The reason you’re great at one-off compositions but can’t put a long-form comic or animation together to save your life isn’t because you’re a lousy artist, it’s because you’re a lousy project manager.
I know that doesn’t sound particularly positive, but you’d be astounded how many artists I’ve run into who are literally unaware that project management is a) a totally separate skill set from being Good At Art, and b) something you actually have to learn - they think that people are just intrinsically good or bad at doing long-form projects and that’s all there is to it.
Correctly identifying what it is that you suck at is the first step to improving!
Oh yeah def. is there a book or anything you can suggest for learning how to do project management?
From my POV, project management for big creative projects comes down to four things:
Have a plan. Plan from start to finish. That means as complete an outline as you can create. Knowing your ending helps you finish.
Have infrastructure that helps you create. This goes back to Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own. Space, tools, time, childcare/eldercare, quiet.
Ass. In. Chair. Sit down and work whether you feel super-inspired or not.
Have goals around the project. “Get this done by Thanksgiving so I can enjoy the holidays,” “Have this out there by July 10th for the summer reading audience,” “Complete this…for VENGEANCE.” Those sorts of goals.
These four things aren’t specific to any creative area.
Whichever one of these makes you go “But, but, but…” is a good one to work on!
And then there’s the Other Thing – Being a good Artist or Writer, and being a good Project Manager have nothing to do with being Good At Selling What You Make. That is, in fact, a whole ‘NOTHER job you have to learn if you’re going to make art or writing into your job.
If you’re a convention-goer, check the schedule to see if they have any panels about these topics, and you can go take notes /ask questions if the presenters.
“if you’re not angry you’re not paying attention” used to be such a powerful phrase but now it’s more accurate to say “if you’re not angry you’re probably exhausted by 5+ years of Panic Outrage Mode and are nearing the limit of your emotional range for reacting to this shit”
i hate when ur in public somewhere and something goes mildly wrong/something inconvenient happens and the nearest baby boomer tries to get you to complain with them
what does this even mean
EXAMPLE:
you are in line at mcdonalds. its really busy and the employees are overwhelmed. it’s taking a long time. you are minding your own business. the old man in line next to you says to you, “boy, this is absolutely ridiculous, isn’t it? these kids working just dont know what they’re doing. Or they just dont care…” you awkwardly nod and take a step to the side
This has probably been said a million times before but: Defend the employees.
Really, you’re never going to see Karen from Stubenville again in your life, so side-eye her real good and say:
“It’s not thier fault they’re understaffed. Having worked retail before, they’d love to have another three or five people back there helping out. But since the whole ‘downsizing’ craze of the ninties, companies try to get as much out of thier employees as possible without regard for thier welfare, or the effect on service. You should really get on McD’s website and complain about the chronic understaffing and tell them you’re willing to pay more elsewhere for better service. They LISTEN to people like you.”
People love to complain, especially entitled people. The good news is that they’re easily redirected with mild praise and a shiny new target. Butter the elders and aim them at the bourgoise.
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”
“Perhaps it’s good for one to suffer. Can an artist do anything if he’s happy? Would he ever want to do anything? What is art, after all, but a protest against the horrible inclemency of life?”
“If you are a dreamer come in If you are a dreamer a wisher a liar A hoper a pray-er a magic-bean-buyer If you’re a pretender come sit by my fire For we have some flax golden tales to spin Come in! Come in!”
