The next time I begin producing a comic strip or a story series I am determined that I WILL NOT pay one iota of attention regarding my hit count or rankings on DD or elsewhere. I get so focused on the rise and fall of my DD rankings that producing my strip or comic becomes secondary and then I begin second guessing myself . . . and as a result I get depressed even if at the time my ranking is relatively high. Arrrrrgh!

The irony of that is found in the size of DD's readership base. In relative terms it has a tiny readership base and so I am focusing on the fact that a tiny minority of Internet webcomic readers do or DO NOT like my stuff?

SIGH!

I am gearing up to produce something totally unique regarding DD series story lines and I have absolutely no idea if it will be great, average, lame, or suck sewer water . . . and I have no way to judge that ahead of time. I have a choice. I can either focus on short term feedback and let that affect my artistic efforts or I can ignore everything except producing the story series itself. Do the very best that I can at this point in my life and let everything else happen as it will.

I need to enter into this with a script completely written to the point that the first story segment is finished and a viable second segment is pretty much worked out. THEN and only then begin producing and posting the pages themselves. I need to concentrate on getting the work done and nothing else. I KNOW what I need to do . . . but this time around, will I do it?

You would think that half a dozen attempts and failures over the last few years would serve to hammer the lessons home. I guess that time will tell. This week I begin hammering out the first story line. Next month sometime I should begin inking and then posting the results. What I WILL NOT do is focus on my DD rankings whether they rise, fall, or remain stagnant!

Riiiiiiight . . . surrrrrrre I won't.

Cheers! :spin:

Just make something that you like. If you think its good, then there are going to be people out there who agree with you.
If you start making things for what you think other people want, you are going to produce utter crap.
Produce the kind of comic you want to read.
When you go to a new comic, what do you hope its going to be like? make a comic exactly like that!

As to past failures, its all a learning experience, so as long as you are getting lessons from mistakes then it has not been for nothing.

IF ratings is all you cared about, you could just buy adverts on Project Wonderful...

harkovast, thanks for the advice. You are completely correct of course. I KNOW that you are correct. Worrying about rankings, however, is a compulsion, not really subject to common sense admonitions.

Pretty much I am posting a cautionary note to myself . . . not that I expect it to do me a world of good. Anyway, all of that is why I intend to have the first story segment produced, inked, colored, and dialogued BEFORE I post the first page, so that the rise and fall of my DD rankings won't really matter. Be they below average, good, or exceptional, the entire completed story gets posted as it is and by then I will have made a good start on completing the next one to follow.

I'm hoping that by taking these precautions I can keep myself from shooting my own foot. We shall see.

Oh and as for the story itself, it will actually be fairly unique and so it should hold my interest at least throughout its run. That's my hope anyway.

I forgot who exactly said this, I think it was somebody on this site. But anyway, the key to making a comic you'll stick with, is basically, make a comic based on things you like.

So think of all the things you enjoy (or would like to make a story about)

For me, it's Mythology, grungy stuff, and the future. So I combined all three, and made what is now known as Ryu's Krew.

Don't focus on ratings, purely. I think every comic starts off slow, but as the comic picks up, I'm sure the ratings will too.

Make sure you take the time to plan everything out. I've learned from many mistakes, that if you don't plan mostly everything out, it'll come back to haunt you. Think things through, take your time. I ended up remaking my comic about 6 times because I didn't.

So, good luck with all that. And I can't wait to see what you make!

Yeah. I'm pretty compulsive about ranking and pageviews at times too. There's a fanatical cult of you must update on time here as well, which never makes much sense to me. I'd rather read four pages once a month than one a week, which is akin to watching paint dry.
Thing is, this is fun. This is for fun. Nobody's getting rich here. It's pretty amazing that we can make a page and post it for the world to look at if they so choose. As a kid, I photocopied, stapled and sold comics in my local comic shop. Years later, whatever I drew just lived in notebooks. I never dreamed that my characters would be glowing to life on some screen some day.

parkbenchbook
Nobody's getting rich here.

Nobody? Aw, you just broke my dreams.

(just kidding of course) :)

I don't think I was paying that much attention to ratings. Sure, it was fun to see the days when I got 300-400 views (I knew that on these days two or three people went through the entire or at least most of the archive) but there were days with so few pageviews that they failed to register (below ten), perhaps even no page views.

