TIME BUDGETING FOR MANGA
Time management is one of the biggest challenges I face as a mangaka in progress. Between juggling family responsibilities, a full-time job, novel writing, and creating social media content, my schedule often feels like a chaotic balancing act. I know I’m not alone—life gets busy for everyone. Whether your schedule is as hectic as mine or you have more flexibility, finding time to practice manga and hone your craft requires deliberate effort and strategy.
Over the years, I’ve picked up several tips that have helped me carve out time for manga creation without sacrificing the other important parts of my life. Here are my tried-and-true methods for dedicating more time to practicing your art while keeping your life balanced.
1. Cut Out Time-Wasting Activities
When I first started pursuing manga seriously, I realized I was spending a lot of time on activities that didn’t add value to my life. For me, it was watching endless YouTube videos and scrolling through social media. While it’s easy to justify this as “down time,” I noticed it wasn’t doing much to help me grow as an artist.
To turn this around, I made a conscious decision to replace mindless content with productive material. Instead of watching random entertainment videos, I began seeking out drawing tutorials, speed-paint videos, and behind-the-scenes processes of professional mangaka. I’d take notes, sketch along with the tutorials, and implement what I learned in my practice sessions. Over time, these small adjustments added up, and I noticed measurable improvement in my skills.
If you’re not sure where your time is going, try tracking it for a few days. You might be surprised at how much time you can reclaim by cutting out unproductive activities.
2. Finding the Time
One of the biggest hurdles for busy people is simply finding time to practice. For me, the solution was to carve out quiet moments in my day—either early in the morning before everyone else is awake, or late at night after they’ve gone to bed.
These quiet hours are perfect for uninterrupted focus. Even if I only get an hour of practice, it’s still progress. For example, I might wake up at 5:30 a.m. and spend 30 minutes sketching before the day begins, or I’ll sit down at 10:30 p.m. for a focused drawing session. These small windows of time, when used consistently, can build momentum and help you establish a regular routine.
3. Flash Practicing
Flash practicing has been a game-changer for me. The idea is simple: dedicate short, 15-minute blocks of time throughout the day to quick drawing exercises. Over a 6- to 8-hour day, these 15-minute bursts can add up to 2 or 3 hours of practice—without feeling overwhelming.
For example, if I’m working on character poses, I’ll spend one 15-minute block sketching heads, another block drawing hands, and another working on dynamic poses. By focusing on specific areas during each session, I make steady progress without feeling pressured to complete a massive project all at once.
This technique is especially helpful if you have a busy schedule and can’t dedicate long blocks of time to your craft. All it takes is setting a timer and committing to those 15 minutes.
4. Create Daily Learning Goals
Practicing with a purpose is crucial for improvement. Rather than aimlessly sketching whatever comes to mind, I started setting clear learning goals for my daily practice sessions. These goals help me stay focused and ensure I’m continually challenging myself.
For example, one day I might focus on mastering the basics of anatomy by studying references and practicing proportions. Another day, I’ll tackle backgrounds, experimenting with perspective and depth. On yet another, I’ll work on toning and shading techniques to add dimension to my drawings.
By breaking my practice into manageable goals, I’ve been able to build a strong foundation while gradually addressing my weaknesses as an artist. This approach keeps practice sessions fresh and engaging, preventing burnout.
5. Dedicate a Day to Studying Manga
Immersing yourself in the world of manga is just as important as practicing your drawing skills. I like to dedicate at least one day a week to studying manga in a variety of ways. This might include:
Reading manga to analyze storytelling techniques and panel layouts.
Watching anime to study dynamic poses and expressions.
Drawing fan art to practice capturing the style of my favorite mangaka.
Experimenting with screentones and effects to replicate professional artwork.
This dedicated study day not only improves my technical skills but also keeps me inspired and motivated to create my own manga.
6. Create Your First Short Manga
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received came from a YouTube channel called “Learn To Draw Manga.” They suggested starting with a Yonkoma—a four-panel manga—as a way to dip your toes into manga creation without feeling overwhelmed.
I’ve since created four Yonkoma strips, and each one has taught me valuable lessons about storytelling, pacing, and composition. Starting small helped me gain confidence and build my skills without the pressure of completing a full-length manga.
If you’re new to manga creation, I highly recommend this approach. It’s a low-stakes way to experiment with your style and get a sense of what works (and what doesn’t) before tackling larger projects.
7. Batch Tasks to Maximize Productivity
Batching is a time-management technique where you group similar tasks together to streamline your workflow. For example, I’ll dedicate one practice session to sketching multiple character designs, another to inking those sketches, and yet another to adding screentones or shading.
By focusing on one type of task at a time, I’m able to work more efficiently and avoid the mental fatigue that comes with constantly switching between different activities. This approach has been especially helpful when working on larger projects, like creating a multi-page manga.
8. Embrace Imperfection
One of the biggest time-wasters for me was obsessing over making every drawing perfect. I’d spend hours erasing and redoing lines, trying to achieve an unattainable level of perfection. Over time, I realized this was holding me back more than helping me.
Now, I embrace imperfection as part of the creative process. Instead of aiming for flawless artwork, I focus on completing each piece and learning from my mistakes. This shift in mindset has saved me countless hours and allowed me to make steady progress without getting stuck in a perfectionist loop.
9. Use Digital Tools to Save Time
If you’re working digitally, take advantage of time-saving features like layers, templates, and shortcuts. For example, many digital art programs allow you to create custom brushes for things like screentones, speed lines, and textures. By using these tools, you can achieve professional-looking results in a fraction of the time it would take to do everything manually.
Additionally, consider using pre-made assets like speech bubble templates or background textures to streamline your workflow. These resources can free up more time for practicing your drawing skills.
10. Celebrate Small Wins
Finally, don’t forget to celebrate your progress along the way. Whether it’s finishing a sketch, mastering a new technique, or completing your first Yonkoma, every small achievement is a step toward becoming the mangaka you want to be. Acknowledging these wins can keep you motivated and remind you why you started this journey in the first place.
Conclusion
Time management for manga practice isn’t easy, but with the right strategies, it’s entirely possible to make consistent progress—even with a busy schedule. By cutting out time-wasting activities, finding small pockets of time to draw, and setting clear goals, you can maximize your practice sessions and steadily improve your skills.
Remember, becoming a mangaka is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay patient, stay consistent, and most importantly, enjoy the process. Your hard work will pay off in the stories you create and the growth you achieve as an artist. Keep drawing, and let your passion guide you forward!
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