Why continue a story when you don't have viewers?

[PurpleGround]

When you want to quit, remember why you started. Tends to help me.

HA!! this is my reminder words to my self too!!

[Vikiro_Hop]

I don't think any creator should look at any project is the one that is going to get them where they want to be. BUT there are so many comics that I could tell had a slow start that grew into something amazing. Basically I know that if I get tired of laboring away with one story or comic that I can shift my energy to another. I think a lot of people get too invested in their series and don't allow them to grow the way they should and get stuck in a rut.

I've made a lot of strides with my art since starting my comic, but I am constantly frustrated that my comic doesn't have any real substance (it's a gag a day of sorts) I continue It mostly at this point because it's a challenge and all that I have time for.

[Doubtcent]

Well the hardest part of making anything is starting. However if you're past that, the second hardest part in creating is just sticking with it, even if your number count is low.

For if you don't start, you can never find out where you are, and you can never improve. And you can never improve if you don't keep moving forward.

My art used to look like this:

Just a total train wreck looking back on it. I didn't know how bad I was until I got better, and I didn't get better until I kept going.
Now I make stuff like this:

So if you persevere, you will find yourself getting better if you put enough effort in getting better.
I'm not anywhere close to perfect, but at least I can spot where I need improvement.

[Hellicat]

You improved a lot! I like the colouring, hope I can color my strips someday ; )
Daily dosis of determination for me!

[shaylafarley5]

Tip: I had to post links to every site I'm on. Hoping they would click on it and give it a chance.

When I first started drawing I was just drawing for fun. Then my friends use to read my comic or looked through my sketch book and told me to try art galleries and cons.

But I felt my art wasn't good enough (still am). But after a while from reading manga I've found sites of webcomic done by odinary people like me.

So I decided to make a comic to, for the first few days I only got a few view before I started to get readers. And seeing new subscribers suprises me because that means that there are people out there who enjoy my work

[UndefinableCreature]

Personally, I don't really worry about subscribers. I tend to create for myself.
I would want to share it with others. Give them a different perspective, without forcing them to subscribe or whatsoever. If they want to, then okay.
If they don't want to, then okay.

But it is important to communicate with your readers no matter what.

[imagni]

It sounds gumpy but I do it for my characters more than anyone. Like I have a huge story and world to create, simply to get it out my head. If I was my only reader I'd still enjoy reading it myself. Back before the internet was a thing I'd draw huge comics as a kid and only be able to share them with a couple of my school friends. These days I'm spoiled. But I appreciate it all.

[chanalli]

I agree, when you create original characters, they form a part of you and you want to see how much they grow.

[thomassayle]

OCD gotta finish it or it will always be in my mind haunting me.

[Jabbage]

When I was little I used to draw whole boxes of comic pages without feeling the need for anyone at all to see them. I just enjoyed making them and I enjoyed reading them back to myself later, and because I was a kid I had no expectation that they'd be anything more than that. I'd really love to get back into that mindset.

[CaptainUfo]

I started Captain Ufo for training, among other things. I started my career as a comic book artist, then the world economic crisis hit, a lot of small comics I worked for closed, so I had to start doing something else to pay my bills. I've never been happy with that, especially when I discovered how much of my art skills went down the toilet simply because I stopped using them. So I decided to start a webcomicto keep myself trained, and that's what kept me going even through the fisrt months, when no one cared about our series. Also, I'd hate to leave the story unfinished.

[whirlwyndstorm]

To add to what people are saying here about success doesn't come early --- I have never had many followers and I went to some marketing panels when I was at a con to see if there was something I could be doing differently. Most of the panelists said that it took them over a decade of dedicated work before they really started seeing results.

[DsCashewsOfficial]

In my opinion, first you need to really take some time for yourself to figure out what you want. This doesn't happen quickly. I mean over the course of a few weeks or months just keep it in the back of your head that you are trying to figure out what you truly want and what you would like to get in return for all of your hard work. Do you want fame and acceptance? Are you doing it for financial purposes? Want your story to be heard? Or like others have mentioned, is it just therapeutic for you?

Once you are absolutely sure what you want, define some very clear and detailed goals. I want 1000 subscribers, or 100,000 likes, or I want my comic to earn me 50K per year, or I want 10,000 people to view every comic I post. Just make sure it is very clear. This will make it easier to identify steps you need to take towards achieving your goal.

Having a clear understanding of your wants and having a clear goal to work towards should give you all the motivation you need. For me, I'm just getting started and have no followers and little traffic to my website. But I'm hungry and will keep going as long as I need to until all of my goals are reached.

Good luck to you!!!

[R.n.P]

For me I follow my sensei Kubo Tite's statement during an interview that even though people don't enjoy your work that you should keep on doing what you enjoy

[vanessa0802]

Because man,i have an artistic flow,i want people to see my story, even if it's just one person,i wanna share my imagination with the world man.

[mappypaint]

Why continue my story?... Because I do it for myself. Any readers I get is a bonus, simple as that.

[thomasfallaeriksen]

Success can be a very relative thing. I once heard someone said that first you have to be successful at your craft, then loads people will chase you down the street while they try to rip your clothes off.
Can only speak for myself (and voice my own subjective opinions), but the main reason I started making comics is because it is lots of fun. The most satisfying part of it is simply making the thing. And then try to make something better the next time. In my opinion making something you really love to work on will always be beneficial. Rather than making something to suit other peoples taste. Then you will really put yourself into the thing, and maybe come up with something very distinctive and personal. Or maybe even something completely new. That is often what makes me remember a comic or a piece of art. It can really show and add to the finished work. In the comics that have had the biggest impact on me it looks like the artist had a great time when he/she did it (Moebius' Airtight Garage is a great example). It is hard, hard work. And it takes lots and lots of time. But that seems to be the case with most things that are worth doing. Have been posting art online for 6 years (3 years of posting comics) and it hasn't actually been like strapping myself to a giant booster rocket. Have been on tumblr since 2011 and are only pushing 300 followers now 5 years later. But it is slowly growing. And I know there are at least a few people out there that enjoy it.

Also, I know very well if I'm not allowed to draw I turn into a grumpy little gnome.

[mrtoontastic]

Sometimes its' because friends may run into your comics time-to-time and would enjoy watching them. Other times, its because you have a full-fledged story that it would be devastating for you to just cancel despite not having an audience. It is possible to become a fan of your own work, and having the passion to finish it is like a dream-come-true, regardless of who sees it or not.

[rairy]

For me its all for objective why you draw, 15 years ago when I was still new to comic, I draw for fun and self-satisfy. I got lots of idea and I want it to be in visual, so that's why I draw. That time, there's no people to read them and even there's but quite a few. Eventually when your drawing skill improve, reader will grow and some of them will get in touch you and interact. Your fanbase will grow as well as your drawing skills.

[Hellicat]

Haha loved the gnome part, I can relate to that!
Looks like every artist tend to have that need, it is not ironic tho, what am I saying.

Thanks for your comments! Keep the good work inspiring other little ones!
I feel happy, even more than I was

c: