Hi, I posted another thread on how to be efficient but it wasn't as reliable to others as it was based on my Point Of View. So, I thought about it and if each member has a method that helps them, it might help others. So, straight to the point, how do you become efficient in Animating, Coding or Writing? Share your insights in a form like this(This will be mine):

Action: Animating
Method: Apply a time goal in animating
Explanation: As I went through animation, I learned from lots of experienced animators that animating shouldn't be a form of how fast you make it but how much you take time to make it. I also read books about tips and tricks of animation and the most basic method to make me efficient is to set a time bound.
Example: I animate for 2 hours straight and take a break for 30 minutes then come back after to animate another hour.

This is just something basic and if you have a complicated method, I recommend filling up everything. If it's basic, you can just fill up "Action", "Method" and "Explanation". It would be nice though if you will fill up everything. Let's get started.

NOTE: HAVING 2 OR MORE METHODS WILL BE PUT IN A SPOILER TAG FOR A NEAT THREAD

A STANDARD CONCEPT

Quote from sss

So I've heard that this thing called practice really helps you to become the very best, like no one ever was at pretty much everything

Quote from Gunnii

Plan ahead. This straight ahead animation technique most people animate by here is terribly inefficient. Any professional animator would tell you to stop that and start with extreme keyframes and create inbetweens after you've got an idea of what you will be making. This is especially effective when it comes to timing.

MEMBER'S METHODS:

Quote from Don Apocalypse

well, how about watching tutorials? that could help you be more Efficient.

Quote from Ezy

Personally I get alot more done when I close IRC.

Quote from Stickly

I am pretty much a born artist, never have taken any art classes or anything. I usually just draw whatever I think up.
I use my photographic memory to assist me in my drawings; something I have seen before in my life, something I have always dreamed about, etc. I also look at other artist's works, try to copy their designs or their style and try to blend it with my abilities. I find it very difficult to improve something I have made by reading a critique.

Because of this, I have become able to accomplish almost anything anyone asks for.

Quote from Peter Satera

I say if you're serious about animation, get a degree, honors degree, masters, you can even do a PHD in animation. I taught many students who have went on to become professional studio artists and animators. Companies like Axis Animation, Framestore, BlackRock Studios, yadda yadda yadda. So if you're serious you need better contacts too. Being in this circle of stick animators can be bad for you as you will not excel beyond stick animation. It doesnt mean you have to leave, you just have to broaden the horizon.

So some tips for your guys would be:
> Possibly get professional schooling (college/university)
> Make industry contacts, or contact those who dont specialize in your field (eg, stickanimation for you guys)
> Step outside stick animation, being in this rut will damage your creativity and originality.
> Stick fights get boring after 5 years (as I started them 12 Years ago) and dont progress anything but your stickfighting animating skills. So do something cinematic with an action plot if you want to get good. Learn to animate character, and not a senseless stick dude jumping about and always fighting. Nobody will care about your characters if they have nothing to empathize with. You need to connect your audience with the character you create, and the only way to do this is through strong progressive storytelling. This doesn't mean it has to be a huge story, shorts can be 2 mins long and still have progression.

Quote from Yun

Yeah, storyboarding is a very big thing when you want to become a professional. I've heard from others who are in studios that you need to plan out your story and animation before you even start. If you just went straight into animating, they will tell you to stop and plan out what you will do. Storyboarding really helped me for the past several months for timing, motion, and feeling. [ E.G. : My RHG against Swammy, 2 music videos in production, and Double Rainboom. ] Planning out what you do before time will allow you to work faster than others who don't. [ Unless you have everything planned out in your head or you're that kind of guy that just brings up ideas as you go. ]

Another is finding your source of concentration. My source of concentration is Livestreaming, listening to music, Skype calling, or no internet service at the time. With these, I just keep focus on one thing and that one thing until I stop any of these.

CONTRIBUTORS:
- Zero(Time bounded animating)
- SSS(Standard Concept)
- Don Apocalypse(Tutorial watching)
- Hewitt(Efficiency in coders & The some given knowledge in writing)
- Ezy(Less distractions)
- Stickly(Natural born talent & Photographic memories)
- Gunnii(Plan it out)
- Peter Satera(A view of being a professional animator and help)
- Yun(Concentration and storyboarding)

So I've heard that this thing called practice really helps you to become the very best, like no one ever was at pretty much everything. But hey, what do I know, I don't even anymute.

