Making The Time
Chris Eliopoulos - Thursday, October 23, 2008 0:26There’s a difference between an amateur and a professional. The amateur works when the mood strikes. The professional works.
I often hear people tell me they want to do a strip or write a comic or mow the lawn — really — when they get the chance.
Liars.
There is always a chance. There is always time. The only thing getting in the way is you. I’ve heard every excuse under the sun why you can’t get things done: I have classes, I have work, I’m extremely busy getting inspiration on the Internet. It’s all BS.
I’ll let you in on my life. I am happily married with two 9-year-old boys. Every morning, my wife goes to work early and it’s up to me to get breakfast for the kids, make their beds, make sure they get dressed and have their teeth brushed before I drive them to school. Then at 4p.m., my wife picks up the kids. We work with them on their homework (which sometimes takes 2 hours). We make them dinner, get them showered and ready for bed by 9 p.m. If you’ve ever had kids, you know the stress it is chasing after them to get everything done.
I also have a couple of jobs. Maybe even 3 or 4. I letter comic books. Lots of them. On average I do about 8 or so books a month. I also own a company where 4 guys letter books under my direction. I check their work, help with titles, work on styles, work with editors on giving them what they want, designing new fonts and trafficking lots of titles. It’s more than a fulltime job.
I also write and draw a quarterly comic book. I write it, pencil it, ink it and letter it. I used to color it, but it just took up too much time—I had to give it up kicking and screaming. So, that’s 100-pages-a -year of that. Also, this past year I wrote 4 issues of another comic title. Again, that is what some writers’ fulltime job for three months would be.
So, as you can see, I’m really busy. I work nights, weekends, holidays—all the time. So why add a daily strip into the mix when there is no guarantee of money, reward, or even modest recognition?
I have to.
I don’t just want to write this strip, I have to do it. And I’ve made the time to do it. And so can you. But what does that really mean?
Instead of playing Grand Theft Auto, put down the controller and pick up the pencil. Can’t miss the latest episode of Family Guy? Get a lapboard and draw while watching. If you really want to do this — if you need to do this — then do it. No excuses. A body at rest will stay at rest until acted upon.
Act upon that dream of doing a webcomic and keep the momentum.
This post was submitted by Chris Eliopoulos.
Twinblade says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:02 am
I enjoyed reading this. I often make these excuses. Mine focus primarily on materials. “I don’t have a scanner” etc. But I have a small Wacom I only work 30 hours a week. The time is there, the idea is there. No room for excuses! To quote a corporate motto.
Just do it! JUST DO IT!
Danny Burleson says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:21 am
As someone with a wife, two kids, a full-time “real” job, several volunteer responsibilities… and a DAILY webcomic, I can really relate to this.
I make a comic because I WANT to, HAVE to, and NEED to. Even without any recognition or compensation (though, those things are nice), I’d probably do it anyway. So great article, Chris, you hit the excuse nail right on the head.
Luke says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:55 am
Wow. Just finished printing this out - I’m gonna put it over my desk for awhile. I’ve always wanted to make comics myself, but never thought I had the ’skills’ for it until last year, when I got serious about just doing it - lately I’ve been drawing dozens of pages and hundreds of cartoon pages a week, just really figuring it out, as creatively and experimentally and traditionally and whatever, just doing it, and loving every second.
Been slacking off lately though - you just gave me the kick in the butt I needed right now to keep up the pace. Now excuse me, I gotta go spend the next two hours drawing instead of watching TV. Thanks!
Luke says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:58 am
Sorry, not ‘dozens of pages’, I meant ‘dozens of pages of cartoon heads’, the irony of being sick is that it gives you time to draw, but you sure as heck start to lose coherence.
