Okay. So I've been putting off writing this notice, but it's gotta happen sooner or later.
This isn't a hiatus. I am going to stop work on Those Destined.
The ending is there. The major events are mapped out in my head. I don't need ideas, or offers to take over (I've gotten a few before), so please don't send them - save them for your own work, someday. But every time I try to work on it, to plot it out page by page, I wind up blocked. It's been in my head too long. I don't know how to get it out.
The biggest mistake I, and all beginning comic authors make, is underestimating just how long it takes to tell a story in pictures. And over the six years I've worked on this, a lot of changes have happened in my life - not drastic, unexpected changes, but ordinary changes. Powerful changes. I graduated High School, I went to University, I graduated University, and got a real job in the real world. That's a long time for a single story to boil in one head. That's a lot of personal development while working on one story.
When I got into this, I did so because it was something to DO - something that combined my artistic and literary interests. Something so that, when I looked back on high school, I wouldn't just say "Yeah, I got good grades, I tried out and failed to land a part in a school play, and I was totally going to join the Literary Arts Magazine and then never got my driver's license." I could say "I drew a comic. It's not much, but I'm proud of it." And that was enough for me.
But now that's not enough for me. I know this story has engaged you as readers (It must have, if you're here checking this site for updates after a month), but it was really written only for me. I'm grateful that my silly little project has found like-minded people, and kept them entertained. But now I want more. Now I want to do that intentionally.
I'm very proud of this comic. And I want to give it an ending I can be proud of, not one desperately pulled together from the ashes of my burnt-out inspiration. I think I can do that, if I take time away, get some distance from this story, and work on other projects. If I improve my skill and my craft, I can come back with fresh eyes, find all the loose ends of this plot that was made at roughly but lovingly over the years, and sew it together in the most satisfying way. This is my great hope.
It would be nice to say I'd already begun on those projects I have planned, and could give you a link to temper this post with excitement for the future. Sadly the real life issues that come like a Grim Reaper to claim all comics in their time, plus general artistic burn out, have me sucker-punched.
I'll say this, though: I plan to continue the Old Timey space adventure I wrote for a competition and posted about previously. I also have another idea on deck that needs to take some form, but doesn't quite have a plot formulated yet.
I intend to do these in issues, meaning I can switch between them whenever I get burnt out on a story, and hopefully they'll be self-contained enough that no one will die of anticipation between issues. And that way, when I feel a little more confident, I can start alternating Those Destined in as well, and give it a proper ending. (I also suspect that I need to learn how to end stories. I don't know if I've ever finished one in my life. Wow.) This is my Grand Ambition.
I'll keep you updated with the state of the new project. It may take some time to get off the ground. The rest of October promises to be busy. November is NaNoWriMo, and I'd like to take another crack at that despite everything.
I'm sorry for those of you who are disappointed. That disappointment is the greatest compliment you can possibly give me. So . . . thanks. Thanks for reading.
posted by Catrine on 9:22 PM
Okay, here's the skinny. I have saved up for, ordered, and received a shiny new desktop. (+5 iMac of Enjoyment.)
It includes a beautiful glossy screen that wil be of great help to my artwork - the laptop screen was a bit washed out, I am sad to say.
The inevitable problem: My image editing software doesn't work with the nicer newer soft n' hardware. So I've got a 30-day trial running to see if I wish to purchase some new stuff.
Aaaaand I can't get my scanner to work with it. I tapped some things, downloaded some drivers, and am all out of ideas (I ate a pie! I took a nap! What else can one man do?)
This'll get worked out, no worries, but it might take me a while. And the recent downloading of Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness and discovery of Season 1 of Get Smart at a local video store will not factor into that time-frame at all *cough cough*.
Point is, I'm not dead, so bare with me. And on the positive side, I can type in Blogger in real time now, instead of waiting for lagging letters to appear!
Huzzah!
posted by Catrine on 11:19 PM
Computer.
Screen.
Malfunction.
AUGH.
posted by Catrine on 5:58 PM
Uh, oops . . . heh. Can we make this strip Saturday's strip? I'm really not doing so well with Thursdays, huh?
Long story short, in addition to working 40 a week, I am now learning the basics of Greek! And I need to memorize five sets of noun endings and their definite articles for Monday.
. . . aaaaaaand they're releasing a fourth season of Slayers. It's like Christmas in July, if I had ever associated Christmas with one of my first and favorite anime series.
Sooooooo goood.
posted by Catrine on 10:57 PM
Delayed comic! It'll be up tomorrow. Sorry for the inconvenience!
posted by Catrine on 11:22 PM
Over a week of regular updates! . . . is about to be broken. Heh. Sorry about that folks, some nights it's a choice between comic and other things of importance.
But! I'm trying very hard to keep up a fairly regular schedule in spite of it all. So while Thursday's off, Saturday is definitely on!
To the drawing board!
posted by Catrine on 10:57 PM
ALMOST AN UPDATE!
If you've been wondering what I've been doing the last month . . . it was, uh, THIS.
There's a lot of other great stuff in that thread, too, if you've got a few minutes (awright, they blow my stuff out of the water).
The purpose of the thread was to start and complete a short project, something long-form comicers often have problems with. Which is why, naturally, mine is a first chapter in a theoretical longer story. Heh!
But back to the comic official, now that my dashing Space Captain is on her way! After all, it would be sad to spend the comic's SIXTH ANNIVERSARY off and doing something else, right?
posted by Catrine on 10:40 PM