There are three types of comments you will receive when you start your webcomic (well, four if you count no response at all.): The short affirmation, the critique or constructive criticism, and the nasty remark.
The short affirmation is what you will get most of the time. It is when you ask your friends or family what they think of your comics and is usually only a few words that basically mean, “I like your work and you should keep doing it if it makes you happy.” The short affirmation can also come from fans that read your comics and want to tell you how much they like it. These comments are the most wonderful thing you can receive as a comic artist, especially if you receive one every other day. Cherish them. Whatever you do, no matter how busy you are, you should try to respond to every single one of these even if it is just to say “Thank you.”
Tweet: Whatever you do, no matter how busy you are, you should try to respond to every single one of these even if it is just to say “Thank you.”
The critique or constructive criticism usually comes from people that you don’t really know that well, professionals in the industry, or just from people that read a lot of comics. You usually have to go to some kind of forum, either in person (like a MeetUp) or online. You might have to formally ask the group as a whole and sometimes have to give a critique of someone else’s work first in order to get yours. The best thing about this is that you get to see what other people see, and you have a chance to understand your work from their perspective. They may or may not like your work, but the whole point of this type of feedback is to suggest better ways to do things or to discuss what you’re doing right.
Again, thank the people that participate for giving you their thoughts, insight, and expertise. Another benefit to this is that you don’t have to take any of their advice. You can keep doing the things you’re doing the way you’re doing them. Don’t complain or make excuses in defense of your work, though. Just listen to the advice and move on with your work. Complaining just makes you look whiney and uncompromising. Believe me, I’ve done it several times. Whatever you do, don’t take any of these comments personally. You asked these people for your help, and they were nice enough to offer it to you. They’re not saying these things to hurt you personally; they are giving their honest opinions. They’re only trying to help you.
Tweet: Whatever you do, don’t take any of these comments personally. You asked these people for your help, and they were nice enough to offer it to you.
Finally, there is the type of feedback that can ruin your entire day. It’s the comment that can wreak havoc on what you think of your work and possibly make you quit. I’m talking about the Nasty Remark. These usually come from people we call “trolls,” which is the subject of a more lengthy post which I will save for later. My biggest piece of advice for this is a really, really difficult thing to do and it takes a LOT of practice, patience, and determination. My advice is this: Do Not Take It Personally. I know from years and years of first-hand experiences that this is much easier said than done. It has taken me my entire life to get to the point where I can recognize a flippant, unwarranted, and antagonistic comment and not take it like a shot to my heart. These comments can really hurt you deep, but only if you let them. You need to realize that these remarks are usually made just for that purpose. They come from people who may actually be jealous of your abilities and want to bring you down to their level because they can’t do anything artistic themselves.
So what should you do if you get something like that? Well, there are several things depending on where you hear the remark. You can delete the comment and block the user, you can ask them to explain themselves in a dignified manner (i.e. ask for actual constructive criticism), or you can completely ignore it and move on. There are a number of ways to deal with it, but you must never takes these inflammatory, derogatory and absolutely useless remarks to heart. Again, Do Not Take It Personally. Like I said, it takes a lot of practice. It may catch you off-guard the first time it happens or maybe every time it happens. Unless you’re absolutely wonderful at your craft and think that you can do no wrong, you’re like the rest of us artists, which means you’re your own worst critic. Know that nothing these hateful people can say can even come close to all the things you already told yourself.
Tweet: But whatever you do, DO NOT QUIT Keep at it no matter what and keep drawing.
In the end, comments are just comments. You don’t have to listen to any of them, whether they’re good or bad. You should take the good ones to heart and appreciate every single one of them because sometimes they’re the only thing that can keep you going. You should let the bad ones roll off your back like the insignificant drops of rain that they are. But whatever you do, Do.Not.Quit. Keep at it no matter what and keep drawing. You never know what you can accomplish.
By Robert Tritthardt: Creator of Writhe and Shine and Overcast With A Chance of Doom!
makingcomics.com
Eminently reasonable advice. Our ability to present a deceptively ‘professional’ front (websites, etc.), contrasted with our personal knowledge that we’re mostly shmucks producing free content, puts us in an uncomfortable position.
People are accustomed to being critical of content in ways that one is not typically critical of individuals. Even though our content is usually pretty easily distinguished from that which is made by professionals, it’s still delivered in a format that separates the consumer from the creator, as an individual. So, as you point out, not taking it personally is important, even when the criticism isn’t from a troll. Many consumers will have a hard time drawing a distinction between their attitude toward the content, and their attitude toward you, but it’s highly unlikely that anything nasty they have to say, has any bearing on you as a person at all.
I also think it’s interesting how it’s so easy for people to hide behind the internet. Most trolls wouldn’t say anything at all if it had to be said vocally or (heaven forbid) in person. The internet’s anonymity gives people license to act in a way that wouldn’t be acceptable/tolerated otherwise. This really is a great article. The most important thing to take away from it is that it’s not worth getting angry over negative comments (as hard as that can be). It’s just not worth it.
I also love how he points out the importance of responding to EVERY comment. Wow, this is soooo true. It really helps build relationships with your readers and shows that you care about their patronage. Even if it’s a negative comment it is always wise to respond.
What about situations like the Bad Webcomics wiki, where they’re clearly deplorable trolls BUT they also have technically accurate criticisms? Those are by far the hardest to deal with, people who use their intelligence to be nasty.
I’ve read BWW and other snark sites, but their “valid points” are really something more like this:
“Your art is flawed, you stupid waste of human tissue!”
Yeah, real insightful. They pretty much alienate everyone except other trolls and people so eager to learn something that they’ll tolerate any amount toxic sludge to find a ‘lil nugget of ten-carat gold. It’s not that worthwhile to anyone unless you just really enjoy “clever” commentary that pretty much amounts to recycled scatological ad-hominems with a generous serving of hubris and a tumbler of lukewarm, pointless F-bombs from the 1987 I’m Cool Because I Can Swear vintage.
See? I can be snarky too. It’s not that useful, really.
As far as the other types of comments so, I personally welcome them all. I haven’t been trolled yet, but if I did get a nasty comment that still raises a good point, I’ll try to learn from it. I just won’t respond. I certainly wouldn’t talk to anyone in real life who decided to be nasty and rude to me, no matter what their point was. Why should I be any more tolerant of verbal abuse just because it’s online? But as I’ve said, nobody has trolled me and I’m grateful for that.
I have never heard of the Bad Webcomics Wiki, but I’m not about to waste any time reading anything there. I get enough of that from the forum where I get trolled.