned into my current comic!) I decided I was okay with making other comics that may be a bit lower in quality if it meant I could see this story I was so passionate about turn out how I wanted it to. So, it stays shelved to this day. I didn't quit, but I acknowledged that maybe I needed more time. If I didn't I feel like I'd run into a brick wall because I'd want it to be perfect.

So in short, you decide. There's no 'right' motivation. There are times where you'll hit a brick wall, and you can choose to wait until you're ready or you learn how to get past it. If you want to quit, that is completely fine. At the end of the day, choose what you want and think is best for yourself. None of us on the forums can really give you a black or white answer.

amortelito 2022-03-08 09:26:47 UTC #9

There is no shame in doing what makes you happier. "Goofy" stuff can be very impactful too. I think you put a heavy burden on your own shoulders for no reason, and you burned out even before starting. Seems to be time to think about your health first. Even beyond comic creation, please take care of yourself first.

darthmongoose 2022-03-08 09:48:34 UTC #10

Some fantastic advice from everyone, and all I really need to say here is to remind you that Errant is a reboot of a comic I'd shelved for NINE YEARS and during that nine year gap, I barely made comics. I worked on eleven published videogames, I did all sorts of illustration work and only came back to this comic I wanted to make in 2019. The skills I learned during that gap, in drawing, writing and design were absolutely what I needed.

It is totally fine, and often sensible to say, "I'm not ready to do that idea justice.... yet." without necessarily just throwing it in the bin and abandoning it forever. Take a break, do something different. As my mum always says, "a change is as good as a rest."

DiegoPalacios 2022-03-08 17:57:01 UTC #11

There is no obligation in writing any genre. If you want to try something out of the comfort zone, do it because you want, not for whatever random feel of obligation......if you don't enjoy making Dragoons or Tales of phaeton, it's okay to quit those projects.

If you do, but don't feel ready to make it work, just do your homework and develop the skills you need to make it work. Meanwhile you can keep going on your older comic (if you are still interested in it)

scribesunlimited 2022-03-08 18:14:19 UTC #12

Simplest answer:

Are you still happy?

Because if you're not, you should jump out and try another project.

ar-ninetysix 2022-03-08 18:23:12 UTC #13

..I'm just gonna apologize in advance. I don't plan on saying anything hurtful but you never know. You literally went through this last year.

Reading your new topic today reminded me of the comment I made a year ago. About my thoughts on what you did and where your head's was at. I still stand by what I said. Lots of people told you to take a break and work on something else, I said you should take a break from everything period. You even gave that "maybe you're right" response back then.

That was probably a lot to read and take in, and hell, even then I thought it was a bit crazy to give that kind of advice at the time. Let's be real here, you're not just in the same exact position you were in a year ago, you sound even worse now. You're incredibly burnt out to the point of questioning your motives for even having creative projects. As if just doing it for fun isn't a valid enough reason to make what you want.

Listen, even if you did quit, it probably won't feel real to you on a mental level. You're probably gonna go back and work on a new side-project in the same universe. And on a sad note, you'll probably run into the same issues if you don't work on yourself and your internal struggles.

You hitting the reset button early on everything isn't helping either. You're constantly depriving yourself of the closure one gets from completing a project. That type of closure is important as really solidifies in your brain that you're capable of accomplishing something. And similarly, constantly thinking ahead about stuff could branch out is just as damaging if you never focus on what you're currently doing.

Without even realizing it, you are setting these unrealistically high standards for yourself that you'll never be able to meet. It's bad enough you feel so much anxiety around posting, but you're not even giving yourself a chance to finish something. You're training yourself to expect failure, dude.. I didn't really get into it back then, but this was what I meant when I mentioned self-destructive behavior a year ago.

Just... drop comics like these for a long while. Please. Give yourself time to be happy without worrying about this.

RocketAxxonu 2022-03-08 20:09:09 UTC #14

Trying something new and different is always a challenge, even if it's just a different tone or genre change. Because with the thing you're more familiar with, you've been developing those skills over time for years, and sometimes it will take years to build another skill/knowledge base up to that point where it feels comfortable and enjoyable.

On the other hand, I think trying new things is so important for an artist and can make you a stronger/more versatile artist overall, so it's worth encouraging if it's been a thing you're interested in pursuing.

