Interview with DrizDew creator of “God’s Assistant” – All Ages of Geek Tapas Reviews
Welcome back to another exciting episode of All Ages of Geek Tapas Reviews! Today, we have a special treat for you, as we sit down with the talented creator of the popular webcomic “God’s Assistant,” DrizDew. Join us as we dive into the world of indie comics, explore the advantages of using comic platform to boost your career, and gather some valuable insights and advice for aspiring comic artists from the one and only DrizDew. Let’s get started!
A note from DrizDew Creator of “God’s Assistant”
Hey there! The name is DrizDew, but you can call me Driz. So, now that we know each other…
Thank you for having me for this week’s interview on All Ages of Geek!
As it happens, I create a little webcomic called God’s Assistant / Kami’s Assistant and I am happy to share my experiences and inspirations with you today. It’s all about indie comics, tapas as a comic platform and advice for aspiring comic artists! So, without further ado…
What initially sparked your passion for creating comics, and how did that desire evolve into the work you produce today?
I have been drawing comics for as long as I remember. When I was a child, I would use a pencil and paper to draw stories; later I would move to digital comics. It all started with me wanting to tell the stories of the characters I had created. I felt their stories needed to be told and even to this day, that’s what drives me to share my comics. It is both a ‘passion’ and sort of an ‘obsession’ you could say, hahah!
Can you walk us through your journey as a comic creator, starting from the moment you first decided to explore this medium
Well, the comics I draw to this day were developed in my teenage years, so I had a lot of time to rethink and improve their stories. I established the rule of finishing two pages per day. This probably helped in keeping my schedule of drawing every day up until today. In 2017, I decided it was time to share some of my comics online. The medium of digital comics was new to me, so it took quite some time to get used to. But it basically brought me to where I am today.
Your work touches on various themes and subjects. How do you choose which stories to tell, and what do you hope your readers take away from them?
I draw a lot of cutesy comics with heavy topics in the background.
Often, the protagonists deal with a complicated past or painful memories, but try to better themselves throughout the story to find love and happiness. I would like it if these stories could inspire people to be the best they can be and to be able to let go of the past to work towards a better future.
What led you to choose Tapas as the platform for sharing your comics, and what aspects of the site do you find most appealing for your work?
I actually ended up on Tapas by sheer coincidence. Many of my fellow artist friends were already on the website. It’s a website that focuses mainly on the romance genre, so I immediately felt at home!
Tapas has its own unique features and community. Are there any aspects of the platform that you feel could be improved, or perhaps have been challenging to navigate?
Hmm, that’s a good question… I think it would be great if Tapas highlighted more western indie comics. I understand that a lot of new comic creators find it challenging to get readers if they aren’t known already or if they work with less popular genres or art forms.
In your opinion, what distinguishes independent comics from mainstream comics, and why do you think the indie scene is important for the overall comic industry?
In my opinion, the mainstream comic market is very oversaturated at the moment. Independent comic creators can draw what they like and find more happiness in doing so. And the joy of creating can be seen within the stories they create. I myself have become popular in my own niche of comic drawing… so that’s exactly why indie comics are important! Absolutely!
As a comic creator, what are some unique storytelling techniques you’ve developed to set your work apart from others in the genre?
If you are asking me like that, I don’t have any specific techniques, but in my current webcomic I use a mixture of silly jokes and wholesomeness. So many GL comics portray themselves as gloomy and serious stories with toxic relationships, so I try to bring a bit of sweetness into the genre, paired with colourful art to represent our cartoony jokes. However, not without bringing in a fair share of drama on the side!
Apart from your comics, what other avenues do you explore to engage with your audience, such as social media, live events, or merchandise?
Mainly social media, to be honest. I like interacting with fans and hearing their thoughts and theories about my webcomics, even though I still find it difficult to balance creating comics with brand representation. I didn’t grow up with the internet and sometimes I still wonder about what I’m actually doing, hahah!
Creating comics can be both rewarding and challenging. Can you share some of the struggles you’ve faced along the way, and how you’ve overcome them?
Oh, this one I could talk about for ages! But I’ll spare us the rant and simply say that it can be very difficult to make weekly webcomics for as long as I have. Sometimes it seems almost impossible without getting a stable income from what I do … but the positive parts about being a comic creator will always outweigh the bad ones, nevertheless~ As it is with most struggles, you learn from them.
Are there any comic creators, artists, or writers who have been particularly influential or inspiring to you? How have they shaped your creative journey?
Yes! I have been waiting for this question! My creative journey started alone, but I met some wonderful people along the way. When I started digital comic drawing, I learned so much from Randommode’s “Pirate Madeline” comic. He’s still one of my favourite comic creators to this day and I appreciate what he taught me.
For aspiring comic creators, what are some practical tips and advice you would give to help them find their own voice and style?
Definitely practice. No one was born a comic artist. Draw every day and accept help when it is given. Most failing artists do not improve, because they are too prideful… you know, this is kind of fun; maybe some day I can give out advice to more rookie indie comic creators… I would enjoy that!
Can you tell us about your creative process, from brainstorming ideas to the final execution of your comics? How do you stay motivated and consistent throughout?
