What's somethings that beginner comic artists should know?
(like writing wise, burn out and visual story telling.)
ouu I couldn't ever feasibly go over everything but here are some go-to tips (some of these will be very Honest Truths™️so buckle up lmao):
1.) Your work is always going to inevitably improve as you go. Don't worry if the older stuff looks like ass after a while, that's a sign of improvement, not a weakness.
2.) To go with the above point, do NOT get trapped redrawing and rewriting the same stuff over and over again. Trust me on this one. It's not worth it. Keep moving forward.
3.) Webtoons is not your only option. If you want to pursue comics either as a hobby or as a profession, there are loads of platforms, publishing agents/houses, and agents who you can approach. Using a webcomic platform like Webtoons at the start is fine and dandy if you're still learning or if you're just looking to build an audience before pursuing it more seriously, but if you really want to make a go of it as your job, don't settle for the "post on Webtoons and hope you get noticed" bullshit. The industry might be in a bad place right now but there are still agents and publishing houses that are primarily focused on finding new talent and new ideas.
4.) I know sometimes we're reluctant to share our ideas because someone might "steal them" - but the reality is (and this might sound harsh so apologies in advance, not trying to step on any toes here) no one's idea is special enough for anyone else to want to steal it and commit themselves to making it; and on the flipside, your version of your idea is the only one that can possibly exist, because when it comes right down to it, all ideas come from something that already exist, what defines them is how we make them our own, and no one else can ever take that away from you.
5.) Take breaks. Seriously. Make sure you exercise, there's no honor or dignity in destroying your body for your craft. Doesn't have to be a full on gym routine, just go outside for a walk around the block or do some yoga in your living room. Drink water.
6.) If you're completely new to making comics and don't know where to start, just pick the first thing that compels you the most and do it. Scripting, mini-comics, sketching out episodes, whatever it is that tickles your fancy. The key is to start. Motivation doesn't come from nothing, it comes from seeing the results of your work. The time will pass anyways, but if you start today, you'll have more done in 2 years than if you hadn't started.
7.) Find your people in art communities, comic-focused Discords, etc. Not only are you more likely to find your audience there, you'll also be surrounding yourself with people of varying skill levels who can offer you advice, feedback, and support through the struggles of making comics - it's a struggle they all know, too, after all.
8.) If you're someone who writes but can't draw and you're in need of someone to draw the comic for you, you'll either have to pay for their labor, learn to draw yourself, or make the comic alongside someone who has a vested interest in it, like a friend or a family member or someone who shares the same interest in it as you. I'm telling you right now, the person who's into your comic as much as you are so much so that they'd be willing to work on it for free is not going to be some random stranger on reddit.
9.) Plan as much ahead as you need to fuel the progression, don't plan so much that you get stuck over-thinking the 'what if's' or so little that you're updating your comic in the dark. Find your balance with what works for you.
10.) Be comfortable with criticism. Constructive criticism is designed to help you, not hinder you. That said, not all criticism is built equal - criticism is a tool, and not all of those tools will necessarily serve you or the story you're trying to tell. You can be confident in the story you're trying to tell enough that you can determine what criticism is helpful to you and what isn't - without having an ego about it and refusing any and all criticism. If you find yourself frustrated that you're receiving a lot of the same kinds of criticisms pointing out the same flaws in your work - that's all the more reason to focus in on those flaws and improve them.
11.) If you get any hate comments, give them a consolation lollipop, thank them for playing, and move on. Picture them as toddlers with clown make-up on if that helps you feel better about it. Protect your peace, don't give them the upset attention that they're looking for.
12.) If you're really starting to struggle with being productive, pick one panel that doesn't make you wanna hurl, set a 20 minute timer, and work on it. With the timer set, you know that even if you don't enjoy working on it that it won't be forever; but by the time those 20 minutes are up, you'll likely have settled into a groove and realized it wasn't that bad.
13.) When it comes to burnout, trust your body, give it the space it needs to recover. Pushing through productivity paralysis is one thing, trying to push through burnout is another. Burnout is called what it is for a reason. Let yourself take breaks and do other things. Create other drawings, other comics, other characters, do things outside of just drawing, go to public events, hang out with friends, read other stories and works. Burnout is a muscle strain of the brain, you have to let your brain recover and theen you can take small steps to work it out again.
14.) Don't throw out your old drafts, your old comics, your old art. You might feel it's all ugly now but you'll come to appreciate it as proof of your improvement the further you grow past it.
15.) Save often and create backups. Follow the 3 2 1 rule - three copies of your data, backed up on at least 2 different devices, with at least 1 of those backups stored offline. For example, I have working episodes of Rekindled stored on my main drive, but then all episodes are backed up across Google Drive and two external harddrives. This ensures that if my Google Drive ever went offline, I'd still have two physical harddrives, and if one of those physical harddrives ever shit the bed, I'd still have another. You don't have to update all your backups simultaneously or super often, but at least a few times a year will keep you safe from losing essential data.
