This is going to be an interesting post. Its something thats been on my mind a lot lately, and I don’t mean it to be a “poor me” post about the comic, but I’m sure it will come off that way. Oh well, here goes anyway.
I think every artist wants to feel appreciated for the work they put into thier pieces, whether it be an oil painting, a sculpture, or a webcomic. When one takes the step of putting thier work out there, its a scary thing. I think almost every artist feels like thier own work isn’t good enough in some way or another. On one hand, it can be a good thing! I mean, if you thought you were perfect, how could you ever improve! On the other hand, its a crippling disability when it comes to confidence. If YOU don’t think your art is good enough, how could you possibly think that anyone else would. So why even try.
Unfortunately, I suffer from the latter of the two. Not that I don’t want to improve, but everytime I feel like I do something really good, no one seems to care. Its wrong to think this way, and I know it, but if I put that much work into something and no one even says, “hey! Thats neat!” I put HOURS into my work, all for the small satisfaction of people saying, “I like that!”
I look around at other comics or blogs, and they have so many fans, people who stand up for them in other blogs or sites, people who have hundreds of fans on thier facebook pages, people who check thier site everyday even though they KNOW they only update once a week. I want my work to be appreciated like that, I want people to like what I’m doing. I want DQ to grow, but I’m not sure if I can do it, and then (enter confidence issue) I wonder if its even worth it.
I’m being selfish, I know. I do have a few commenters every week, and always a couple of my close friends who say “good job” in AIM or what not, and really, I should be happy with that. I don’t know why I’m not. I am EXTREMELY lucky to be mentioned in WoW.com‘s Sunday Morning Funnies. So why isn’t that good enough for me? I just don’t know.
So what can be done about it? Well, first of all, I really need to change my attitude. Which is the hardest part. I can’t just not care, I want to know that people are reading this because they want to, not because they have to (as in, I’m hounding my friends making sure they visit). I need to look at this in a way that I’m just doing this for ME. I’m doing this because *I* want to. At least for the moment. I’m not giving up yet anyway.
Secondly, I think I need to try to offer more in the site. Either in the form of a more updated blog, or whatever. I have opinions, but honestly, I’m not necessarily all that great at putting them down. And again, I just think “who would care what I have to say anyway!” I’d really rather put some more of my art on here, but man, I just don’t have time to finish a lot of art. The comic takes up so much of my week as it is (I’m thinking about 8 hours now, I did actually cut back on the detail, and I don’t think you can tell at all). I want there to be other reasons why someone would visit Daily Quests other than a comic which everyone knows is only updated on Friday. I’m also trying to make a better effort of replying to people who do comment. Obviously I don’t reply to all comments, but I definitely read them all! I want people to know I’m there, I’m a real person, and I appreciate what they have to say. I don’t want to be seen as some snooty artist who doesn’t care about her fans, but I do get shy when it comes to replying sometimes! Anyway, that will be an easy thing to change.
And third, I know I’m not the only artist that thinks this way. I’ve actually read a few blog posts from artists who get in this slump and it affects them. Even GOOD artists! I remember Kensai from Battlemasters didn’t think anyone would sign up on his Facebook page, and now he has 200+ fans (totally jealous btw, but he deserves it!) So I’m going to make a bit of a better effort to promote my favorite comics as well, as well as places that I surf to and enjoy. Hopefully this will make other people feel good about thier hard work as well! One of my greatest joys is to find a new site, and learn they’ve linked me! It also means I need to to some linking back! No time like the present!
Now, I’m not a huge blogger, and I don’t really read a lot of blogs, but I appreciate the work it takes to keep one up. Its all about having an opinion and having the guts to let others read it and subject yourself to thier criticism! I know all about that part anyway! But I like Anea. Its just a blog about Aneas thoughts on the game and her experiences there, and thats what I like. She also almost always comments on my comic, which I can’t thank her enough for! It makes me feel so good! :D
From her site I actually found a comic called Re-Roll by Loreli. Again, I was SUPER pleasantly surprised to see they had linked me already! I had no idea! You guys need to tell me these things! I took a look at her comics, and as well her blog, and I found again that I’m not the only one who goes through this! Loreli’s thoughts mirrored my own on the whole “is this even worth it” thing, and inspired me to at least get my thoughts down on “paper” as well. Unfortunately, the comic part hasn’t been updated in almost a month, which is a real shame because the art is really good. But we’re told that it is because halloween is really busy for her, and she will be back on track soon! I can’t wait, I’d love to see more of it. Not to mention her BE character has the same hair as mine, which I LOVE!
Check out NPC, a cute comic about gamers and thier gaming cats. Love that the comic is done with Flash too! Shes also an animator! Anyone seeing a pattern here? Are we all so sick of animating we move to sequential art? HARDLY! Animating is always awesome. It just takes forever! ~_^
Some comics I’m going to mention that certainly don’t seem to need any help from me, but are still really good, are Teh Gladiators, which had an eerie similarity to DQ this week in our uses of Penguins! Looking for Group, probably the best WoW themed comic out there. I love that they have a flash animation too! Experience Points, about gaming in general, but definitly WoW infulenced.
