Knocking on wood

Writing issue 20 is going really well, about 6,500 words in with the rest of it looking like smooth sailing. It's supposed to be a 'wrap up' issue but I'm having too much fun with it.

Assuming that stays on course, I'll be releasing 18 this weekend (probably, depending on the time I have) and then 19 the week after, and 20 the week after that. Should be do-able.

Of course whenever I make these proclamations it all goes horribly wrong, so...

New release: Spider-Girl, issue #17

Arriving in another dimension to hunt the Chameleon, Betty Brant found herself powerless... but luckily, she also found the protection of Gotham City's dynamic duo, Batman and Batgirl. The Chameleon is conducting an elaborate plan, impersonating Catwoman with Two-Face's help; however it is an uneasy alliance. Meanwhile. confined to Wayne Manor and frustrated with her inability to help, Betty is exploring new dimensions of her own - by dressing as Batman....

Issue #17: Batman, Confidential

Download from Maskingwriter (Yahoo! Group)

After - for at least some of you - what must seem like the longest wait ever, Betty is back! The Chameleon's plan starts to unfold as Betty gets closer to her partners in crimefighting... enjoy!

As you know it's been a rocky six months or so, but the good news is this; issue 18 and issue 19 are both done, and issue 20 is on the starting line, totally plotted. So right now I'm hoping you see a regular schedule of issues (possibly as fast as once a week...!!!) at least until the end of this arc (issue 20). After that... who knows?

I don't expect nearly as much enthusiasm over this issue as over the last one, but I hope you still enjoy it. If you have any comments feel free to leave them here or over at Maskingwriter, and if you haven't clicked on an ad for a while... why not do it today?

New issue this week

I'm back on issue 19 after various delays. It's moving; about 1,500 words yesterday. In an effort to keep myself moving I'm going to release 17 this week.

I hope. Unless I suddenly have a revelation that requires me to go back and rewrite, which has happened before....

And, yes - another update

I think I - or the writing - may be cursed. So I'll be careful what I say.

No sooner than I tell y'all that I'm moving along with Issue 19, just about all progress stops. I just checked and I actually have just under 7,000 words done, so it's moved further than I thought, but it hasn't moved that far. No particular reason - apart from possibly the curse.

I'm now certain I won't be releasing anything new until at least 19 is done, possibly 20.

Then the big (huge) question is what to do after that. I am wrestling with that near-daily. Until last weekend I would have told you that after 20, I'm finished. Then over the weekend a whole bunch of plotlines just burst forth in my brain, and I could see a whole lot more issues.

It's still the effort/time versus money/recognition thing. Sorry, there ain't much you can do about it.

I'm away this weekend and I'll try - try - to put in some time on 19. And I'll even try and update here more often about progress. I have resolved, if nothing else, to finish this damn arc. Then I say goodbye to Gotham City, at least...

Update

Issue 17 is done, but may need some polish. Issue 18 is also done, probably needs less polish. I'm just under 2,500 words into 19, which is supposed to be the end of the Crossover arc, but it will potentially be a big issue - might even stretch to Issue 20.

There's a lot going on in these issues and I want to get them right, so I may not release anything until 19's done... or I may change my mind. We'll see.

I have a feeling that after the arc is done I may take a break from this for a while; again, we'll see.

A quick update

Hello all... sorry it's been a while.

I've been insanely busy with work the past few weeks. When I last posted it was just starting to get crazy; a week after that I was working 12 and 15 hour days to get a very big project ready for an immovable deadline. With that done I spent the last week recovering.

Where I stand right now: still happy to work, still need to find time to do it, but the time thing is loosening. In about a week or so I'm off on holiday for almost two-and-a-half weeks, and while I'm taking the ol' laptop I can't guarantee I'll get any writing time.

So that's it, really. I haven't quit, although the points raised in my last post do stand... so gimme some time and hopefully something will emerge from that.

So here's what happens now

Over the last month or so, sometime after the last SG issue was released, I've been in something of a quandary. I'm going to try and not bore you with it but any of you who've 'known' me for a while won't be surprised by what I'm about to say.

