Comic Genesis Forums

Posted: **Sun Jan 07, 2001 6:59 am**

"Professional"? Screw that. That's a pipe dream, my friend. It's all about the fun factor. I'll come to grips with being "professional" when I graduate college in 2006 or so. I don't think anyone went into this business expecting to make a career of it. We're just having fun. And if you aren't having fun...then why are you drawing?------------------
John Troutman
The SporkMan Chronicles
<A HREF="http://www.sporkman.com" TARGET=_blank>http://www.sporkman.com</A>
"I mean, he's become like the Godfather
of the Space or something!" ~ Damonk, FRAMED!!!

Posted: **Sun Jan 07, 2001 7:22 am**

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by John T:
"Professional"? Screw that. That's a pipe dream, my friend. It's all about the fun factor. I'll come to grips with being "professional" when I graduate college in 2006 or so. I don't think anyone went into this business expecting to make a career of it. We're just having fun. And if you aren't having fun...then why are you drawing?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Ha! I've graduated twice, and am doing a Master's, and I still don't ever think of becoming professional, at least realistically...The Godfather is right -- it's all about the fun, baby!now knell, dogs, and kiss his ring.------------------
"Woohoo! I FINALLY thought of a witty qu~~
DAMMIT. I can't remember what it was now...
But, man. It was witty. Whoo.
Honest.
...
...
OK.
So I got nothing."
--damonk13
<A HREF="http://framed.keenspace.com/" TARGET=_blank>Framed! The Comic!</A>
(now with Beta-Carotine and new, minty <A HREF="http://www.keenspace.com/cgi-bin/ubb/fo ... LastLogin=" TARGET=_blank>Forum</A>!)

Posted: **Mon Jan 08, 2001 2:01 am**

Well, I do create the comic for fun. But, hedonist that I am, I want to have fun all day, and that means doing the strip (or just a strip) professionally.John, I envy your position. But I graduated 5 years ago, I'm getting on a bit, my hair is getting thinner; in short, I'm on seriously borrowed time. And I really don't like the job I'm doing now. As for my pageviews, they've picked up in the second half of last week, but not nearly as much as I hoped. I'm up slightly compared to December, to just over 1,000 pv/day.This has made me decide to cast my net a little wider. I'll go back to the print fanzine circuit, and also expand my skills at things like coloring and image post-production. I'll also get cracking on things like <A HREF="http://users.bart.nl/~samizdat/orbi0.htm" TARGET=_blank>White House in Orbit</A>, which people really like; I'll finish story number 3 and put it on Keenspace. I will have to slow down the pace on ROCR, but only a little bit; it turns out that going from 6 to 5 updates is enough to make most of these things possible believe it or not.------------------
Reinder Dijkhuis
<A HREF="http://www.rocr.net/" TARGET=_blank>Rogues of Clwyd-Rhan</A>, Humorous fantasy strip, updated Mon-Sat, and really rather good. <A HREF="http://www.rocr.net/d/20000701.html" TARGET=_blank>Read it from the first strip!</A>

Posted: **Mon Jan 08, 2001 5:21 am**

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by John T:
I don't think anyone went into this business expecting to make a career of it.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I sure as hell did. I mean, I never expected to make big money, just enough to live comfortably--and it is taking longer than I expected, but everything does. I still remain confident I'll start making money at this worthless hack trade eventually, but maybe I just haven't had enough hard life lessons yet.And if I didn't expect to get something quantitative from it from the beginning, why would I ever spend so much time doing it? I mean, I'm creative and I like to express myself, but I'm no damn masochist!I wonder if these are words of encouragement?------------------
<A HREF="http://questionabletales.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>Questionable Tales</A> Daily dada from the percolating pissjar of pandemonium

Posted: **Mon Jan 08, 2001 5:22 am**

You wouldn't believe how many times I've heard "If you're not doing it for fun...", and this time doesn't faze me either. Bah humbug to fun!

Posted: **Mon Jan 08, 2001 6:29 am**

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>I'm not one to believe that "you should do a comic for yourself and just for fun". I'm one that wants to share it with the world. If many of the syndicated cartoonists did their work for themselves and just for fun, they'd probably live in run-down shacks, have low-paying jobs, and never get anywhere in life. Hard reality, but it's true. Sometimes you have to push beyond the realm of "fun" and into the realm of the "professional". I've yet to bridge this gap, but someday I will. And from reading the Zortic archives, I know that you are well on your way to being "recognized" or "discovered". Everyone's time in the limelight is different.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Thanks for the encouragement, Matt. I appreciate it.
I know what you're saying though about popularity. If no one is reading your comic it really is a slap in the face. There's a line in the movie "Fame" (I'm paraphrasing} where a musician says "You don't need anyone else" and the instructor replies "Thats not art, that's masterbation!"
But on the other hand, if you're not having fun with it, then that kind of popularity can't happen anyway. Look at people like Bill Watterson, Gary Larson, actually practically anyone who would consider themselves successful. They seem to be having a great time, and that reflects in the work.
I know I'm having a great time with Zortic and I really hope that shows and that I'm passing on some of that enjoyment to my readers.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Zortic looks kinda' like the green guy.
A little.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
And just what are you saying, Superjoe? Hmmm?
Actually, what's even better then that is my wife looks just like Zoie! Whoo-hoo, lucky me!
Mark Mekkes
P.S. No, Zapjones, no wife swapping!
------------------
visit Zortic at: <A HREF="http://Zortic.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>http://Zortic.keenspace.com</A> [This message has been edited by Zortic (edited 01-08-2001).]

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