Still trying to stay afloat. The piece below is “Strasmin at Bottom of Dried Coffee Cup.”
Author: JJA
Missed Entry and Question.
I dropped the ball on Thursday; I”m regrouping for next Monday.
I’d like to get some feedback on the following: When I do a text entry, I do seem to move the story along a bit faster than I do in graphic mode. The text is also somewhat easier for me to prepare. Thus, I have considered making Botaram a text novel with occasional illustrations.
There are some arguments against it. I personally find that when I read a graphic novel and it switches to blocks of text, I don’t care for this and wind up skimming the text to get back to the word pictures. I don’t have this problem when I read a regular novel. What’s true for me may be true for others as well.
So, should I seriously consider reinventing Botaram as a text story?
Maintenance and Composition
I’ve been going through the site, fixing broken images and converting old posts to link to the new filehost. This work is almost done. If you happen to see any problems I have overlooked, please let me know.
I still have to review the story and my notes to prepare for the next arc. One reason the story came to a halt originally is because I was having trouble preparing this next section. I expect to do better this time, but it may take a while to get back to my old pacing. Story updates may come more slowly in this period, but I will continue to post content and status updates regularly.
Thanks for sticking with me.
How many A-holes can dance on a pinhead?
I am moving from the unreliable Imageshack to a different image host (Google Sites) before I continue. I’ll try to get another update done tomorrow.
But wait…
Got home too late to work on the next entry. I’ll have a go tomorrow.
Diversion
…And then the Khirrik popped like a balloon.
Aun and Chax stared at the scattered fragments, each lost in his own thoughts.
“Let’s go,” said Aun.
“We can’t,” said Chax.
“Why not?”
“…You know who we’re waiting for.” Chax spat irritably.
Aun slowly tapped his frenting rod against the ground, harder and harder, until at last he slammed it down and stood straight up.
“That’s it, I’ve had it. If he can’t be bothered to drag his ass down here and get things moving, we’ve just got to go after him.”
Chax smiled grimly. “I’m with you. Lead the way.”
***
Upon the top of a high shelf they stood, Aun pacing anxiously nearby as Chax scouted with his superior vision at a figure huddled over a laptop at a computer desk.
“What’s he doing?” muttered Aun.
Chax shook his great head, peered again for a time, then scowled. “He’s writing fiction, Aun.”
Aun sighed. “Why can’t we move, then? He’s gone to text mode before!”
Chax gritted his fanged teeth. “It’s… It’s not fiction about us, Aun.”
Aun stopped pacing. “Whuh?”
“Near as I can make out, it’s fanfic.”
Aun flung his frenting rod down. “Fanfic! Botaram redeem us! What kind of fanfic?”
Chax growled. “It appears to be fanfic of a show about tiny polychromatic hippos.”
The solemn pair gazed at each other.
“Nai, Nai…” said Aun at last. “That’s the show that ruins everything, isn’t it? It taints every creative mind it touches.”
“I fear that you’re right. It’s like a candy-coated virus. Once it enters an artist’s mind, the artist draws little else henceforth.” Chax shuddered.
Aun slumped his shoulders. “Then… There’s little to be done, isn’t there. Botaram… We shall never reach Botaram.” A great tear formed in his eye.
Chax reached out a gentle claw and lifted Aun’s chin.
“There was a time, Aun, when I would have seized upon any means to stop a Strasmin from defiling that noble summit. But caught with you as I am on your mad journey, I shall not fail in my resolve. I shall see you to Botaram, or die in the attempt. No matter how thick the skull we must pierce to make it happen!”
Aun took up his frenting rod with renewed hope, as Chax flexed his jumping leg. He grinned a cocky little grin.
“Aun,” he said, “grab my pointy-ear thing.”
Aun leapt on Chax’s back and seized hold as instructed.
Chax leapt strongly from the shelf, pouring his intensity and resolve into one dramatically extended claw as they flew through the air towards the back of the author’s head…
“ADVENTURE!”
Am I ready to resume? I’m not sure. But if I wait until I’m ready, I may never be.
New comic on Thursday.
2013 in Review…
It wasn’t a very good year for me. I’ve been suffering the kind of health problem where it feels like you’re going to die, but it doesn’t actually kill you, and things have not gone nearly as well after the move as I’ve hoped.
Furthermore, I found that, at a time when my life seemed very bleak indeed, Botaram became bleak in my mind as well, to the point where I was seizing upon excuses not to work on it. I’ve found myself putting my creative effort into more trivial and light-hearted things, by way of escaping. Of course, one can only run from one’s dreams so far, if one is to retain any self-respect at all.
I am still working on improving my lot, but one way or another, I mean to return. I may have to back the story up a few pages should I find that I’ve hit a blind alley. To those who have been inquiring, I thank you for thinking of me. I will try not to disappoint you.
Further Progress
The move is over, and I find myself hollowing pathways through a mass of cardboard boxes and trying to reassemble the positive parts of my former environment. I expect it to be a while longer before I have put a creative space back together, but when I do, Botaram will return.
To all who are still watching, thank you for not giving up.
Progress Report
I’m in the middle of moving to a new apartment. I hope in the process to leave a bunch of problems behind and acquire not as many in exchange. Once I’m settled in and some of the stress is reduced, I expect to return to Botaram.
To all of my readers, thanks for your patience as I work through some troublesome times.
JJA
Feeling Aliver…
I’ve been largely miserable for the past few months, but some things may be getting better now and not all was as bleak as I feared. Getting out into the fresh air helps a lot.
Since BiggerJ asked, I do have a Paypal account for donations, and there’s a yellow donate button at the bottom of each page. I’m not comfortable with the idea of asking for money at a time when I’m not producing any art, but if you’d like to show your support in this way, please feel free to do so. If you can’t stand Paypal, and many can’t, contact me via the email address in my profile (link also at page bottom) and we can work something else out.
I may not have to mention it, but kind words are always welcome. Thanks to all my readers for their encouraging comments, and to those who are still reading for sticking with me as I work some things out. Botaram will return.
[Also, some site functions (navigation button images and Archive script) are broken at the moment because one of my domains is down. This should be fixed soon.]