Hello there Quackateers! Whether you're just starting out or have been creating for years, learning from feedback is one of the best ways to level up your webcomic game. However, taking on feedback on work you are particularly connected to can be daunting. Deciphering what is and isn’t constructive can be tricky; whether that be comments about your art or notes on your story, as a creator you have to find a balance between what feedback can help and when to stand firm in your vision of the story.
Your readers, fellow creators, and even casual viewers can offer perspectives you might not have considered; the ole “fresh pair of eyes” as it were. Maybe there’s a plot hole you missed, a character that isn’t resonating, or an art style tweak that could elevate your panels. Comments such as, “This is bad,” or “The art looks like shit,”, whilst hurtful, can ultimately be ignored. There’s nothing to be gained there. A suggestion like, “I love the story, but the pacing feels a bit slow in the middle,” is way more helpful than a vague “This isn’t good.”
Comments that address a specific aspect of your art and/or story and suggest possible ways to fix it are ones worth engaging with as the person leaving the comment is ultimately invested in your progress. That’s a good thing! It means that your webcomic resonates with them.
The key take-away is to stay open-minded and not take criticism personally. Remember, every piece of constructive feedback is an opportunity for you to grow as a webcomic artist. It’s all about finding that balance between staying true to your vision and evolving your craft.
What was the most constructive feedback you received about your webcomic? 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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Embracing Feedback: Your Secret Weapon for Better Webcomics
Emma_Clare at 12:00AM, Sept. 7, 2024
4 likes!
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J_Scarbrough at 10:09PM, Sept. 8, 2024
@PaulEberhardt You have a point, and no, we don't have to expect a detailed critique in our comments, but every once in a while, it would be nice to see more insightful feedback as opposed to a simple, "Good job!" or "That was funny!"
PaulEberhardt at 2:07AM, Sept. 8, 2024
Of course you can never expect a detailed critique in your comments, that goes without saying. Far from it. There is however something to be gleaned by reading between the lines. Example, exaggerated for clarity: if several commenters say "These dogs you drew there look awesome! I wish I could draw dogs like that!" below a desert scene you drew that is meant to depict camels, you may want to put some work into getting your camel anatomy up to scratch. Of course, it's never as obvious as that. But you can always ask yourself whether your commenters react to the things you want them to react to and in the way you had in mind? Now let's be realistic: you'll hardly ever get enough data to draw a rock-solid conclusion either, but I wouldn't dismiss it altogether. Even joke comments can be useful comments because of that.
J_Scarbrough at 10:52PM, Sept. 7, 2024
@bravo1102 Yes, thank you, that's my point exactly.
hushicho at 7:15PM, Sept. 7, 2024
It may also be useful to note that you aren't required to take feedback at any time, especially when it's unsolicited. While it can be useful, a lot of it really isn't, and you don't have to feel obligated to give it weight that it doesn't deserve. Most people don't give useful feedback, and they also can only, at best, say what they'd enjoy more, which doesn't make it better. It should all really be taken with a grain of salt. It is also important to note that feedback and actual critique are very different beasts.
bravo1102 at 1:49PM, Sept. 7, 2024
@J_Scarbrough: As an non-commissioned officer in the US ARMY and certified Army instructor, I am an actual real life expert on the giving of critiques. That "expert" is the stupid they tell you you can't fix. Feedback is vital in any endeavor. With no feedback there's no way to know what needs to be improved or changed and there is the probability that the same mistakes will continue to be made and in my line of business that'll get someone killed. Analytics tell you nothing about the dumb mistakes you make that could potentially kill someone.
dragonsong12 at 10:00AM, Sept. 7, 2024
Once upon a time (way back with my first comic) I had a regular commentor who would post criticisms on every page I posted. I am actually quite bad at taking criticism so it was a surprising even to me how useful I found his commentary. I always had to psyche myself up to read his comments, but I always appreciated them after I did. It was certainly less stressful once he fell off of commenting, but I missed him when he was gone. I improved a lot due to his help.
J_Scarbrough at 9:00AM, Sept. 7, 2024
(Cont.) As outlets like YouTube and such become more and more corporate and less and less communal, I rarely, if ever, receive any sort of insightful feedback on my content anymore, so I'm always in the dark about what people like, what they would like to see more of, what sort of improvements I could possibly make, etc. because analytics tell you nothing of the sort. Feedback validates that our followers are engaging with our content. Something tells me that so-called "expert" on Threads would be the type of politician who would completely dismiss the financial struggles of a middle/working class person who can barely pay their bills by telling them to, "Stop being lazy and work harder."
J_Scarbrough at 8:57AM, Sept. 7, 2024
I actually had this argument with a so-called "expert" on Threads recently who said creators don't deserve feedback on our content, because that just makes us spoiled and entitled, that that's exactly why we have stats and analytics to provide us with feedback on our content. The thing about that is analytics only provide us with numbers, nothing insightful to let us know anything about what people may or may not enjoy about our content, what they may like to see more or less of, or if they have any sort of input they could share - in short, feedback from our followers also provides Content Creators with engagement with our followers, which also helps establish a connection with people who enjoy our work. The "expert" was adament that was only an "entitlement" and that the numbers tell us that people who enjoy our work keep coming back and what they enjoy.
bravo1102 at 6:11AM, Sept. 7, 2024
Every criticism I've gotten I take a very good look at. I have changed stories and ways of doing things several times because of them over the years. I've even used reader story suggestions. But my stuff almost never gets criticism. Some would think it's because I maintain such a high level of quality content. I know that my stuff is hopelessly bad and there's just no changing it. I'm stuck with that Bravo reputation and there's no way out and no way to attract new readers, though there is a steady loss of readers. Do something long enough and there will be no more suggestions or criticism because it's past all hope. Then embrace the awfulness and do it anyway. For almost everyone reading this; there is still hope and I wish everyone the best. Maybe that's why I keep winning that "most supportive reader" thing. 🙄
PaulEberhardt at 1:42AM, Sept. 7, 2024
Us older creators have of course one big advantage over newcomers: chances are we've known the commenters for ages immemorial and know exactly how to take whatever they say. So another tip: being a supportive commenter involves allowing the creator to get to know you a bit over time. Most of that happens automatically anyway, but it can't hurt to keep it in mind.
PaulEberhardt at 1:34AM, Sept. 7, 2024
Stay open to criticism and don't take it as an attack on either yourself or the work of art you put so much effort into. One little life hack, if I may: if anything anyone says makes you angry, no matter whether it's in a comment or forum or real life, let it sit for 24 hours, look at it again, as well as what caused it, and if it still makes you furious then, give 'em hell, but only then. Don't think of it as a delay or as coming across as slow; in situations where it matters much more than in comments this simple 24-hour rule has prevented many an unnecessary enmity, and even if you find the other person does deserve a full broadside after all, you can be sure that it will be much better at hitting where it really hurts. Btw.: I can see again what a great place the Duck is by practically never needing to apply the 24hour-rule here.