What to do when you think you've outgrown your comic

As you grow and develop as a comic creator, you might find stories you had invested time into beginning to lose their appeal. You might be thinking that having outgrown your story. However, it might be a case of having written yourself into a corner or maybe you might need a well deserved rest. Here are some tips you can try first before deciding whether or not you’ve truly left your story behind.

Rest and come back to the comic with fresh eyes
Take a step back. Get some rest, go for a walk, let your mind percolate. When we become invested in a story it’s easy to become lost in the weeds. Taking a step back means you can get a fresh perspective and even generate new ideas that'll give your comic a new lease on life. If that fails you can always…

Talk to an outside observer about your story
If you are still grasping at straws you might be lacking external input. Find a trusted friend, or even a supportive forum, to ask for advice. Absorb the constructive criticism that will take your comic to the next level. Take the time to really think through the advice and apply it where you think it would help your story. If that doesn’t help…

Go back to the drawing board
If you come back to the story with some fresh ideas but are not sure how to work that into what you have, it may be time to scrap it all and go back to the drawing board. Remember, you have more experience now and can try another approach to your work. Cut what is dead weight, edit your comic so that it is tighter and more streamlined and look at what can be clarified. There are plenty resources out there about putting together a comic in a way that’s achievable (including here on the Duck!) so maybe it is just a case of resetting and trying again with a new approach. If you find yourself unable to do that then…

Part ways
It’s a case of, ‘It’s not you, it’s me,”. Truly outgrowing your story does not make it or you a failure. Everything is a learning experience and your next story will be better based on what you've learned and therefore gained.

Have you ever parted ways with a comic project? Let us know in the comment section below! And join us on Sunday evening for our Quackchat at 5:30PM(EST)!

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