Why we stop drawing?

[Mikayi]

I do remember inkblazers, I didn't know that they were getting paid to update. or maybe I didn't pay much attention. but I see your point. it does take a lot of work. I update bi-weekly because I can't update daily with jobs and other things going on in life. but it seems like it maybe a dominate reason. I just seen a few that lost validation and quite, so I figured I'd ask if it was comment or not.

off topic, but are you on Drunkduck? I think I may have seen your stuff up there. but I'm not positive.

[alaingrey]

I have a horror story about ending a comic. I worked on a comic for about a year and a half once. I decided I was going to make it super detailed and all digital (which I'd never done before!)
I redid pages over and over until I found a style I liked, and then I got to work! At the time I was working my first ever full time job, and I'd also just discovered the wonderful world of "mind altering medications." Needless to say, it was hard to find the time to sit down and draw. Regardless, I started working on pages that took me ridiculous hours to complete because I had a laptop that would constantly crash and also no skills and knowledge that might make comic creation easier.
I started putting up the comic online sporadically- It was hard because I started up at school again, and was still working side jobs- and it actually got a fair amount of attention for a side project with no schedule. Some of my favorite writers are still subscribed to the sad, abandoned account :"D
School finally ended and I graduated early to take time to work on this comic- my masterpiece, my David.... I worked on it pretty much constantly while in and out of rehab.
Then, one night I was sitting with a friend and my computer made a funny noise. I restarted it, and when it came back to life I realized that without warning my hard drive had crashed. The attempts to rescue files failed. my computer was wiped. I had never backed up my comic anywhere. It was gone.

Now it's been a year since The Crash and I'm still not over it. I'll never be over it. I don't know if I can revive an interest in that story because it just stresses me out.

The moral of the story is invest in a Dropbox or an external hard drive. Take it from me. Please.

[Kura]

I do remember inkblazers, I didn't know that they were getting paid to update. or maybe I didn't pay much attention. but I see your point. it does take a lot of work. I update bi-weekly because I can't update daily with jobs and other things going on in life. but it seems like it maybe a dominate reason. I just seen a few that lost validation and quite, so I figured I'd ask if it was comment or not.

off topic, but are you on Drunkduck? I think I may have seen your stuff up there. but I'm not positive.

(Yes I am on drunkduck, I'm not a 'keep all your eggs in one basket' type person, especially when comic hosting sites seem to come and go so fast)

Yes, the way inkblazers worked was VERY numbers driven, but it was mostly applicable for the featured and premium artists, once you were on one of those lists (which I was) you had to play the numbers game if you both wanted to stay in that tier as well as attempt to make money.

There were two 'money pools' one for their premium comics section, one for their featured section. It was basically a set amount of money that the artists in that list would pretty much 'fight over' the more hits your series got, the more money from the pool you got. But there were also 2 requirements that you had to fill, you NEEDED to updated 4 times a month (once a week at the least) for featured, while premium you needed up update 15 times a month. If you did not meet the required number of updates, you did not get paid. Also even if you did meet the update requirement, but your comic pulled in less than 20$ of worth of hits YOU DID NOT GET PAID (at least that's what it was for featured, it was higher for premium I just don't remember the exact number) Even when the site introduced the 'all comics get paid for views even if you only make 30cents' that did NOT extend to featured and premium comics. If you made less than 20$ you still did not get paid for that month.

Because of those requirements a good amount of artists on that site that were in those two tiers HAD to make comicing their full time job, they HAD to make sure they kept bringing in numbers. I think how the pools evened out you had to at least be one of the top 10 - 15 ranked comics in your list because the ones under usually didn't get enough views to get over 20$ of the pool money and therefor got nothing. (at least for featured, premium got a small concert payment AS WELL as a pool for the artists to fight over, again thought the requirements for qualifying for that pool were higher too) The site was VERY competitive (though a lot of people outside those tiers didn't realize it)

That's why it was such a big hit for some of the artists that came from that site. They needed the subs and view counts to make money, they quit jobs and made comics full time to make sure they were able to make enough money. When the numbers and money did not equal up on other platforms they had no choice but to slowdown or completely stop their comics and seek work elsewhere, because they had bills to pay and they could not afford investing working time into making a comic that did not pull in enough for them to eat or afford heating.

That being said, when numbers = $$ for an artists that you need to live off of (not extra pocket money, money to pay bills or get out of debt) and those numbers are just not being met. Then I don't blame an artist for stopping their project or giving up from lack of support. Not everyone is making comics for as a hobby, fun, or for 'just personal reasons' they do it because it's their job or they want to turn this into something that can help them earn a living (not to be rich and famous, just earn a living) and because the ratio for financial success in the very over saturated webcomic market is so low. Numbers ARE important when it comes to that regard.

[Mharz]

We may never know the real reason why an artist stops drawing. It may be like you said they feel underappreciated because they don't have much subs but it's not necessarily the only reason existing. Who knows, maybe there are sudden turn of events in their personal life that they can't find the time to draw/create comics. Maybe they stumbled upon a financial crisis and art isn't going to save them so they have no choice but to get a different job. Maybe they're not that passionate enough to pursue art so they just went in take different careers. Maybe they're not confident enough and thought that it won't work. Maybe they got sick of everything and decided to just quit. Again, we may never know the reason.

