The New Year’s Re-Think: If, like me, you’re agonizing over getting more readership for your creative efforts, let’s agonize together. If by making some stylistic changes in my art/writing , I could reach more people, and inspire them toward Jesus, I would certainly be willing to try it.
First here’s what I’m seeing around me:
1) Most people ignore most comics. Online… in newpapers, doesn’t matter. I'm seeing some really, really talented artists/storytellers catering to audiences of 2 -40 viewers.
What creative efforts do the masses pay attention to? Having you checked your favorite social media site yet this morning? Most people have; and instead criticizing the medium as catering to the most base and shallow parts of human personality(very true), we should ask if any parts of our creative work could be repackaged into a short clip that people could pull up on a cell phone and watch for a minute.
Perhaps a one-shot post coupling an eyecatching image with and inspiring paragraph?
2) Internet-linked Teams: I know we each have our dream story, and the Holy Spirit develops our talents as we work on them, but for 90+% of us there comes that grim day when we realize…that no amount of make-up is going to “convert our duck into an eagle.” We can take what we’ve learned and wait for the next story-idea to smack us in the head…or we can look around for struggling creators that could benefit from what we have to offer. I notice CCAS artist Robert Kirkpatrick, has put out a request for a writer to team up with; how about it writers?
Using a team presents its own difficulties, but check out the TEDxPortland podcast by Zach King. When a small team of college amateurs can crank out a clip in four hours (Jedi Kittens) that gets 50million views, we need to at least glance at how a diverse team quickly merged talents in a creative effort.
3) Reciprocation: Teams take trust, trust builds through a number of small contacts. Email correspondence through CCAS, Deviant Art and online galleries requires regular input but is rewarding in so many ways. Join sites you enjoy and then get active in discussions and detailed correspondence. Jesus took time for individuals…so can you.
What New directions are you guys/gals thinking about?
Replies
So glad you enjoyed Abalon! My Web-host, Weebly, is a bit glitchy, but I'm still really happy with the first chapters of this saga.
Wow, I took a look at your website, and really enjoyed the first chapter of your Abolon series! You have a true gift for telling a story. I was moved by the excitement of your main character at meeting the angelic visitor, and smiled at the horses as they were brought to "life" while the character slept. Looking forward to reading the rest. I enjoyed the historical time period too.
I've been trying to find some other social media sites that might be great for artists. I've heard that instagram and ello might be helpful, but will have to let folks know what I think when I get there! Either way, it usually takes time to build an audience on whichever social media platform a person wants to use. I've found it's a little easier if you can use social media on the go with an iphone, as sitting down at a desktop to use the internet can eat up a lot of time. Sometimes little bits and pieces here and there are a little easier to manage.
Thanks so much for the excellent feedback!
I have no user experience with most social media, so even though I talk big about the new areas of internet opportunities its as an outsider. Even tough I have an online strip (abalonofcalifornia.com) I plan I keeping it strictly as a hobby for another 3.6 years, LW. However others on this site are more serious about jumping into the public arena and should see your post.
I know you're off Facebook now, but the CCAS group on Facebook is supposed to be a livelier group and there's some there who might really benefit from your talents.
Thanks for this, great post as I've noticed that it can be really tough building an audience. While I started Axiom illustration just a couple months ago, I do have quite a bit of marketing experience and have built (and shut down) several other blogs. One blog I ran had around 60,000 hits and 100 subscribers before I shut it down.
I currently use twitter and google+ to share my artwork, which is primarily cartoons. Although, I also will do illustrations and graphic design in order to share a message. At times I'll mix in a blog post here and there that I think fits with the message. But Christians at times can be a really hard sell for artwork. If you go on google+, it seems as if the most popular "artwork" is a badly designed meme. That's not to say that there aren't readers out there who see and interact with your work. They just may not say anything about it. I have been on facebook in the past, and it works really well. But for various reasons I'm hesitant to get back on, especially now that I devote a fair amount of time to using twitter and google+.
Anyway, I would love to try and help out where I can. I do have some professional writing experience, and am a professional graphic design veteran of about 15 years. I really enjoy illustration and cartooning as well.
As far as new directions, I'm hoping to continue to build the audience on axiom in the new year, and maybe introduce some basic products like bumper stickers. I'd also like to possible see if there are any Christian ministries or newspapers who might like an editorial cartoonist (as this is really my forte).