(sigh) i really should know better than to think that after taking a week to step away from the story writing and drawing process, that i couldn’t just jump back in and knock out a good strip. I really should have just planned for a simple one off joke strip or something (in fact, i have a half finished idea for one that i really should have done) but no, i have to be stubborn.
It’s a very depressing feeling, really, working along on something that is coming together poorly as you work on it. It’s kind of hard to describe. Usually, what happens is when you are working on a comic and drawing it, the ideas tighten up, the sequence comes together better, and most of the time the process of creating the comic fixes any worries you have about the script. In today’s effort, i was starting to feel that something was most definitely not right… this comic is on the wrong path to go where i want to go, and the only way to fix it is to go back and restart. I have to do this sometimes (as some of you may remember).
What i really should have done is just said ‘no comics this week, see you monday” but i insist on being stubborn and refuse to listen to my own past track record about how i work. I’ll just have to make sure i dont check email today, because i’m sure the flames about my inadequacies as a comic artist and my lack of professionalism will start rolling in as soon as my more critical readers find there is no comic this morning and get agitated by the fact. Ah well, thinking about it is as bad as reading them.
Gotta stop, catch my breath, re-address what im doing, and dive back in. This, at least, usually works - its just part of my normal work structure that makes me perpetually late, and gives me no worthy explanations to appease disappointed people with.
- pirotunes: Harold Budd - Down The Slopes To The Meadow -
Hey, look at it this way - you got SOMETHING done…
I’ve had work days where I spend the whole day thinking “Yep, got to get to that project - oooh, shiny object…”
Besides, unless you go the “Family Circus” route and start re-using old strips, you’ll have an off day or two.
Now, go talk to Sarah and have her beat you into shape!
Dude, a doodle will do. You’re too tense. Go get a drink and wait for the muse to strike.
Do things at your own pace, because that’s when you can work at your best! Whenever I rush things or force myself to do something when I don’t really feel like it, it never works out as well as I would hope it would. All your previous comics have worked well! Just enjoy what you do ^.^ I always look forward to your comics, but I think it’s much better to take it easy than overwork yourself.
Just put a random sketch up. I love DPD, it gives me something random to CG. And maybe someday I will feel good enough about it to show you.
I’m glad the trip went well. Don’t worry about the comic. I would rather wait for one then have you get sick. Take it easy. *hug*
Oh, chill
Guess who’s neither surprised nor disappointed. Me!
Sometimes I get the impression that some of us know more than you do about the way MT works
Fred, man, whatever you gotta do to produce a comic that feels good enough to yo, do it. I’ve had plenty of times when I drew something that seemed so good “at first,” but at the end just kinda sucked. And I’ve still posted them, but hated every one.
Do what you gotta do, man. Nobody hates you for wanting great things
~L
Be glad you have an inner editor to whom you listen. Yes, creating content that becomes a dead end is frustrating, but that’s one of the risks of the creative process. Far better to relegate content to the slush pile and begin anew than to throw additional time and energy at content that doesn’t go where you expect.
We all procrastinate…Fred just likes doing it more than some people. Meh, he’s done alot of things, all of which didn’t get done by procrastinating, so we know he’ll get relaxed, feel obliged to do something, feel guilty for not doing it, and do it.
So awesome. Fred rocks! (Well his art does anyways. =)
Hope you enjoyed Wisconsin. I procrastinate too^^
Be glad you have an inner editor to whom you listen. Yes, creating content that becomes a dead end is frustrating, but that’s one of the risks of the creative process. Far better to relegate content to the slush pile and begin anew than to throw additional time and energy at content that doesn’t go where you expect.
What were you thinking trying to have a life outside of working on MT?!?!? Who unchained you from your drawing pad!
hehehe
Dude, what do us fans have to do to make you realize that the vast majority of us aren’t going to lynch you for missing one comic? And glad to hear you had a good trip.
Fred,
Slow deep breaths. The ultra-critical twits who like to flame never produce anything worthwhile, except for their flames. That is why they view themselves as critics. F*-em if they can’t take a joke.
You know what needs to happen to get the strips completed. You have produced many great strips. Someone once said “and by their fruits will you know them.” I have seen and tasted your fruits and know they are good.
Follow your heart and your muse, my friend.
Just post a little fanservice like you have in a couple of past comics, and everybody will be too happy to remember there were no actual comics this week (even if they would never admit it)…
fyi, i’ve got a rather complex DPD drawing that i have sort of been working on all day. Interesting what came out… i’ll finish and post it later tonight.
Thanks for the supportive vibes folks. Remember, i’m my own worst critic, and the least likely to forgive myself for lapses
Second the internal editor comment. It seems to me that this often happens after you break for a con or something; it’s like you get a chance to step back and see where things are going. And I see that as a good thing.
About the supportive vibes…
Your cat didn’t vomit on your computer cables and artwork today. Zoe (a cat) just started doing that to my best friend. Poor Ryan…
Thanks for thanking us for those supportive vibes. No one cares you’re your own worst critic (or at least I don’t care =).
