Thoughts on starting over

[Cortland]

Hi!

I don't know how many of you guys remember me, but I used to do a comic here a while ago. I'm just about ready to start a new one, and I'm wondering if anybody else here ever went through the process of ending a comic, going through an extended hiatus, and then starting over? I have the unfortunate habit of starting ambitious projects and then abandoning them, so I'm a bit hesitant to make a big deal about this, but I've been itching to draw again. Many of us have been down that sad path, where a fun web comic becomes a tedious chore to update. I remember the addiction to checking my daily stats and how much more fun it was to draw for the amusement of a few close friends than hundreds of anonymous strangers. I'll probably always have lofty dreams of hitting the "big time" (whatever that is now in the web or print world), but I was wondering what you guys thought about keeping it all in perspective?

[VinnieD]

I didn't end the old one properly at all, but I did at least finish the current storyline, then went and did some sprites until I just gave up. Around the time I fizzled out on sprites AntiBunny was formulating in my head.

I don't think you can call that hiatus though because I gave up the old one to start the new one. The old comic was such a mess there was no way I could write a proper ending anyway. There is talk of rebooting it by my friend who was at the time the script writer, and sometimes one off artist.

But this is roundabout. If you're going to end the old one, anyone still reading might want an ending proper, even if it's one panel of the main character waking up and going. "Man that dream was weird."

But good luck with the new comic. Just make sure it's something you want to dedicate yourself to as to avoid the fate of the old one.

[Bustertheclown]

I'm the poster child for this. I guess I finally just came to terms with the fact that my working style was not really conducive to the webcomic model, so I decided that my webcomic site would be me just messing around and having fun, maintaining a nominal online presence, and just not putting any pressure on myself to get any real work done whatsoever. Honestly, I could never really connect to any sort of "audience" in the virtual world. The stats did, and still do, mean very little to me, which is why I guess my stats are so dismally low. Instead, I pressure myself to get work done through what are to me more tangible goals, like buying table space at a con, or committing a certain amount of material to be submitted to a publication or show. Those are the fires I light under my ass to really get myself moving forward with my work, because showing up empty-handed to those sorts of deadlines are less anonymous, I suppose.

Of course, none of my projects are never truly abandoned, either.

Also, it's good to see you back, Cortland!

[Rcmonroe]

Hi!

I don't know how many of you guys remember me, but I used to do a comic here a while ago. I'm just about ready to start a new one, and I'm wondering if anybody else here ever went through the process of ending a comic, going through an extended hiatus, and then starting over? I have the unfortunate habit of starting ambitious projects and then abandoning them, so I'm a bit hesitant to make a big deal about this, but I've been itching to draw again. Many of us have been down that sad path, where a fun web comic becomes a tedious chore to update. I remember the addiction to checking my daily stats and how much more fun it was to draw for the amusement of a few close friends than hundreds of anonymous strangers. I'll probably always have lofty dreams of hitting the "big time" (whatever that is now in the web or print world), but I was wondering what you guys thought about keeping it all in perspective?

I guess I'm your polar webcomic opposite; I'm doing it for the anonymous strangers. I don't really care if my friends read it. Maybe that sounds funny, but I think of my strip as my creative statement to the world, my way of communicating something to people I won't ever meet. I'm able to communicate with my friends through more conventional means.

That aside, I've never felt like drawing my strip is a tedious chore, but there have been times when I've felt like taking a week off; the fact that I've amassed a large buffer has allowed me to occasionally do so. I probably sound like a broken record on this, but for me a buffer is absolutely essential to maintaining my enjoyment of drawing a comic strip. That's the best advice I can give you; don't try it again without the buffer. You did a daily strip for what, 2-3 years without a buffer? Geez, that would drive anybody nuts; every time you drew you must have felt like there was a gun to your head.

If you're itching to draw again, then scratch that itch, man; but give yourself a chance to enjoy it. Allow yourself enough breathing room so that you don't hear a clock ticking every time you sit down to draw the thing. The alternative, of course, is to not have a regular update schedule and to update whenever you want; I personally think there are very good reasons to have a consistent schedule, but not having one is probably better than having one and having to kill yourself in order to stick to it.

My two cents. Looking forward to seeing your new project.

[Evil Jamie!]

Dude, yeah, I have totally done that thing you mentioned. I stopped drawing for a while and then, you know, WANTED TO DRAW AGAIN.
I tried doing new comics a couple times over (and usually they didn't make it past their third penciled page) but I finally found something that clicked with me and just ran with it. Making something that you suspect will hold your interest long enough and characters that are both fun to write and draw are pretty key here, obviously.
Making sure the updates are far enough apart to make everything manageable is a good idea too. Three comics a week would kill me, so I just do two. Easy peasy.
Uh, as for readership, I dunno, I haven't really worried about that yet.
Oh, also, If you're worried about being over ambitious maybe do some short stories? Those can be fun.

[Rkolter]

I've done it too. I read your last comic Cortland, I'm sure I'll read this one too.

