Observations

[Metruis]

Yeah, I should have mentioned editability. Well, It's not as much of an issue with me since I do my inks on bristol and then scan them in, but it's still critical if I decide to change something with the coloring. Layers can also help simplify shading considerably.

Yeah, but I don't ink, so if I do my layers right, it's way editable. Except it's not because I can't dump various colors in. But I can move things around and remove bushes and rocks that don't look right, at least. Or in the one I'm doing, that stupid balcony rail. (kicks it)

Observation: If you have one major artistic failing, even if the rest is perfect--if there's one flaw in a piece, inevitably someone is going to notice and point it out. Hands? Perspective? Color? Crappy inking? Highlights? Weird stars in the sky that are too colorful? You name it, someone will notice.

Observation 2: People assosiate long hair with girls. It doesn't matter if he has a chin and no boobs! Long hair = girl. Contrarily, if you draw a relatively flat chested female without a skirt, people will think she is a guy.

[Cope]

One of the main characters in my old comic had hair past his shoulders, and nobody mistook him for a girl! He was a man's man. Also, he had facial hair.

I've had some of my girls mistaken for guys when their breasts weren't in view, though.

[McDuffies]

I don't think that that observation about sexes is true. Male and female differ in details that are much less obvious than hair and boobs, but that make a big difference. I find that things that artists have difficulties to nail are shoulders and some facial characteristics like cheekbone and chin. If you draw wide, manly shoulders and wider chin, you can put a mop on his head, noone's going to mistake him for a girl.
The problem is, girl artists often tend to slant those characteristics in favour of more tender, so their male characters sometimes tend to look feminine (and not just in bishonen manga). On the other hand, I confess to struggling with girly anatomy all the time: sometimes I'll draw girly hips, waist and chest, but then screw up and draw masculine shoulders and arms.

[Metruis]

Oh really? I have one long-haired pretty boy main character. Everyone goes 'she'. I have one short haired, flat chested girl, everyone goes 'he'. I had to stress that she was female in the story. Maybe it's just that my readers are idiots, because I thought they looked evidently male/female even if they didn't have 'traditional' male/female looks. It was just annoying me at the moment, I don't think it's universal. Facial hair might help. I'll be sure to make him grow a beard as the story progresses. Or have to shave in the morning.

Though I agree, I'm bad at drawing tough guys, so I tend to lean towards bishies just to escape muscles. Even though I don't do anime, they're still bishies when they have nicer hair than my female cast!

[Dallawalla]

The second you stop pushing your limits and experimenting is the second your comic becomes unworthy of attention.

Amen to that. And I think that applies not only to your audience but to yourself as well. If you aren't pushing any boundaries then your walking in your own footsteps, and you already know where they lead.

1. You end up having a relationship with your comic, you hate it, it hates you, you love, it loves. Before comic, I had never been frustrated with something that didn't exist yet, or with something that had just been born.

2. Comicgenesis forum has much more intelligent people posting, and is more interesting to lurk.

3. Sometimes you are so satisfied with a gag that you think everyone who doesnt like it is an idiot.

4. Sometimes a gag you don't like is everyone's favourite

5. I'm always interested in how many unique hits I get

[Killbert-Robby]

I don't think that that observation about sexes is true. Male and female differ in details that are much less obvious than hair and boobs, but that make a big difference.

Amen. Hands and feet are a bitch, but given time I can draw them. But damn minor anatomical details are a pain in the ass Hell, even the proportions I'd have just spent 5 hours drilling are different between men and women. Venus and Mars and stuff.

[Dreamaniaccomic]

New observation: When doing a comedic comic based on "real life", you can take life's lemons and mock them on said comic. Unfortunately, when life isn't giving you anything, not even lemons, your idea generators dry up like water on the sun.

[Dr Legostar]

basing a comic on science fiction is a fantastic goldmine for new ideas. It's easy to find old shows/movies/books and new shows/movies/books to mock on a daily basis.

[Dallawalla]

Places where I get inspiration the most:

1. Whilst reading
2. Watching Documentaries
3. Walking
4. Waking
5. Going to sleep
6. Conversations

[Deathbringer]

- You'll have no end of ideas for new comics

- BUT you just try and make one single comic last any length of time!