(Disclaimer: Sorry for my grammar, I'm not perfect at english ;_; )

Hewwo~
Soo I'd like to test the grounds on this site and ask some questions (about 10) about your comic preferences. (Yeah I want to check if at least one person would read my upcoming comic too, lol) Edit: Yeah don't read the crossed stuff, this thread is JUST FOR FUN, please don't remind me that something something will change my view, or my plans for my work or something else, it tires me more than the things you warn me about. I'm an anxious person, and for a few days comments like these just sit in my head so much, that I start to have regrets about making this thread in the first place. So please, respect my decision and if you are not going to answer these simple questions, don't tell me again about the harm of these opinions. It's unnecessary and not fun.

Edit: >>I HAVE ALREADY PLANNED MAJORITY OF MY STORY, IT'S SOMETHING I THOUGHT ABOUT FOR A FEW YEARS NOW.<<

If you can, tell me why you prefer something or not..(You can just type yes/no too..):

1. Are you okay with lenghty and at times slow-paced series, or you prefer something more like a one-shot story with some action?

2. Do you like monochrome comics (or b&w and ocasional colors) or the colorful stuff is your jam?

3. Are you interested in comic with more silent pages (without text/dialogue) that contains some landscapes and background stuff, or with heavy dialogue? (Or maybe both/more balanced?)

4. Heavily negative and agressive atmosphere or lighthearted and calm?

5. Do you need a point of reference in the story? (For expample - something you can relate to or instantly understand)

6. (You can skip this one if you answered no.5 with ''yes'') If the story is completely about some otherwordly beings that don't function like something you know, or their minds work differently, do you need additional disclaimers, or notes under the pages when something weird happens? (Example: an unknown custom)

7. Very obvoius foreshadowing or the hidden one, or none at all?

8. Philosophical/religious tropes and heavy symbolism (that may imply to a reader what will happen in the future of the story) is ok, or too boring?

9. Do you need a true villain/protagonist in the story?

10. Do you need to have all your questions answered at some point in the story?


I will really appreciate your answers and I'm very, very curious about what you think!

Are you asking because you plan to modify your story based on responses? If you have a story you want to tell, I feel like it would be disheartening if the majority of responses you see pick the option that doesn't represent what you have planned.

There is an audience for everything. It is better to be your own person as a creator than to create what you think will please others or generate superficial popularity. No one can predict what people will like and you will get more satisfaction telling your own story the way you want to tell it. This is also what attracts readers to amateur webcomics as an alternative to the "products" made by Big Entertainment and Big Publishing..

As long as you do what is inside of you and that will assure that you actually enjoy the processes of creating. But if you focus instead on pleasing others or following the trends, you run the risk of joining the legions of schlock mongers.

What mitch said. I would say just tell the story you wanna tell and your audience will find you if what you're making is something you love rather than something you're making to please people.

More over none of those questions inquire about things like artstyle or genre ... so you can check all the "preferables" from your inquiry yet still miss the mark.

Furthermore lot's of times it's the sheer expectations vs reality conundrum so person might love black and white, silent comics (I do!) but might hate your take on it - not because it's bad, but because it's just not their cup of tea.

There is also issue with vocal minority vs silent majority - you can get what appears like many responces but in comparison to the whole site the number of people that responded would turn out to be miniscule.

What straker said.

And what celin said!

Not that I'd disagree with mitchellbravo.

There are a lots of options (story, art-style, realism, how much color and many things I wouldn't even think of) that even if you make a comic that fits my answers perfectly, I might still not like it because I don't like the combination of all the perfection. Perfections? Whatever.

And indeed, the vocal minority can lead you in the totally wrong/bad direction. There IS a huge silent majority here!

Maybe you get "better answers" by not asking, but looking at the popular categories to see which comics are popular, even though that doesn't tell you why.

Not really, I have already planned majority of my story, it's something I thought for about few years now. I'm just curious what people consider more enjoyable and why. I wouldn't change these things in my comic because it will twist a story in a different way, a way I don't like. It probably will make me kind-of sad if majority will pick things that does not represent these in my comic, but I really want to know and really this sadness doesn't matter ^^



Yeah, true.. Though, these questions are created from my curiosity rather than some need to change things, don't worry :D

I understand the concern of you people, though. Especially the vocal minority/silent majority stuff and such. It already tells me much!

I thought it will be more fun to make this thread instead of some poll (And I have no idea how to make the poll with 10 ''this or that'' questions :D) + these opinions may help other creators ^^''

Maybe I should edit the main post to clarify that I have a plan for my story lmao

1. Are you okay with lenghty and at times slow-paced series, or you prefer something more like a one-shot story with some action?