[Dr Legostar]

I've not ended my original comic but I've had attempts at starting a new one. Though none of my have anything to do with me drawing so I'm not sure if it's applicable, but writing new stories always takes a bit to get going for me, I'll have a single idea that I need to stretch into something more substantial. I'm sure you'll do fine, cort, plus you start with a ready made fanbase from your old comic and notoriety here.

[LibertyCabbage]

Go for it! Comparing how you are now to how you were when you started Cortland almost five years ago:

• You're wiser.

• You're more experienced.

• You're a better writer and artist.

• You're more familiar with the challenges and triumphs of webcomicsdom.

• You've already gone through the pressure of sticking to demanding update schedules.

• You've already worked with a variety of genres (humor, slice of life, workplace, sci-fi, fantasy, romance, gaming) in Cortland.

So, I think you're faced with a great opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills to a new endeavor.

[Wendybird]

I definitely agree about the buffer. If you want to draw comics and show them to your friends, then do that. If a schedule and an online following isn't important to you don't push yourself in that direction. But if you do want to maintain a schedule and that's difficult for you, a buffer is a very nice thing to have.

What's even more important, though, is caring about the work you're doing. I've been drawing two pages a week of my current comic for just about a year now, and that was just about all I could handle. Now I've been given the chance to work on another project as well, with a story and characters that my friend and I have been working on for about eight years now. It's amazing how much more time I can spend drawing when I have two such great projects demanding my attention. I don't know if I can keep it up, but it's worked (me to death) for these past few weeks getting the new project going.

[McDuffies]

I wouldn't mind you stopping your comic if I know you're going to continue drawing, being that I get more attached to artist than to his characters. I'd get actually excited, wondering what new things you'll come up with and all.
But if you have a long, unwinding story which you leave unfinished (like I did with "mcDuffies") your regular readers are gonna get pissed.
This is my second lengthier hiatus on all comic work. But I'm under too much stress to think about updating now really. How I'll return, we'll see.

[Caduceus]

I trashed my webcomic site but I posted three new comics recently. Trying to get back in the swing of things. I used to be named Stephen Henderson-Grady of Pirate Queen Marianne; I renamed it to just Marianne.

[Ti-Phil]

While I did start a second comic (mostly because I had a writer and a colorist), I'd prefer finishing at least one of mines before starting a third one. I'd feel cheap to end with an hiatus, mostly because I also want to see how the story will end. (I know I'm the writer but sometimes I let the story flow in directions I hadn't foreseen but that works well.)

[Q_Slash]

I've started so many webcomics...

The first one ever was actually a CG comic called GraveRiver High. It started with four creators and ended with two who just didn't care after a while. It's collecting dust. Horrible, horrible dust.

My other comic, Elven Lacryment has had a whirl of a time lately. I lost my artist only to get a new artist and then lost her too. Then the original artist came back.
So now, I assume Elven Lacryment is a comic with a reputation of making false promises. But, we're re-starting from scratch with better art and clearer story telling.

It's tough, but it can be done. Technically we're not obligated to continue our comics. We only owe it to ourselves. So go for it! No one's stopping you.

[TheSuburbanLetdown]

Just do whatever you feel. Just remember to keep it fun or else it'll become a second job that you don't get paid to do.

[K-Dawg]

I trashed my webcomic site but I posted three new comics recently. Trying to get back in the swing of things. I used to be named Stephen Henderson-Grady of Pirate Queen Marianne; I renamed it to just Marianne.

Hey I remember you!

[McDuffies]

Scull with monocle would be a dead giveaway even if he didn't introduce himself.

[Dr Legostar]

Scull with monocle would be a dead giveaway even if he didn't introduce himself.

also the signature.

[Fishies]

I finish my comics. Always. Even if it almost kills me!

Pumpkin Flower might just do it. (I'm not even on the second story arc yet. Hell.)

But, um, do what feel right for you?

[Caduceus]

For a more substantive answer: to a certain extent I need a public creative outlet. If it wasn't Marianne it would have to be something else; I'm just happier when creating and telling stories to people. That's where it has to begin. Yeah, I check my stats but just the joy of getting something up there makes me feel good. If you don't have that as a motivation it's going to be very hard to take your work anywhere else, I would think.

The fact that your work has such an extended narrative, Cortland, leads me to believe you aren't going to be happy just putting up gag a day comics at your leisure. You need to tell a story. I never really brought the story of Pirate Queen Marianne to a close which I kind of regret but I don't think I can keep going with it now. I guess I could just repost the entire narrative and have a go at it if I can find it. I did finish some very long plotlines so I do know something of what you are talking about.

I say go for it.

[W M]

Cut yourself some slack; instead of completely and utterly ending you comic, leave a little leadway (you know, some possible openings if you ever want to start it up again, or have a sequel/spinoff)

From the sound of it, you're not completely sick of the comic, just tired of working on it,
but your opinion could change down the road, and you might want to start it back up again.

(I'm not sure if you're saying you've aleady ended the comic, and if that's the case, then just ignore this post )