Webcomics often evolve from a simple idea into a production that spans several years or even decades for some. It is inevitable that aspects of these projects will change as time goes on; often these changes are centered on the processes used to create them. Today we're talking with our hosts and hearing about how their creative processes have changed over time.

The biggest thing that creators seem to figure out first is their limits and production rates. Some creators can bust out page after page at an astounding frequency, while others are much slower and need to pace themselves accordingly. You may find that you enjoy creating page by page or you'll prefer having a large buffer before you post anything.

You'll find your bearings and what works for you as you work on your pages and your process will evolve to meet your needs. Character designs may find themselves simplified as you draw them over and over. Coloring techniques may change as you find a balance between the desired aesthetic and how not to damage your hands every time you do a page. Your storytelling may change as you gain experience in writing and realize you need to take more care in your plotting.

But do these changes make you faster or slower?

Sometimes the answer is both. As one aspect evolves to become faster, another may start to take more time. As time passes, you'll figure out what is important to you and what you are okay to simplify and even if it doesn't make you faster overall, it will usually make your final product better than it was before.

And just the nature of practice and the time you've invested will lead you to become a better creator. You'll recognize what a page or panel needs to focus on, your flow will improve, you'll be able to acknowledge when a panel can be simpler vs needing full detail.

Don't feel like your webcomic process needs to stay stagnant as you work on it.

It's in our nature to change and embracing those changes and finding shortcuts or strategies that make you enjoy your project more will help sustain you on the long journey ahead.

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Episode Release Date: June 28, 2023

Episode Credits:

Christina Major (@delphina2k) - she/her, sombulus.com

Megan Davison (@star-berrymint) - she/her, sorceryshenanigans.com

Rae Baade (@overlordrae) - they/them, empyreancomic.com

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The Intro "DO IT (feat. Shia LaBeouf)", and the Outro "It's Good To See You Again!!", both by Adrianwave, have been used and modified in good faith under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Licensed. Edits include: Fade IN/OUT, and a repeat added to the beginning of "It's Good To See You Again!!". For more information on this creative commons use, please reference https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.