The way I deal with the discouraging part of trying something new is just to take it slow. I always keep a project that's easier and more established, that fits my current skillset better, to work on and switch back to when I get discouraged with new experiments, and I never put deadlines or pressure myself to get the newer projects done by a specific time, because doing something more unfamiliar is inherently inefficient. If I invest all my emotional energy and pin all my hopes on something new that I haven't developed skills to do in a way I know will turn out the way I like, I feel like that's a big risk and I'm likely to get depressed and frustrated quickly.

So, I guess I would say I wouldn't ever decide to quit a project forever, but I might shift it to backburner/make it a secondary focus project to work on whenever boredom on main more familiar projects set in, but keep primary focus on established projects I know I enjoy. I would definitely quit making it something that I feel a responsibility to keep doing within a certain timeframe.

conventurecomics 2022-03-08 20:20:47 UTC #15

I don't plan on it. I just take small breaks. I think it helps.

aqua03 2022-03-08 22:15:31 UTC #16

I think it's due to a combination of one of the main motivations when I first started/came up with the Dragoons back in 2011 I mostly set out wanting to make some big media franchise that would get super popular so I coudl get rich enough for both me and the people i care about to live comfortably. Revisiting the Dragoons and seriously thinking about what story I wanted to tell with them I realized I really had no major vision for them beyond "make something big and popular so you can succeed and provide for yourself and others and be remembered beyond your death."

That, and this might be due to my own religious upbringing in feeling like maybe God has "CLosed the door" so to speak on the Dragoons and other such fantasy comics (or maybe just closed the door on comics as a whole) and I should start looking for the "Open Window" and move on for the next big part of my life if that makes sense. I'm not sure and I do need to work on that anxious overthinking and negative self talk in general though. It's not helping me or anyone it seems.

Yeah. It's just I don't really want to get pigeonholed as just a comedy writer if that makes sense. I want to branch out a bit.

@igneriss @TheLemmaLlama

I think it Might be burnt our in all honesty. I wish i could take a break, but part of me feels I need to just keep going all the time or I'm wasting time.

smokesalty:

I have had this story since I was 13, so the characters and story mean a lot to me, and my dream has been to make a big epic story with them. It's why I wanted to get into comics, and it was the only thing I cared about making.

However, this story has been re-written 3 times as of course a 13 year old isn't going to be absolutely amazing at writing. I told myself I'd start the story when my writing and art were 'good enough.' That's where the problem laid for me. How was I going to improve my writing and art if I wasn't actively doing it?

In short, I realised my story and my art were not at the level I wanted for my 'magnum opus.' I decided I'd take one of my smaller stories and make it a comic I'd do to learn making comics (that turned into my current comic!) I decided I was okay with making other comics that may be a bit lower in quality if it meant I could see this story I was so passionate about turn out how I wanted it to. So, it stays shelved to this day. I didn't quit, but I acknowledged that maybe I needed more time. If I didn't I feel like I'd run into a brick wall because I'd want it to be perfect.

I feel you. My story with the Dragoons is similar, right down to the coming up with it when I was 13-14 as well even.

Been meaning to take a break yo work on my art and writing for a while now as well.

Yeah. It's somethign I've been working on a lot recently. Trying to get rid of that burden and brick wall that's been keeping me from going forward with life in general it seems.

a break or change of pace might be nice change of pace. Been meaning to fiddle with animation and game design soon anyways. just tired.

Thanks. I don't feel ready for a big project like those two at the moment. Not until I get my anxiety about starting projects like those more under control.

@ar-ninetysix

You're genuinely entirely right. I am kind of exhausted from everything. i need to rest nad just relax. it's hard though, because I've kind of become a workaholic regardiny my work in general to the point where it's not healthy. i'm tired and need to rest. maybe just make soem more EGT one shots as well in the meantime to practice and have fun. it's just a hobby at the moment, not a job.

AmazementComics 2022-03-09 02:51:53 UTC #17

Nah bro, your existential art crisis is valid, but don't let it control you.

I mean look, hitting a brick wall creatively comes to us all. For some, the journey of becoming a storyteller is already over, and they move on to other things. For others, they just need a massive break from their storytelling journey. It's like solving a puzzle. Sometimes your brain gets tired of trying to put all of the pieces together. Doesn't mean you won't stop trying to finish it later on. That's what I get out of this story arc of yours as you put it.

As a matter of fact, I've been struggling with creating content for our comics for sometime now, because the motivation just isn't there. So I can only tell you how I've been able to cope with that reality. Maybe you just need to put your comics on indefinite hold. The way I see it, you have already showed the world that you're capable of creating a concept and sticking to it. Otherwise, how else do people know about Dragoons and company?

