In getting back into chapter 7 one thing i can’t help but notice is that while the chapter isn’t near as bad as Chapter 5 was (it has a lot of good sequences) the way it all goes together is not quite as solid as it should be. It’s really kinda sad how when i have big things going on (like moving to a new publisher, pulling together my fourth book) my writing suffers. It does, it just does. I’m not dealing with a disastrous chapter here, but i am looking at one that could have been done better.
In January, i had set a goal to simply produce 3 comics per week, and to produce them on schedule. I actually made a pretty decent effort at this in January. In February, things just started to get overwhelming and the comic itself almost seemed to take a back burner to everything else i had to deal with. March was rough, but April… it was an unfair month for MT readers, and unfair to the story. It’s been well over a month since MT had any kind of momentum.
I’ll get it back, i’m fairly sure of that, but what i hate is how this happens no matter how hard i try to prevent it. I don’t think its a problem with my other projects - its a problem with my methods for doing comics. Just because i produce a halfway decent comic and have been for six years doesn’t mean i have systems and methods that are what you would call effective. In fact, if anything, i honestly think the only reason MT exists at all is because i take a brute force approach to doing it. There’s no good reason why one of these comics should take 14-20 hrs to produce. I was able to produce almost two pages of Circuity art in one day, and yet todays comic took 14 hrs. The difference is startling, and is a strong reflection on the difference between being ‘in mode’ and not.
I’m trying, yet again, to adjust my approach to things, once again refine how i work. I rely way too much on things just coming together as i do them, and never give myself enough buffer to actually have the time to mull over the final result. Sure, MT is readable, but it could be better. I know i could.
Anyways, it is nice to finally have the book stuff behind me. It was way too much for one person to do, but i did it, and MT is one of many things that were sacrificed in the process. I’ve lost readers, i know i have, but over time many will come back if the comic achieves that regularity that a web based project really needs to have in order to thrive. I can actually do this, and have in recent years, just the last two months were… ugh. 
One thing i also need to do is get ready for Anime Central (Acen) in Chicago the weekend after next. Lots to do for that, but honestly, that prep comes second to the comic. My goal for the week of acen is to not miss any comics as a result of that trip. We’ll see if i can achieve that far less audacious goals.
In more silly news, this finally shipped. One of these days i really want to make MT figures like this. Sometime in the near future, i hope…
- pirotunes: Peter Savage - The Passion Of Learning -
As a reader and a fan I have to say thank you very much. ^.^ I’m very excited for the release of the fourth volume and will be very happy to read it all again and see what else is in the book. I know that it is frustrating if you don’t meet your personal goals, but what we’ve been reading has been wonderful and worth any wait. Many of us will remain faithful, and hopefully readers who left will come back, and enjoy volume four when it is released.
Regarding getting ready for ACEN:
I’m driving out from Ann Arbor early Thursday morning and I will have an empty trunk. If you need me to transport stuff for you, I am available.
-r.
Keep up the good work, and don’t stress so much. ^__^
As a new reader, I don’t see much difference between old and new in terms of art. As far as story goes, I must say it’s just getting stronger as time goes on. So keep in mind, for every one you lose, you’ll eventually get two more due to the superb storytelling.
I concure, though there as been a drop in the amount of comics put out, it is done with the best of reasons. The story at this point is very strong and I see little (barely noticable) to no change in the stories quality. If what you said is true about the drop in quality you would have lost far more then a few stragalers. Just keep up the good work when you can, if anything the MT fans know how to wait.
Jinto
Honestly Fred, I think you’re beating yourself up (again) for no reason. Cut yourself a little slack, eh? As you said, the stuff you had to do for the book was too much for one person, yet you only have one person who can do it, so it *had* to be done. Also, I’m betting the majority of your readers have those two little qualities called patience and understanding. You work hard, and you tell us what’s going on, so that helps; we know you’re not just goofing off.
I also think you’re dealing with a two-edged sword. You not only have to draw, but you have to have a story to go with it. I’m a hobbyist writer, and I know that sometimes coming up with the story alone is often brain-wracking work. As for comparing the time it took you to produce Circuity versus the time you spend on the comic, I’m not sure it’s fair to make that comparison. If you’re working on the comic - story and drawings - as you go, is it really fair to compare the time needed to produce that to the time spent producing something that was probably fully (or nearly fully) formed in your mind when you started? Just a thought.
Having run a website that involved public interaction, I know it can get tough, and lots of people like to be critical. Just remember that sometimes you have to shrug it off and keep doing the best you can do. You aren’t Superman, you know.
At any rate, I can’t wait for book four myself. I have both editions of the first volume, in addition to volumes 2 and 3, so I’m looking forward to adding to my MT book collection. I love your art, and I love MT’s story. If I have to wait now and then while you’re working on a project (that is for *the fans* might I add), then I’ll wait patiently. I think you’ll find that the majority of your fans are willing to wait patiently.
Thanks for sharing your talent, Fred!
I agree with Cranial Anomaly. Most MT fans (if they have been reading your posts) understand that you are/were under a lot of pressure to get a lot of things done. I haven’t noticed a drop in the quality of the comic, only a drop of the number per week. Don’t stress to much about the number of comics per week though, if it takes you more time than you think to produce what you consider good quality work the MT fans will be happy to wait.