I have a statement to make too. When I'll return with my webcomic (restarting it with the re-lettered pages), it'll be 5 times a week. I should be able to pull it off easily, as long as I keep it b&w and have written ahead enough to not run out of the buffer while working. In fact, I should start messing around with the template cause I want it to look better :D

(and let's hope drunkduck can take a 2000 page long strip) :)

have someone you trust will give you good, honest advice read the script. It's much easier editing in the writing stage than when it's already drawn and readers are pointing out the gaping logic errors in your comic.

I personally need DD, because I do care about what readers think. I don't think that my pv's drop when I do a bad page, of course, but when people give me critique in comments I really appreciate it. If I hadn't decided to put in text boxes (instead of having free-floating text) I would have a much uglier comic; I hadn't even realized how much better it would look until I tried it out. (Same with my old font, with my speech-bubbles...) It's hard judging your own work; you need other people. As long as you don't rely on other people to design the story for you (you don't want a composite of what's popular-- you'd end up with a comic about angsty vampire teens at a wizarding school or something).

And with my old comic, Misfit Assassins, I did the first part by hand, in my room, la di da, no one reading and giving me feedback. Once I started posting on DD, though (well, not too long after) my art skills spiked, I learned how to use photoshop, and a lot more people started reading my comic. it wasn't because I was catering to them specifically, it was because they were helping me improve.

moral of the story, ask for critique ; P

As far as rank: Eh, I'd be cool if I stayed at my current rank for perpetuity. I admit I do like being above a certain number in the ranks because there's more visibility when folks browse through the comic listings, so it's more likely they'll stumble in.

As far as stats go: I pay the most attention to whether or not I'm actually retaining readers. I'd rather have 20 people a day who go through all the archives, bookmark, and come back next week than 200 unique users who hit "back" as soon as the comic loads. (Although I guess 20 readers x 40 pages would be way more than 200 anyhow... er, ya get my drift, though.)

Beyond the stats: I enjoy the comments from my regular readers way more than the number of page views for any given update.

Hyena H_ll
As far as rank: Eh, I'd be cool if I stayed at my current rank for perpetuity. I admit I do like being above a certain number in the ranks because there's more visibility when folks browse through the comic listings, so it's more likely they'll stumble in.

As far as stats go: I pay the most attention to whether or not I'm actually retaining readers. I'd rather have 20 people a day who go through all the archives, bookmark, and come back next week than 200 unique users who hit "back" as soon as the comic loads. (Although I guess 20 readers x 40 pages would be way more than 200 anyhow... er, ya get my drift, though.)

Beyond the stats: I enjoy the comments from my regular readers way more than the number of page views for any given update.

Yeah, I agree with Hyena. Pageviews increase your DD rank, but If those pageviews are only a onetime thing... Eh.

I really focus on the facts that I'm retaining regulars readers as well.

Because that means that I'm telling a story that I really enjoy, and it's connecting with people enough that they continue to come back.

Granted, I know I'm not writing Shakespeare, but are any of us really?

I know its easy to say page views should be ignored, but if I am honest... they are like crack!
I cant get enough!!
MORE!
MORE!
You get the idea....

Charley Horse if you need someone to look over stuff, make suggestions or bounce ideas off, feel free to pq me, I'm pretty good as a sounding board.

Thanks harkovast. I am, in fact, going to discuss it a bit as I hammer out the plot line. I already know its general form and how the first few stories are going to run, however. It's later that I am going to be getting into trouble. I already know that. Later on, as I shift to a more dynamic plot or story, I am going to HAVE to pick the brains of every cartoonist willing to lend me a critique!

As it stands, the general idea is built upon that series, The World's Deadliest Catch but placed in the far, far future with an alien crew and starships and so forth. The protagonist is going the be the equivalent of an able seaman going out on the equivalent of a fishing boat complete with the dangers and hardships. The first few stories will essentially write themselves as they will be a simple translation of reality into the far future and a science fiction setting. Later, however, I will need to switch over to telling a dynamic story with an unfolding plot. Then we shall see.

Any help you can get from me I'm glad to give, too! I miss "Bad Attitude", by the way. :(

Also, apparently saying I don't care about stats gave me a record high today. Hmmm. Let's try this: "I totally don't care about getting rich and famous off my comic. Nope." lol!

