How do you maintain interest?

Ripnormality · Post by **Ripnormality** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:36 pm

Honestly...I've started so many series, but the longest I've managed to go with one has been 8-9 complete comics before I just...started disliking the idea/lost interest/etc.

Any suggestions besides the painfully obvious 'put your mind to it'?

NakedElf · Post by **NakedElf** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:48 pm

Do you have a complete idea when you start? Or do you start working on an idea and it just peters out?

There are a lot of comics which aren't just one idea, they're a bunch of stand-alone comics and really short serieses. I think it's mostly about knowing your own strengths and weaknesses...

Lei · Post by **Lei** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:49 pm

Find someone who actually likes the comic enough to harass you about it until drawing it is a way to get them to shut up. I have a fifteen year-old girl I used to go to school with do this for me, and it's startlingly effective.

I've also found that collaborating on a project with a partner tends to motivate me – I'm currently illustrating a comic a friend is writing, and while I'm perfectly willing to abandon my own projects, there's soemthing different about flaking out on another person.

Adobedragon · Post by **Adobedragon** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:03 am

Well, I'm working with a complete story arc, meaning I know the beginning, middle and end. (My limited experience being with storyline comics.)

I am aware that some people much prefer to work without a complete script, making it up as they go. Everybody has a different approach. But there is no way in Hell I'd get anywhere working that way. Especially since I'm learning how to draw. Adding the frustration of simultaneously working out a storyline would quickly sap me of my desire to continue with the project.

Also, since I have a shorter attention span than a small rodent, I don't let myself take breaks (hiatuses) every time I lose interest. Again, I know this approach doesn't work for others. But I need to stay in the habit of working on the comic. This means, sometimes, a page or two are a real pain in the butt, because I just don't feel like working on them. But, eventually, I get "interested" again and drawing the comic becomes fun again.

Lei wrote:Find someone who actually likes the comic enough to harass you about it until drawing it is a way to get them to shut up.

Knowing there are a couple of folks who actually read my comic definitely provides tremendous motivation. But you probably won't pick up many (any?) readers until you get a decent sized archive.

Shishio · Post by **Shishio** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:06 am

I force myself to.

I guess I'm a masochist.

VIIStar · Post by **VIIStar** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 1:52 pm

Shishio wrote:I force myself to.

I guess I'm a masochist.

YES. some days are good and some days are crap, but i work every day by force of will.

that and starting something new is a pain in the ass.

Shishio · Post by **Shishio** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 2:19 pm

VIIStar wrote:that and starting something new is a pain in the ass.

You said it.

That guy · Post by **That guy** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 4:56 pm

If 8-9 pages is as far as you generally want to go - plan storylines in advance to last roughly 7 pages. Script them so you have direction before you start drawing and then at the end of each storyline you can start a new storyline that has nothing to do with the previous one. It might re-use characters, it might not - but you can release the one you've just about gotten tired of and leap into something new.

Readers can enjoy whatever elements you decide to maintain throughout the stories, and they will be able to pick up your comic and get into it easily and understand what's happening by only reading about a week's worth of comics. With that system you can also drop in one-shot comics between the storylines if you feel like it, or extend them longer if you're really inspired and still interested.

Like NakedElf said, know your strengths/weaknesses, and play those to your advantage.

Ripnormality · Post by **Ripnormality** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:43 pm

I've actually plotted the series out through four chapters.... The problem is (and this happens to me on everything, not just comics) that I lose interest in the middle. And I haven't found any fanatical readers to maintain interest for me.

Warofwinds · Post by **Warofwinds** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:05 pm

The middle's always the hard part. I don't really know how I keep interest, but I do know that if I stopped now, I'd hate myself for 3 years of wasted time--because that's what it would seem like to me if I didn't finish.

It also helps to have delusions of grandeur about the comic. That helps a lot.

That guy · Post by **That guy** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 5:03 am

ripnormality wrote:I've actually plotted the series out through four chapters.... The problem is (and this happens to me on everything, not just comics) that I lose interest in the middle. And I haven't found any fanatical readers to maintain interest for me.

Sounds like you're a short-story writer forcing yourself to make a novel. Or a jingle-writer working on a symphony. My point was: recognize what you have the passion and stamina for and plan for that.

Instead of planning 4 chapters ahead, think about blocking your story into short sections. Have a begining, rise, climax, and resolution every seven pages or less (since you say you generally tap out at eight). You can arc out an overall plot, but focus on the short-term goals to keep it interesting to YOU on a regular basis. Having this kind of intermittent achievements in the story also makes it drag less for readers. Makes you feel as if you're actually getting somewhere (even if very little progress is really made toward the final, larger goal).

