Fist Full of Hair writing method
I’m not really sure what it is about having Jack around, or the transition into fatherhood, but it seems to have sparked in me a far more serious and orderly approach to writing. This might not be evident from the long delays in getting comics done (much of this is due to JackCare, but not all of it), but for the first time in a years I’ve been able to step back from the nebulous quagmire that is the Megatokyo story and try to knock some order into it - with some actual success for once.
Oh, I’ve attempted this many times before. Sort of like my attempts to use personal organizers and planners I have had nothing but failed attempts to apply order to my brain’s murky and muddy effluent. (The whole issue of how to better organize for “creative” people is not something new. One program I have used in beta and felt like might work for me is Omni Focus, but the two months before Jack was born was not a good time to be testing organizational software :P) I spent some time researching how other people write and organize themselves, and took a far more serious look at how to actually use some of the basic tools Scrivener gives me to organize better. I also fine tuned the script features to better automate script writing so that it helped rather than hindered my thinking process.
I’ve had a lot of real conundrums to consider recently, in regards to the story. There are a things that have been worked out for some time that I am quite happy with, but then there are other things that I am not very happy with. It’s not because they are particularly bad per se, but because they don’t feel as inspired as they should be. Not everything you write will tilt the moon and move the earth, but it should at least advance the growth (or decline) of characters in ways that make it worth drawing (and reading). Some of my writing for this chapter, produced in the midst of a somewhat difficult and worrisome pregnancy, is certainly not up to par. Some of it falls really flat for me, and some of it is just not worked out sufficiently. Some of it is little more than problems getting from point A to point B, where B is pretty awesome - but it diffuse the impact of “B” if the readers mind is numb from the journey there. I can do better than this, I hate it when I’m not able to before the comic goes live.
It’s nice to be making some progress in getting better structure to my writing, over time is is sure to result in a more reliable flow of comics from me, but the killer is dealing with muddling through it while trying to produce comics you are not yet really happy with. What’s really weird is when I find myself just not able to really click with a comic I’m trying to draw. That’s usually a sign that the subconscious writer that lives somewhere in my brain is trying to tell me that I’m getting it all wrong, and that its not part of the “Story” that he has already worked out and so jealously guards. I wish he’d just tell me where he wants things to go sometimes trying to figure out what he wants results in much hair pulling and agony. 
I usually get it at some point, which makes it worth it in the end, but I’d like to try to start figuring that out before I am in the middle of drawing.
That said, back to work on Friday’s comic. I said I’ll do three comics this week, and I am. Once I get this one posted, I’ll roll onto Mondays. I should be able to post this sometime this afternoon. Stress and hair loss aside, it always feels worth it when things finally, inevitably, click into place.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
The subconcious writer doesn’t ever like to share what he’s already worked out in the story. :p He makes you work for it. Which is why my inner writer usually causes me trouble when I try to start a page… Some strips it seems like he’s given in, though, and helped you create a fantastic story piece.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
meh i dont usually have problems writing but i have been there
it happens to everyone and the more complex the peice is the more problems you develop so i can understand that. megatokyo is complex even if some of the MT haters out there don’t aknowledge it, it is. its a city and eveyone has there own little side in the story. just like real life. just keep working at it fred. its flows nice as is. and little flaws just make you more realto everyone which is good 
December 15th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Just wanted to say I empathize with the whole trying to get stuff done with a new baby thing. Mine was born 2 days after yours, also nearly a month early, and I’m only just barely getting my schedule worked out again. Between finishing up some freelance work, finals, and minding her big sister, it’s a wonder I’ve gotten as much sleep as I have. Having a supportive husband who also works from home (and does all the dishes!) is a big weight off my shoulders. Keep up the good work!
December 15th, 2007 at 11:47 pm
For most new parents, it is the first time in their lives that they have been completely responsible for the wellbeing of another person. Unlike a spouse or a roommate, your son can’t look after himself or get along on his own if you don’t provide for him. That realization frequently motivates people to take a more serious approach to their work, their relationships, etc.
Also, as Lironah mentioned in her post, the addition of an infant to your life will push you to get more organized, because otherwise, you simply won’t have time to do what needs to be done. Just say, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”
By the way, this may not be the best time to mention this, but I continue to be impressed with your courage in striking out on your own as an artist.
