Contemplating cute
17/09/2012
I spend quite a lot of time puzzling over what I could be doing differently in my life to be more successful. And then I go back and do my own obscure thing. The Going West festival was great, by the way. I was only there on Saturday afternoon but I got to hear Tim Wilson (I bought his book), Jaqueline Fahey (she was hilarious), Nalini Singh (what have I been doing with my life?) and of course the wonderful Mirranda Burton, whose book I highly recommend. For a proper report you can go over to Beattie’s Book Blog (that’s him in the hat, on stage with Nalini Singh).
Oh, and if you’re wondering who Li Chen is, you can find her work here.
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LET ME BE FRANK 
for what it’s worth, i love your comics and i prefer the people to the cute animals. it may not be the road to riches, but you never know… also thanks to your blog i got to read Hidden and find out about other great writers and artists as well. So, thanks!
Thanks, Sarah!
Love the way you have hijacked cute to be cute and then again to be so much more.
When my brother was six, he cried while looking at a photograph of his three year old self – look at me, he bawled, I’ll never be that cute again. He was right and cute is transient. Be fearless in the knowledge you’re a keeper.
since friending you on FB I have read all of your comics (including the archives) and I think they are great. And I know at least 3 friends that would also enjoy them so I will pass your blogsite to them. I wouldn’t have even known about your blog if I hadn’t got in touch with you about that other matter. So how do people hear about Li Chen? Is it just word of mouth? Because word of mouth isn’t working for me given that we have mutual friends and I have read of book of yours… hmmmm.
Thank you for your kind words! People hear about webcomics through social media. My comics are probably too long to be universally popular! You actually have to take some time to read them (thank you for reading them!) whereas the shorter, 4 panel comics can easily be consumed with a glance, which mirrors the general attention span online (I myself am guilty of flicking from one thing to the next, imagining that I might read it later when I have time) Another really popular webcomic is Kate Beaton’s one, http://www.harkavagrant.com/, and they have a really strong hook – history retold in rude and funny words and pictures. I think if I was really serious about getting a big following, I’d have to try to do shorter, funnier comics. But I’m quite happy doing what I’m doing now.
I can sympathize with you Sarah, though 1,000 hits a week? I’m lucky if I get 5-6 hits a DAY to read my daily comic. I’ve tried getting the word out for potential readers. I’ve printed up little booklets and handed them out at small cons (like SPX this weekend) and have tried to get the word out in the world of social media, but alas. To no avail.
It seems these days, if you want an audience for a web comic, it would help if you were of college age or in your 20’s, talk about having (or not having) sex, swear a lot and yeah, maybe be cute too.
I’m over 50, a single male and am most definitely not cute.
(in case anyone’s interested: http://www.theblabbingbaboon.com/)
I enjoy reading your comics because, well, they’re you. And for this reader, that’s really what matters.
Thanks Richard! 1000 is a good week, mind you! 600-700 is more like an average week. And I’d much rather be me than sell out for the sake of a few numbers. Sorry you aren’t getting more readers. I like your comics! They are great observational vignettes. Hopefully some of my readers will pop over to check them out.
There’s enough cute out there already, not cute is a welcome and refreshing relief. I enjoy your comics for the same reason I enjoyed Melancholia over The Muppets, the reason I love Tuneyard’s music over Carly Rae Jepsen. Because they make me think.
Go the not cute!
You can add me to the long tail, look that’s 101 already!
I hate pets and love long comics because they keep me away from working for longer. Don’t go changin’! Though, it must be said, there is probably pots of money in doing something involving fauxrotica and small, ‘cute’ animals. Look into it…