ADVICE: Top tips for aspiring webtoon creators, from established creators

Are you an aspiring webtoon creator who is in search of some motivation to finally turn that idea kicking around in your head into a hit story? Well then, there’s no better place to go for advice than already established creators. They’ve made all of the mistakes (and learned all the lessons) ahead of time, so you don’t have to.

So, if you’re thinking about launching your own webtoon, or just curious about the process – we’ve reached out and gotten advice from top creators from some of your favorite webtoons to see what advice they’ve got for you.

Start the project – Shen, creator of WEBTOON Original Bluechair

If you’ve been planning the perfect webtoon project in your mind for ages, it might be time to just get started. Shen, the creator of WEBTOON Original Bluechair says, “Start the project. Practice and refine your work as you go, but just start it, especially while you’re still maximally excited for the idea. Don’t let your comic die in the planning phase!!”

Make time your ally – Mangaka Ody, creator of Tomahawk Angel

Time is an important part of making any kind of consistent creative work. Mangaka Ody, the creator of Tomahawk Angel shared with us, “Time can break you, it can make you give up. The key is to make it your ally. Then with enough of it, you can make anything happen. When you love what you do, it’s easier to stay consistent. Consistency and habits are important for producing content. Don’t burn yourself out trying to create something that others might like. Create something that you’ll love. It will take years to get to your destination, make sure you enjoy the journey.” 

Start small – Vel, creator of Daughter of A Thousand Faces

When you’re getting started with your own webtoon project, you should probably start small. Daughter of A Thousand Faces creator Vel told us, “Your first webcomic shouldn’t be a huge one, or your ‘dream’ webcomic! It should be something small, no more than a few chapters so that you can gain lots of hands-on experience.”

Consider what the readers want – Bren Bristol, creator of WEBTOON Original Ordeal

When you’re creating a comic for an audience, it’s important to remember your audience, Bren Bristol, creator of WEBTOON Original Ordeal shared with us. “Community feedback is what I believe propelled me forward with my story,” Bristol said, “It’s more than just making a comic about your dreams, but considering what the readers want as well. I’d make side characters of no real value just to fill an empty scene to then realize those characters were now fan favorites. I could continue with my plans and move on from that character or, consider the fans, and write said character into major roles. The results were always greatly positive when I listened to my fans!” 

Consume everything – Brandon Chen, owner of Inspired Productions Studios and WEBTOON Originals creator

If you’re reaching a stumbling block, take a look at what’s beyond your own page. Brandon Chen, WEBTOON Originals creator shared, “The most common question I get is: “how do you avoid writer’s block or lack of ideas?” The answer is always: consume everything, whether it’s webcomics, manga, shows, movies, experiences and life … everything and anything can be part of the inspiration that helps you tell your next story. Read outside of your genre/medium, go and have that experience, take note of how you feel and see the world and you’ll never run out of ideas.”

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If you’re ready to take the plunge and begin your own webtoon project, it’s probably a good idea to keep these top tips in mind. We can’t wait to see what you make on K-Comics Beat. Who knows, we may even review it one day.