Being a fan, you might have to bring out the fan appreciation bat to keep me straight here; but you give us this white box to say something in, so I have the urge to say this: I don’t see a new DPD.
*imagines a fan appreciation bat*
ok, sarah and i went to see Wallace and Grommit. My god, a decent funny movie. im … stunned.
Off to finish working on my drawing 
A pity the old house with all their sets, models and such burnt down.
Damn, Fred! When you said complicated, you weren’t kidding!!
Nice.
~L
I hardly remember something about Fred having cats (two? I forget). Thought I’d ask what their names were and stuff…
I’ve been reading MegaTokyo since around August/September 2004. Started reading Nuklear Power over the summer in 2003, right before my frosh year at Paradise High. This year I’ve started broadening my webcomic list to AppleGeeks, Ctrl+Alt+Del, and VGCats. Penny Arcade just isn’t worksafe, and I feel that I’ve lived my life so far without PA just fine; I don’t want to live my life with certain types of humor I would probably be better off, more honest, happier, less sarcastic, or angry without.
Thus, I’ve come to appreciate and admire some people’s hard work more than others, especially Fred’s. I don’t even know how old the man is and I admire him more than I do either my dad or step-dad (both hard to say I admire less than another person).
Anyways, enough [--ok I just refreshed this page, saw LAJL's post, tabbed over to MT and refreshed...strengthening the meaning of what I was getting to--] talk of admiration. I’m using this white box for another purpose; I appreciate your hard work Fred. Thank you.
Criticizing Strip 776, I don’t know what to say. If only there wasn’t a game putting the word “wow” to shame, I’d say wow.
…
Something about starting this post about cats…nevermind. Lost the thought. Names of Fred’s kitties?
Sammy’s a ragdoll, has never slept in my room, and is sleeping on my bed right now, next to a pillow.
Monica, Lynx, Rudy, and Bob are all somewhere other than my room. Bob being a kitten….he knows where the litter box is but insists on using my room instead, so he’s been perma-banned.
Okay shutting up now. Gnight.
I’ve rewritten this three times trying to avoid sounding negative, but I don’t think I can. So here goes nothing. I think we all love MT and all the work you do, and BECAUSE of that we can be a bit disappointed by missing them, or by them skipping a beat. But you have a life to live, and the trip was important. So don’t worry. Your work on MT is phoenomenal and you know best when it’s not coming together. Thank you for posting the beautiful Kimiko pic on this DPD. We have something to enjoy looking at all the glorious details of for now, and Monday comes so soon. I can hardly wait.
sven negative? i don’t think so -.-
you did a better job complimenting him than i did…
(i came to say this: Mr. Gallagher, please check for private messages =)
Currently Playing:::Dave Matthews [Band]::Central Park Concert:Crush
*pats on head* we all know the feeling, Fred.
Comic #775 = Cute little doodle… ^-^
Comic #776 = best DPD drawing by far. Very seasonal. Looks like a cold, empty autumn home. Did you have Halloween on the mind? Somehow reminds me of the omake comic you did with Kimiko as an angel-wined being with Piro and Largo… That omake could have been developed into a full drama, I think…
Comic #778: ROFLMAO. L0v3 d3 L33t Dud3! ^-^
Luck and love from a crazed fangirl,
midgetrat
Hi hi! ^^ I’ve just finished reading all of your comments and I’d like to praise you very highly on your beautiful and amazing comic. My friend went and bought the NINJ4 hoodie the other day, so I went into a MegaTokyo craze and asked all my friends to let me borrow their manga of it and then read the rest on your site. I was really into Piro in the beginning, but then drifted more into favoring Largo. I love his attitude toward Hayasake-san although I’m sad that he’s depressed at the moment. I’m relying on Junko-chan to pull him through. ^^ Maybe Junpei too. EEEE! Junpei is so funny! I absolutely adore him! Things seem to be working out allright with Kimiko and Piro right now, so that makes me happy too.
One of my very best friends went to some anime convention last year and got a signed drawing of Piro from you, and even got to talk to Sera-san. Needless to say, I am a bit jealous. >.< lol.
Your strip seem s to be going very well! Congrats on the long run. How long now, 5 years? Its awesome!
If I got something from your site, my favorite item would probably be the n33kid skillz hoodie. I’m hoping that I’ll get it for Christmas. It makes me want to start building my own l33t compy.
Rock on. -new and dedicated fan. ^.~
w00t for Wallace & Gromit …
I’ve followed their antics since… well since no one in the States knew much about them. Glad to hear humor can be fun and decent at the same time.
Just read ‘[777] concern’. Just brilliant. Totally worth the extra wait, in my opinion.
After reading all the comments, I will have to agree. Man, just take you time. Whatever you produce the true fans will be happy with it no matter what. I know the *inner editor* is hard to ignore, but sometimes you have to. Keep up the sweet work on MT.