You've just finished your comic!

[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!