What I Learned from Doing an 8 Comic Challenge (Part 1)
I had two goals: a) practice storytelling in graphic novel form b) learn to draw efficiently. What did I do? Challenge myself to draw 1 comic a week for 8 weeks and post it on IG 🙃
Scene 1
Every sane employer & my inner critic: What makes you qualified to be a graphic novelist?
Me: 😳
Scene 2
Every Instagram user who knows what’s up: You need to post consistently on IG to build a following.
Me: If I’m gonna create anything, it better do multi-duty, cause I’m not creating content for content’s sake. 😑
Scene 3
Scene 1 and Scene 2 came together to have a baby, and here I am…halfway through an 8 comic challenge.
As a debut author-illustrator, I have worries about my ability to tell compelling stories in graphic novel form. As with anything though, practice builds confidence, so I challenged myself to create 1 comic a week for 8 weeks and post it on my Instagram.
I’m halfway through the challenge (4 down, 4 more to go!) Here's the first comic. Follow me @jennyfangart on Instagram to see the other 4 when they come out! :)
Here’s what I learned so far from the 8 comic challenge…
1. I love drawing from my memories.
My life is cool. I honestly think so. It’s not always pretty, but by re-telling my memories through comics, I get to make fun, celebrate, and honor the experiences that have shaped me. And I also get to share more of myself. As someone who appears quiet on the outside, that’s a big deal.
Unexpectedly, the process of choosing which memories to re-tell has helped me learn what kind of stories I’m drawn to. For instance, there’s a common thread of growing up as a child of immigrants and Chinese American that connect my stories.
2. I am a funnier and better storyteller now.
It’s so satisfying when I get the inciting incident and emotional punchline right. With each new comic I start, I feel it getting easier.
It also just feels good to tell a story that makes others laugh, smile, and resonate. That is motivating. I actually laughed and smiled while creating these comics. So, my comics have already passed the bar of my #1 fan and critic — myself.
You may wonder with all this self-approval if I have a good sense of humor and storytelling to begin with. And the answer is — yes, yes I do. 😁
3. Graphic noveling isn’t as hard as my mind makes it seem.
I introduced this post sharing the self-doubt I feel. I think it was after creating my 2nd comic that I started feeling some confidence.
The fact that I made more than 1 comic. The learning and realization that I enjoy the process of creating comics. The amazement at my own creativity, wit, and skill (—like…YO, I DID THAT!!!). I really believe that I’m capable of graphic noveling now. All it took was just doing it multiple times.
And my heart! Hearing the reactions from strangers and friends (thank you for sharing with me, hearing them makes this girl really happy 🥰🙏🏼):
“You created that!?”
"That is so relatable.”
“Is the story true?!”**
**Yes, all the comics I created for this challenge are based on a true memory, but the beginning and ending are often made up to create a compact, hitting story.
Part of something Ira Glass said is, “Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you.”
So, with this personal 8 comic challenge, I’m slowly closing the gap. 😎💪🏼
Stay tuned for more! ✨✨
Now that the 8 comic challenge is over, you can read them all here.
📚 Learn more about my work ➡️ jennyfang.com
🎨 Follow my art journey ➡️ @jennyfangart