Jeff Mumm -- featuring Talking Guinea Pigs! says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:11 am
I recently underwent a complete shift in my process, that is pretty much directly related to this. Instead of alloting the drawing of comics for when I had time and energy, I made drawing comics a part of my daily routine. This is how my day goes - wake up, draw comics, THEN . . . “Then” represents everything else in my life. Working forty hours a week, spending time with friends, whatever. The point is that I don’t do ANYTHING until I’ve done my comic. Then there are no more excuses. How many times did I used to say to myself, “I really want to work on my comic, but I’m too tired. I’m not inspired. I’ll do it tomorrow.” If it’s the first thing you do in your day, you’ve just elimated any excuse you can imagine. Because you’ve put comics first and everything else second. I never thought I’d be able to draw, ink, color and shade three pages a week before I started this routine, and now I’m doing much more than that, and it’s a piece of cake. If you want to put comics first in your life, put them first in your day.
A.Fraser says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:37 am
Thank you. I needed that. ==:> )
Von D. says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 4:55 am
I fashion my time out of twine and seaweed that originates from the coast of Cyrus. No really, seriously. Chris, you captured the feeling perfectly. After finishing college, I never realized how much free time I had until it was completely gone. I do the 40hr work thing, pile on with the husband thing, sprinkle that with the parent thing, and that adds up to a whole lotta time prioritized toward living my life with little leftover for webcomic-ing. Being a web cartoonist takes WORK and TIME. It is calculating importance over insignificance. Chris, you have crafted one well written article and I hope to see more of these from you.
Ming says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:36 am
For 7 years, I’ve been saying 1 day i’m going to make a comic. I have a grand epic to write/draw/colour the works. But I’m fast realizing, there is no ‘one day’ , just today.
So I’ve recently started a web comic strip (with secret ambitions to get syndicated) but the real goal, is to be doing something, learning the craft of comics by doing. And maybe getting a couple of fans.
Now, ‘one day, i’ll write an epic graphic novel’ seems much more probabal.
But you’re right I went from, ‘want to’, to ‘HAVE TO’
You Have to check it out!
Chris says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:29 am
Hmm I am wearing the World’s Best Procrastinator crown. I’m still in the “one day” I’ll do it phase, and the “I can’t do it now because I’m researching it” phase.
Help me kick my rear out of that mode.
Kirk says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I feel that the chronic fatigued depression-prone are misrepresented by this article. I don’t disagree with the message in the article, but I think the “excuses are BS” thing is too generalizing. There are valid “excuses”, and they just hurt the excuser. Messages like these therefore always irk me, because it feels like it’s rubbing it in my face.
I guess I just wanted to bring that up. With the percentage of this sort of audience being small, I’m sure, perhaps it only would unnecessarily complicate the article. That’s what comments are for! XD
redbeard_prime says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Good article. I recently hopped into the world of webcomics myself, after a few years of putting it off. If it matters to you, you just have to jump in there and do it. It’s really about priorities. I was amazed at how much free time I had after giving up WoW last year. But if not properly monitored, that free time can quickly become filled with tv, other videogames, Internetting, general nonesense, etc. So you really have to look at your life, figure out what you want to accomplish, and then begin working towards those goals, starting today. Doing that you will soon realize what’s important in life, and what you can live without.
Joe says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Even as someone who feels like he’s doing it, this is a huge source of motivation. It’s such solitary work sometimes, it’s nice to hear that others are going through the same challenges but are still driven by the same passion to just create. Thanks for the reminder.
algeya says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
excuses as a kid- too much homework, school whatever
as a teen my social life sufffers, as a grow up my girl/boyfriend doesnt let me do the comics, as a responsable adult life, kids, to old for this sh…..t, as a old geezer where I am.
Totally agree with you sacrifices must be done,
Cameron Davis says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Agh, I just spent half an hour writing an article for submission about this very same topic, and you wrote it a lot more…diplomatically… than I did
Nice work 
Jiffy says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
The procrastination bug affects people who “mean to get started someday” on just about anything they can dream of, from a new business to comics to crafts. Heck, I mean to start a blog, get my portfolio online and then start making art and soforth to sell on Etsy or something. What’s holding me back? Well, to be honest, me.
I don’t like to admit it, but I do go through each day and wonder how I spent all that time, while at the same time another part of my brain is rationalizing my litany of excuses. There’s always a reason, always another day coming up that surely will be better or the right time will simply come along, but the real TRUTH is that I need to get out of my own way and just DO it. Heck, this could BE a blog entry if I went ahead and did it!