Hyena H_ll
Also, apparently saying I don't care about stats gave me a record high today. Hmmm. Let's try this: "I totally don't care about getting rich and famous off my comic. Nope." lol!

I had ptetty good numbers yesterday too.

Hmm...

"I really hope my comic doesn't become popular enough where Pixar or someone decides to make a movie out of it. Then I'd have to deal with a bunch of merchandising royalties. That would be awful." :)

zaymac
"I really hope my comic doesn't become popular enough where Pixar or someone decides to make a movie out of it. Then I'd have to deal with a bunch of merchandising royalties. That would be awful." :)

What a freakin' hassle that would be.
*jumps on bandwagon*
*bandwagon topples*

Zaymac, Hayena, you think you don't care about my comic?
I'm TRYING to make mine fail! I send angry messages to people who favourite it!
Every time someone buys add space, I die a little inside!
(there, that should guarantee success!)

Kristen Gudsnuk

zaymac
"I really hope my comic doesn't become popular enough where Pixar or someone decides to make a movie out of it. Then I'd have to deal with a bunch of merchandising royalties. That would be awful." :)

What a freakin' hassle that would be.
*jumps on bandwagon*
*bandwagon topples*

I repaired it, lets all get back on!

Anyway I agree with what most of the people here have already said. Comments and critique are more important than pageviews, which can depend on things like the time you updated which really don't matter. So I think that if you think checking page views will have a bad effect on your comic you should just ignore them and focus on the comments people are giving your pages!

yeah, plus a lot of ranking has to do with the size of your archive... some people out there have 1000+ pages! I certainly admire that (and wish I had a huge archive) but with a 35 page archive like yours, or a 20 page archive like mine, if someone reads it from start to finish (any webcomicker's wet dream) you only get 35 pageviews. So even 100-200 pageviews are pretty great, if you think about it!!!

(The thing that makes me jealous is when people with like 6 pages are in the top 10... usually it's because they're doing shockingly fantastic work, but *cries* stillll!!!)

Kristen Gudsnuk
(The thing that makes me jealous is when people with like 6 pages are in the top 10... usually it's because they're doing shockingly fantastic work, but *cries* stillll!!!)

Have there been any six pagers in the top ten? Not that I can recall, but I ain't been here but six months or so. That'd have to be about 1,000 unique viewers a day, going through that staggering 6 page archive from start to finish. ;)

I actually went through and checked (I'm compulsive like that) and there are only 3 comics in the top 100 with less than 50 pages. Average seems to be 100-150 pages.

ok, you caught me hyperbolizing...
Well, actually I was checking out smackjeeves, and the second most favorited comic didn't even have a page up yet.. it's here . Only a "coming soon" page and a promo image!! 2226 fans!!! : O
and if it does happen that a comic with a small archive gets into the top 50 or so (top 10=exaggeration) they usually don't stay there forever.. it's like a small phenomenon. But it *does* happen sometimes. When Craving Control first came out (old times...) it was in the top 10 when it hit around 5 pages or so.

Kristen Gudsnuk
ok, you caught me hyperbolizing...
Well, actually I was checking out smackjeeves, and the second most favorited comic didn't even have a page up yet.. it's here . Only a "coming soon" page and a promo image!! 2226 fans!!! : O

Ha. Well, it is a lovely image, and pretty compelling... but also screams "hot boy-on-boy action!". Which I'm pretty sure appeals to a large sector of SJ's users. Just sayin'.

Hyena H_ll

Kristen Gudsnuk
ok, you caught me hyperbolizing...
Well, actually I was checking out smackjeeves, and the second most favorited comic didn't even have a page up yet.. it's here . Only a "coming soon" page and a promo image!! 2226 fans!!! : O

Ha. Well, it is a lovely image, and pretty compelling... but also screams "hot boy-on-boy action!". Which I'm pretty sure appeals to a large sector of SJ's users. Just sayin'.

What clued you in? The naked men or the groping?

So THATS what my comic has been missing!