Quote from sss

So I've heard that this thing called practice really helps you to become the very best, like no one ever was at pretty much everything. But hey, what do I know, I don't even anymute.

Yes, practice is a necessity to be good at something, in anything. But do note I put "Efficiency" which can have lots and lots of methods other than practicing.

well, how about watching tutorials? that could help you be more Efficient.

Personally I get alot more done when I close IRC.

Quote from Hewitt

I can understand why writing could be there...but coding?

To be an efficient coder is impossible. Unless you're a genius, the only way is to keep at it. When you're coding you will always fuck up on the first try and it shouldn't deter you. Even as an expert in mathematics and algorithms, as systems get more complex there will always be ONE thing that will not go well. And you just have to keep at it. Patience.

I see. I took up programming in the tenth grade and what you say is true but not at all accurate. You don't always mess up at the first try, highly probably but not always. I agree with what you say but being efficient doesn't only mean you have to be really good at it, but on how much you make in a given amount of time. Added. :)

I am pretty much a born artist, never have taken any art classes or anything. I usually just draw whatever I think up.
I use my photographic memory to assist me in my drawings; something I have seen before in my life, something I have always dreamed about, etc. I also look at other artist's works, try to copy their designs or their style and try to blend it with my abilities. I find it very difficult to improve something I have made by reading a critique.

Because of this, I have become able to accomplish almost anything anyone asks for.

Quote from Hewitt

Of course I didn't mean every time. If you kpt fucking up coding every time you start then you shouldn't be coding in the first place. And I'm curious, have you ever coded for the real world? Cos it's really different and there's a whole lot more variables involved and im not just talking about the variables in your code. How much you can make in a given time is dependent on your experience in the real world which basically boils down to trial and error. Which is why I brought up the concept of fucking up all the time. You wanna be an efficient coder? Be an efficient debugger first. And that means, fuck up alot.

No, I haven't coded in the real world. I decided to be an animator than a coder because coding is downright pain in the neck to handle with. Yes, I do understand what you are saying. A friend of mine codes for websites and I've seen him do it and the lines are just messed up that I'm grateful to be an animator. Haha, I hope you didn't take the assumption of me attacking you because I have little experience with this.

Quote from Hewitt

Of course, and I meant no offense on mine as well

I have a shit ton to say about writing, but I'm saving it for a guide on a thread of its own. I will say that grammar and spelling are basic shit to know, and vocabulary is very important. Our brain has this weird way of processing words and phrases, whenever we hear and understand something, we suddenly register it in our everyday lives. So, a word a day is the best way to learn without having to exert effort.

But to write efficiently? You just need to read alot. It doesn't matter where or how. Novels. Newspapers. Online sources. Reading stuff = writing stuff in the longrun. You'll get these vibes on how things ought to be worded, how the main idea of something should be presented, how to write first-sentence hooks or introduce a topic properly. Those are key and are necessary before you engage in the world of fiction.

Thank you for the contribution and I wish you luck for the guide! :)

How about making my mind explode with so much imagination, plus inspiration

(Imagination Explosion and Inspiration)

Quote from harvie89

How about making my mind explode with so much imagination, plus inspiration

(Imagination Explosion and Inspiration)

Please elaborate when you say "Mind explode with so much imagination + Inspiration". How do you achieve this and why(I know asking why is a stupid question but regardless of stupidity)

Plan ahead. This straight ahead animation technique most people animate by here is terribly inefficient. Any professional animator would tell you to stop that and start with extreme keyframes and create inbetweens after you've got an idea of what you will be making. This is especially effective when it comes to timing.

Quote from Gunnii

Plan ahead. This straight ahead animation technique most people animate by here is terribly inefficient. Any professional animator would tell you to stop that and start with extreme keyframes and create inbetweens after you've got an idea of what you will be making. This is especially effective when it comes to timing.

This.

I'd also state to practice the basics until you completely understood the concepts and principles of it.

Quote from Ανταρόλυκος-Direwolf

This is kind of a tricky question... Since everyone has their own methods. :)

Personally I never plan, I open Flash and animate what I listen too, if I listen to hardcore metal for example I will animate something brutal maybe bloody, Dubstep for colourfull fights, dnb for calm stuff ect...
Other times however, I just lay down and make big ideas. I mark them on papper or just make sure I remember them and later I may open Flash to get started with it...
In general, music motivates the sh*t out of me :P but livestreams from Stone,Terkoiz,Huyn get me really going...

I already stated that everyone does have their own methods.