And finally, make sure you check out the comics I’ve been linking for a while now! Almost Normal, The Battlemasters, and the very popular World of Warcraft, eh?, which is just starting a new storyline arc!
Listen you! Your artwork is incredible and the only thing wrong with your comic is that it isn’t updated enough.
You just had to make me say it!
>_< Yes I did! And I’d love to do it more often, but dammit, theres needs to be more hours in the day!
Hey, I liked your webcomic and artwork so much I added you to my blogroll a week or so ago when I had a bit of a blogroll rehaul :)
I love it, your comic is well drawn and coloured so it’s enjoyable to look at, and also puts a smile on my face. And I’m not the only one, so, /agree with Lys :D
Actually I had seen that, and I couldn’t remember what the blog was when I was writing this post! I wanted to put yours in too, but I of COURSE didn’t bookmark it. Because, that’d be…you know…productive. Inc link though!
Previously didn’t have any web comics on there just blogs, but I like to link to things that I like ^^
I love your work, I’m just not that vocal. I suck at art, so I don’t notice any faults (even when you point them out). This also means I can’t think of anything to say, such as “I liked this bit”, or “you could have done some more x to that bit”. To me it’s all good, but I didn’t see the point of saying the same thing after every comic. After having read this though, I guess I can see the point of just pointing out that I’m a fan every now and then.
Yeah, I’m even being a bit of a hypocrite myself, since really, I’m the same when when it comes to announcing that I’m a fan of something. Its nice to just hear it every now and again, and I’m going to start doing that on peoples blogs/comics a bit more.
I was going to write something profound but I don’t know what.
I like your work. Keep it up :)
lol, thanks! I’ll respond with something profound too…. >_> I’ll get back to you on that one.
You probably have more fans than you know, I’m not a gamer but I like following the comic. I like that you explain the back story and the art is beautiful and full of character. I agree that you have to find a place where you are doing this for yourself and the feedback is just the icing on the cake. Maybe give us something to comment on so we don’t feel silly saying “I liked this”.
Good advice. I’m glad you find it enjoyable too! A lot of my friends/family don’t really game, or more specifically, WoW, so I wonder if its lost on them. Not that WoW doens’t have its own MASSIVE following, trick is getting it out there. I love the idea of trying to give something to comment on though, definitely keeping that in mind!
You know, every artist goes through this one time or the other, every one who does anything for the public, in fact. The thing is, people are too lazy to comment sometimes, or feel like they have nothing to say, or that their “Nice comic.” just isn’t worth the comment (which on most art sites…it isn’t XP).
I read your whole comic yesterday and it still has very few strips to gain the kind of fanbase that you might want. It’s a case of giving the time, time. Because maybe not a whole lot of people know about this comic.
Thanks for the mention! <3
I know it's super frustrating to have so much to offer and to want to have everyone see it, but of course (as you know) it takes time. I think what I can recommend most… NETWORK. I know you've made an account for the comic exclusively – use that or your personal account and speak up on twitter! That's a PERFECT place to network and get to know people and see great work.
Plus, linking in a blogroll and featuring them in posts is an excellent way to build traffic to sites you like and that builds great blog karma – it'll come back :)
Then, comment comment comment! One of the things I love doing is reading a great post I like, then seeing who else has commented on it – if I see that their name is linked to a site, I click. I find so many great blogs/comics that way.
Good luck! Can't wait until the next comic.
I often have many of the same thoughts you had in this entry! But like Dragonrose said, you’re just starting out, so you just need time for things to build. Remember how popular your last online project got over time? You’ll get there (just hopefully without all that drama).
Just to chime in with everyone else: I check the comic every time you tweet about it or post it in your LJ and I’ve referred a few of my WoW friends to it too. Even though I don’t WoW I can follow along easily enough. And (I hope) you know I’ve always looked up to you as an artist. : )
If it makes you feel any better, when I saw your first comic I loved the artwork and couldn’t wait to see more. I made sure you were bookmarked with the rest of the comics I follow and I hate to admit that I do check the site several times a week even though I know there won’t be a new comic until Friday.
All I have to say is you do good work, wonderful detail, I like the colors, I like the stories and you deserve a pat on the back.
Aww, you guys make me feel bad I ever bitched about it! I really didn’t know! Thank you all so much, its given me so much confidence! <3!!
Hey. I’m really bad about posting on these things, as you know, but I just wanted to say that you’re doing a great job here and I love your comics!
<3
~Ima
Hi, I’m another person that doesn’t post!! Lurkers do exist, and coaxing them out is as difficult as trying to get a group for Mara!
…Just though I’d mention that, along with what a great job you do with this comic. I think I saw someone else say, and I agree, that the back story you tell us is awesome ^^ Not many other comics do it and sometimes it just makes understanding the comic so much easier!
/goes back to lurking
Thank you! That really means so much! ^_^ *set up her lurker traps*
I discovered your comic only yesterday, i have now read every single comic on there and as a WoW’er i love the way you have captured everything so perfectly, your drawing style is brilliant, and puts anything i could do (i cant draw though) to shame. Only one issue for me….
Bloody Horde :P
Squib
Dwarven Paladin