To get to the point, I’m currently working on a comic (maybe more a manga?) and I’ve just come to a grinding halt and can’t really find the motivation to continue the project…I feel like I work on the story constantly in my head and jot down notes but when it comes to thinking of how to bring my vision into the world, nothing feels adequate or satisfying. I’ve gone over it a bunch of times since the beginning: should I make it a manga? An animation? Should I just submit it to some studio to probably never see the light of day, and if it should; then not see a dime? Should I commission help? I’m too poor for that so, can’t do that. so I’ve just been hand drawing crappy panels in a storyboard-esque manner just to get the point across. Now, I’ve been out of touch with drawing for a long long time and idc what anyone says; it does NOT come to you like riding a bike. Usually when all of that starts going through my head I tell myself “look at how one punch man originally started” and it gets me through a page or two, but the past few days I just can’t find any real motivation to pick up my book and pencil….
I’m open to some advice
Try making a rule that you draw for 10 minutes every day, no matter what. It doesn’t have to be related to your manga, but it can be. You don’t need to be good, you don’t need to be working toward a grand vision, you just need to be doing something.
I started doing this with painting. Just 10 minutes before bed. If I have to commit to a longer time, I’ll never do it. In 3 weeks i turned out a painting i feel good about. Right now I’m participating in Inktober; there’s a new prompt for an ink sketch every day, still I spend 10 minutes. I haven’t drawn with ink (or anything really) in a decade and some of my pictures look decent and some are terrible, but I’m making them. And making things inspired me to make more things.
If you’re stuck on a project, you can try these oblique strategies designed by musician Brian Eno.
Join us at c/artshare and post your work. I’d love to see it.