Update
November 3, 2011
Hey folks, sorry for lack of updates.
It’s been a combination of vacations, fatigue and lack of interest. I managed to elude Hurricane Rina, but haven’t felt much motivation to continue the comic lately. I’d like to finish up this chapter, but I can’t promise regular updates. This isn’t a commercial endeavor, so I’m not going to grind out sub-par pages to meet a deadline. Well, if you’ve been reading for a while, you probably know my feelings on all that. I hope you will enjoy further Roza pages as they are posted whenever-ly.
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15 Comments to “Update”
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Any time an author experiences disinterest in his or her work it is a sad day for those who like to see it produced!
Don’t force it and don’t worry :) It would be nice if you could finish the chapter as it comes to you… if you decide after that not to continue with Roza, will you please consider letting us in on where you were thinking of going with the whole story?
Writers and artist fatigue is common! You should always love what you do. Stop when it doesn’t strike you! :) And come back to it when it does.
I still enjoy it no matter when they are posted.
^ Agreed
If it’s not working for you, and it’s not a paying job either, take a break, get yourself together. Find the energy that’s been drained. Maybe you’ll come back to it, maybe not. You’re not the first and almost certainly not last one to hit that wall, and usually it’s possible to bounce back after a refresher.
It’d be a shame to see this story unfinished with all the work that’s gone in so far, but it’s your baby not ours!
I’m too much of a grown up and have seen too many web series hiatuses to bear any grudge or whatever. Ignore those who would. The rest of us will still keep checking back now & then ;)
(I mean… D-S.H. has finally got back to updating The Meek after a couple months off… we can use that to fill the time!)
Dear Kelly, it is a real pity that you have got lack of interest, Roza is a great character and she deserves to be developed to her full potential; I have been a pasionate lover of comics for the last sixty years (since I was four) and I can recognize a outstanding character when I see it.
I think that you could – in some eventual future – make another story of this same character, but avoiding the pitfall of a too much heavy secondary actor.
You could rewrite the story giving Esten just a brief presence, keeping Roza vulnerable, bold but without protector, always in a quest and full of questions, but without the all-knowing companion, owner of all the answers.
It is important that Roza discovers her way by herself, with fear and doubt, but always going courageously onwards, other way the story becomes dull, and even the writer loses interest.
I also think that you could pay more attention to some more formal aspects of your creature: This is a fantasy story, so you don’t need to stick to rigid “realistic” rules. Her outward appearance should be always in relation with the spirit you want her to display, even in cold weather she must dress in waving colourful garments(perhaps woolen), with that gipsy touch that speaks of freedom. She is dramatic, not “realistic”. If you can give her burning blood you can make her to cross the mountains barefoot too. If you can make her talk to gods you can make her find her way without guides also.
Take your time, but don’t forget your lovely Roza.
From the green shores of Patagonia
Machi
I’m glad to hear everything’s alright, I was getting worried! I’ll be glad to see new updates whenever you happen to find time for them :) I know very well how artists fatigue works, if you need a break, by all means take it! Just don’t forget about us when you get your energy and inspiration back.
I could tell when you were producing the rough pages for this chapter that there was still some excitement for the story, could it be that having to revisit pages you’d already finished and redo a chapter you’d already written was preventing you from moving forward with the rest of the story? Stopping when you’d really rather continue developing the story can really stagnate your creativity.
The fluid way you sketched out the rough chapters was just as appealing to me as your colored pages. If it helps you to be less fatigued, you could perhaps consider posting only roughs online and colors when you release a volume for publishing.
I completely understand your need for rest, as well as the desire to maintain a level of quality in your work that would otherwise be subpar if you forced yourself to work towards deadlines instead of something that you were proud of. Please take all the time you need to recharge c: I’d love to see you post tidbits of the other things you work on in the meantime though!
Yes, you’ve got it exactly right. I’ve been on this chapter so long that my heart just isn’t in it anymore. I hate to leave things unfinished, but it may be better to halt colors and just start the next book. I think Roza fans would appreciate rough pages better than no pages at all!
Get the next bit of the story on the way and take an hour here and there to finish up the colouring of the last few pages in the process whilst you’re actually in the mood for it?
I know what you mean about that kind of “ugh this is endless” feeling, sat in front of the PC trying to slog thru part 48 of a 60 part thing, each piece of which takes ages… and it seemed like such a good idea when you started! Though my work is far less creative, I’m in the middle of something similar right now.
The groundwork is already laid, grab a coffee and have at it… things will suck for a while… then suddenly it’ll be done! :-)
Have hope!
Lol. This is gonna sound so insensitive and callous, but as a published writer I’d like to think my advice has a *little* bit of merit behind it. XD
Reason why you’re so disinterested in continuing is simple: You let a concept you weren’t fond of to begin with take center stage. And it’s a rough spot. If you force it at this point, you’ll potentially jump the shark. If you don’t force it, you might never get the will to continue again. The worst thing you can possibly do is linger in the fringe – going back and forth. That stage is where stupid ideas are born. XP
So, here’s my advice: Good ol’ tree diagram! From this very page, you set up a series of possible scenarios where the comic will go from there. Be sure to differentiate what you want to draw and write, and where you want Roza herself to go. Doing this, you’ll easily find a good balance. And when you get on a roll, you’ll find yourself motivated again!
And lastly, music! Maybe it’s just me, but music always helps.
I will!
I have loved this comic from the very beginning. You draw monsters like… a man! REALLY REALLY BAD ASS MONSTERS. And the layout of the pages are stunning! I really thought you were a master from pixar or something when I started reading. When you start writing again, just go with it! You are a natural and it will come out great no matter where the story goes. Just write more! We are all excited to hear more!
Glad to hear from you, I always worry when people don’t say why they’re not updating. I’d rather you make quality pages then worry about quantity, but I do miss seeing your beautiful work.
I’ve been following your comic since the horse prince. I <3 your work, both the beautiful art and the unique and interesting story lines.
As an author, I can definitely empathize with your block. I have found that working when I'm not struck by the muse always produces work I'm not very proud of later. Though I'm sad for the delay in updates, I remain happy and eager for them to continue when you're muse is ready. Take care of your muse and she'll take care of you. :D
Take your time. I’m willing to wait… FOREVER. But seriously. Any work worth doing is worth doing well, so as an avid reader of the comic, I’m willing to lilt along at whatever pace you wanna turn it out!
Also, I didn’t know there was a comment section (admittedly haven’t looked all that hard, esp. with a GALLERY about), but now that I know it’s here, I can relate how excited I am about your comic (I’ve followed since the Horse Prince, too, so my lack of finding the comment section is even more embarrassing). The art is fantastic and the story inspired! Gah! I love me some fantasy! I have NO problem waiting for pages because it makes each one even more… what’s the word? I dunno, fantastic? Special? That sounds wrongish. Anyway, you get the picture I think. :”D!
You can do it!
Happy Holidays and New Year. Hope inspiration hits and you can finish your comic, but more importantly that you will enjoy doing it. Best of luck in the coming year!