One of my life mottos is literally "it is better to do C work than to not turn in the assignment at all."

I understand very much. I have been publishing my own comics and prose novels since I was 18. I am 64 today. I still have a full-time job.

Thank you, I really needed to hear some of these things. Also, you’re a good dad man.

10:10 perfectionism is the enemy

Thanks for the inspiring words, Michael! I'm my worst enemy as I try to move forward with my work so it's nice to hear from someone who makes comics while working a day job like me. I will take your tips and use them to hopefully make some headway with my stories.

Thanks, Michael. I'm currently working on my second book and looking for a noncreative full-time job at the same time. I sometimes worry about my creative pursuits once I'm working again, but your advice was really helpful.

Gonna check this out Later, when I have time!

Thank you man this came at the perfect motivating time. Just got a new job and things have changed a lot. Lost some motivation but now I feel pumped to push thru. Hope to make my first graphic novel soon and publish it online and physical! Love how you prioritize your family, as a dad I completely agree with that! Will be checking out your stuff shortly! Thanks again

I hated my dayjob, because it made me lazy. I was surrounded by people negotiating coming late to work and leaving early. I lost my motivation to work independently, because I was starting to adapt their mentality. And over time, more and more work issues filled my head and made it impossible to motivate myself to do creative work. I had a fallout with my superiors over my desire to work less and their desire to make me work more, and I quit. Ever since then, I realized I have a chance now, because I am receiving unemployment benefits for a year (after 8 years of pointless work, mind you). So I have been doing nothing but drawing, since then. I don't call my mother every week, I rarely see my friends. Only art matters. And if they can't cope with this for a year, they are in the way of art. I am simply not willing to compromise any more.

thnx for sharing

Your advice is very useful. Thanks for making this video!

Hi Michael, thank you so much for sharing. This video and your other shared content has motivated me to pursue my dream. Kudos to you and family

Awesome man! I appreciate you and your art! Thanks for this video. It helps a lot!

Helpful tips, Michael, and always a good encouragement for those who are trying to make it while holding down a day job with dreams of making their own books!

Good timing on this - I've been trying to sort out these issues for a few years. Appreciate that you don't offer "hacks" or gimmicks, just honesty on what can and can't be controlled. And yes, always including that disclaimer, "Lord-willing!"

You spoke to right where I’m at and I thank you! Great advice. Be well👍

I can agree with the majority of what you've shared. However, with all of the competition in the comics industry, one cannot sacrifice quality, my friend.

This was super inspiring. I love this video. We need more like this!

Thank you. Very honest video. Sharing your experiences has been helful.

I love your perspective on the whole kit n kaboodle sir!🙌

This is so relatable and helpful! You have my heartfelt thanks, good sir. Please keep up the good work 🤗

Thanks for this!

Thank you that was awesome tips , god bless you and your family, sir !

I am starting on the very first baby steps of a making a graphic novel and your videos have been super helpful. Thank you!

Just discovered your channel and am loving it. Great advice from your experiences. Thanks from a new subscriber, Michael!

this was a well-needed video for me. thank you :)

This is all very good advice.

I'm at Saw and I stumbled across your video on Pitching my Novel. It was truly like a Godsend Michael listening to your words of wisdom. Thanks.

Hi micheal you Inspiried me to begin my own graphic novel I'm currently working on the characters right now you've been an Inspiration ever since you came to my school!!!

Great video, love your advice about not putting your work ahead of family. I find that tough to do.

Hi Michael. Excellent video. As I begin work on a graphic novel while also trying to do freelance illustration, I am finding it difficult to concentrate at times and stay on schedule. This video was an encouragement to me. I found a few productivity timers to block out distractions and look forward to what the results may be!

Hi Micheal, very inspiring and motivating video! Just like yourself I wanted to make comics since I was a kid (my history teacher gave me a large passion and motivation to pursue them), but I felt recently demotivated and feeling like I failed at my dream as I work in unrelated field and struggle with finding time. I really appreciated the part where you mentioned that it's important to be part of the community and that we shouldn't forsake it for the name of the art as it touched me. I moved to different country 5 years ago and was preoccupied of finding my place and group, but the gnawing feeling that I'm not working on my comic made me forget that in a meantime while I was writing the general outline and coming with idea I have built a very close and wonderful relationships with people, who support me and care about me. I know I'm slightly too young (only 24) but I felt like I squandered all the chances I had and will still probably feel this from time to time which I have to try and push out from my mind as it will just distract me. However I want to thank you for talking about your experiences as it made me feel that I shouldn't despair and give up, but try my best and work with what I have while still enjoying having a life outside of art. Will definitely try some of the advices you gave!

THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO!! I work PT at my job and I’m also slowly working on my various comics based on my own life…Thank You❤❤❤❤❤ Pleasetalk about this topic more…^___

I appreciate this video, for a long time I've wanted to make graphic novels, and now that I have ideas my full time work and daily chores makes it near impossible. I'll try to implement some of what you say. I do work from home as well but I end up staying up late due to just small things and then I'm exhausted in the morning. It's a vicious cycle. I've done digital art for years and it's just so hard sometimes, to make the time to create. I'm slowly working it back to my daily life. Here's hoping to a productive future.

I was really good at managing my day job and my art after then I decided to start UKposts and it has stolen all my drawing time. Now I'm trying to do all 3 😅

Great video Michael! Thank you for your insight to your life and your work. If you don’t mind me asking, what would be the average return in regards to making money from sales?

Nice video!! When you finish your books, how do you sell it?

I have a question: I'm creating a graphic novel in Clip Studio Paint. When I'm done with it, it'll roughly be around 200 pages. How do you save or work on a file that has so many pages without slowing the program down? Do you only do a certain number of pages with multiple files and then combine them all using a different program?

whats your day job btw? most dayjob here in developing country make you overwork and mostly underpaid, its so hard to pursue creative endeavor here

working 10pm to 2pam, not good.

Hi, does your wife take the kids in the morning and do you start work at 10? Do you work 100% in your dayjob?