reapersun
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Doodle Days Prompt Selection Process!
🕑 Added 2019-03-10 03:43:57 +0000 UTCHey everyone~ I wanted to do a quick writeup of how doodle days work; I've been feeling a little pressure to do more prompts than I used to, and I thought perhaps being more transparent about my selection process and the process of creating the art might help alleviate that pressure a little. I've gotten some feedback in the past that some folks feel upset that their prompts are never selected; I can see how it would be really frustrating to post prompt after prompt and never be picked. I hope this at least clarifies why that happens.
The sunday before I start doodles, I expand the view on every comment in the post, including replies; then I copy paste the whole list of prompts from the post (some of you might remember for a little while Patreon got rid of the option to select the like count as text and this is why I was so mad about it lol, I had to type them all one by one for awhile).
The first thing I do after pasting them in is eliminate the extra info, leaving only the prompt and the vote count; then I sort them by the number of votes/likes they got, putting the most popular on top.
I really do not pay attention to who the prompter is when selecting, or any of their info like payment tier or join date; later, while making the actual art post, I look up the original prompt comment in order to copy the person's name and give them credit for it, but that's it. I don't track any of this stuff, so I couldn't even tell you who has had the most prompts filled.
My next step is that I go through and mark the ones I want to draw. I mark the top two or three, usually (in this case four) and then everything else is fair game. My criteria are literally what I feel like I would want to draw at this point in time; just because I'm not feeling a prompt this time doesn't mean I won't feel it another time, and it doesn't make any suggestion "bad". I love reading all of them even if they don't give me an immediate urge to draw it.
I go down the entire list to pick; I still consider vote counts a bit when I'm narrowing it down further, but since I've been trying to get a mix of different fandoms/ideas, as well as sfw/nsfw artworks, sometimes I do end up picking from the bottom of the list.
Again, since there are so many prompts and I can only draw a few, I try to be super picky about the selections; it doesn't mean I couldn't happily draw just about any one of them.
Then I copy all of the prompts I picked over and count up the list; this time I had.... 18 lol
This is the point where I've been struggling because, I just kind of start sketching and see how many I can finish, starting with any that give me the strongest visual right away. I used to spend one day doing all of them start to finish, but lately I've been spending a few days on them. I still try very hard to stop myself once I have 8 rough sketches that I like, but lately I keep going because I'm always trying to fit in one or two more.
This month I released 9 prompts and 11 artworks (because I really wanted to draw the two part weddie one and the cryptids thing lol). I had rough sketches for 12 prompts and could have happily drawn even more, if I had infinite time. I always hope the ones who make the top list but don't get drawn get re-requested, and sometimes they do, but sometimes I still end up passing it over more than once because things just don't shake out. It's kind of a brutal process, and unfortunate, and I know it makes some people feel bad, but I'm not sure how else to encourage folks to keep sending these diverse prompts while also feeling like they're not wasting their time.
I'd love to hear any thoughts and feedback you have! Maybe it would be better if I did the prompt collection privately without votes? Or maybe chose a batch first and then asked for votes? I still want to involve everyone with this process, and I want to make art that makes most of you happy. I do like doing it this way, but if a lot of folks have feelings about it, I'm happy to consider changes~
Thank you for reading! And thank you again for all the prompts every month!
Comments
Reapersun
I've considered limiting art to different tiers before, but prompt collecting from each individual tier in addition is not something I considered... I think there'd be some issues with it, mostly that high level patrons are supposed to get access to everything, so making exclusive prompt posts for the lower tiers might make those folks happier, but it reduces the likelihood of getting picked for the higher tiers, which feels bad to me since those folks shouldn't LOSE stuff by paying more. But thank you for the idea! I will mull it over; maybe there is a way it could work without hurting any folks~
This has been super helpful.... My gosh you go through a lot. That's insane and amazing! You are really dedicated it makes me feel blessed that you go through so much for us. Thank you. IDK if this is helpful at all but it's just my two cents.... Have you ever considered doing sketch days for different tiers...maybe setting aside different days for your different tiers. Because you spread them out into a couple days as is. So one day for your low tier...etc. then it might be easier to set up an easier system to pick art and it might be more inclusive for people so not everyone is posting so much on one big long post and having people upsetty spaghetti over not getting their prompts fulfilled....*shrugs* With that each tier can have their own system of how you pick as well....be it via likes on a particular post or some other method that works best for you. Okay....that's all I've got. You are really amazing and wonderful! I adore the fact that you are so down to earth with us, 100000/10 best person artist!
mia6363
SECONDING THIS very hard <3 whatever makes it easier and makes you happy makes ME happy <3
Reapersun
Thank you for continuing to think about the problem, but this one definitely sounds a bit complicated to organize; I will think about it! Thanks~
Reapersun
I replied to you but it looks like my reply might have disappeared; if you don't ever see it, just wanted to thank you for this suggestion, and I will consider whether it can fit into my regular workload after I wrap up some extra projects :) Thanks!
Reapersun
Thanks, I'll consider this idea! I have done it before (usually around October I specifically ask for spooky prompts) and I worry it might be too stifling year round, but maybe I'll think about adding one or two more first and seeing how folks like it.