You might devote one chunk of the story to one set of characters and the next chunk to an entirely separate group, keeping it feeling like new, different projects intead of slogging through the same crap day after day. That way when you're tired of it, instead of changing the series, you can just change the focus and work an a different part of the series.

I'm guessing when you're more interested, then it will reflect in the comic and your audience will be more interested as well.

Dutch! · Post by **Dutch!** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 5:19 am

I'm with Thatguy. Work with smaller storylines (either stand alones or little chapters within your general story) and make them last the length YOU think is of best benefit to you.

I've found I like to work with 10 strip storylines for a few reasons. They give me enough room to fit in a decent little adventure (as far as a ten year old's adventures go) with a few strips to play around with to add extra jokes or expand on little points that take my interest along the way. They also last just over three weeks with my update schedule, which means I can do about three storylines every two months, give or take. And lastly, 10 episode storylines make it easier for me to keep track of how many strips I've done

So yeah, find a structure that will keep you interested long enough to finish each one, and work to that.

Or, failing that, find something else to help you cos my advice may not fit your situation. One man's trash is another man's great big pile of household refuse that somehow turned up on your front lawn during the night, after all.

adobedragon wrote:But you probably won't pick up many (any?) readers until you get a decent sized archive.

Yeah... and if they don't catch on by the time you have a large one, they get scared away by the size...

Moonlightace · Post by **Moonlightace** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 10:05 am

Sounds like you have a short attention span...

I suppose thats kinda like me because....what was i talking about again?

This probably wont be of much help but...Don't worry too much...

Sounds too simple but, If you worry bout stuff like loosing interest its more likely to happen...

As for me...I know where I'm going...just dunno how I'll get there.
Like building a staircase
or climbing a ladder

As long as you know where your going, its possible to get there. So focus on that and you'll be there before you know it!

NakedElf · Post by **NakedElf** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:22 am

And if that doesn't work, there's always Ritalin.

Ripnormality · Post by **Ripnormality** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 7:30 pm

That guy wrote:Sounds like you're a short-story writer forcing yourself to make a novel. Or a jingle-writer working on a symphony. My point was: recognize what you have the passion and stamina for and plan for that.

Instead of planning 4 chapters ahead, think about blocking your story into short sections. Have a begining, rise, climax, and resolution every seven pages or less (since you say you generally tap out at eight). You can arc out an overall plot, but focus on the short-term goals to keep it interesting to YOU on a regular basis. Having this kind of intermittent achievements in the story also makes it drag less for readers. Makes you feel as if you're actually getting somewhere (even if very little progress is really made toward the final, larger goal).

You might devote one chunk of the story to one set of characters and the next chunk to an entirely separate group, keeping it feeling like new, different projects intead of slogging through the same crap day after day. That way when you're tired of it, instead of changing the series, you can just change the focus and work an a different part of the series.

I'm guessing when you're more interested, then it will reflect in the comic and your audience will be more interested as well.

Haha--you've got me figured out. In terms of short stories, the longest I've completed was 15 pages. So yeah, this is a totally recurring thing.

The 'chapters' are basically divided by mini-climaxes; they're chapters in the sense of being connected by the same characters. (For this storyline, I actually picked something that I figured would be relatively easy to do much shorter stories with--sort of like a sitcom.)

Personally though, the new characters thing sounds exactly like what I should do. For now, I'm going with different side characters (2 main characters) per story arc...we'll see if that works.

Joel Fagin · Post by **Joel Fagin** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 7:35 pm

To stay motivated, you should focus on the goal rather than the journey. The journey's boring and hard work. The goal is much more fun.

When I'm writing, I focus on the really cool, dramatic, stuff that's coming up, either mystery or the serious out-of-left-field drama. Not only do I like that sort of thing myself but I love the reactions they get from readers.

Babylon 5 was a good example in it's time. Lots of seriously engaging mystery and some fantastically dramatic revelations. I focus on that stuff in my stories and looking forward to getting to that point and imagining the reactions of the readers keeps me writing.

- Joel Fagin

Lei · Post by **Lei** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 7:44 pm

Yeah.... I've had a really hard time keeping interest, now that I look back on it. None of my projects ever broke the 20-page mark. I'm hoping Turning Point is gonna be different though, since it actually has readers (besides my art teacher. Who, for the record, is the man.) This one is actually based on all my friends, and since they're in it, they're actually bothering to read it (and send me annoying AIMs when I fail to update).

And I have a partner who has enough stuff scripted to keep me drawing this thing until I'm qualified for social security.

