When people CASUALLY mention their comic

[youngaustin]

You are a very intense person.

And never said pathetic.

[Wishjacked]

Sure, it's kinda annoying, but I totally understand where they're coming from. We all want people to read our comics, and sometimes it's a little hard and awkward to find the best way to do that.

(And I mean, I'm always so hyped about my comic that when someone asks me about anything, my first response is almost always a comic-related response, too! actually just this month someone offered me spaghetti, and before I even had time to say anything one of my siblings said "oh, one of her characters loves spaghetti". ha.)

[youngaustin]

Gosh, I didn't say annoying either. I feel like what I said is being taken a little too seriously.

I just thought it was funny. I am certainly not meaning to poke fun. I thought people would be more chill about it. It's not meant to be a serious topic.

[MidZM]

I agree with @Neil_Harrington 100% at times it's a little off putting but when you work a job while at the same time juggling college AND dealing with a 2 page a week release schedule, such as myself. It's a little saddening when you put so much effort into your work, when you're able to, and not have very many people if any say something about it. Luckily I have 2 subscribers from before I joined Tapastic who do comment and talk about my pages which makes me very happy

[youngaustin]

Aw! I can totally understand that!

I am working so hard and I feel super un noticed. But I don't feel bad because I feel like I have a good idea and that I will be able to make money off of it someday.

I am working with my cousin who lives on the other side of the work, practically, and communication is tough but she is my digital artist and I need her! So things take longer, but I know she is making me look good so it is completely worth it, and I am sure it will be more worth it in the future.

[Kura]

Ah ha... I... actually knew someone in an art group I was in that would kinda of do this... except she would just talk about her 'not yet made comic' vocally instead of dropping links. It was absolutely horrible... and made people NOT want to talk to her, she would even just throw herself and include herself in conversations.

Artist 1: Hey, who wants to get pizza after the meeting?

Artist 2: I can't go unless someone covers for me, I can pay ya back next meeting.

Artist 3: Sure I can do that.

Her: HEY THIS REMINDS ME OF A SCENE IN MY COMIC WHERE MY CHARACTERS GO OUT FOR PIZZA!!! It was really funny hahaha, I have to tell you about it, you'll love it!!

Artist 2: Maybe another time...

Artist 1: So, is anyone allergic to anything? Or there a topping someone doesn't like? I just wanna try and get one big pizza for us because it would be cheaper. Or maybe two medium or something?

Her: I'm not allergic to anything BUT I HAVE A CHARACTER in my COMIC that is lactose intolerant. So if he was here, we would have to get a lactose free pizza because he couldn't have a normal one!

Artist 3: Yeah... great... that's nice. But your not lactose intolerant right?

Her: No I'm fine, just my character. He can't have cheese and milk. I also have another character who is allergic to cats, but she's in love with a boy that can actually turn into a cat!

Artist 1: Ok so-

Her: So like, she runs into this boy at school and thinks he's totally cute, but for some reason she keeps sneezing around him and-

Artist 2: Umm.... maybe you can tell us this later?

Her: It's funny, I have to tell you while it's still on my mind.

Thinking back that group REALLY, had some tolerant and nice people in it holy shit...

That aside, yeah I can see where you're coming from, it's really odd when people drop link to their comics in almost EVERY post they respond in. When it's threads relevant then yeah that's cool, cause it's cool to see comics related to the topic, but stuff like you mentioned like "What toppings do people like on their pizza" getting a response like "I like pepperoni pizza, my comic takes place in ancient japan though so pizza doesn't existed for my character in my comic but if it did he would like pepperoni too! / Link /" It's not really annoying, just funny in a try hard way, and also makes me laugh cause every time I see something like that it reminds me of her.

[youngaustin]

That is like, the funniest thing I have read on this site. I am going to read it again.

I am glad you understand my bemusement.

[Michelle]

Yeah, I agree that it's annoying and can come off as being desperate. It's good to put effort into promoting your work, but there's a time and a place for that kind of stuff.

If you can work your comic into a discussion where it makes sense or contributes to the conversation (like, using it as an example to illustrate your point), that's okay. But while throwing it into all of your posts haphazardly might get you the occasional curiosity click, you risk garnering a reputation for being spammy.

[youngaustin]

I completely agree. You need to respect where you are, there is a time and place for everything.

[Delete]

yeah sorry. I didn't mean pathetic. I didn't mean to come off too seriously. I work retail at an art store and it's back to school and the job has been rough and stressful so I probably didn't read it as humorous. I working on getting a teaching credential so hopefully I'll be finally out of that job soon.

Sorry. I didn't mean to have it sound like an attack on you.

[carloswebcomic]

For me at least, it's one of the most off putting things in comic forums, the thinly veiled attempts at promoting comics. I'm cool when people come up and say 'Hey, I'm new here and this is my comic'. No problem there. I've even found some of my regular reads that way, but when it's 'casually' mentioned... uuuugh... it feels slimy.

[youngaustin]

That's okay. I can totally understand. When this is what you love it feels like all you have so of course you will do your best to try and promote it. I understand what you were saying.

[Delete]

To be honest, I still live at home with my folks while working almost full time (these sf bay area rent prices) and whenever I create some new art I show them it as soon as possible and they usually get annoyed by it

[Aspie_Gamer]

It is like...hilarious.

The topic can be like 'Are you having a nice day?' and responses will be like 'My character sure isn't! In my /LINK/ comic.'

Or ' What is your favorite food?' and the responses might be something like 'Well when I am working on my webcomic which so happens to be /LINK/ it's pizza.'

People are so quick to drop links to their comics, the desperation is sad and hilarious.

Oh yeah. There's a time and place to mention your comic. If you are showing off new pages or if you participate in a "review my comic and I'll review yours" type of thread, then yeah go for it!

@kurapikasuki Wow...some people eh?

@Michelle Agreed. For example my comic Life of an Aspie deals with Asperger's Syndrome so if someone on the forums made a thread about autism, it would make sense in context to talk about LoaA.

[mariusthered]

it should be remembered that some people don't do art for a hobby but for a living so promotion of the comic leads to commissions needed to pay bills and such boring things as living.

[Michelle]

Yes, but promotion works best when it is delivered to a receptive audience. Over-promoting and spamming your comic has the reverse effect of people avoiding it because it's constantly shoved in their faces at unwanted times.

[SpavVy]

I agree that it can get annoying and that people tend to do it in the wrong threads, but just like any other creator they wish to have an audience and I'm my opinion that's okay. I mean this is a website about indie comics after all. The only time when I have a problem with advertising is if people do it on my profile, private message, or in my series comments.

[jennula]

I agree that it can get annoying and that people tend to do it in the wrong threads, but just like any other creator they wish to have an audience and I'm my opinion that's okay. I mean this is a website about indie comics after all. The only time when I have a problem with advertising is if people do it on my profile, private message, or in my series comments.

This! I have no problem with people promoting their stuff on the forum, but yeah, when they use my comic's comments to promote (if I haven't asked for people to suggest comics) is more off-putting to me :B

[purrlpankras]

I'm all for promoting. I mean it's 90% of the work and other is actually making the comic.

There's a time and a place for promoting, I don't think pushing it in a conversation is one of them (maybe in the right context)
Also, people like that probably don't know the best places to promote either.

I find the most annoying people do to promote is, when they send you message to talk, and they just talk about their comic.
Hey it might be great, but I'm not invested enough in you to give a damn. Bad as it sounds.

Go where your target is man

[Herofeeder]

i was seriously w8 for a comment like " yeah man people who promote their work like that are so lame , id never post my"insert the name of the comic" comic like that .what a bunch of weirdoos