meh
Ok, that will teach me to take a day off.
Actually, i really can’t blame this on a day off, other than maybe i should have done some serious work on story dev saturday night instead of watching anime… oh well, hindsight, as they say. I hate missing comics, but there was definitely something not right with today’s script.
This is actually not unusual for the first 20 or so comics of a chapter. Ideas are still formulating, i’m still getting up to speed with things, etc. I tried to take care of much of this before i started the chapter, but Otakon really cut into my story dev time, and its showing. I have struggled with the past few comics, and this one… meh. I need to sit down with the story some more and finish my story structure. In-service day time 
Whenever i have to backtrack like this, it always feels like i wasted my time on stuff that i wont be using, or i feel frustrated about having material that i won’t be using… but the thing is, its not really a waste of time. It’s the tossed ideas that somehow get you to the ideas you eventually use. You can’t be afraid to toss ideas when they don’t feel right, or to make hard decisions about actually tossing something when it doesn’t work
It’s just better if you can do it a few days BEFORE you are supposed to post something. 
- pirotunes: David Sylvian & Holger Czukay - Mutability (A New Beginning Is In The Offing) -
August 29th, 2005 at 3:55 am
There’s nothing wrong with watching anime :D, if it makes you feel better I did the same sat down and watched Shuffle! an Honey and Clover. Bad move I was there for hours, so much to catch up on.
Anyways if you didn’t feel like the comic was right then no-one can complain, after all your the writer and done a darn good job so far.
Oh oh, I’m late for work. Keep up the good work.
August 29th, 2005 at 4:59 am
We won’t blame you for taking time to try to get things right. =)
August 29th, 2005 at 8:21 am
Take your time, you deserved a break. I am sure none of your fans would mind that. Its much better to do stuff at a relaxed pace after the break and slowly crank it up. Works for me
August 29th, 2005 at 8:43 am
Well, we do mind, but we also would prefer that the story come together in the best way possible, so most of us will stifle our complaints.
Besides, things like this give those of us over in SD more dev sketches to beg you to give out once Megatokyo is finished…
August 29th, 2005 at 12:36 pm
Fred, I think what you said about being able to take a step back and evaluate a section for what it is is totally correct. I feel bad for you though, since your schedule doesn’t allow you to take a day (or two even, considering you just took one) for that sort of thing, just because it doesn’t ‘mesh’. I seriously pity you on that aspect. But, whatever, Drink some coffee, find a moment of peace, and think of where you’d like it to go. The rest is just angst and mayhem.
Regards,
August 29th, 2005 at 1:01 pm
Story is everything, so it’s worth taking the time to get it right. (Well, OK; I do enjoy the art in Megatokyo for its own sake–especially the backgrounds–but the story, both textual and visual, is what compels me to return day after day. And buy the books. And carry a Flapdoozy. And wear a TPCD shirt. And…er, I think I’d best click Post before you mistake me for a drooling fanboy…)
August 29th, 2005 at 1:05 pm
Take your breaks, by all means - you’re working very hard already, if anyone deserves time off it’s you
August 29th, 2005 at 1:06 pm
Story is everything, so it’s worth taking the time to get it right. (Well, OK; I do enjoy the art in Megatokyo for its own sake–especially the backgrounds–but the story, both textual and visual, is what compels me to return day after day. And buy the books. And carry a Flapdoozy. And wear a TPCD shirt. And…er, I think I’d best click Post before you mistake me for a drooling fanboy…)
August 29th, 2005 at 1:13 pm
hehe as they say “time you love wasting is never wasted”…*i wonder if that fits here??* anywho ideas for plots stories etc can come from everywhere so just take ur day off and observe your surroundings..perhaps this next strip coming up will be better than you had thought
Ja mata ::wonders how to use hiragana from his japanese 101 class on the computer::
-Mitchell
August 29th, 2005 at 1:51 pm
Your lessons are ones that are inevitable to be learned time and time again by those who are in for the effort that it takes to be creative while still enjoying what it is you do.
I can vouch for that.
Glad you enjoyed your day off, even though to get back in the groove is work. As always, ganbatte Gallagher-san! ^^
August 29th, 2005 at 3:11 pm
I know how you feel. I do these things /alot/ when it comes to the commisions I should be finishing. I’ll sit down and scan through all the old manga until my head exsplodes.
Just take your time and jumble your brain about until something seems to fit. I’m sure whatever you come up with will be as good as the rest of it.
Don’t stress yourself out.
August 29th, 2005 at 3:18 pm
Take a break already… fantastic to see how your drawing has evolved over the years…
DRW
August 29th, 2005 at 5:27 pm
You seriously need to take a rest. If you fry youself you’ll never be able to do anything on time because it’ll take longer. Go to sleep, before Seraphim makes you
(”\(X.x)/”). I also LOVE your work, so I’ll sneak on a plane when the next convention that you’ll be attending comes around.
August 29th, 2005 at 5:29 pm
You seriously need to take a rest. If you fry youself you’ll never be able to do anything on time because it’ll take longer. Go to sleep, before Seraphim makes you
(”\(X.x)/”). I also LOVE your work, so I’ll sneak on a plane when the next convention that you’ll be attending comes around.
August 29th, 2005 at 7:48 pm
taking time off it no biggie, i’d rather have a good story!
next time you need some time off, say you broke your arm, and get a head a few weeks!
August 29th, 2005 at 9:39 pm
No worries… to tell you the truth I didn’t expect you to get back to the comic right away after the con. I have only attended one anime con and they are ALOT of work, but they are fun. So please take your much deserved break and don’t worrie about the nasty comments I’m shure some readers have sent you already…. They probably have no lives any way :).
Love your work so please keep it up.
Xaddy
August 30th, 2005 at 12:00 am
Fred, you’re a poster child for the problem that freelancers and the self-employed have: they all start viewing *any* non-work time as lost wages or lost opportunities. Schedule one day a week for total playtime (anime watching, games, Sera, etc) — that time is just as important — “its where you get your fscking ideas, man!”
and THEN — spontaneously take the random day off once every few weeks just to avoid the rut of saying TODAY I MUST HAVE FUN on your scheduled day.
I and many other freelancers will tell you that playtime is *critical* to productive work time — especially when your work is your hobby gone wild.
Nice kitty on the sketch BTW…
Hope you’re not going through Mahoraba withdrawal .. I am. And I have only 3 more episodes of Hazuki before I go into neko mimi vampire shakes… alas, alackaday…
Honey & Clover is good stuff if you haven’t had a look — I’m still deciding whether Suzuka is a boring rip or an improved retelling.
August 30th, 2005 at 12:13 am
Yes, Fred, listen to your fan base. Take time for yourself, before you start resenting what you love. GO FREAKING PLAY!!! Trust me on this. It applies to all that is good in life, not just freelancing.
base24601@yahoo.com
DRW
August 30th, 2005 at 9:17 am
Yeah Fred, I too have been amazed how much your art has developed over the years. I find it inspriational.
August 30th, 2005 at 11:19 am
What you don’t use now can be used later. Thanks for what you’ve given us. - Sparky
August 30th, 2005 at 1:04 pm
You deserve that break. A good chapter can only be at it’s best if rest and relaxation is made.;)
August 30th, 2005 at 2:33 pm
if i hadn’t of seen the wobbly satelite dish line, i would’ve thought it wasnt sloppy. even your sketches look awesome. n.n
August 30th, 2005 at 10:24 pm
hey. we all need some r&r every now and again… you’re doin a great job on the story. my friends just recently got me hooked on it and i spent like 6 hours of my saturday catchin up to where they are. take the break that u need if that ’s what it takes to keep the story good