You've just finished your comic!

[Kayke]

SAME. I can't remember the last time I finished a page and didn't crawl into bed right after.

[AnnaLandin]

Being a workaholic, finishing a chapter means I get to put down the pen and go do something just for fun - like watch a movie, or read a book, or play videogames for a while. I have to stop myself from immediately starting something new - because it's highly likely that I will, and forget about taking breaks and being nice to myself altogether.

Also, taking a break means I clear out my brain a bit, which means that when I come back and pick the pen back up, I'm feeling refreshed and more creative. Getting a bit of distance also means I can look over what I've drawn and see if anything needs to be changed.

[keii4ii]

By moving onto the next chapter \o/

I'll feel more accomplished upon completion of the climax of the current mini-arc, which will happen probably Q1 next year. Maybe not accomplished per say, but it'd definitely feel like an actual milestone. Been looking forward to that scene since before the release of the first chapter.

[ahkwardkat]

Aha, when I get my page done, I wanna draw more! It's just constant need and love of drawing comic pages. XD It's just I love it so much.

I have to balance my freelance and commission work with comics though, so maybe that's why? I'm always being pulled away from my comic to work on other things that need done. So when I finish that, I'm itching to get back to comic work. lol

[niinasalmelin]

As many others here I'll just get more excited of the things that'll soon come and I'll get to draw them finally Even when my current comic ends I'll have plenty more stories where to pick next project.

[kazukitakamura126]

Whenever I finish a chapter I would usually quit working and go play a some video games if its at night of course.

[pwh13]

Depends on what time I finish the page. If I finish it late at night, I'll eat a piece of chocolate, watch some youtube and then go to bed. If it's during the day, I usually make something to eat, play some games and get ready for work (although, that last part isn't much of a unwinding as a curl-in-a-ball-and-cry kind of thing.)

[Shanny8]

I try to do this...but sometimes I want to keep the energy and the momentum going- especially if its a good flow. Sometimes I dont take a break until stuff starts happening like A) I get sick/experience fatigue, B) my arm/wrists start to hurt, and/or C) temporary burnout. So to prevent these factors from happening quite often, I do give myself small breaks by alternating drawing days/evenings with watching movies/Netflix and doing other stuff.

But then I'll notice myself going and looking at the finished work like 150 times, or I'm twitching like an action junkie coz I want to be working on something else.

[maxzaguishi]

I just finished the chapter 4 of my sleeve, I usually have lots of energy and I want everyone to see it but with the passing of the days I can hardly retake the drawing
https://tapastic.com/series/WHITE-PALADIN-

[dratinigirl]

Usually once I finish the comic for the week, I try to set aside some time to draw something unrelated to it entirely for fun! All work and no play makes jack a dull boy, after all.

[alaingrey]

This question makes me realize that I just reward myself no matter what, whether a chapter is done or not. I get worried for creators who say they give up health or social life or leisure to make a comic instead. Those shouldn't be rewards, they're just part of a healthy lifestyle.

That said, my rewards are usually a day sitting in the sun with a beer at the pub and a plate of eggs and chips, or ill spend an evening taking a class of interest or I'll go to a concert or just play guitar and have a cigar. But I pretty much do all those things anyways just because it's part of a balanced life. I find my art jobs and comics to be as much play as anyone else because it's fun, but I don't restrain my life enjoyment in favor of straining on a comic hobby, so I guess i get rewarded no matter what.

[Aspie_Gamer]

I play video games after I upload a new page of Life of an Aspie

[ahkwardkat]

I can say I'm honestly one of the types you mention. However It's not that I want to... I have three jobs, inluding the comic because I need them. I have student loans to pay off and I'm saving for my internship to India for storyboarding. omo

I think the last time I played a game was March 2015 and I played for about 15 mins. I felt so guilty NOT working that I quit and went back to work. Haven't turned on my PS2 since. u_u I don' go to movies or theaters or outside much at all. I've never been to a concert (and I'm 25 in two weeks). It's like a never-ending work load just to stay above water atm. Though to some degree I don't mind sitting and drawing all day?

But I agree, it definitely isn't worth to do that to yourself. I see no other option other than stopping my comic and that's not happening. XD

[yenrou]

Everyday, after I finish a page, I hit steam and play some dota to relieve stress and right now that we are about to finish a chapter (00 - prologue) I might reward myself a pack of battlepoints so my compendium will level up more. xD

[shaneoid77]

Some interesting responses. For those who jump on to the next issue/page/panel, I know the feeling of wanting to just get on with doing more, it takes a conscious effort to will myself not to, sometimes I think a break gives me a fresh perspective I'd normally not get. Buuut when you're in the flow, you're in the flow. I have to agree with ahkwardkat, I hope people aren't sacrificing their health for their work, but it is great to see so much creative energy round here.

[alaingrey]

I used to be that way! I used to have no hobbies other than work and more work. i even worked so hard that I would rarely eat- and as a result ended up with no blood pressure and spent two months in the hospital. Was it worth it? I got a degree, so that was nice. But now I'm old and I want a life of joy.

The nice thing about taking breaks is that they help to inform your work. How can you write about life if you deny yourself one? It's a common idea that artists need to work themselves to death, but there's a lot to be said for living simply, frugally yet pleasurably with the ability to say no to projects that will harm you. It's not sustainable else wise, and it's not good for your work either.

[shaneoid77]

Interesting. I hadn't thought this topic would go in to such depth but I'm glad we're touching on these subjects. I agree @alaingrey that taking a step back from actual work is a beneficial thing. I'm sorry to hear about your hospitalisation and I hope you're having your joyous life now
This is an interesting look in to the lives of webcomic artists. I wonder if I could open the question up now and as, what practices to you have that make you take a break from you work? Sometimes it's like a huge physical and mental effort to pull away from your artistic comfort zone and remember there's life beyond...

[ahkwardkat]

I cannot take a break. I have no way of taking one. I have deadlines due to a publisher, my freelancing and truck unloading pays my bills (loans are 800$ a month + life expenses). So I don't really see a way to take a break unless I defer loans for a period of time and I'd rather not I guess? Interest is insane these days.

Any ideas maybe?

[glennsong]

I finished serializing my comic in mid-May, and I'm happy to say that the project I started 4 years ago is done. I decided to go off line and go to the library to read some novels, something I haven't really done in a long time.

I'm also working on a retrospective of my comic as a capstone to finish it off. I have plenty of ideas as to where it can go next, but I want to take time and explore/play with those ideas and try out writing different stories with my character before entering another comic project with her.

[Niles]

I go into shut down mode for 48 hours. I try and process the fact that I've managed to get through a whole chapter (especially if it's 63 pages or something) and tend to go into drifting thoughts of that achievement. I don't tend to treat myself because I don't feel like I deserve a reward right now, I haven't really achieved anything other than complete a chapter - So I 'reward' my mind by letting it cool down and relax, take flask of tea in the country side and sit down and watch the view. I'm sure we can all agree that making comics is very taxing and stressful - Especially if we do it all by ourselves. To all those that are cooling down before the storm of your next chapter - Well done!