There are lots of fantastic things about making webcomics. Many nice things it has over traditional printing and publishing.
The speed of publishing and presenting your work to the world, the lack of a barrier to entry so anybody with an internet connection can make and publish comics…
…and if you're lucky enough to get some comments from readers - well, for many of us, that's our highest aspiration as a webcomicker; getting those comments!
Whether it's thoughts on character or plot, a constructive critique, or just an “LoL!”, we loves us them comments!
But has reader feedback in your comments ever changed your story in mid-stream?
For me, it happened once. I have to look back and see what the actual comments were, but I was closing in on the end of Act 2, and then was going to resolve the main problem of the story after that. I had a rough idea of how it was going to play out - but the flavor of the comments just suggested to me what people were liking about the story, and I think I also had the sense that people were ready for the resolution to come faster.
…The readers commenting didn't know the end was coming, and they didn't suggest it directly, but the comments were vital in realizing the end of the problem could be really tight, and neat, and happen on the next page or two instead of over the next six. It was a really neat moment!
How about you? Have your commenters slightly…or radically…changed your storyline or the direction of your comic?
Audience Commentary - Does it change your story?
Banes at 12:00AM, Aug. 16, 2018
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usedbooks at 3:33PM, Aug. 17, 2018
I was talking with my sister yesterday about some of my finale elements, and she pointed out a glaring plot hole (and proceeded to joke about it for five minutes), so there's another feedback that will be incorporated. :P
darrell at 11:16AM, Aug. 17, 2018
I've definitely had some comments do subtle changes to my story. Not sweeping changes to the overall story or direction but sometimes certain comments will give me an idea and I'll slip it in. Or reactions to a character will make me think "yeah, this character is/isn't really working and I should give more/less time to them." So they start to take on a slightly bigger or smaller role in the story.
bravo1102 at 4:10AM, Aug. 17, 2018
Edit: I adjusted the plot and endings in three different comics. Not three times on one comic. One quite recently. The story was all done but I made room to do a little epilogue.
bravo1102 at 4:07AM, Aug. 17, 2018
I write way ahead of time -- but rewrites are a constant. My stuff evolves during the creation process. And reader comments are constantly inspiring me. One made me adjust endings at least three different times. Readers often see stuff the creator doesn't-- or won't. You have to love your story and approach it with such dedication that any suggestions are an anathema and heresy to the perfection of your vision! Storytelling is organic, let it evolve naturally and that includes whatever feedback you receive. But then I am my harshest critic. Just look at my avatar.
PaulEberhardt at 1:17PM, Aug. 16, 2018
The feedback is one of the things I love most about webcomicing, but when I post a new episode of my comic (it's more like "if" at the time, alas) I've usually got a very clear vision of it that I'll pull through no matter what happens. However, I think a lot of past comments when planning new episodes and while I can't think of an example at the moment, I know they have inspired some again and again. Since episodes of Master the Tiger are usually short-ish and pretty random it is quite easy to incorporate reader input in many ways. If I manage to update, that is. :(
Avart at 11:54AM, Aug. 16, 2018
I had my story done in 5 chapters, but because positive feedback and comments, I decided to expand the story. I did at the right time because there's something like a "point of no return" when you can't make major changes like I did. That final chapter is locked, and maybe never will see the daylight... maybe.
jerrie at 10:09AM, Aug. 16, 2018
I LOVE getting comments, and appreciate greatly that folks make them...but in midstream I've never changed a story because of comments, because I write FAR ahead of time...and I just cant change things at that point. my work schedule just doesn't allow me any time to re-write. but comments HAVE sometimes influenced my future story plotting.
Chickfighter at 9:08AM, Aug. 16, 2018
I usually have pages prepared a ways in advance so comments don't have generally an immediate effect unless it might be to tweak dialogue to attempt to clarify something someone thought was unclear. But if somebody suggests something I like I might well try to incorporate it down the road.
KimLuster at 9:07AM, Aug. 16, 2018
Such wonderful topics you come up with! That said, I don't think I've ever changed the basic plot direction but I've changed 'cosmeticy' things numerous times (Kimber Lee will sport a new hairdo soon, based on comments). I've also gone back and redid the text of a page when it was clear from the comments some confusion was going on!! And I've used comments to foster jokes and humor. I've paraphrased Bravo's "Reality is like a Fig Newton" many times!!
mks_monsters at 5:16AM, Aug. 16, 2018
I can say that my answer is no. I love my fans and their feedback means the world to me, but when I write a story, I already have everything pre-written so it's take it or leave it. In the past, when I let people dictate how my story should be, it never ended well so I appreciate the feedback and suggestions, but what you see is what you get.
Ozoneocean at 4:56AM, Aug. 16, 2018
Yep, like you you, Kam, and UB I change things or get new ideas from people all the time :)
usedbooks at 4:12AM, Aug. 16, 2018
Comments have pointed out to me things that were unclear and needed clarified. So, not affecting the story but might make me tweak things to clarify those questions. I have people I bounce ideas off of, and they affect my story a lot. My sister is the driving force for relationships (and light plots and not killing people).
KAM at 2:43AM, Aug. 16, 2018
Well, sometimes comments give me ideas for jokes. Sometimes comments have made me realize that I needed to explain something better. Once I got comments so negative, that had the characters not been part of a then-upcoming crossover, I would have pulled all the strips featuring those characters. Despite having two stories featuring them planned, those characters will never appear again.