Hahah… well at this point there might be a hint of obsession that keeps me going as well~
When I start on a story, I usually sketch the entire comic in one process, and then assign each day of the week for a different task. E.g. Mondays for lineart or Saturdays for shading… I have a very tight schedule, so I can get everything done in a week, though! And a tight schedule will make sure that I never lose track of what needs to be done!
How do you balance the creative and business aspects of being an independent comic creator, such as promoting your work and managing finances?
Dedicating a specific time per week to promote or do menial tasks certainly helps! Most of my time goes into the creative part of making a comic, though. It’s what I enjoy most and what I value over promotion. Quality over quantity!
Funding creative projects can be challenging for many artists. What strategies have you employed to fund your comics, and are there any resources you’d recommend to other creators?
I find Ko-Fi and Patreon to be good sources worth pursuing, even though I’m still figuring those out myself. And of course, a lot of comic hosting websites like Tapas have an in-site tip jar where fans can donate to their favourite comics.
How do you stay updated on the latest trends and developments in the comic industry, and how do you integrate this knowledge into your work?
Oh, that’s a funny one, actually. I don’t keep track of trends, mostly. I prefer creating timeless stories that can be relevant now or a hundred years from now. By happenstance, it seems that GL comics are getting more and more popular though, so perhaps it is a lucky coincidence that I write for this genre nowadays!
In what ways do you believe the comic industry is evolving, and what opportunities do you see for independent creators in the future?
I hope many! Hahah… but in all honesty, I am not a clairvoyant, so I really cannot say what the future will bring. What I expect to happen is a slight decline once AI comics become an actual thing. Or maybe I’m simply being pessimistic in this regard, who can say for sure.
Collaboration can be an essential part of the creative process. Have you worked with other creators or artists on projects, and if so, how have those experiences shaped your work?
It’s a secret… hahah, no seriously, I’m working on a pretty big collaboration with ‘Helin and Kosshi’ (https://twitter.com/Helin_Kosshi) at the moment and I don’t want to spoil what we are making yet~ but it’s a great thing and a worthy experience for any artist. The greatest things can come from collaborations, in my opinion. And of course, Helin and Kosshi’s support, when I started out meant a lot to me as well. They always inspired me with their positivity and giant worldbuilding in which every detail finds its place!
What are some personal or professional goals you have for your comic career, and how do you plan to achieve them in the coming years?
It may be a bit of a dream, but I hope that one day I can leave my boring office job behind to work on comics fulltime. Once I have finished my current project, I will focus on some new things, but I want to concentrate on where I am at the moment first!
As a creator, how do you measure success, and what achievements are you most proud of so far?
We can talk around it all we want, but in the end, it only comes down to how much you get paid. Someone who is able to cover their living expenses by drawing comics is someone who has “made it”, I would say.
I’m not there yet, but when I think back on my creative journey so far, I am pretty darn proud of how far I have already gotten. I have a lot of supporting readers, I have won a few contests and I am proud of the fact that I am relatively popular in my genre. The fact that I can even earn a bit of money on the side by doing what I love doing is the cherry on top.
Lastly, could you share an anecdote or experience from your comic-creating journey that has had a profound impact on you, and what did you learn from it?
I will end with a quote that I always kept in mind when I started out, and that is: “If I can make but one person smile with my comics, that will be enough”. It seems odd now, seeing all the people who love my comics nowadays, but there is a lesson to be learnt in this.
Draw what you would want to read, become the person you would want to be and you will find your place.
Thank you for the interview, guys, I had great fun sharing my thoughts here; it’s something I usually don’t do, so this is definitely a new experience, but I would love it if our paths crossed again in the future! And thank you to everyone who has read this far, if I sparked your interest, I hope to meet you on my webcomic page or perhaps even support me on the way! Thank you!
Social
- Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DrizDew
- Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/godsassistant
- Tapas: https://tapas.io/drizdew1
- Webtoon: https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/gods-assistant-kamis-assistant/list?title_no=103514
- Webcomicsapp: https://www.webcomicsapp.com/comic/God’s-Assistant/5fec2ee38c252b03250dd5b9
- Deviantart: https://www.deviantart.com/drizdew
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrizDew
And that’s a wrap! A huge thank you to DrizDew for joining us today and sharing their incredible journey as the creator of “God’s Assistant.” We hope you enjoyed this fascinating conversation and picked up some helpful tips and insights for your own comic endeavors. Don’t forget to check out “God’s Assistant” on Tapas and follow DrizDew’s amazing work. Until next time, stay creative and keep supporting indie comics! This has been All Ages of Geek Tapas Reviews, signing off.
About Stec Studio, All Ages of Geek and “I Married a Monster on a Hill”
Stec Studio is a New Jersey-based company founded and run by by the Stec Sisters. We specialize in producing interactive comics and novels based on All Ages of Geek media, as well as creating a fully open world Boys Love Universe called BLU Media. This universe is being built from various media forms, including readable media, games, and animations.
Our main series, I Married a Monster on a Hill, is a WEBTOON that tells the story of a retired knight who falls in love with a half-monster. We are also developing an in-production visual novel called I Married a Monster on a Hill: Dates, along with an upcoming Wattpad Exclusive set in the same Universe. At Stec Studio, our goal is to create content that gives people hope and light, and we hope our stories can provide joy and entertainment to all who experience them.
