Notes from the Field: What I Learned On The Way To The Finish Line!

I'm not out of the woods quite yet. I'm still finishing the last three pages of inks on BOOK V while BOOK I sits on a shelf somewhere other than Seattle.

It's true. The surrounding area has had delays what with the flooding and all on the main I-5 thorough fare. Nor did I receive contributor copies of the book. Essentially I have no thunder to steal and my race across the finish line holds no real glory as the finish line was moved 10 more miles down the road.

The last 10% takes 90% of the effort. Don't forget that.

Far be it for me to imbue infinite wisdom from my trials and tribulations on doing something I truly love, but as we all know or will learn; love kills. It's right up there with heart disease.

Rule One: Never set a deadline if you're not getting paid. No reason for it. Well...part of my reason was for my "sanity". I wanted to be finished with everything and start 2008 anew. Will that happen...it might, if I finish this entry and get back to the grind.

Rule Two: Do not hold down a full-time job and give yourself a deadline. Luckily I'm not working entirely full-time, but I thought I'd throw it anyway. Especially if your job pays a living wage. Comics is a career or a hobby, but you have to choose one.

Rule Three: Know when to let go of the details that someone else can handle. Scott's pulled some things around that I thought would not work and I had written them off. I know, bad form, mistrust...and all that but in the end it's about eat what's on your plate, learn to deligate, like it or not, at least it's getting done and always say thank you.

Rule Four: Be on top of your marketing so much so that it's as if you had planned it in tandem with the book. I think my efforts early on in this really helped set the path and we were able to keep adding to it along the way, building off a simple idea/concept and never straying. If you don't know how to market your book you'll have to learn pretty damn quick because no one will do it for you.

Rule Five: Never underestimate the power of friendship. Reaching out into the community in which you want to be accepted has paid of dearly in many ways. I've made good friends, great connections and oddly enough word of mouth is born from this and good impressions are infectious.

I could go on but I won't. I need to get back to it.

So if you've picked up Book I, write to us here, leave a comment tell us what you think. If you haven't please consider it, you may just surprise yourself how much you like it.

In terms of movies, you realize there are many genres of movies, right? And many film companies? I'd be hard-pressed to find someone who only watches action-movies from Warner Brothers. There are many good products outside of superheroes and outside of Marvel and DC, why not treat yourself and try something new?

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