Why do you keep going?

[BarBarKetrab]

Because it's fun. I think I'd even call it an addiction at this point. After a while, I just need to draw or write something to feel satisfied. My forum bio says it all.

I don't know if this is a good or bad thing, but at this point I mainly just want to satisfy myself with what I do. If others enjoy my work, then I'll be very happy, but the reason I continue to go on now is simply because I love it.

[TheDoublekey]

I mean, my passion has always been that of writing and drawing ever since I was a kid. I always wanted to become a cartoonist/animator and I'm working on it. I would like to be acknowledged in some way, but I know it's very hard, so I'm not relying too much on these hopes.
The reason I keep doing what I do is because it makes me feel happy, and that's what really matters.

[diamondactor]

Simple, it makes me happy and relaxes me. It also helps me feel like I've accomplished something with the idea (very much helps my mental health on bad days). I would love if people read my work, but I gave up on the notion of becoming world renowned for it a long time ago. I'm not a marketer/promoter. I have other things that are more promising for me, so this is a hobby while other things pay the bills.

[KiabIce]

I would say, cause I had hope. I had hope that someday someone would read my one in a billion story and would enjoy the story as much as I worked hard on it. That someone would enjoy the world I made and the characters. That my story wouldn't be in vain cause at least someone read it.

[jmhenry]

Because a life lived doing what you love is a life worth living, even if it doesn't become anything big

[carloswebcomic]

Yes, I'm frustrated with my lack of skill and talent.
I can only do gags and that's it. I can't do stories, drama or anything else.

My comic is basically a relic of the past and I can't adapt to be able to survive in 2021.
I give up.

[monochrome0M394]

because i wanted to let everyone know that even though your different than the norm. you still have things you can do. and no matter how negative or positive the outcome was. you give it your best. and that's that. that's how determined some of us be.

ps i have been hesitating to write this and i did it. so horray

[Ranty-cat]

Usually, a nice break refreshes me up when I am dealing with such frustrations. May or may not work, but I have a feeling you are probably just burned out. You may feel like giving up now, but later you will get that motivation back again. Who knows, right? Besides, we tend to criticize ourselves more than we deserve. So, anyways, whatever you do, I really hope you the best. I also hope that motivation returns back to you like fire.

[djourner]

I do it for the sake of keeping my sanity, my novel saved me from a really dark time in my life, I learned to love my characters and they feel real for me... If i never get acknowledged in my lifetime, that blows, but I'll still be happy I was able to make my characters known (provided an afterlife actually exists).

But I feel like I could never forgive myself if I gave up on these dear friends who did so much for me... The world deserves a chance to know them, and they deserve a chance to shine on their own, even if I never get accolades for it...

Don't get me wrong, I dream every day about being well know and recognized, of getting a comic, or gods bless me an anime... But if I don't, I'll know in my heart that I stuck by for what I believed in, and that I did my hardest and best to get there.

We live in a world where every piece of fiction and story out there talks about hopes and dreams, to never lose focus and remain true to ourselves... I guess I'm still a child at heart, and I still believe those stories... If I don't at any point, I know someone else who will be inside my head pulling me up and telling me not to give up, so I'll believe in them instead. ^^

[Beppobear]

Because I liked it.

Boom cue 'Big Poppa- The Notorious B.I.G'

[monotone_ink]

I can't do stories, drama or anything else.

Looks like it's time to try out making stories, drama, or anything else

[thedude3445]

If I didn't tell stories in the way I wanted, I don't know how my life would turn. It's one of the most important things in my whole life to create stories that people enjoy. I don't care if I'm a celebrity, but if at least enough people are following my work that I can make a decent living and maybe raise a family someday, that's more than enough for me. Without that, I don't know what in the world I'd do.

[jmhenry]

Exactly what Ranty-cat said, you may just need to take a break from comics for a while, but don't give up on it so soon. Remember why you started started making comics in the first place, it definitely wasn't to make it big in the beginning.

Comics is a terrible way to try and get rich anyway, lol. The thing that makes comic creators so awesome is that we do it because we love it, to some extent. Social media, likes, shares, and all that internet validation junk just makes it easier for us to forget that.

[Dialusion]

The long and short answer: For a Dream Come True

Even if no one reads it, even if millions read it, even if no one recognizes it, even if it wins awards. My core desire doesn't change. I want to create something that will exist beyond me, to prove I existed and that my life had some meaning and purpose. That's always been my dream, to make something that's unmistakably me and is the best I could possibly make it. Simply put, it's a pure, desperate desire: To Make this Dream Come True No Matter What.

If it's recognized after death, then I lived a proud life. My work can reach places and people I, while alive, can never hope to reach. Whether that reach turns out for the better, or leads to some dark ends doesn't matter in the end. I've accepted this reality years ago, I made peace then, I made peace before making the plunge and, before the almighty, I am at peace. My job is done.

[rachurch95]

Ngl, part of it is spite against myself. So I can say 'ahaha screw you! I did it!" to that part of my brain that says i can't.

[thomassayle]

Well why was I born with the desire to create? It is in my nature to create, it is who I am and being acknowledge by myself is enough to carry on.

[glennsworldcomicz]

I have no other profitable skills... I just really want to make good stories and I wish more people would read them.

I need to detach myself from this because it's pretty unhealthy but... I really wish my stories were better received...

[GumshoeComix]

I feel like I have something important to say with my story and I need to tell it to everyone, regardless if it only becomes popular long after I'm dead, at least people will have read it.

besides, with me being disabled I don't have much else going on, and I want to finish at least one story.

[carloswebcomic]

Exactly what Ranty-cat said, you may just need to take a break from comics for a while, but don't give up on it so soon. Remember why you started started making comics in the first place, it definitely wasn't to make it big in the beginning.

Comics is a terrible way to try and get rich anyway, lol. The thing that makes comic creators so awesome is that we do it because we love it, to some extent. Social media, likes, shares, and all that internet validation junk just makes it easier for us to forget that.

Usually, a nice break refreshes me up when I am dealing with such frustrations. May or may not work, but I have a feeling you are probably just burned out. You may feel like giving up now, but later you will get that motivation back again. Who knows, right? Besides, we tend to criticize ourselves more than we deserve. So, anyways, whatever you do, I really hope you the best. I also hope that motivation returns back to you like fire.

Thanks guys.
I've decided to do a small project as a break from my usual comic.
I still don't know if I'll go back to my main comic. I'll need to improve the writing dramatically, but I think a break from it will help to get my head in the right place to get back to it.

[SurvivALIST]

I've decided to do a small project as a break from my usual comic.

I may be writer but I am currently following this strategy.

In my case, I wanted to keep my usual novel alive but I can't keep up because the worldbuilding is vast and the writing is shit. So, I've decided to create a small [but gradually going large] project that's related to my usual one. Whatever worldbuilding and writing style I got from making that secondary project, I'll simply add them all to my first project since its simplified and detailed already.

Breaks do help and you're the only one that can make them. Just be clear on what kind of break do you want! Good luck on your creative endeavors...