I prefer action comics but I have nothing against a slow burning story

2. Do you like monochrome comics (or b&w and ocasional colors) or the colorful stuff is your jam?

Personally I work mostly in color but I do read both color and b&w comics

3. Are you interested in comic with more silent pages (without text/dialogue) that contains some landscapes and background stuff, or with heavy dialogue? (Or maybe both/more balanced?)

I think balance is important but it's better to lean toward show not tell rather than walls of text

4. Heavily negative and agressive atmosphere or lighthearted and calm?

It depends of the story

5. Do you need a point of reference in the story? (For expample - something you can relate to or instantly understand)

Not really

6. (You can skip this one if you answered no.5 with ''yes'') If the story is completely about some otherwordly beings that don't function like something you know, or their minds work differently, do you need additional disclaimers, or notes under the pages when something weird happens? (Example: an unknown custom)

Not really

7. Very obvoius foreshadowing or the hidden one, or none at all?

Subtle foreshadowing is the best

8. Philosophical/religious tropes and heavy symbolism (that may imply to a reader what will happen in the future of the story) is ok, or too boring?

I don't care about religion

9. Do you need a true villain/protagonist in the story?

Not really, not every kind of story need one

10. Do you need to have all your questions answered at some point in the story?

Certainly not, there's a lot of stuff that functions better if unanswered

Telling the OP that the reader's preferences don't matter is fine and all, though if they're the one that's asking and are aware of the possible consequences...

1. My subs indicate I like long stories, but I won't say no to gag-per-days. Anthology-types are something I'd like to see more of, I guess, so that stories don't run too long.

2. The dreaded question, parodied many times over here (though it's more "should I make my comic like this or that?") I find myself preferring palettes that are black/white or at least limited, so there isn't so much for my eyes to process. If everyone looks the same, however, or if the characters blend in too much with the background...

3. Dialogue carries the plot forward, silent pages don't as much. It's all about what is on the table per update.

4. I prefer lighthearted stories. I am in a bit of a minority though.

5. I don't think so. Unless you mean something like a standard fantasy/scifi story in which I'll be lost in all the lore so the genre's not right for me.

6. It's best to approach these in the comic itself, but it's a delicate balance between "I don't understand any of this at all" and "I'm going to stop the flow of the story dead with 'as you know, Charles...' dialogue".

7. I'm so trained to take note of anything that might be considered foreshadowing due to Law of Conservation of Detail. Sometimes this makes my enjoyment of things suffer a bit... so idk. Don't make it so obvious that you're going to use the Plot Device later?

8. Sure, go ahead!

9. I specialise in writing stories that have no antagonist, so no. :p

10. Preferably yes, it keeps the writing strong.

1. Are you okay with lenghty and at times slow-paced series, or you prefer something more like a one-shot story with some action?
I like lengthy and somewhat slow paced comics but I need to have the impression that it's going somewhere.

2. Do you like monochrome comics (or b&w and ocasional colors) or the colorful stuff is your jam?
I like both a lot, when well done. I prefer a black and white comic to a comic with awful colouring. And when black and white, it must not feel like it's just line art to be colored eventually. It must be treated like the versatile medium it is(imo).

3. Are you interested in comic with more silent pages (without text/dialogue) that contains some landscapes and background stuff, or with heavy dialogue? (Or maybe both/more balanced?)
I prefer light dialogue and I do enjoy dialogue less pages when they help with the mood and pacing. With physical comics I don't mind text heaviness as much but once it's on a digital screen it becomes harder for me. Too much dialogue tends to clutter the images and break the flow of a page. But none at all and you need expert visual storytelling skills to push a story. So in the end, balance?

4. Heavily negative and agressive atmosphere or lighthearted and calm?
I like both but I think I tend to fall a little more on the side of negative and agresive.

5. Do you need a point of reference in the story? (For expample - something you can relate to or instantly understand)
Not really. I've enjoyed works that took me out of my comfort/known zone.

7. Very obvious foreshadowing or the hidden one, or none at all?
They all can work and fail, and are difficult to get right. When well done, a little bit of foreshadowing that you go "How could I have not seen this?!" is best. But honestly, when it comes to webcomics, especially when reading them as it updates, you're most likely to forget whichever foreshadowing there was.

8. Philosophical/religious tropes and heavy symbolism (that may imply to a reader what will happen in the future of the story) is ok, or too boring?
I like philosophical/religious tropes as long as I don't feel like the author is pushing really hard to convert the readers. It also ties with question 3. If there are walls of text to explain those aspects, I may check out.