Thanks for the well-written post with a nicely stated message of “get your butt in gear, people!” I get the message loud and clear. Good luck in your work.
Hugotzuco says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I totally agree with this article. The truth is that we like to cover our FEARS with excuses (all sort of ones), and as an artist, i think the most common fear is the rejecction. Like Nike slogan says: JUST DO IT, and i would add to this: “face youre fears.
A body at rest will stay at rest until acted upon. « Palitos de Fósforo says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 3:52 pm
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Angel says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 4:13 pm
You’re right, it all depends on what you feel like you need to do. There was a time when I needed to draw webcomics (and I did — I kept up a graphic novel and a slice-of-life comic for several years). That need was replaced with painting, illustration, and full-time school (on top of full-time job, on top of 7-year-old daughter, on top of commissions). I keep telling myself I’m going to get back to my webcomics, but dozens of other things I -need- to do keep interfering with that need. :\
I somewhat regret that webcomics are no longer in that high priority of “need to do,” but I’m happy with the elements that have replaced it — learning Flash, 3d Max, Maya, After Effects, compositing movies and learning how to animate traditionally. I feel like more of a rounded individual from all the experience, so it serves to soften my regret a bit. ^^;
Katie says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Is getting out of college and into the work force really generally accepted as a loss of free time? I completely understand if you’re married and/or have kids. Those are priorities and take up a lot more time. But having no kids nor spouse, I have a LOT more free time post-college. Instead of having 18 credits + homework + studying + part-time job + club meetings + friends that live with me … I have, well, just a 40 hr/wk job (even though i miss a few of those other things).
Granted, I’m still having trouble getting myself down to a regular update schedule again, but I was certainly relieved when I could work on comics without feeling guilty that I should be working on classwork and such instead.
JGray says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Perfectly said. Whenever someone tells me they don’t have time to do something, I tell them they do. They just don’t want to do it more than what they’re currently using their time on.
Samson says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Enjoyed the post. Hats off to all your hard work.
Chris says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Hey Chris, Great article. I definitely identify with the sentiments. I have a full-time corporate gig and a lot of freelance design work on the side, and yet I’m still giving in to the urge to do a daily comic.
I’m finding that even though it’s causing me to stay up very late on many nights, it’s giving me a creative fuel that I haven’t had for a long time. It’s even causing me to put aside some of the distractions like TV and video games that were real time-sinks so that I can get my strip done.
I agree with what you said… I HAVE TO DO THIS! It’s like I’m satisfying something that has been a long time “I’d really like to someday” thing.
Thanks for putting it into words.
Dennis
Dennis says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Sorry, I think i accidentally put Chris in the name field. That last comment was by me, Dennis.
jinxtigr says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:07 pm
This is a wonderful article, and very true- I think there are other things also associated with being professional (getting paid? being read? doing good?) but it’s great to get some encouragement for that fundamental basic level.
The thing is, it doesn’t matter how terrible you are- unless you’re not listening and not trying to change what you do for the better, you can’t not get better if you just make comics day in and day out. That’s what I do now, and I’m pleased with that fact. I run daily, and I don’t get a day off- if necessary, the comic cheats or has less in it, but it goes on. I also do little daily watercolors because that, too, I want to get good at (they’re not on the site though)
It’s really not about any of these things being amazing on a given day, still less about being able to pick a certain day and do the most wonderful thing ever. It’s simply that since I do something every day, sometimes they’re good- but it’s not a question of whether I do it, I’ll do it anyhow.
As a result of that, I’m waaaaay closer to what I wanted to be doing- than I was when I started.
David H says:
October 24th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Okay, I’m going to have to make a comment or two that may disagree with this article.
While I agree that time and effort should be put in, I’m one of the people who suffers from writer’s block constantly. Therefore, when I force myself to come up with a page or strip, I find that my work suffers. Personally, I believe in quality, not quantity. I would rather wait a week for something that’s going to make me laugh than be subjected to a week of ‘Meh’ strips where the joke is absolutely forced and the art seems to have dipped in quality.
