Well, that’s more or less the Genocide Man short story that I wrote in 2000. I thought it was a nice, slow-moving melodrama about the guilt and a scary but believable future. It didn’t sell, probably because of the ‘slow moving’ part.
Beta readers liked it. Their most common critique, though, was that it felt like the beginning of a longer story. So I let it sit in my brain for a while…and a much longer (yet faster moving) story emerged that I think will be pretty great. That’s what you’re going to see.
On to other concerns.
It’s the holidays, and I’m wondering if I should update or not. I have a small buffer, so I could update non-stop through my vacation. But does anyone read webcomics at all from here to the first of the year? I think I’m going to skip a week, to conserve my buffer, and start Chapter Two on January 3rd, 2011. That is, unless people comment here swearing that webcomics are what get them through their Xmas break.
So, I’ll see you in the new year, folks!
Ugyuk: Yes. Ah. Yes.
Jacob: And hide, goddamn it. Hide from now on.
Girii: Jacob? What are you going to do now?
Jacob: ...I'm going to retire.
Girii: Daddy? I think he's going to kill himself.
Ugyuk: Ah. Good.
I know what a toll this takes on you, physically, and I’d rather you conserve your health (and your buffer). January is just fine for me.
What the man in the kilt said: Take a break, paisan. Merry Christmas, happy new year.
Edie
Ah, great. Will I ever be able to remember which of my myriads of email adresses I put in there? I could also use my most common nickname, got a gravatar for that one…
Anyways. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: You, Mr. Shepherd, are a genius.
I’d normally read webcomics in the winter break as much as at any other time (and this year, I’ll even have to work on most days), but in the spirit of sustainable entertainment… go ahead, take a break. The buffer is better used for less predictable occasions, anyways, and christmas is usally taxing enough as it is.
Merry Christmas and a happy new year from me as well.
What others have said. It’s your story to tell at the pace you choose to tell it at.
Great to read the conclusion to the first chapter… but as others have said, take that break. I’ll miss GM for the next week on work breaks, but I’ll make it through somehow. January will be just fine. 🙂 Happy Holidays.
I’m a dittohead, so in keeping with form, I will say: ditto. Take a break.
Speaking personally, today is my birthday, and I was hoping for an update. But I’m not greedy. Take a break.