9. Do you need a true villain/protagonist in the story?
Nah. They can be fun, but I tend to prefer when it's more subtle.

10. Do you need to have all your questions answered at some point in the story?
Not really, but some of them yes. I like stories that give answers and new questions alike. Obviously it is nice when by the end you have all the answers you wanted, but I am comfortable with a bit of mystery.

1. Either can be great. This is sort of like asking whether I prefer cookies or cake- both are great, depending on mood, but most of all depending on how skillfully written and presented it is.

2. Either, depending on how skillfully and creatively it's done.

3. See 1., with the caveat that in comics, less dialog on the page is often more, unless you're doing an "illustrated book" type project or mixing your media.

4. I prefer stuff that's funny and lighthearted, but again, any well-told story can be great.

5. I think every reader needs something they can relate to. Otherwise, how is the audience going to connect?

6. If the reader needs explanatory notes at the bottom of the page to know what's going on, you're doing it wrong.

7. Depends on the needs of the story.

8. See 7.

9. See 7.

10. no

If I can make an observation here- I fear you're approaching this backwards. Writing isn't having a laundry list of "things the story needs" or "things readers want" and then cramming them in there. Let the story develop organically and grow by itself and let its needs determine what choices you make.

A story designed to please a particular audience, or aimed vaguely at "everyone," is unlikely to connect. Let the story be itself and its audience will find it.

While I appreciate the answers, I want to point out again, that I have no intention to change the story of my comic based on this thread. I am simply curious what others think and want to cure my boredom.. ^^''

yeah as the above guys said there's an audience for everything, but i found interesting these questions even just for personal exercise.

1) yeah in general i prefer long stories with a well defined ground, where stuff don't happen randomly.
2) i'm not a fan of monochrome, i rather prefer B&W like my art-style after all. Then if well done i like also
colored stuff.
3) long dialogue and dense written pages have to be justified, 2 or 3 per chapter are ok but not the whole comic, i'm
here to read comics not books.
for the narration i prefer some silent pages and normal length dialogues.
4)hmm both, sometime in the story the atmosphere have to be broken in both cases.
5)i dunno
6) this's an interesting question, well, the story in my comic take place on an alien planet, and the culture is
supposed to be quite different from human ones.
so if you have just a character that have to be different or some kind of strange custom or animals... that
could be fine, let's say that you can add in some way the appropriated explanations.
but an entire world and story! that's why almost everywhere intelligent alien characters are humanoid whit
simil-human culture and all the other stuffs. In this case explanations have do be done in a more sneaky way.
7)foreshadowing is well accepted
8)that's fine
9)definitely yes, need a strong personality character to hold up a story.
10)yes, i hate to remain at the end of a long story like "what!? wait wait wait why that stuff happened!? let's see if there something after the end credits... nope "

Eh I got some time while my psd file loads up on google drive.


1. Are you okay with lenghty and at times slow-paced series, or you prefer something more like a one-shot story with some action?

I prefer longer stories, but short stories are good too! Slow pacing is an iffy thing for me, sometimes it's like dry wine and I thoroughly enjoy it. Other times I feel like there's no point in reading those parts of the story and I skip.

2. Do you like monochrome comics (or b&w and ocasional colors) or the colorful stuff is your jam?

Colorful stuff is usually my jam but some styles really flourish in restricted color pallets

3. Are you interested in comic with more silent pages (without text/dialogue) that contains some landscapes and background stuff, or with heavy dialogue? (Or maybe both/more balanced?)

I think I'm more drawn to less text heavy comics.

4. Heavily negative and agressive atmosphere or lighthearted and calm?

Both moods are good moods.

5. Do you need a point of reference in the story? (For expample - something you can relate to or instantly understand)

I may be misunderstanding this Q- I don't think I've ever been completely unable to understand a comic. If anything I think people worry too much about exposition when it's really not needed.

6. (You can skip this one if you answered no.5 with ''yes'') If the story is completely about some otherwordly beings that don't function like something you know, or their minds work differently, do you need additional disclaimers, or notes under the pages when something weird happens? (Example: an unknown custom)

Nope, I can put it together myself.

7. Very obvoius foreshadowing or the hidden one, or none at all?

Depends! I personally prefer the clever ones you don't notice until you go over the story a second time. Obvious foreshadowing imo works best if you're foreshadowing something that happens wayyyyy later. While at the same time- blatant foreshadowing can be seen in a comical light.

