16: Pages and genres

Page 2 of "Love Junkies" done. I decided to start with this mini rather than finish OMGcow comics for now because the minimal style is easier on my arm.

I've had the story for this mini sitting around in my sketchbooks for almost a year now. I knew I wanted to make it "someday"...but this fund-raising venture has really given me a kick in the butt.

I think the hardest challenge I deal with in my personal comic-making is deciding what kind of comics I make. I'm surrounded almost exclusively by boys, having never been very good at making friends with girls. As such, I sometimes forget that there are comics outside of the superhero/macho-man/adventure/fight-scene type. I start thinking that maybe the only way to succeed in this business is to make those type of comics.

Unfortunately, those comics don't really interest me. I guess I have the internet and its immense capacity for underground and web-based comics that encompass slice-of-life, diary/autobio, psychological, mystery, horror and other genres that don't really fit into the Marvel/DC world-view.

I just need to constantly remind myself that if I just make the comics that I would want to read, maybe somewhere, other people might like it too

15: Progress and lists

Look what I've been up to! I used to be able to bust out  4-5 pages a day but with arm the way it is, I have to stop every 15 minutes or so as my entire arm starts spasming. I'm hoping to see my Dr. soon. I had some slight carpal tunnel before the accident but I'm worried it may be getting worse with the bruising/impact. As it is, I'm putting out about a page a day.

This is my (hopefully soon to be finished) mini-comic "Love Junkies." As you can see from the sketches, it features a girl and a robot and more than just a few hearts. :D

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I like lists. Lists are fun to drum up and help keep me focused. When I was younger, I assumed the point of a list was to complete every single item on it. These days, I think of lists more as a guide of what I want/need to do, a way to visually manage my time and keep me from getting too lazy. The chance to strike something off also gives a much-needed boost on extra-busy days.

My to do list these days look like this:
* Scan 10/120 pages of OMGcow
* Scan 30/120 pages of OMGcow
* Scan 50/120 pages of OMGcow
* Scan 70/120 pages of OMGcow
* Scan 90/120 pages of OMGcow
* Scan 120/120 pages of OMGcow
* Draw intro comic
* Scan intro comic
* Prep OMGcow for printing
* Send OMGcow for printing
* Finish Love Junkies
* Scan and format Love Junkies
* Print, fold + staple Love Junkies
* Finish Crab & Manatee
* Scan and format Crab & Manatee
* Print, fold + staple Crab & Manatee
* Finish ultra-minis
* Print + fold ultra-minis
* Finish pin designs
* Scan + format pin designs
* Send pin designs for printing
* Finish RAWR card designs
* Scan + format RAWR card designs
* Send RAWR card designs for printing
* Finish Love/Says card designs
* Scan + format Love/Says card designs
* Send Love/Says card designs for printing
* Purchase OMG.com
* Finish comics for 1st year
* Start on 2nd year sketches
* Decide on Merch for LBComicCon
* Order table supplies for LBComicCon
* Make background for LBComicCon
* Make promo card/flyers/free minis
* Go to LBComicCon
* Find Cons for next year
*Apply to Cons for next year


Phew. I didn't realize how much there was to do until I typed it all up.

11: Allen Duffy's Song and other thoughts

So, Allen Duffy officially rocks my socks. How? He pre-ordered my book, OMGcow: The First Year! I have to be honest, when I first wrote up the post about fund-raising to see RENT, I didn't really think anyone would take me up on it. To my utter shock, a whole lot of love has come my way. Two amazing friends have ordered custom paintings, as well as pre-ordered some stuff. When the messages came in and the e-mail confirmation from Allen dinged on my phone, I seriously started crying.

I think I'm mostly overwhelmed because I don't have the biggest opinion of my own work. I always think "if only I could draw better" or "I need to write better stories" or other thoughts along those lines. I worry that people see my work and think I'm just another hack wannabe with mediocre comics on Blogger. To see actual quantifiable proof that there are people who like my work enough to buy it is...just amazing.

It also resulted in this. A "Thank You" song for Allen Duffy since my hand isn't well enough yet to do a Thank you drawing. You can view it here or on Facebook.



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I also spoke to April Nash today which is always such a treat! I've always thought she was the sweetest person ever on her comic and her comments, but it still surprises me that we have such an easy time chatting. Seriously, talking to her isn't at all awkward or stunted or any of that stuff you'd expect from two people who have never met and live on separate countries and have entire timezones in between.

Also, she totally geeked out with me over musical theater, Batman comics and digital printing companies!!! Hahah!

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This is going to sound weird...but I took a shower today for the first time since the accident! It felt soooooo amazing. Don't get me wrong, I would take sponge baths and change clothes everyday so I was relatively clean....but its nowhere near the same as an actual shower. This is the first time I'm actually felt really HAPPY since the accident.

My family even forced me to go out to a restaurant for lunch where it was super crowded and people were really rude and wouldn't move out of the way for me....but I didn't let it get me down. It was hurtful the way they stared at me but I was just like..."whatever." I can't make them stop but I don't have to pay attention to their dumb ass.