If You Can't Answer This, Your Story is TRASH

Summary

This video guides web comic creators on how to make their work stand out in a crowded market. It emphasizes the importance of a strong story identity—defining what your comic is about, the emotions it evokes, and who it appeals to. The concept of an elevator pitch is introduced to convey your story quickly and clearly. Creators are encouraged to target their niche audience rather than trying to appeal to everyone and to understand where their work sits on the artistic-to-marketable spectrum. By establishing a clear identity, your comic becomes recognizable, memorable, and able to attract dedicated fans even without perfect art or writing.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Your webcomic needs a strong identity to stand out in a crowded market like Webtoon or Tapas.
• 🧠 Most readers quickly dismiss content that doesn't immediately grab attention, regardless of quality.
• ❓ Ask yourself: 'What is my story about?' and define the core emotions or experiences it provides.
• 🚀 Your comic should have a concise elevator pitch to explain its premise in seconds.
• 🎯 Focus on appealing to a specific audience rather than trying to please everyone.
• 💡 Identity matters more than perfect art, paneling, or writing, though those elements help.
• 📊 Understand where your story sits on the Artistic vs. Marketable spectrum to balance creativity and accessibility.
• 🖼️ Use thumbnails, covers, and promotional materials to reflect your comic’s unique themes and identity.
• ⚖️ Being compared to other works is a positive sign—it shows your comic is recognizable and understandable.
• 🌟 You don’t need to be the best creator; being recognizable and consistent in your niche will attract a dedicated audience.
• 💬 Elevator pitches, clear identity, and a defined audience guide every aspect of your storytelling and marketing.
• 🎭 The hardest comics to create are those that perfectly balance artistic expression with marketable appeal.

Q & A

Why do many web comics appear 'bland' to readers despite having quality content?

The sheer volume of web comics on platforms like Webtoons or Tapas makes individual works hard to distinguish. Many comics visually and thematically blend together, causing readers to perceive them as unremarkable or 'slop' at first glance.

What is the most important question a creator should ask about their story?

Creators should ask, 'What is your story about?' This helps define the story's identity, purpose, core emotions, and target audience, which are essential for making it stand out.

How does 'identity' help a web comic gain recognition?

Identity allows a story to be quickly understood and remembered by readers. It differentiates the comic from others, making it easier for fans to recommend it to others who share similar tastes.

What is an elevator pitch and why is it important for web comics?

An elevator pitch is a short, concise explanation of a story that communicates its identity in a few seconds. It is important because it helps creators quickly convey what their work is about and who it appeals to, avoiding confusion or unclear direction.

Why should creators focus on a niche audience rather than trying to appeal to everyone?

Trying to please everyone often dilutes a comic’s identity and makes it less memorable. Focusing on a niche ensures that the story resonates deeply with a dedicated audience, creating a sustainable fanbase.

What is the 'artistic–marketable spectrum'?

The artistic–marketable spectrum describes how works of fiction vary from being deeply artistic (obtuse, meaningful, harder to understand) to highly marketable (accessible, broadly appealing). Understanding where a story falls on this spectrum helps creators balance accessibility and depth.

Why is balancing artistic and marketable qualities challenging?

Extremes are easy: purely artistic works can be created from personal expression, and purely marketable works can copy successful formulas. The challenge lies in creating something that is both meaningful and appealing, like *Evangelion*, which is artistic yet widely recognized.

How can promotional materials like thumbnails and covers reflect a comic's identity?

By highlighting the comic’s themes, tone, and unique elements, promotional materials can attract the right audience and convey the story's identity at a glance, making it easier for readers to decide whether to engage.

What is the significance of comparisons to other works in describing a story?

Describing a story as similar to other known works helps people categorize it mentally and quickly understand its tone, style, or genre. This is a positive sign that the story’s identity is clear and recognizable.

Why shouldn’t creators worry about being the 'best' at drawing or writing?

Being the absolute best is neither achievable nor necessary. What matters is being recognizable and consistent in expressing the story's identity, which builds a loyal audience that appreciates the creator’s unique vision.

How can a clear understanding of story identity guide the creative process?

Once a creator knows the story’s identity, they can make informed decisions about writing, art, paneling, and promotion. This clarity ensures the work remains cohesive and resonates with the intended audience.

Can a story with poor art or writing still succeed if it has strong identity?

Yes. While good art and writing help, a strong, well-defined identity can make a comic stand out and attract readers, because it clearly communicates its purpose and appeals to a specific audience.