Things I wish I had done when I first became an indie webcomic artist, a short list.
1. Experiment more.
Everyone knows that in order to develop a comic, you have to develop a sense of style. Yet, it seems lost on the general population that in order to really find that sweet spot and the consistency to upkeep it, you need to experiment often. I'm here to tell you, if no one else does, that you should actually, really, truly, take your time experimenting! I wish I hadn't been so afraid of doing it.
By the time I felt "ready" to do so, I had already been drawing episodes upon episodes of my webcomic. I still found things I liked and kept them as I went forward, but it was frustrating to realize that it interfered with the consistency of uploads and the drawings themselves. Which brings me to the next item on the list I wish I'd done.
2. Time for consistency.
This one must be mentioned after the first as it is my opinion that they go hand-in-hand. While developing your style and finding that sweet spot previously mentioned, I wish I had given myself more time to become a consistent artist. Although I have kept the older art and the difference even from my first attempts to now are drastic, which I can find a way to appreciate rather than criticize now, it is not lost on anyone (I think) how long it takes to really settle.
Today, my artwork and shading are better than they've ever been, and I've even developed a secondary style for my other projects. It's nice to notice, but it makes me think back to all the time I felt pressured, sometimes more from myself rather than others, to crank out art with little mercy. Even though that can also leave people displeased. In the end, I've found that taking time away from it and then going back into the work with a slow and steady mindset helped me improve and become a more consistent artist. Both by way of content as well as character drawing(s). The difference between my first 10 episodes of Lifeline: Path to Tomorrow (LP2T) and the eps in the 20s+ are like night and day.
3. No comparisons, just the journey.
This one feels like one not to be forgotten. It is so easy today to get caught up in everyone else's ability to do something you feel you're lacking in as an artist. Especially because regaredless of comparing your work to your previous, putting it out there for the public eye also opens the door for others to pass judgment. And with that often comes the insecurities. While I appreciate that I've gotten to the point that I don't have much of these worries anymore, I still find myself wishing that I had been able to get to this place even a little sooner.
So, my advice? One, don't worry as much about where you are right now. See your journey and look forward to where you are going. Two, remember that you very rarely are privy to anyone else's road map. There are places they've been, places they got stuck; a broken pavement that they've circled back on a hundred different times; signs that spelled out their own imposter syndrome; blocks in their paths; dead ends they never saw; and plenty of places where the road wasn't clear and they had to ask for directions. Most people have to suffer highway hypnosis and heavy rain before they reach their destination. Know that they didn't get that good without it.
As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day my friends! If you're so focused on theirs, you'll never find your way.
4. Layout careful.
This one goes beyond planning the kind of panels you want to have in a comic episode. Although that is undoubtedly something to put some thought into, for me there was another area that most people didn't talk about that I found to be important. Figuring out my layout (scroll format, page-by-page, how I wanted to do full-sized drawings, and even a minimum and maximum size to said drawings), as well as the easiest way to break them up in case I ever wanted a print version of my work, would have saved me some trouble. Especially for the beginning when I was using other platforms rather than my own website that I could change whenever I wanted.
Every company is a little different, and not having the comic ready to switch between views depending on where it would be uploaded made that a bit more challenging on my end. Nowadays, some drawing programs have a way to do most of the work for you--Isn't that nice? So, be sure to check your settings, else take a bit of time and test out doing it manually to find what works best for you. Even better, the way you'd feel comfortable breaking up the work in case you don't have the option in the future.
5. Workload after drawing completion.
It may sound a bit strange at first, but being unsure of this one actually caused the most re-starts of my comic! Not to worry. Here I am to save you from my mistake, yet again. It's because I care about you, I assure you. Haha.
Anyway, on to the good part. Don't be like me, and wait to figure out how much work you want to do after the drawing(s) are done! I realized that part of the reason (excluding the indie comic artists who have a team) that so many comics can upload more consistently is because they have this sorted out. How much shading and depth do you want? Which textures and colors? Soft or hard finishing touches?
There are times that I still wonder why I chose to give myself so much work for my finished project when I could increase my number of updates and give myself more time for other things if I just did the minimum. For me, I've found that the end product outweighs those thoughts, and I'm not overwhelmingly stressed getting things done, even for the tedious parts. In fact, I'm the most pleased with my results when I put all the work in. Even if that means more time, coloring, and shading, or anything else. Make sure you find out how you honestly feel and set realistic expectations for yourself. You should hope that it is for the long run, but you always have the option to change things in the future if it comes to it.
6. Breaks, the silent friend.
I know, I know. You've heard the whole "take breaks" thing before. Well, I'm here to say it again. And again. And again. Until it's so annoying that you do it and then you thank me later. Forget just the thought of burnout. Your breaks are for more than just not getting tired of your own drawings. It's also to keep your mind fresh so the creative juices continue to flow, and so you can step away from your work comfortably.
When I didn't take breaks, I actually lost progress. My art ability plummeted, I got more frustrated with even good ideas, and I stopped having fun. Don't do that to yourself. Take an actual break. An entire week or more, long before you even think you need it. Then, get back in the saddle with a fresh pair of boots and getter done!
Final thoughts.
Your journey is just your own, even if you travel down some of the same roads as the person beside you. Try to be kind to yourself. Plan ahead and practice, but don't overwhelm yourself. Experiment and then get away from the drawing board. Most importantly, let yourself have fun. If you don't think there's plenty of things to love, if you don't enjoy your process and your artwork at all its stages, neither can your audience!
Happy drawing, and good luck, lovelies♡!!
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