I think I can...I think I can...I think I can...
Well, today was pretty much a wash. I got nothing done...NOTHING. I guess everyone has days like that, right? I seem to do something comic-related dang near every day....writing, lettering, scouring the internet for pencilers, inkers or colorists. But today was one of those days when the stress of real life... feuding with family members, money stress, still missing my dad who just died in June, "social life", some weird ghosts from my past... combined with the stress of trying to produce independent comics to just blast any motivation I may have woken with right out of my system.
I guess people with real jobs might call it a mental health day. I screwed around on message boards and read some email, watched TV and went for a very short drive. I guess once in a while you just have to step away from things.
In the course of screwing around today I heard some interesting news about the way Diamond is doing business these days. (For friends or relatives who are NOT comic geeks but may be reading, Diamond is Diamond Comics Distributors. They are THIIIIIIIIIIIS close to being the only comic distributor in the country.) Basically they are tightening up their rules on how much you have to sell to be carried by them and anyone knows the behind-the-scenes side of comics knows what it boils down to is that outside of 6-8 publishers, most everyone else is really going to be hurting. There isn't even as much "wiggle room" as there used to be. Once upon a time, if they thought you had a shot they'd carry you even if your numbers weren't great, trying to give you a chance to find enough audience to meet their requirements. NOW, if you get the numbers MOST small press and self-published books hit when getting started....you're screwed immediately. Pretty discouraging. Added to the stress level.
But after a bit of panic I'm back to my previous level of debilitating stress and I figure I'll just get these books made and THEN figure out how to get them out there. I KNOW this stuff is good and I know I'm working with good artists. What's one more obstacle on a miles long obstacle course? We'll climb over it or run around it or if I have my way we'll handle it the way most problems in life should be handled....with a suitable application of high explosives.
Now, for anyone bored enough to suffer through my bitching and complaining, a sketch. This is a development sketch of one of Novak's future clients, Kandee Kane. The sketch is by Mike Hamlett.
I guess people with real jobs might call it a mental health day. I screwed around on message boards and read some email, watched TV and went for a very short drive. I guess once in a while you just have to step away from things.
In the course of screwing around today I heard some interesting news about the way Diamond is doing business these days. (For friends or relatives who are NOT comic geeks but may be reading, Diamond is Diamond Comics Distributors. They are THIIIIIIIIIIIS close to being the only comic distributor in the country.) Basically they are tightening up their rules on how much you have to sell to be carried by them and anyone knows the behind-the-scenes side of comics knows what it boils down to is that outside of 6-8 publishers, most everyone else is really going to be hurting. There isn't even as much "wiggle room" as there used to be. Once upon a time, if they thought you had a shot they'd carry you even if your numbers weren't great, trying to give you a chance to find enough audience to meet their requirements. NOW, if you get the numbers MOST small press and self-published books hit when getting started....you're screwed immediately. Pretty discouraging. Added to the stress level.
But after a bit of panic I'm back to my previous level of debilitating stress and I figure I'll just get these books made and THEN figure out how to get them out there. I KNOW this stuff is good and I know I'm working with good artists. What's one more obstacle on a miles long obstacle course? We'll climb over it or run around it or if I have my way we'll handle it the way most problems in life should be handled....with a suitable application of high explosives.
Now, for anyone bored enough to suffer through my bitching and complaining, a sketch. This is a development sketch of one of Novak's future clients, Kandee Kane. The sketch is by Mike Hamlett.
posted by The Mad Alaskan at 12:03 AM
2 Comments:
Buck up there, Kel. Things will all come together for you, I'm sure.
That sketch is cool.
Making a list works for me. I usually section my lists into work stuff, family to-do stuff and fun because I want to stuff.
Friday I tackled a bunch of emails and mailings that I'd been procrastinating about.... mostly becasue it was on my list and I was tired of looking at it.
More art please,
M
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