That’s why I believe in buffers. Do a bunch of strips or pages when inspiration has hit you, so you will always be able to say that you have developed your best. It’s easier to be satisfied with your work and your feedback will be much more positive. Also, I find it easier to work when there’s less stress on me.
Right now, I have three novels (Two co-writing) and five comics that I’m writing, along with a script for a graphic novel, plus getting another comic ready for publishing and lettering two more comics. Add that to college and my schedule’s pretty full, so I’ve been neglecting two other comic projects that I used to absolutely love doing, but have a hard time getting done, mostly because the other projects have publisher interest and the two being neglected are just for fun. Now, by your article, I have no excuse. I still have a few hours of free time available to me, that’s true, but I need that time for me. We all need to take a break sometimes. To recharge ourselves, just enjoy life and let your creative juices flow. I have seriously come up with entire storylines in these periods much more easily than I have sitting in front of a computer with Word open.
In short, I think I will always be an amateur even if/when I have a hundred thousand readers and can live off my writing. When inspiration strikes, I will write until I hit the block again or have worn myself out. But that’s only because that’s how I work best. I’m not saying you’re wrong, I’m just saying I prefer another method.
Also, nice article Chris.
Strip News | ArtPatient.com says:
October 24th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
[...] as you know, webcomics.com is under new ownership? ownership and management. The first submitted article talks about excuses for not getting comics done. The author is mostly right - except that in some [...]
Cameron says:
October 24th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Nice. Between this and Scott’s article about unplugging, it’s like a kick to the head and motivation to do exactly this. I’ve actually toyed with disconnecting the internet and sitting down to write, but even procrastinated that.
Better for me, though, since I’m sure I would just plug it back in, would be a way to actually have the computer lock down web access. Are there any free programs where you can lock it down during a set time?
official_lamp says:
October 24th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I really need this kick in the pants. I have my story, characters, ideas all ready to go I just have problems getting up to do it. In about a month I’ve only done 2 panels and I really need to dive in.
Jaya Lakshmi says:
October 26th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
For me my webcomic is a form of enjoyment- but I do want to see what people think of it. And if I didn’t love watercoloring my strip, then I wouldn’t plan to put it out next March with only five strips done, especially with other work.
However, I procrastinate.
Oh, i should be doing other work now- time to help with lunch!
Veronica says:
October 27th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
I came to the same realization about a month ago, after years of wanting to start a comic, but not knowing whether this or that idea was the “right one.” Know what? I now have a month’s worth of comics posted online, I’m getting mostly positive feedback, and I’m having a blast. It’s not deathless art, but at least I’m doing it, and I’m learning. Yay!
Fleen: Enjoy Our Semi-Abusive Opinion Mongering » Good News From The Bakery says:
November 1st, 2008 at 12:43 am
[...] Karl Kerschl, and Chris Eliopoulos’s on how you either make comics because you want to, or because you can’t not make them. If the entire community continues to contribute quality material like this, they’re gonna [...]
Rod says:
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:57 am
Very true, I think a professional attitude is something that money can’t buy. I meet an increasing amount of professional cartoonists who “keep the real work over here”, that is to say there is the stuff they do for money, and then there is the stuff they do for themselves - sometimes that extra work, that might never see the light of day, is what keeps them going. And it fills every spare minute of their time.
The other side of the coin is the cartoonist who does a web comic, print work, greetings cards, posters, and writes for other people, and then claims not to work that hard and not to be competitive in any way. They always remind me of
those guys from university who claimed never to do any work, and then one morning you catch them coming out of an individual study room in the university library, with about 20 books tucked under their arms. Again, all liars.
Patrick Langlois says:
November 6th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Thank you so much for saying this. I work a 9 to 5 job which is not art related (I’m a translator), but in 7 years, I have finished two complete webcomics at the rate of one page a week, and I have just received my master copy for my second book in print. I’m already starting a new project and I also have another one on the backburner. Because, like you, I have to.
More power to those who see their dreams to the end! More power to you!
Listo Entertainment says:
November 7th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Do not use this tutorial:
http://opax.swin.edu.au/~ithomas/OzComics%20%233%20How%20To%20Draw%20Comics/How_to_Draw_Comics.jpg
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