Why do you keep going?

[Moctemma]

I don't care about being famous or getting credit for influencing people's lives. I don't even want to be remembered after my death. So my answer would be: Because I know what I'm doing, I know why I'm doing it, and I enjoy doing it. Those things that only please the ego are of no interest to me.

My only objective is to share a different perspective, hoping it'd improve people's lives. And I don't need, or want, them to remember me and credit me for their change. If I can plant that new idea, that's more than enough.

[DokiDokiTsuna]

Perhaps only a select few will read your works and enjoy them

I wouldn't mind that, as long as they let me know from time to time.
.
Like many people, I don't necessarily want to be famous; just acknowledged. It's enough for me to know that people care, and that I've brought a little good into their lives.

Now you stand before a heavenly judge, and the judge questions you: "Knowing all that, why did you continue working on it?"

1) It's just what I do. Telling stories, drawing, making things...it's what I've always done my whole life. It's more fun to share them with people, but even if I couldn't; even if no one was interested in my work...I'd still continue.

2) Not to be a smartass, but I have to wonder why a heavenly judge would ask this. Is there some kind of morally incorrect answer that someone could reasonably give? "I continued working because acknowledgement of my work directly contributes to the murder of puppies, and no matter what I had to hold out hope that someday more puppies might be murdered"??

Pretty much all the explanations I've ever heard from artists for why they do what they do-- "I just love the art", "I have a statement I need to make", "My life sucks and it makes me feel better", "I want people to pay attention to me"-- there's nothing inherently wrong with any of them. =/

The content of the art is one thing, and the values of the person behind it are yet another thing...but I think the simple act of creating is a neutral one.

[R.n.P]

Because it was fun to do it

[skicoak]

Let me tell you...this isn't nearly the hypothetical question you're talking about when you're in your 50's with multiple health issues. Lol.

[rajillustration]

Not to be a smartass, but I have to wonder why a heavenly judge would ask this. Is there some kind of morally incorrect answer that someone could reasonably give? "

So like I think this is an interesting observation and I realize that maybe not everyone knows the context of referencing a judge after you die. Long story short, in christian religions at least, it means you are judging yourself. The judge is there and present, but it is an inward acknowledgement and acceptance of the decisions you made in your own life.

Not to derail the thread or anything, but like...this reference is a religion thing not everyone may know.

[chestnutriceeee]

your work will never be critically acclaimed. Perhaps only a select few will read your works and enjoy them, but beyond that, you will only ever be acknowledged far after your death.

I don't see why that isn't already enough reason to work on it.

[Ranty-cat]

I kept going..
For the memes. It’s all for the memes.

[DokiDokiTsuna]

Long story short, in christian religions at least, it means you are judging yourself. The judge is there and present, but it is an inward acknowledgement and acceptance of the decisions you made in your own life.

*Been Catholic for 2 decades and has never heard of this * o_O

If anything, I would assume it has different connotations in other religions, because usually when I hear Christians say things along the lines of 'you'll answer for this on judgement day' or something, they are talking about things with clear moral alignments and consequences...usually negative ones.

And that was the point of my question: if there is no immoral answer to give, there is no reason for a heavenly judge to ask this of you (they might as well ask what your favorite color is...not that I'd be opposed to that).
And if there is an immoral answer, I'd be interested to know what it is.

[Bokyongyo]

“Perhaps a select few read your work and enjoy them”

Pretty much that. If even one person out there likes something I create then it’s more than enough for me to have worked on it. Plus with how many stories, characters I have in my head, I can’t imagine not having a outlet to fulfill that need to tell those stories. Would drive anyone mad.

[arxianfall]

"Mom found out I was going to peace out."

[rajillustration]

*Been Catholic for 2 decades and has never heard of this * o_O

I mean there are as many different types of Christians as sands in the sea, so don't worry about it.

But like I wouldn't say it's an immoral question, but a lot of people feel like failures when their projects don't turn out and really, really carry that blame and shame when there shouldn't be any attached, youknow?

[PapaDom]

"I liked doing it, sir."

What I do and spend my free time on should only be my concern. And even if I get acknowledged after death isn't important anyway. I mean, what does it bring me to have a huge fanbase while being dead? I just agree with most responses here that working for yourself is the most important thing.

[SleepingPoppy]

I never went into comics with a specific level of fame as the goal. It's much more of a sense of "Let's see where it goes? How far can I get?"

Not to say the amount of attention I get on a story wouldn't effect my approach and motivation, it would, it does. There's a big difference between ten readers and zero comments, and 1000 readers, and a handful of regular commenters. The more attention and interaction you get, the more fun it is to share, the more motivating it is to keep going.

But at the end of the day I make comics because it's fun and exciting. I want to feel like I'm moving forward, growing, but I don't have a need for a specific level of popularity or acclaim to make any of it worth while.

[WistyWrites]

Here’s how I would put it: I started because I loved the idea, my characters, the plot—I kept going because even though I have very little supporters, little is better than none.

Even if I had only one supporter that truly loved my work, I’d keep going for them. I don’t quit because people don’t like it. I’d quit because I don’t like the plot anymore, or I feel unmotivated—and even then, if I’m already chapters in, and I have some readers, I’ll keep going for them.

Really, it’s not a question of why, but how. How do you keep motivated, inspired, and interested? And even then, does the question really need to be answered?

[Shanny8]

Why do ANYTHING, knowing you're going to die one day and most likely wont be famous?

You do it coz either you're compelled to create, because you're gonna try your hardest to see it through to the end, or you actually like creating comics/stories.

[Ordinaryaverageguy]

Now you stand before a heavenly judge, and the judge questions you: "Knowing all that, why did you continue working on it?"

Answer: "Because trusted you guys to see that the people who needed to see it, saw it."

EDIT: Think about it from the other end of the pipe... why did nameless, faceless, fameless and forgotten people in generations before us do what they did? I guess you either carry on with your life or you don't. If you don't you kinda set up a self-fulfilling prophesy that you'll remain unremembered, even by historians.

[Oto_Kouda]

Honestly, I think I'm just addicted to creating stuff.

[carloswebcomic]

Don't ask me. I've just given up on my comic.
Not sure if I'll ever do another comic again, or do art for that matter.

[dominioncomix]

Because nothing matters besides being good to the people around you, so i may as well spend what little time i have on earth drawing fun stuff.

[darthmongoose]

Well, according to my parents, I started drawing before I started walking or talking. For me, drawing is just a thing my body does, like breathing. I'd never stop drawing, and I don't even show everything I draw to people as it is. I don't just draw for other people at the end of the day, and when I was working full time as an illustrator, only drawing things other people asked for for money, I was pretty miserable. Stopping drawing would be like stopping talking for me, nobody only speaks when people are paying them, right?

The drawings I do for money aren't generally as emotionally satisfying as telling my own stories. Obviously my dream would be to draw my own story for money, but that's a big goal that takes a lot of groundwork so I have to be patient as I get all that done ready to pitch. In the meantime, I have steady audience growth and the opportunity to learn from mistakes while I have fun writing and drawing a comic I really care about while my part time job pays the bills. I'm just like.... do I need to stop? No? Okay I might as well continue.