August Highlights
Sharing A Bigger World
So here we are at another end of the month. Got plenty of stuff to prepare for in September. Not least of which is my sister’s wedding. But it’s not like I was twiddling my thumbs…or spending all of my time at my day job. Part of that went to watching streaming services, usually City, New Panty & Stocking, and Alien: Earth. Another part was getting back into Webtoons. My main goal there is to finish the series I took a hiatus from.
Funny how many times you praise a service, but never take the opportunity to take advantage of it.
What Took Me So Long With This?
Especially since I finally took the leap and found a fully independent series on Webtoon Canvas called Sugar & Spies.
Beyond the espionage action and comedy, it’s the character dynamics that I came to love. The older artwork and name of its predecessors was what pushed me away for the most part. Probably because I don’t know how to limit my intake.
And I had the dumb idea to get through all the things I have in print and Comixology. When I should have spent more time enjoying things that don’t make my eyes water out of boredom.
But this series has great layers of characterization that some of them live in my imagination part of the time.
Funny how I think which characters would like to play Warhammer.
Lizzie: Of course you would wanna be around a buncha scrawnies.
Elise: Better elegant elves than loud and obnoxious Ogres.
Lizzie: Weez. Iz. Orks! Dakka! Dakka! Dakka! boyz! Waaaagh!
5: Doc, I told you that this was a terrible idea.
Doc: Oh, come off it 5. War games still prep spies with enough imagination. Look, you’re Guilliman.
5: Teaching students to pester me is not part of the mission!
Managed to get to the end during a real emotional arc. Just hope Paige Keeper finds a way to balance this. Another reason I kept away is because said creator takes hiatuses thanks to periods of burnout. But boy did I miss out. Glad this came to me recommended.
Beyond Quick Reviews
Of course, I finally got myself to do more on the newsletter than just spit out rapid fire reviews. In the way of ideas I’ve been wanting to do for a while:
I get more motivation to do these on here than a lot of posts on Gutternaut proper. Not enough discipline, or more eye-watering boredom when I lose the flow I guess.
I’m not taking Gutternaut off the internet any time soon. I take pride in being a website Wikipedia articles source! But I need something on there with a sense of wonder! These posts felt comfortable here because they’re ripe for engagement. I need on the website something people would want to search for that they didn’t know they wanted.
For example if I’m going into a post about Sugar & Spies, I would make a post about its outline, it’s highs and lows, and any way that can encourage audiences to check it out while (hopefully) not pressuring Paige Keeper.
My Whole New World!
Because all of the time, passion, and enjoyment is meant to be shared. And sometimes, my greatest joys this month and last came from a world-building project that I’m ready to share with the most amount of people!
Da-duh-duh-da!
I explain every one of my thoughts on the creation of this project on this page:
And yes, you will notice I had to use AI to make this blueprint: 1) because I always planned to share it with others 2) I have limits to the amounts of knowledge I can apply. Even the AI like on Notion has limits. Which is why I’m encouraging people to interact and help fill in a few holes.
‘Course I filled a few holes myself when the things all of the AI put in gave me some ideas in reaction.
I’ve got enough details in here to potentially make a whole series of books! And I’ve got preferences whereas people who can apply some ideas differently can see potential I can’t!
I am also going to use Notion in other ways like getting story ideas together. As well as how to apply them in the most accessible ways possible.
What About The Wire Fence?
I really do wanna finish that completed version of the follow-up. It’s just that the layman, who got more into the concept than I did has been real busy. Especially with my sister’s wedding coming up.
I need a complete outside perspective to help set a good pace. But I’m also a little nervous on what to do with it. My editor from the first Wire Fence has gotten a new job. So things are going to be different. Comics Experience will no longer have its publishing wing CEX when all of the paperwork’s finalized.
I could also try that new Metal Ninja Studios if Comics Experience is completely gone. It’s got a similar service.
Afterlight Comics is the only place I can think of when it comes to one-shots, even follow-ups to older ones. I could potentially pitch this as a series to other publishers. But I guess I’m not too sure if I’ll be in a high enough demand.
All of the productions cost money, and I guess I’m afraid of burning myself out and this all turning into a gambling addiction.
I’ll try and make the best version of this new piece of Wire Fence. But what I do after everything is what worries me.
Not Just Hype Next Month?
I have to try. If not for missed opportunities, than to not let my life pass me by every time I write down my age.
Instead I’m gonna write down some stories on here script-style with prose. Might as well share my journey learning to use Twine too. With some time devoted to the book/thesis on the patterns of global comic book publishing. And of course reading, watching, and playing stuff I really like.
Finding myself loving the Absolute DC line. Or is that just Batman?