[Vikiro_Hop]

So I have been waiting for a good place to mention this. There is a rapper who gave up on being a visual artist and has struggled with it all his life.

Here is a a quote from a site

In “Rings,” Aesop Rock reflects on his memories of being a young visual artist and the twenty or more years he spent convinced he would make a career out of it. It’s a story of lost passions, nostalgia, and dwelling on the “what if?” question he has had for his own life.

He made successful career out of music but sill reflects on what he missed out on. This isn't an unsuccessful dude, just one who thinks he could have been more.

[rodrigomush]

I can talk about my experience, i started my strip and was really motivated. I was loving to draw, tried to get more disciplined about that. One day i just started to feel less motivated, started to feel sad, about my art, and about other thing in life. During a week or two i was really depressed, and my comic stoped... And since then i just can't draw regurlaly as i wanted... I'm trying to come back, but now the wall of insecuity is back again as it was before i started anything.

[Pandastrophic]

I can talk in terms of my experience, I didn't stop drawing but I Stopped working on my comic at the time.
I spent about a year on this comic projects and honestly the main reason I stopped was because I got burned out, the fact that I didn't get much readership was a contributing factor but it wasn't like the main reason. I felt like I was working on something that was going no where, I hadn't planned the story properly, the story had too many 'main' characters (it was about a group of friends) so I wanted to tell all their stories which ment the comic was gonna be really long.There were problems with my writting, I didn't know how to write or develop characters well enough for a story, their personalities where flat and cliched and the story was too. Working on it made it feel more like a job I didn't want to do, it was stressing me out and I kept trying to update on time and pushed myself to keep working on it for a year but by the end I started to realise all the problems in my comic and I was just so burned out from working on it, I also didn't have large following and that made me feel like 'well no ones gonna miss it anyway' so I just ended up quiting.

I'm glad I made that older comic because it helped me see my mistakes but it was only until last year that I decided to get back into making comics after about 3 years of mainly illustrations and adopts.

[timinabox24]

the wird things is, I can't seem to get myself to stop making comics
I've been told all the time for the past few years by people that my comics are trash and got rejected every single time I even tried to show them to someone
I know my comics are bad and I feel bad
and I did try to stop making them
but at the same time I still have so many ideas and I don't want them to go to waste, altho in the end they still kinda do x.x
I don't know how other people do it and manage to give up drawing, I wish I could do that too x.x

[Mikayi]

@kurapikasuki I was one of the many people that did not know how that worked. but that is crazy! that defently is a lot of work. Considering just to make money and have 15 updates a month or even 4. I could image it takes a lot out of people. I can barely manage an update every 2 weeks, but I push myself I don't know how people are able to do 15, then again if that's all they did I do understand that needing income important. that's very sad though the site shut down and many people had to give up. I noticed a comic can get more views online, then on paper back. but their are those that self print and then they can't make to much that way because it's free online. still thank you for letting me know I had no idea!
and thank you, I should try to find you on that site again. I have a few comics I follow on there too. ^-^ it's a bit easier on my mobile to read comics on DD sometimes.

@avimHarZ I figure there's a bunch of reasons. it sad to see someone stop, but I do understand completely that life gets in the way or they can get burned out. I just wanted to pounder the idea of reason why someone would stop. I favorite comics I enjoy and it sad to see it never update, and no word from the author. I guess I get sad thinking something bad happen.

@Vikiro_Hop I see lots of people wanting to make it big in art, then randomly give up due to the feeling of never making it. the what if question ! but that's an intersting little vid. thanks for sharing it! and I think that many people probable have the what if thing going on. something that a person loves is hard to give up on, and sometimes we can wonder if we had did plan A would we need plan B. or Work on Plan B over Plan A.

@rodrigomush Oh no! I do understand the depression part though it really does make you not want to do anything, even things you love. I hope you are able to get back. this place seems to be kind enough where they can always help or talk about things. I seem to find it easier to post online then in front of people. then again online can be tough too. still... I glad you shared that I hope things get better and you feel better to start back again. ^-^

@Pandastrophic I think I did that with one story before, and part of it was because I felt like I had to update daily, but that was when I didn't have to worry about much, and to me the story got jumbled. however, I had redone it recently but it's taken me a lot longer to get to where I wanted, I had 7 vol. with 2000+ pages, now I am in v.3
I do get what you are saying though, it's good experience. and I have read one comic that started out well, but there were to many characters, the story felt like it was bouncing to much, and I stopped reading. but it wasn't yours. I think it does help to know when things can be jumbled and may need to stop. or redo. ^-^

@timinabox24 OH NO! but the only way to get better is to pratice and learn. I'm sorry people tell you those things. although you want to, I think it's nice that you are still somewhat motivated to keep drawing. sometimes it helps just to relieve stress or if you have something to say it helps too. I think it's different for everyone though. so don't feel bad. ^^