Noir · Post by **Noir** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 1:35 am

ripnormality wrote:I've actually plotted the series out through four chapters.... The problem is (and this happens to me on everything, not just comics) that I lose interest in the middle. And I haven't found any fanatical readers to maintain interest for me.

I just tried reading some of this stuff and, well I wasn't impressed. Don't worry about the art, that isn't important, but the actual story is. And I just couldn't find a coherent story, the dialogue was neither witty, nor did it explain anything or forshadow, and the whole thing was interspersed with filler pages about how short your attention span is. There was no consistent tone, I couldn't tell if you were trying for 4th wall humour or something serious.

I'm not trying to put you off but I think this may be where your problem is. You say you get to 8 or 9 pages and get bored, I suspect that might be because you haven't made any effort on those 8 pages, and as you haven't put the effort in you don't have anything worth caring about. I think instead of scripting up to four chapters (which I think is a waste of your time) you need to spend time going over those first 8 pages, with rewrites and dialogue tweaks and making sure it says what it should. In other words, if you can do 8 pages make sure they are 8 really great pages, then when you get to the end of them you might care about them enough to continue.

Ripnormality · Post by **Ripnormality** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 7:59 pm

noir wrote:I just tried reading some of this stuff and, well I wasn't impressed. Don't worry about the art, that isn't important, but the actual story is. And I just couldn't find a coherent story, the dialogue was neither witty, nor did it explain anything or forshadow, and the whole thing was interspersed with filler pages about how short your attention span is. There was no consistent tone, I couldn't tell if you were trying for 4th wall humour or something serious.

I'm not trying to put you off but I think this may be where your problem is. You say you get to 8 or 9 pages and get bored, I suspect that might be because you haven't made any effort on those 8 pages, and as you haven't put the effort in you don't have anything worth caring about. I think instead of scripting up to four chapters (which I think is a waste of your time) you need to spend time going over those first 8 pages, with rewrites and dialogue tweaks and making sure it says what it should. In other words, if you can do 8 pages make sure they are 8 really great pages, then when you get to the end of them you might care about them enough to continue.

You've got a really good point. Me being me, I've gotta ask--is there anything specific you could offer me in terms of advice? What I've done in terms of lack of development is fairly deliberate; I'm one of those long-intro types. (I haven't actually scripted all 4 chapters. I've just figured out the general idea of what is to happen. I find scripts to be a bit of a bother...which could be another one of my problems....)

And yes, I should really remove the filler pages. They're pretty worthless; too doodly for a main page. Not to mention the whiny tone....

About the art not being 'that' important--really? I could write a short story far more easily (and probably much better)...honestly, the webcomic is partially a way for me to keep up with some drawing basics.

I'm not sure, though, if it's a good idea to spend two months on 8 pages and then find out that there isn't much of a story to keep going with. In some things I never posted, I found out that I ran out of things to say after 2-3 pages--a seeming waste of effort. I think it would be best to tweak dialogue and such once the characters are more developed and there is a reason for them to say more.

That guy · Post by **That guy** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 1:46 pm

ripnormality wrote:...What I've done in terms of lack of development is fairly deliberate; I'm one of those long-intro types. (I haven't actually scripted all 4 chapters. I've just figured out the general idea of what is to happen. I find scripts to be a bit of a bother...which could be another one of my problems....

Deliberately long... or procrastination so you don't have to get into the meat of the writing? If, as you say, you've drawn things that went 2-3 pages before you realized you had nothing else to say, then I think scripting is DEFINITELY one of your problems. Your biggest, most likely.

ripnormality wrote:About the art not being 'that' important--really? I could write a short story far more easily (and probably much better)...honestly, the webcomic is partially a way for me to keep up with some drawing basics.

Story is #1 in a comic. Art is #2. If you're posting deviant art images or putting together a portfolio of your images, then art should certainly take a front seat, but with comics it all comes down to the writing. You're telling a story, be it a short, funny story or a long, drawn-out epic, it's a story. If it's written poorly - not planned out - and not coherent or consistent, it's not going to do well.

ripnormality wrote:I'm not sure, though, if it's a good idea to spend two months on 8 pages and then find out that there isn't much of a story to keep going with. ... I think it would be best to tweak dialogue and such once the characters are more developed and there is a reason for them to say more.

ACK - No! Don't develope the characters and THEN go back to change what they say! That's silly. Develope the characters in your mind. Make bio sheets that the public will never see, get to KNOW them, and then start writing for them.

If you have a story arc plotted out, individual segments fully scripted, and a solid concept of each of your characters' personalities, you will not have consistency problems, and the comic will have the momentum to carry itself forward.