It'd be kind of hard to do none-whatsoever and the best example of this I can think of is Frozen 2 with Hans.
I don't like this, you're basically cheating at story telling so you can act like you're smart enough to pull a plot twist. Fair is fair- give me my puzzle pieces.

8. Philosophical/religious tropes and heavy symbolism (that may imply to a reader what will happen in the future of the story) is ok, or too boring?

It's okay but I'm personally bored of heavy symbolism/religious prophecies. My puzzler switches off when this happens.

9. Do you need a true villain/protagonist in the story?

I'm tempted to say that you do need a protagonist, but I say that because I can't think of a single story that doesn't have one at all.

Villains aren't needed, sometimes they shouldn't be included. It depends on the story.

10. Do you need to have all your questions answered at some point in the story?

No, some things are best left to the imagination. You don't have to explain everything.

I am fine with length and a slow pace, as long as I get sucked in.

Monochrome is fine.


Silence is fine.

Yes, give me the combo plate.

No


No.

Neither, I prefer sneaky foreshadowing.


It's okay.

I like gray and nuanced characters.

No. Mystery is nice.

Only 9 and 10 can be answered with yes or no.

Warning:
Your curiosity will influence your perception you have about your own story/comic.
Even so you didn't plan to use the outcome of your questions.

You'll start to think twice if you should implement a certain plot-point as you had planned it or as the majority would like it. Doubt will raise and at the end you'll abandon your previous idea.

I think the best way to find out who will like your story is to release it, but these questions were pretty fun to answer. See spoiler for my answers.

Sorry, I meant you can answer in a very simple way!



Eh, I am aware that the knowledge will influence my perspective, but saying that I'll abandon my project that I carefully planned for years is simply not true.. Thanks for another warning though.

I believe in you and your comic

1. Are you okay with lenghty and at times slow-paced series, or you prefer something more like a one-shot story with some action?
It all depends on how engaging I find a story. There are some comics thousands of pages long that I love, and some that are a single, short story.


2. Do you like monochrome comics (or b&w and ocasional colors) or the colorful stuff is your jam?
This is very dependent on the artwork itself. I find full color works best when a color scheme matches a particular scene. ie the mood, the action or lack thereof, what the character/s might be feeling, etc. This can all be done in either B&W or color.


3. Are you interested in comic with more silent pages (without text/dialogue) that contains some landscapes and background stuff, or with heavy dialogue? (Or maybe both/more balanced?)
I find lots and lots of heavy dialogue can get tiresome to read. It makes me wonder why they didn't just write a novel, y'know? But it can have its place and be done well.

4. Heavily negative and agressive atmosphere or lighthearted and calm?
Very dependent on my mood. I adore comics like Blacksad, with dark, mature noir themes that get gritty and are very adult... and I also love comics that are kid friendly, charming and innocent. Good writing makes good stories. :) That being said when things are too negative/aggressive for far too long it can get tiresome and I need a break from it. :P

5. Do you need a point of reference in the story? (For expample - something you can relate to or instantly understand)
I think so. It's nice to recognize traits I'm familiar with.

6. (You can skip this one if you answered no.5 with ''yes'') If the story is completely about some otherwordly beings that don't function like something you know, or their minds work differently, do you need additional disclaimers, or notes under the pages when something weird happens? (Example: an unknown custom)
Nooo... Unless you have a specific type of writing style I think this isn't a good idea. Your writing should be sufficient. In fact an unfamiliar being should spark curiosity to learn more. If you're constantly adding notes for clarification, I think you nee to re-evaluate how your story is written.

7. Very obvoius foreshadowing or the hidden one, or none at all?
My favorite is the stuff you discover was foreshadowing AFTER the reveal. Like, "okay bad guy has been revealed! And holy crap this, this and that were all pointing to it!" That's good stuff. :D

8. Philosophical/religious tropes and heavy symbolism (that may imply to a reader what will happen in the future of the story) is ok, or too boring?
Another thing that all depends on the writing! For example, Dragonage is my favorite videogame series. TONS of stuff in there that explores religious themes, tropes and whatnot. But that's just one example. If your writing is engaging, it will find an audience.

9. Do you need a true villain/protagonist in the story?
A basic concept in writing is that all stories are about some form of conflict. The old man vs man, man vs nature, man vs self, man vs God, etc. So I would argue that yes, in a way, you always need a protagonist. But you can get hella creative with WHAT that protagonist IS.

10. Do you need to have all your questions answered at some point in the story?

For the most part, yes. Even in a series, whatever the main conflict is for that particular book should be resolved.