[timinabox24]

no, trust me, I have every reason to feel bad X_X I've been making comics for a long time now, and I tried really hard to get better, but in the end they are even worse trash than when I started making them :/
I used to think it would be neat if I could show my comics to people, but unfortunately that impossible, so I just don't see the point in wasting my time on them anymore, if all I can do with them is just toss them in trash as soon as I'm done. I just wish I knew how to stop making them and just forget anyhting ever happened X_X

[r0ckrabbi7]

Sorry for not really joining in on the discussion, I am at work and don't have the time to read every reply, so I'll just post my two cents here:

I have a series on Tapastic. Actually two, but one is just random 4/5 panel stories and I don't think of it as something that interesting.
I came to this website with a story to tell. I'm not here for the subs, for the views, I'm not here with a goal to create myself a fanbase. I mean, all of these are cool to have, but they're not my main reason to be here. I just want to tell the story that I have created and that is about it.
With that being said... My comics is dead at the moment. It has always been on long hiatuses between updates (January, May, October, December) and it's mainly because... Well, I don't really have time for it. Making a single page is bothering me and I don't have the time to make many pages at once, because I have joined projects, I work on personal others that help me get some extra money, I have a dance group to deal with, as well as a social life and a relationship.. It's all little bits that take away from me. I am sad that I can't find enough time to do my comic, especially since I know there are people who look forward to it and I feel guilty, because it feels as if I owe them, but at the same time I am not sure how to balance everything else in such a way that I can sneak in some time for the comic.
So I guess some people are unhappy or get tired of their projects (that's what happened to the Black Brick Road of OZ :/ ), some get disheartened because they are unnoticed and some, like me, get overwhelmed by real life.. It's sad, but it happens. I wish there was more time in a day so I can sneak in the comic and maybe a few other activities too :c

[indagold]

You gotta have something wrong with you if getting depressed, losing hope, feeling lonely and feeling invalid no one is subbing your comic. There's a fine line between disappointment and losing all faith in yourself and whatever piddling amount of self esteem one has. This seems more of a matter of insecurity issues and getting way too obsessed over ones work. I see people posting on this forum their life is over because they don't have subs.

[quakeulf]

The page can't hold more ink.

[Mikayi]

I don't think it's a bad thing to draw it's an outlet to some. And even if you think it's bad you can always try colaberations with others maybe. But don't completely put yourself down.

[Mikayi]

@r0ckrabbi7 that is understandable, I don't have time to do anything either, I am able to draw at least once ever 2 weeks it's hard though, I had 2 jobs at one point and it was getting to be no social life at all. but I think it's something I love to do, and with me basically going to home and work I do have some time to draw. but it's good to hear your experience on why you stopped your comic.

@indagold I understand what you are saying. I had a bout of depression, that kept me from even doing the things I enjoyed, and there are times when things just pile up one after another and it's hard to find something to make you happy when nothing seemly going well. It does in some ways for those just asking for subs.

@quakeulf: I have no idea how to respond to that. O.O

[indagold]

I guess everyone should work out their life problems first. A lot of times just taking a break, taking a deep breath and taking a look back at stuff after some time has passed is better than freaking out. Some people just get too involved with something sometimes and it breaks them...

[keii4ii]

I guess everyone should work out their life problems first.

In some cases, though, that would mean they'd never get to create because their problems are more or less permanent. I know some creative folks who have had depression/anxiety for years, decades even. If anything, not creating makes things worse for them.

Telling them not to beat themselves up over views/subs is fine; I certainly agree with that! But telling them to not even create... that's going too far.

Some people just get too involved with something sometimes and it breaks them...

Often it's not that 'something' that breaks them. They were already broken in the first place, and that 'something' is simply an outlet for symptoms.

[indagold]

look I have bipolar, I know what it's like. I'm not implying people should stop working, I never said that, but should seriously try to take a break instead of wasting all their time fretting over a comic or something pointless. They become too obsessed over something to a point where they can't take care of themselves. "Often it's not that 'something' that breaks them. They were already broken in the first place, and that 'something' is simply an outlet for symptoms." sigghh... I'm talking about how something someone can't handle makes them worse. when not getting subs for a comic sends you into a fit you should seriously talk to you doctor and try to calm down because it's the person themselves not their comic. A comic isn't gonna help you when you're at your breaking point. Some people really do unhealthy things that just makes things worse.

[keii4ii]

because it's the person themselves not their comic

That's actually exactly what I meant. The comic is not the root of their problems.

And these problems are different for each person, especially when the diagnosis is different! I don't think being bipolar means you know what it's like to have other kinds of problems.. e.g. I have anxiety and do not understand depression as closely as I do anxiety. And even when your condition is officially the same as another person's, your experience and theirs could be very different.

[indagold]

I'm talking about how people deal with problems in unhealthy ways or don't even try to seek help. I'm not talking about how I understand everyone's condition. Some people really do dumb or ridiculous things and it has mostly to with their personality or inexperience.