(no subject)

[gothikmaus]

Attention please: this post will contain whining and ranting and bitching. And possibly cursing. You've been warned.

The old matter of feedback or, in this case, lack thereof. I like writing. I like drawing. But when I post a story or a picture and don't get one single comment, it makes me wonder if it's worth the time I spend on this strange little hobby of mine. I know I should write and draw just because I enjoy it, but we all know that feedback is an important part of the process. If I post a picture and, say, 3 people comment on it, I get all happy and think "WOW, 3 people liked my pic! Maybe if I draw another one, they'll like that too." But if no one comments, I don't have any stimulus to go on.

I know I'm not a talented artist. I know I'm lacking in technique and my colouring skills are very low. But I also know I've improved in the last few years. Apparently, that's not enough.

Getting no comments doesn't necessarily mean the story/picture is bad. But if no one has anything to say about it, not even a short "Nice", it must mean it's rather insipid.

But what really annoys me is seeing a picture I don't like getting dozens of adoring comments. I have ridiculously high standards and usually think my stuff is awful, so I tend to think that must be the reason for the lack of feedback. Then I go and see a picture that even a 10-year-old could've drawn better, think "Well, this is even worse than mine" and, surprise surprise, it gets lots of "Pretty!" and "OMG squee!" comments. WTF? Is there something I'm not getting?

I tend to divide fanart I like into 2 big categories: pictures that are just plain beautiful, because the artist is talented and has a fine technique, and pictures that aren't technically perfect, but there's something about them, be it humour or an original idea behind it or a feeling it can convey.

My pictures obviously don't fall in either of these categories. It may be just lack of "visibility." Sure, but lately even when I post into LJ communities all I get is a nice sound of crickets. So why bother? Why waste my time on something useless?

I like drawing. I doodled Snape just this morning while I was installing a new software. I'll just have to resign myself to the unfairness of the world, I guess. Whoo-fucking-hoo.

Current mood: cranky

Comments

[nyxalinth.livejournal.com]

You aren't alone (apologies if I have not commented: this is the first time I could get on LJ for a significant amount of time in a LONG while!) you have seen me bitch and whine about this very thing any number of times.

I have people bugging me to write new things. But I don't, and this is one of the reasons.

But I love your stuff. I managed to lose your adorable drawing of Izdreth, though. would you be willing to email me with it or it post it again? :)

[gothikmaus.livejournal.com]

know you don't have much internet time at the moment, don't worry. :) And I've just sent you a copy of the Izdreth drawing, check your email. ;)

[nyxalinth.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I love that icon....

Anyway, I was having evil thoughts about, say, Ron, running into...oh, let's say Ashryn.

heh heh.

[vodkasnowqueen.livejournal.com]

I think it's just the nature of the beast myself. Posting on the internet is pretty anonymous, and so people can just look at things and not think about the work that went into them or the people who created them. I know I'm as guilty of this as anyone. Part of it may also be that the people looking at them don't know what to say, or are afraid for whatever reason to comment at all.

I think it really comes down to whether or not you enjoy what you're doing and if you like sharing it with other people.

[gothikmaus.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'll keep drawing and writing simply because I enjoy it, but I can't deny that finding out your latest pic/story didn't get one single comment is pretty disheartening. I'll just have to live with it, won't I? *shrugs*

[vodkasnowqueen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I won't deny that that sucks. Not much you can do about it though, short of threatening people with bodily harm. Hmm...