Comic Genesis Forums

...yeah seriously...I enjoy drawing my comic, but I for some reason can't get interested enough to start drawing new strips...the newest one I drew was last month. Anyone have any suggestions? And something other than taking a break, I've been on a forced "break" for the past year.

Do something you hate. Clean your bathroom. Maths. Laundry. You'd be surprised how motivated you can be to draw after that.

Seclude yourself in a room with only a table. an uncomfortable chair, some pieces of paper, a pencil and an eraser.
Two hours should be sufficient to produce a new strip or at least an interesting idea.

Doodle. All the time. Doodle on anything. You have to train yourself to want to draw at all times. That way, when it comes to drawing your comic, it won't feel like a hassle.

I agree with Phalanx about doing something you hate....I had to do several papers this semester for my education class and the need to do my comic was VERY strong during those times

What I do to get myself motivated is to think of new ideas for the comic. My favorite part of doing the comic is coming up with new ideas and writing the comic, so its a relaxing thing for me. Each person has their own way for gathering interest in continuing. You just have to find yours...try a variety of things or if it comes to it, go on hiatus for a little while and work on other comic pursuits.

Also something I find detrimental is work on a comic during the last minute, trying desperately to make an update. If you do the comic in that manner, then the comic will seem like a chore or a job even and it'll make you lose interest in it fast. Drawing can be a tedious job, but its also a proven relaxer. You just have to set up a safe cushion of time in doing the comic without rushing, and you'll enjoy the comic more. When I had a buffer of like 6 comics to work off of, I enjoyed doing the comic endlessly because I had a cushion of 3 weeks to start worrying about making updates. It helps.

Make sure you have something else to do that requires your immediate attention; that always works for me.

I find that to break out of ruts of not drawing, it helps me to try something new. If you're working on paper buy yourself a new type of pen/pencil/whathave you, or try a new technique you don't normally use, like crosshatching. If you're working on the computer, try a new set of filters for a new effect. Just break your usual routine, and try to find something fun.

I work on the 'have a buffer' proposal. If you have a shitload of comics already lined up you have all the time in the world to get the next ones done and you can enjoy doing them. Or, you can enjoy sitting on your wrinkle instead. If you let the buffer drop to nothing then it becomes a stress to get it out.

Mind you, I've let my buffer dwindle from eight weeks down to one and a half. It's time I pulled my finger out myself. Personally, I find it helps if somebody (anybody) gives you a few words about something you've done. They can be good words or bad. I'm all set now to go about writing up a few storylines that I wasn't ready to do yesterday, mainly because I got a decent few words about the work I'd already done.

Mind you...words from others don't just pop up when you need them, eh?

Beat people up.

Discover violence is not the answer.

Go back to drawing.

ryclaude wrote:Beat people up.

Discover violence is not the answer.

Go back to drawing.

But...but...violence IS the answer...but I find brutally mauling people with a rusty butter knife to be more enjoyable...

Dutch! wrote:I work on the 'have a buffer' proposal. If you have a shitload of comics already lined up you have all the time in the world to get the next ones done and you can enjoy doing them. Or, you can enjoy sitting on your wrinkle instead. If you let the buffer drop to nothing then it becomes a stress to get it out.

Mind you, I've let my buffer dwindle from eight weeks down to one and a half. It's time I pulled my finger out myself. Personally, I find it helps if somebody (anybody) gives you a few words about something you've done. They can be good words or bad. I'm all set now to go about writing up a few storylines that I wasn't ready to do yesterday, mainly because I got a decent few words about the work I'd already done.

Mind you...words from others don't just pop up when you need them, eh?

Most of the stuff I get from people is "Where's your comic?", "Draw a new comic, or I'll kill myself!", "Why is there not comic?", "You bastard, there's no new comic!", "I CURSE YOU TO HELL!!!", "EAT MY BABIES!!!", "Osama Bin Laden rules/must die!!!", and "GIMME DRUGS!!! WHERE'S MY DRUGS?!!!"

Maybe I need some kind of policing force to scare off all the psychos...

Try reading comics from other people that you admire, or listening to good music, or even watching some animation. That helps me out alot.

I don't have to worry about posts like that. Psychos don't read stories about little kids.

I find that tests and essays due tomorrow, result in some of my best drawings.

bwerith wrote:I find that tests and essays due tomorrow, result in some of my best drawings.

Ha ha! I find this to be absolutely true.

*sobs*

Cope wrote:

bwerith wrote:I find that tests and essays due tomorrow, result in some of my best drawings.

Ha ha! I find this to be absolutely true.

*sobs*

I will confirm this. I drew my Halloween picture several days before I got a C on a test.

Dutch! wrote:I don't have to worry about posts like that. Psychos don't read stories about little kids.

I'd almost bet that isn't entirely true.

Yeah, I was sort of expecting some smart arse answer to that one too...I'm surprised it took so long.

'swhat I get for depending on other people.

*shrug*

Noise Monkey wrote:

Dutch! wrote:I don't have to worry about posts like that. Psychos don't read stories about little kids.

I'd almost bet that isn't entirely true.

...TOO LATE AGAIN! First Jason, now you.

I gotta get to these posts quicker.