Aunt Kwan
Your "How it works" info is pretty clear. I honestly thought we were getting extra doodles because you were getting a little extra inspiration & maybe had some extra time. I kinda feel bad that you go through so much more work over Doodle Days than I even suspected. I always saw Doodle Days as something you did as a chance to let your muse out to play -- much like how you drew whichever prompt tickled your fancy in the days before Patreon. I like to think that because you maintained your own right to take the prompts as inspirations (rather than commissions), and because ultimately you decided what you would draw, we've been rewarded with a whole lot more fun, cute, gorgeous, raunchy, weird, awesome stuff than we would have had otherwise. I'd hate for Doodle Days to become just another chore for you, or get so complicated that it squashes your creativity & you grow resentful of it or do away with it altogether. So lemme ask you this: What would YOU like to do with Doodle Days? What would make it easier for YOU? You are why we are all here, after all. I dunno, I just wanna make you some cookies or something.
Yesenia MmmMmm
Try both on a trial run, give them a few months each see how it goes then work out the kinks. Which ever works best for you is worth it
Tyler Woodard
Another idea since my original is probably not going to fly: Prompt blocks. Once all submissions are in, divide them into blocks. So maybe 10 blocks of 6 submissions, for example. Then you have some options: 1.) You could take at least one or two from each block, forcing you to choose from the block. You may not like anything in a block, but you’ll have to make it work. You can take the upvotes into account or ignore them in the decision making process. 2.) You can create a poll for each block and ask patrons to vote on their top choice(s). That way the decision is out of your hands, but creating polls will take more work. I didn’t know about Patreon’s rules on gambling, but hopefully this could be another viable option if you wanted to use it. Thanks for being open to sharing suggestions! 😄
mia6363
Hmmm I feel like i'm not offering much here, because one of the things I noticed way back when I followed you on tumblr was just how expansive your repertoire was. The wide range from fluff, violence/gore, to kinks I wasn't familiar with... it was awesome and that's why I supported you here :) I love the wide range and I would hate to clamp down on your personal freedom with a strict voting system, if that makes sense? <3 I love supporting you and I just hope these prompts aren't wearing you out. I know what it's like to be worn out from creatively repetitive things, so... yeah. I don't know? But I just love your work. Life isn't guaranteed returns, so if a prompt I leave doesn't get filled, that's fine, I love all of your work :)
simrell
random raffles and drawings are against patreons ToS, unfortunately :')
Ether Z
Oh you really don't have to worry so much for us 💚 I like the current system I think it's pretty fair. Yes I'll admit that when I don't see my prompt on the chosen list, I'm a bit sad, but it's like for 5 sec because I very much enjoy others prompt too. Maybe, if you really feel the need to do something about the matter, after doodle days you could make a poll between one or two of the most liked prompts and the ones that you were interested in drawing but didn't have the time to make it (sometimes you encourage reposting prompts because some of them really inspire you, but it's kind of hard to know which ones you mean). You could make the poll during the month and release the artwork whenever you feel like it, it could be a pretty good filler when you're too busy to do other and more complex stuff. Obviously this is doable only if it doesen't burden or upset your monthly workload. You REALLY don't have to force yourself to do extra work when you're already overloaded!
kishafisha
Wow, you go through a ton of effort for this! I’m always amazed by the amount of content you’re able to generate month to month, but it’s humbling to see how much you’ve got going on in the background to get there. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for the behind the scenes look! I love the current voting aspect. I rarely have good enough ideas to suggest myself, but I really like going through the list and seeing everyone else's ideas and voting. I could see how some people would be frustrated if they never get picked, but I also feel like the current method is still pretty fair: you can still draw what inspires you, and half the fun is reading the comments with the story/what you were thinking about when you made the art. You give us a diverse variety of fandoms and original stuff, both sfw and NSFW each time. I guess in the end this is just a comment that doesn't say much, except thanks for always working so hard for us ☆
Tyler Woodard
Thanks for the insight! My suggestion is that while the current system should remain in place, I would have a “random draw”. In other words, have one or two prompts that you somehow pick at random- assign them all a number and use a random generator, etc. And you HAVE to draw whatever it is, unless you absolutely can’t think of what to do with it or it violates your “Do Not Draw” list. That way the vast majority of the pieces are still prompts that you want to draw, but a few are random and give a chance to patrons to get chosen who may not normally get picked. It’s just a suggestion, so feel free to use or not use any of it. 👍🏼
BeanBoi
Sounds great!! Thank you for telling us exactly how you pick!!
Olivander Addams
I love all your drawings and appreciate you even offering to take our prompts!! True, its hard being passed up each time but its still great to see what you come up with!! Maybe also do like Themed Prompts?? Like April is for AOB, May is for Marriage, etc etc whatever. But that way people can just suggest the pairing they want to see in that setting or add in extra details along that theme???
Love and appreciate all of your work! ❤
Jessica Hausoul
*waves about black and yellow pom poms* you’re awesome and I’m just happy you even give us a chance to chime in! 🖤💛