I finally got around to reading MT earlier this year, and now I’m kicking myself for not having done so sooner. I’m not a gamer, so the first bits were a little rough, but the interesting characters, along with the combination of action and emotion sucked me in pretty quickly. Last, but certainly not least, there are enough unanswered questions about the past and the future of the characters to keep me wanting to know what’s going to happen next, which is pretty important for a serialized work like a web comic. ^_^
December 17th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
ha ha srry that this is’ent about the blog but i just wanted to say good luck with jack and skrew that reader that thinks that you should put the comic over family
December 19th, 2007 at 10:56 am
yeah don’t worry about, it happens at least you got it on paper i don’t know the numbers of how many times my ideas didn’t pan out. but i keep going so should you i mean you got a fanbase so that means you are doing something right, verdad? But you NEED to put your family first because in life that is all that really matters; the comic is important AFTER your family.
December 20th, 2007 at 4:46 am
Hey, even though this really has nothing to do with your post, ive been trying to find a way to contact you and this seemed easiest, I just wanted to say thank you for your truely awesome work. I picked up your first book a month or so ago, and the second I was done I drove to the book store and bought the rest of the series. Since then ive been coming to the site almost daily just to read old chapters or check out art work. I find it amazing you created a magnificent world with truely memorable characters. I would also like to say you’ve given me hundreds of quotes i now use on a daily basis. I sincerly congradulate you on your very expressive artwork, and look forward to whats coming next. Thanks for listening, lol.
Btw, congrats on yhe new edition to your family. Wish you the best. Which at times my seem the worse lol.
December 20th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
I was just about to bust out some advice on my favorite organizational software when I developed a clue and realized you’re on a Mac. I’ve used an old OpenSource project called KeyNote for years but I’m also looking at something relatively new called Celtex and it does have a Mac version. See http://www.celtx.com/ It might be sand-blasting a soup cracker for you, but it’s free to find out if you want.
As far as Jack goes, don’t worry about it. You do what you and Sarah need to do and everyone will all get through.
Housapes getting in the way of work doesn’t ever go away. The details just change over time and you learn more strategies to work with it. My oldest just turned 20, and he still drives me nuts on a regular basis and he doesn’t even live in the same house anymore.
December 29th, 2007 at 9:07 am
Amazed.. that would be the word describing my current state of mind
I’ve followed you and project MT for about a year now after stumbling over it while checking out different webmanga, and I’ve been hooked ever since 
) is truely amazing and on my own account I must say that even as a dedicated reader of MT, everytime I’ve read about your struggles with getting the next post done I’ve thought: “relax Fred.. as long as your doing ok, I could live with just post per week.. (and a couple of Dom’s.. his style is.. unexplainable, but his jokes are great fun 
)”
Your handling of MT and your private life (btw, GRATZ on becoming dad..! my mail never did seem to reach you
In my own everyday life I presently have a starting old-fashioned winter-depression, due to the stress of starting school after 5 years of easygoing workdays and the following pile-up of things not done in due time..
after reading your post here, and the link to the GTD-writers edit I’ve got several ideas to how I can get through this without much trouble.
Loving the story so far, and looking forward to what happens next
(wee.. done with my first reply-post to the great Fred aka. Piro (^_^) proberly not the last.. MERRY CHRISTMAZ! and Happy NewYear! 
)
December 29th, 2007 at 9:10 am
(not to be released, just delete it after reading
)
by writing that about you approving all posts also tells the writer that you’ll read what he has written.. simply superb!
)
Gr8 idea you got there Fred
(as you can imagine I was.. well.. not worried, but just uncertain weather you’d have time to read the post I posted or not.. but I rest my case.. great job presenting the arguments.. very pursuasive
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Just like everyone else I’ll say it. You’ll make you’re world better for you and Sarah if you put ypu two and Jack first. While I love MT and it makes me very sad not to get more MT goodness on a regular basis I’d rather have less and know that you’re making sure you’re families good than pester you for a new page. I just hope that you can do whatever you need to make your families life wonderful and still have a little free time to get an occasional comic up when the nearly nonexistant free time magically appears. Love Peace and MegaTokyo
January 4th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Honestly,I think if you were to maybe update on Monday and Friday you would have a more organized approach,I mean I would hate less comics per week but I think overall,it could alleviate a lot of stress and also allow you more Time with Jack, we would get more comics and less DPD and Shirt Guy Dom’s(the horror).Thats just opinion,well Good Luck