I hate to spoil your fun, but I clicked on page one and it says they're revamping the comic and removed all the pages. So it's probably old readers waiting for more... still, it's pretty obvious WHY they're waiting for more :D

Sex definitely sells. I considered creating an adult 'toon at one point, and it wasn't shyness or prudery that ultimately stopped me. I realized that eventually I would get tired of sketching cheesecake and beefcake engaging in a mutual rut. Laziness on my part I guess.

Hah, I considered creating something adult too, but then I couldn't print it through ka-blam... besides, I'd probably focus on odd fetishes rather than normal sex so I doubt it'd bring any readership... although, knowing the internet...

someday I wanna do a sexy comic, but I'd have to do it under another username so as to preserve my reputation as a young woman who doesn't think of such things... I think sex is one of the more, er, interesting topics to make a comic about-- it'd be hard to get tired of drawing it. Although, the angles are probably hard (especially if you go for contortionist porn.. lol?)

I was paid to do one once. I ran out of oompf pretty quickly though and found it really tiring to finish. But I did finish it in the end. :)

Having been there I can safely say I have no affinity for the genre. I'm hopeless at it. :(

ozoneocean
I was paid to do one once. I ran out of oompf pretty quickly though and found it really tiring to finish. But I did finish it in the end. :)

Having been there I can safely say I have no affinity for the genre. I'm hopeless at it. :(

well, was it a long comic or a short one? as someone well-versed in erotic short fiction, I can recommend the website literotica.com for some hilariously terrible/sometimes incredibly awesome stories.

Ok, and this is totally NSFW but if anyone wants a real laugh, this is the most hilarious erotic story I've ever read. seriously. He uses his tears as lube!! I facebook friended the author and everything. It is a true literary classic. It's called "Quality Time". (I found it because I was looking for this other really hilarious story about a wolfman... I wanted to show it to my boyfriend for laughs but couldn't find it, and we found this one instead. The other one was classic too, but unfortunately I'd probably be banned if I said why ; D.)

erm, anyway... back on subject...

ozoneocean
I was paid to do one once. I ran out of oompf pretty quickly though and found it really tiring to finish. But I did finish it in the end. :)

At least you didn't finish prematurely.

I hear that's a problem for some guys.

CharleyHorse
The next time I begin producing a comic strip or a story series I am determined that I WILL NOT pay one iota of attention regarding my hit count or rankings on DD or elsewhere. I get so focused on the rise and fall of my DD rankings that producing my strip or comic becomes secondary and then I begin second guessing myself . . . and as a result I get depressed even if at the time my ranking is relatively high. Arrrrrgh!

The irony of that is found in the size of DD's readership base. In relative terms it has a tiny readership base and so I am focusing on the fact that a tiny minority of Internet webcomic readers do or DO NOT like my stuff?

SIGH!

I am gearing up to produce something totally unique regarding DD series story lines and I have absolutely no idea if it will be great, average, lame, or suck sewer water . . . and I have no way to judge that ahead of time. I have a choice. I can either focus on short term feedback and let that affect my artistic efforts or I can ignore everything except producing the story series itself. Do the very best that I can at this point in my life and let everything else happen as it will.

I need to enter into this with a script completely written to the point that the first story segment is finished and a viable second segment is pretty much worked out. THEN and only then begin producing and posting the pages themselves. I need to concentrate on getting the work done and nothing else. I KNOW what I need to do . . . but this time around, will I do it?

You would think that half a dozen attempts and failures over the last few years would serve to hammer the lessons home. I guess that time will tell. This week I begin hammering out the first story line. Next month sometime I should begin inking and then posting the results. What I WILL NOT do is focus on my DD rankings whether they rise, fall, or remain stagnant!

Riiiiiiight . . . surrrrrrre I won't.

Cheers! :spin:

I think that you think too much about it.

I got one word of advice for you: follow your heart.

And here's a personal story.

Back in 2001-2002, when I had my 1st webcomic on a geocities website.
http://www.geocities.com/mara_nina/
An idea of how my art looked like:



Nobody really gave a rats ass about it except a couple of people I personally knew and I'd be lucky to have one comment in two months.

But I kept going on and on and on. For 50 chapters.
http://www.geocities.com/bk_killer21/2003_bk.htm

I don't know what motivated me. And the story just came along as I went along. I've been putting up pages even when there's no clear script.

Don't think too much about it. Just put up whatever comes into your head.