Neop's Art Blog

Both! There is both a way to efficiently schedule the comic-making process, and it is really common to struggle with keeping up. I have the same problem, which is why I’m finding it so hard to do everything I want, and why projects like Soprano of Time and Junk Hyenas Diner haven’t updated in so long.

It’s hard to give out specific advice about making comics efficiently because everyone works differently. What kind of comics are being made? Color or black and white? Pages or strips? Continuously updated webcomic or graphic novel? I could make a whole presentation about this sort of thing (and maybe I should, except I’ve never had to make a graphic novel before).

One idea I can introduce to you, however, is working on multiple pages at once. Instead of just starting one page, then bringing it all the way to completion, and then having to start all over again on the next one, try working on two pages at a time or more. Do all the pencils for 2-4 pages, then all the inks, then all the colors/toning/whatever is necessary to bring them to completion. Sometimes people work on 100+ page graphic novels this way: doing all the pencils for ALL the pages, then ALL the inks, etc.

I used to work on Slightly Damned pages 1 at a time. I was able to pump them out pretty fast when I worked on them 3 at a time a few years ago, but I got tired of doing only SD pages constantly. I moved to 2 at a time when I was at school, but I quickly got overwhelmed by too many extra projects and bonus, and now I’m thinking of switching to 4 at a time. The idea is that I can dedicate a week at the beginning of the month to getting a bunch of SD pages done, and then not have to worry about it updating on time, freeing up my mind and my schedule to work on my neglected projects. (We’ll see how it goes– I won’t actually be able to do this until I’m back from Further Confusion in mid-January!)

And one more thing: establish good habits. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that in order to accomplish something, you have to dedicate a huge hunk of time to it all at once. Realistically, we’re all very busy people, and trying to find a dedicated chunk of time in one’s day to do anything can be really difficult. Instead, just do what you can, when you can, and establish a habit. Even if it’s just for an hour or two a day, that work will build up into something significant eventually. Or maybe say to yourself, “Wednesday is when I work on my comic, no matter what.” Before you know it, you may find it unbearable to NOT work on your comic, rather than the other way around.

Good luck!