Everyone romanticizes the thought of creating OCs and original content but when you come down to it the truth is that no one else tends to give a fuck about all your hard work and love you put into these characters and your fan art/fics will get hundreds more notes than anything original you create. And that’s really shitty. Support artists and writers, friends, you never know when someone’s original characters and content could become your favourite new thing.
Okay, look, I — as a person who loves original art and makes original stories and characters — am sick of hearing this bullshit, okay? Sit down, calm down, and let Granny Laura explain you a thing:
Your fanworks are getting more views than your original works because people are looking for fanworks and people are more likely to find something they are looking for than something they are not.
Let me give you an example.
Let’s look at 10 people on Tumblr: of these 10 people, 4 love Doctor Who, 4 love Supernatural, 6 love Harry Potter, 3 love anime, 2 are super hardcore into Sherlock and all of them would love your brand new original manga-style comic about time-travelling, crime-solving witches tracking down the demon queen that killed their uncle.
What do you think these 10 people are searching for on Tumblr? You know what they’re NOT searching for? Time Witch Chronicles by J. B. Pancakes because you know what? It’s original and it’s not something they’ve been exposed to yet. Woah, who’d’ve thought?! Instead, they’re searching for things they know they like: Doctor Who, Supernatural, Harry Potter, anime, Sherlock. They follow people who like those things and share those things with them. See what’s happening here?
There are people out there that are waiting to love your New Original Thing, but the chance that those specific people are going to stumble upon your specific thing at random is sadly very slim.
But you know what? You know what they are looking for. Fanworks.
Do not blame your potential fans for liking other things and being involved in other fandoms. That’s gross, and that’s what you (we, I’ve felt this way, too) are doing here. Nobody (nobody I know, anyway) goes out specifically looking to not support original projects that are interesting to them. Nobody. People, fans, want to find new things to love. Those things could be your things, but you have to be able to find those people who are gonna like your stuff, and that means reaching out, not lashing out.
Instead, take a look at what you’re making. Find your “brand” or “aesthetic.” Find fandoms that seem to value the same things — if you’re not already a part of one — and then target those fandoms. Make fanworks they’ll find, and tell them, “Hey, if you like this, here is a thing I am making that you might also like, feel free to check it out!” Not everyone who sees it is going to convert to the Church of Time Witch Chronicles, but there is a much bigger chance that someone who likes your thing will find it than if you only ever post original work.
“But I don’t want to make fanart! I only want to make my art!” Then go find a publisher who will advertise for you.
You know what always gets me to go look at someone’s art? Seeing their art.
You know what never gets me to go look at someone’s art? Seeing them try to guilt people into looking at their art.
Fandoms don’t appear out of thin air. They have to be built, not bullied.
but what if a vampire drank the blood of someone who was anemic like would they be seriously grossed out
“what the fuck is this”
“i have anemia”
“can you take something for that you should probably take something for that this shit is nasty to drink let alone have running through your body i’m setting up a doctor’s appointment for you”
“dude really you don’t have to just leave what the fu—”
“you disgust me here take these iron supplements”
“where did you even get th—”
“shut up and take your pills and dont forget your vitamin D”
“i’m going to check up on you weekly to make sure you’re taking them”
“that’s not necessary”
“maybe we should work on a dietary plan with foods rich in iron and other things for you”
“do you get this involved with all of your meals”
VAMPIREDUDE: did u get the cookbook i orderd 4 u
ME: Oh my god, first of all stop using text speak, you told me you were 278, second how did you know where I LIVED, third yes I got it.
VAMPIREDUDE: heard onions were good 4 blood, eat lots
ME: So you can have a tasty meal? I guess you’d rather I stay away from garlic, huh.
VAMPIREDUDE: UR being v rude I just got u a present!!!
ME: THE COOKBOOK IS CALLED “HOW TO TASTE DELICIOUS,” I AM CALLING THE COPS
I’m cleaning up my studio in preparation of the great frantic mat cutting, shipping days to come. And in doing so, I stumbled across this VERY old painting of mine, that I am still fond of to this day. I titled it “King” back then. I forgot how much I like this painting.
Everyone romanticizes the thought of creating OCs and original content but when you come down to it the truth is that no one else tends to give a fuck about all your hard work and love you put into these characters and your fan art/fics will get hundreds more notes than anything original you create. And that’s really shitty. Support artists and writers, friends, you never know when someone’s original characters and content could become your favourite new thing.
Ok but, every single character ever is someone’s OC.
It’s not like there’s a machine out there where you can press a button and receive a character.
I typically don’t use face-claims actually! Rather, I never picked one for him! He looks like his in-game model without any ‘distinguishing’ scars that’d be easily visible, but I did commission a drawing of him way back by the ever-amazing felhunter who probably hated me for the shoulders/bow models I have him mogged into. :,)
