Awesome! a difficult practise but a valuable and beneficial one. One that you need to constantly remind yourself to do (especially if your like me – can be very negative). Thanks, love it!!
Buuuuut. I think it’s terrible to be having a conversation while driving a car! I don’t know about where your friend lives, but here in Japan it’s illegal to use the cell phone and drive!
Oh Stephen, I am loving all of these posts They’ve been so incredibly inspirational. Whenever a fellow-comic-drawing friend feels down, I send them your way (to your website) and it’s that great commonality that really uplifts them!
[...] This may sound strange, but I wanted to give this book it’s best chance to succeed by finishing it first, making it absolutely the best book I think I could have made and then letting the world do with it what it pleases. My first goal though is make a book that’s hard for it not to find an audience. [...]
DonnaAnna on October 2, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Oh. Ooh. Though I’m not an aspiring comic artist but an aspiring opera singer, all of this applies to what I do as well… Because I’ve had those thoughts. “I will become an opera singer. I will have a career.” And it’s really been killing the joy from my music, because it’s hard, and sometimes it seems even impossible. D: Damn.
Your whole blog is really encouraging. Just found it through tumblr. Uh. I’m being very inarticulate right now. But thank you for sharing these thoughts. <3
I have a quick question if you don’t mind. While I do find your advice helpful, I’m having a few problems reconciling it with everything else. While I can make my work easy to publish, at some point I need to eat and pay rent whether that’s through my (hypothetical) comic or not. However, even something as basic as “provide room and board for myself” is something I can’t fully control (job market, raises, etc.). Any advice on that front?
I know what that’s like– I’m currently looking for work and the idea that I really don’t have control of the market or work or freelance opportunities– I can only put myself out there and try everything in my power to get more work. But maintaining the illusion that I am in control, no matter how much I want to be, leads only to fear and paralysis, I think.
As far as paying for rent– sometimes art doesn’t make enough money to do so. That’s okay– it just means you need to hone the skills and keep making art, but think about finding a part time job.
Here’s what I realized when I “broke in” to publishing: you never really break in. You break in so that the next time you want to break in it’s a little bit easier. There’s no final success, you just use small successes as jumping platforms to reach bigger and better successes. Right now I have a chance to look for work because I’ve saved a lot of the money I earned in my comics job.
That’s the best I got– does that help? Let me know if you have any more questions.
Hey man! Great post! I use to come to your site pretty frequently, but didn’t see updates for awhile. Made my first stop-in in awhile. So, glad you are keeping this up. I’m a filmmaker on the east coast and definitely appreciate your insight. I started my first film company keeping in mind these subjects you are writing about. Keep it up! Love it.
LOVE this – great thoughts (and work).
Thanks!
LOL. Love it my friend. It’s scary how much I think you got me right! Great comic
Thanks Michael!
Wonderful advice. I’m going to keep it to heart each time I make goals.
Awesome! a difficult practise but a valuable and beneficial one. One that you need to constantly remind yourself to do (especially if your like me – can be very negative). Thanks, love it!!
This one has a very strong Scott McCloud feeling to me. Great thoughts brilliantly rendered as always.
I’ve really missed these posts! This is well drawn, well said and perfectly timed. Definitely needed to read this today.
I like this!
Buuuuut. I think it’s terrible to be having a conversation while driving a car! I don’t know about where your friend lives, but here in Japan it’s illegal to use the cell phone and drive!
Stephen, Great job. Great thoughts and concepts put to art. Keep up the great work.
This is a great one! Right on!
Thanks Dave!
this is encouraging to me– thanks!
Super!
Great job! I love your art work and your message! Keep it up!
This makes me think; and I love it for that!
Oh Stephen, I am loving all of these posts
They’ve been so incredibly inspirational. Whenever a fellow-comic-drawing friend feels down, I send them your way (to your website) and it’s that great commonality that really uplifts them!
Thanks Kim! I’m glad!
[...] This may sound strange, but I wanted to give this book it’s best chance to succeed by finishing it first, making it absolutely the best book I think I could have made and then letting the world do with it what it pleases. My first goal though is make a book that’s hard for it not to find an audience. [...]
Oh. Ooh. Though I’m not an aspiring comic artist but an aspiring opera singer, all of this applies to what I do as well… Because I’ve had those thoughts. “I will become an opera singer. I will have a career.” And it’s really been killing the joy from my music, because it’s hard, and sometimes it seems even impossible. D: Damn.
Your whole blog is really encouraging. Just found it through tumblr. Uh. I’m being very inarticulate right now. But thank you for sharing these thoughts. <3
You’re welcome! It’s neat to know we have so much in common even though we’re in such different fields of creative expression!
I have a quick question if you don’t mind. While I do find your advice helpful, I’m having a few problems reconciling it with everything else. While I can make my work easy to publish, at some point I need to eat and pay rent whether that’s through my (hypothetical) comic or not. However, even something as basic as “provide room and board for myself” is something I can’t fully control (job market, raises, etc.). Any advice on that front?
I know what that’s like– I’m currently looking for work and the idea that I really don’t have control of the market or work or freelance opportunities– I can only put myself out there and try everything in my power to get more work. But maintaining the illusion that I am in control, no matter how much I want to be, leads only to fear and paralysis, I think.
As far as paying for rent– sometimes art doesn’t make enough money to do so. That’s okay– it just means you need to hone the skills and keep making art, but think about finding a part time job.
Here’s what I realized when I “broke in” to publishing: you never really break in. You break in so that the next time you want to break in it’s a little bit easier. There’s no final success, you just use small successes as jumping platforms to reach bigger and better successes. Right now I have a chance to look for work because I’ve saved a lot of the money I earned in my comics job.
That’s the best I got– does that help? Let me know if you have any more questions.
So beautiful! Congratulations, man!
Hey man! Great post! I use to come to your site pretty frequently, but didn’t see updates for awhile. Made my first stop-in in awhile. So, glad you are keeping this up. I’m a filmmaker on the east coast and definitely appreciate your insight. I started my first film company keeping in mind these subjects you are writing about. Keep it up! Love it.