? the Audience?

[Jackhass]

I don't really have one specific group in mind...

...I try to make it something that can appeal to as many people as possible...it's something kids could read as easily adults for the most part.

[Sortelli]

Writing for yourself is great! It means you don't have to actually bother writing anything.

I'm gonna just flat out say if I post anything on the web, it's for an audience no matter how much I might pretend otherwise. Sure, it will be a story or subject I chose, and I will determine how the story unfolds and I most certainly will not whore to the lowest common denominator but if I make anything and show it off it's because I want to please an audience. I crave attention and validation.

[Shishio]

Myself.

[Dutch!]

it's a pretty sweet deal, although i have to sacrifice a virgin every week. although no one's really innocent right?

Yeah, but eventually they're going to stop letting you into comic/anime/sci-fi cons and then what? Where's you precious virgin supply then?

orphanages

Think again... ...oh for a perfect world...

Anyway...

I write for the characters. They're the reason I keep this show on the road. Not the humour, not the chance to make other people laugh. It's because I like the company of the characters. I want what's best for them. When they get into a fair pickle, I want to see them come out the other end a little bit smarter and find out that they've won just because they're still alive and can laugh at the world. I want to be there as the grow. I want to be there to watch their achievements and their successes, and to be there when everything goes pear shaped.

I've grown really fond of the kids. I know a few others have too. They've become my audience. They don't come and read because of me. They come for the kids.

So yeah. I write for the characters. Whoever else comes along for the same reason, that's my audience.

Cheers.

[Prettydragoon]

Writing for yourself is great! It means you don't have to actually bother writing anything.

I'm gonna just flat out say if I post anything on the web, it's for an audience no matter how much I might pretend otherwise. Sure, it will be a story or subject I chose, and I will determine how the story unfolds and I most certainly will not whore to the lowest common denominator but if I make anything and show it off it's because I want to please an audience. I crave attention and validation.

Word.

[Dr Legostar]

as with when i started the comic i'm basically just writing for the entertainment of a couple of my close friends, the rest of my readership is just gravey

[TheSuburbanLetdown]

Like many others here, I write the kind of thing I want to write. I always listen to suggestions, but ultimately I have the final say on what goes in. Many of those suggestions have been good ones. I figured if I write what I want, there has to be some people that like it as well.

[Glarryg]

I write for myself. Personally, I think the writer does better when s/he is entertaining him/herself. This leads to better focus, better attention to detail, and better material, which more people end up reading (and liking).

Glarryg

[Fortunesfools]

You know, this could be a harder question than I would have originally thought.

'I write for myself' seems way too easy an answer. It's that whole individualistic ideal, right? We're "concerned about the art, thank you very much". Or maybe "it's only to entertain ME". Both are valid, but if they are the one hundred percent answer then I get the feeling that the result might just be approaching unreadable.

It's like an in-joke. An in-joke by itself can be great. A plotline that is just an injoke is questionable (some will pull it off and many more will fail). A story with a solid plot that can engage a casual reader, but scattered with in-jokes for loyal readers is golden.

Really, I think you can be happiest somewhere in between. Writing for the writer isn't inherently noble (calling it 'self-centred' is a lot less noble-sounding) and writing for the audience isn't evil. Where you get into trouble is when someone starts thinking and writing along what is marketable. Isn't there a warning against being all things to everyone?

I guess what I aim for is a story to be readable, enjoyable for others, and ultimately something I am happy about.

Mind you, I am dead new to this whole thing. I am sure someone with a little more experience could be a lot clearer.

- M.J.

[Bustin]

I write for myself really, i enjoy creatingand writing my comic.. so i do it for me!

[Black Sparrow]

I started for myself, I think... to see if I could do it, an because the idea of having a webcomic intrigued me.

But I know that, if I didn't have at least a small audience, the comic would have died at the seventh page. Frankly, I have passing interests: when I've explored one hobby, I move on to the next. Having an audience of over ten helps keep me motivated to keep with this project, even when it becomes a little bit of a chore.

So I guess I'm in between.

[Pimpette]

I write for me, because the day I stop doing so is the day it's no longer fun - and that's when Pimpette might contract the dreaded hiatus disease.

I also write and draw in little jokes that only a few friends will get - just because it amuses me. And random cameos are fun too - though I do some of those few cameos because I'm asked to, I wouldn't do it if I didn't think it fun.

So, although I write/draw many things with friends in mind, I do the comic for myself, and ignore to people who try to steer my plotlines into things they want to happen. I'll take small suggestions and incorporate them into storylines sometimes (I think Van suggested the Player's Ball ages ago, and look what it turned into - attempted murder and kidnapping whee), but all the stories are mine and MINE ALONE BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH...

aright, I stop.

[Dr Legostar]

I write for me, because the day I stop doing so is the day it's no longer fun - and that's when Pimpette might contract the dreaded hiatus disease.

that an STD?

[Sortelli]

Having someone to sleep with can distract you from comicing, yes.

[TheSuburbanLetdown]

Cortland suggested I make some happy things happen. So it did and I think it's better now. The general mood is still pretty dark though.

Someone I know in real life suggested upping the draftsmanship, so I did. It takes longer, but it looks better now. Well, today's pages sucks, but over it's better over-all.

[Prettysenshi]

I started for myself, I think... to see if I could do it, an because the idea of having a webcomic intrigued me.

But I know that, if I didn't have at least a small audience, the comic would have died at the seventh page. Frankly, I have passing interests: when I've explored one hobby, I move on to the next. Having an audience of over ten helps keep me motivated to keep with this project, even when it becomes a little bit of a chore.

So I guess I'm in between.

I second this. That's how I feel as well. If I made it just for me, I wouldn't have put it online. Because hell, if no one has to read it, I don't have to show anyone my work. that's how I feel anyway.

I do it for me, and for others to enjoy.

[Blackaby]

I always write for an audience.

I decide what the audience is after studying it, and then I write something suitable for it.

[Blacklist Billy]

I decide what the audience is after studying it, and then I write something suitable for it.

That sounds ominous and threatening, in a cold scientific way. "WHAT" is the Audience? Is it human, or something, much, much worse?

And what exactly is the difference? If you do it just to please yourself, it shows in the result, and is probably more likely to draw an audience by being true to itself. Conversely, if you approach it like a television executive and just cobble your concepts together based on demographic data, but still throw a lot of love into it, even all those tired cliches that I'll decline to name for fear of offending someone's work can be made into an entertaining product. Who's to say?

If everyone was truly drawing and writing these things exclusively for themselves, then nobody would bother to post them up and seek an audience in the first place. Also, there would probably be a lot more porn in them if they were meant to be a purely "private" indulgence. Comics are, by nature, a form of communication, and require an audience to function properly. A balance must be struck!

[Pimpette]

Having someone to sleep with can distract you from comicing, yes.

Only if they live with you, or close enough to you that you can randomly jump (or be jumped by) them and therefore be distracted.


However, I feel that my update schedule will actually get better when I move out, regardless of how distracting my housemate (apartmentmate?) will probably be. After all, school will be over - no homework to clog my time!

[RemusShepherd]

Here is a question for you folks. When you guys write the stories, Do you write for a specific audience, or just write for yourself, or is it between the extremes?

Oh, I'm probably doing what every author does. I write for all those malcontents out there who want -- nay, crave -- the destruction of the civilized world.

But since I'm not certain how many of those people are out there, I guess I'm writing for myself.