Like you said, this isn't your full time job. If you have a job, make this a side hustle. I'm sure many folks on this platform will tell you that it's more alleviating mentally to have this as a hobby rather than have it as a full time job if they can't commit full time to creating comics if they just can't. If you don't want it as a side hustle, drop all for a while. Besides, creating comics every once in a while is probably better for you considering your situation.

Take it from me. There's no competition. You set your own pace. Don't let anybody or anything set it for you.

RocketAxxonu 2022-03-09 07:50:45 UTC #18

I just wanted to say, I totally relate. I meant to say this before in regards to taking breaks, but I was also having some burnout over the past few months, and during that time I just kept thinking to myself that I needed to take time off until I recharged, a week, two weeks, or more. I didn't--I just kept going, in large part because of force of habit. I'd spent so much time making comics that I'd lost connection to other creative forms of expression that I like like writing, or even recreation like reading and playing video games, and since I was already feel frustrated and down, the easiest thing to do was to just keep doing what I was already doing, even though my brain felt tired and half melted.

What finally helped me was just waiting for sparks of other interests to hit me, and then encouraging myself to start on those, reading, playing games, writing, etc. and just ease back into them little by little, in between still continuing to work on comic stuff. Now I feel more relaxed and my pursuits a bit more balanced, and I have things available I can pivot to in order to give myself time to recharge if I need it, and even though I never really fully stopped working on comics, I've started to get excited for the work again.

I'm definitely in favor of quitting cold turkey on a project for a while if that's the best thing for mental health, but comics was/is such a large part of my time and habits, not to mention my identity, I realized I preferred to go slow in shifting time and focus to other things.

But anyway, this might not be your issue at all, but as I go between the workaholic mindset of needing to feel productive all the time and coming out of it, for me it's always seemed to be more of a process that I have to do gradually than something I'm able to change all at once.

nostalgicroxas 2022-03-09 12:01:35 UTC #19

Honestly at this point, I feel like you need to take a break from your projects just... Mentally. Even if you know where the plot is going, or where you want to take it, not knowing how to get from B to G can be a headache. Or even, B to D. What is that magical "step number C" in between?

Summary

I've quit projects cold turkey accidentally, and even with the intention to continue writing with them, only for it to just... never happen. I cannot relate with the comic aspect - of drawing and not having motivation or any of that stuff, personally. But burnt out and story problems, certainly can. I've been working on my project for a decade, and it's certainly no secret to anyone that I'm always surprised by how long it is, by how much it seems like is to still tell, and that it just... keeps remaining in long-form.

For me, personally, it's been comforting to have a realization that my storytelling is not episodic (ie an episode of Phineas and Ferb), where you can drop into any episode, in any season, and understand what's going on with no other context. My writing style is instead, very chronological - if you jump in at chapter 35, you'll probably be confused, and even worse off if you start at 75. I didn't really grasp that in the past - in that, I used to abhor the creator Ranma 1/2 and Inuyasha for never resolving things. Only to realize that while the majority of the series are episodic, they also work very fine as a chronological story, that just happens to be super long.

This past year in 2021, I've done almost no writing. I've been instead working on art work and other business things. I've let my mind wander into lore theorizing with Genshin Impact, and other video games. And while I still keep thinking about my main project and main story, and beat myself up daily about not working on it, I know that I am working on it. Subconsciously.

Really, the best I can say, is to treat a long project like a relationship. You'll argue with it, change and grow with it, and need to have communication with it. This past year I've been, besides not writing, watching a lot of a youtube channel called "Cinema Therapy", and it's oddly given me ideas and insight about healthy relationships - with my writing. It's okay for it to be my obsession and that thing I always come back to, but it's also okay for it not to keep me up until 6am after having written in a grumbling mood for 8 hours. I'm probably not wording this right, but what I mean is that just because you're "not actively producing a new chapter - a new thing - a new art!" every three, or five days, or every week, doesn't mean "you're not working on it". Your brain is working on it. Letting yourself "get distracted" by other things that are fun in the moment, for me at least, are a good thing. Because if I don't "let myself do that thing", then I can't actually focus on the big project. That "thing" will be demanding my attention.
(( I wanna watch Encanto. Never seen it. Sounds good. Can't focus on writing, let alone even open the document, or write little details. Until I carve out time in the dead of night when I should be sleeping, and go F it, and just rent the movie on amazon and watch it. After I did that, watched whatever it was (this case it really was Encanto), my mind was able to focus on writing. ))

system 2022-04-08 12:01:40 UTC #20

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