I’m working on Labor Day to write this blog post.
Rarely will you find me trying to persuade anyone against creating art, webcomics, or an online business; this article will be the closest I get. Don’t take this article as an excuse not to get working on that project that you just need to complete. Instead I want you to be aware that following your dreams and creating things you can be proud of is a lot of work.
Want a Successful Online Business?
You’ll never have a Vacation Again
Want to make a living doing webcomics? Then you need to stop thinking of yourself as a cartoonist. You are now a business person, which means you need to think of your webcomic as a business and not just as something that brings you pleasure.
One of the draw backs to making webcomics your career is that you rarely get a vacation. Even when I do get a vacation I find myself constantly thinking about the work I could be getting done or even making time to do those things (which my wife really hates).
How to overcome this fate
While the stereotype of an entrepreneur as a workaholic who prefers stress and anxiety over having a more relaxing life is true for many in online businesses, this doesn’t have to be your destiny.
Here are a few ways to get some free time.
Work hard today for a free tomorrow
One of the most common ways I prepare for a vacation is to put extra time into the business before I plan to take a trip. This might mean putting in a few 12 hour days, but it will help you enjoy your free time, and keep you from suffering the wrath of an angry spouse.
This could include creating extra comic strips or panels and scheduling them to be published while you’re gone or using hootsuite to post announcements to social media while you are on vacation. All of these help your business to continue working while you are away.
Bring in others
The other option is to relinquish control to others. This idea makes some people anxious but I know that my personal business end game involves being able to trust others to carry on my work in my absence, trustworthy people are an invaluable asset to any small business (even if that business is normally just you).
Family and Friends
My wife helps me with my online business; she does anything from writing articles to creating artwork. Not everyone is blessed with such a talented significant other, but you might consider looking at your family; a sibling, cousin, or even a parent to help when you get behind or for when you want to get ahead in your work.
Partners
Another great option is to find someone to partner with. Finding the perfect candidate for something like this could be an entire blog post in itself. So all I am going to say is that if you do this you must find someone who meets your expectations and will be more of an asset than a liability. Look for someone who has mutual goals.
Guests
Another option is to bring on a guest artist or writer. This is usually easier when you have a larger following because the benefit of doing the work for you is exposure to your audience. If you know there will be a few days in your webcomics schedule where you might not have time to create something, consider asking around on social media for people that could fill that slot for you. People might jump at the chance to take part!
Freelance
If you are able to provide some monetary incentive it will be a lot easier to find someone to contribute to your webcomic/business and there are many places online to get a good high quality artist or writer for a low price. Try elance.
Conclusion
As webcomic creators it can often feel like we’re living the life of the lone wolf, driven by nature and necessity to create. Sometimes we just need to reconnect with the pack for a little help and that is okay. If you’re in that situation find an option that works for you and feel free to feel free. Enjoy your vacation!