Essentially I've been having one of my periodic internal struggles, where I question why I'm doing this (writing mask fiction) and why I'm not doing something else (writing mainstream fiction). As usual my internal responses went all over the emotional spectrum, from "Screw this, I'm quitting and never coming back" to "Why the hell shouldn't I do this" with "God, I hate myself for even having this sort of internal debate" stuck somewhere in the middle.

I think I've resolved the debate now, and I think you guys will be happy to hear I didn't let the extremely negative side win out. However, I've also decided to try something new.

The simple facts of the matter are these. Despite it driving me near-insane some days, I've resigned myself to the fact that no-one out there seems interested in potentially paying me for writing mask fiction. You, like every other bastard out there on the Internet, are almost certainly more interested in getting your rocks off for free, than in paying for it. To some degree I understand this - hey, everyone needs to budget - but at the same time, there's a part of me which becomes very angry about this, as basically I work my ass off and if I'm lucky, get the odd email and comment.

This is not, I will state clearly, either a request for more kiss-ass comments, or a plea for you to send money. I am, as I said, resigned to the fact.

However, I am not getting any younger, and the Ghostly Writer who sat down ten years ago (Yes, ten years) to write Beneath the Veil is now older, wiser and more cantankerous. What he (er, I) also knows is that there is a market for my mainstream writing, that I am capable of turning out good stuff that doesn't involve endless disguises and that perhaps... maybe... if I apply myself I might even see some financial gain, or even better career possibilities, if I pursue that path.

The internal debate, in case you're wondering, always centres around time. Do I have enough time to do both - keep writing mask fiction and try to write mainstream fiction too. And the answer I've come back with previously has always been 'no' because in my experience, I've found myself focused on either one thing or the other. There's never been room in my head for both.

Well, now I'm going to try and make room. As of today, I set my alarm 20 minutes earlier, got my ass out of bed and sat and wrote mask fiction. (Yes, I'm blogging this in the same time block. Eh, it's related.) Tonight after I get home from work, the gym, whatever - I'm going to sit down at some point and whatever I write, it won't be mask fiction. Tomorrow, I repeat.

Then we'll see how we go from there.

That's it for now. I know I have a tendency to ramble on about this so I didn't want to go on too long. However, I would be very happy to hear your views on this, especially regarding payment for services rendered... in other words giving me something back for endless hours spent at the keyboard.

Oh by the way? The first person who suggests that I should "write because I love it, and that should be reward enough" can (a) fuck right off my site and (b) try writing for themselves for a lifetime without anything to show for it apart from some occasional appreciative comments. Glad we're clear.

100th post.. yaay...

... I was imagining a bit more enthusiasm for that, to be honest. Reason why not? Ill.

A close colleague infected me yesterday with a cold (I don't say that maliciously; on Thursday he wasn't ill, on Friday he was, and here I am ill today), and on top of that, I have this eye infection that just doesn't want to go away. A trip to the Doc's will be in order next week I think.

Why tell you all this? No reason really, because I can't pretend it's affected my writing... nope, that's just been stalled all by itself. Issue 17 of Spider-Girl is at about 5,000 words, about half-way I hope, but it's hard to tell. I do intend to get a lot more done on it this weekend, but it depends on how I feel really. Yesterday I just had an eye infection, today I'm bunged up. Obviously I'm not going to make my self-imposed two-week deadline for a new release, so sorry about that.

Anyway; 100 posts, yay... maybe I'll summon up more enthusiasm later for ya.

EDIT: Bollocks. This is post no. 99. See what colds do to your mental arithmetic? And ability to read??

Three times thanks

I've been a bit 'out of sorts' over the last few days, and it's affected the writing; I've slowed down substantially. I tell you this as preamble to something positive; weirdly, it's at times like these that I'm most thankful to three sets of people.

All beginning with 'C'.

First are the Clickers. To those of you who've ever clicked on an ad, thank you. I finally got paid this month. It wasn't much, and it took about six months to accrue I think, but it was something - and it felt symbolic. So thank you. I know it doesn't cost you anything and it doesn't take any time, but still, you did it. Ta.

Second are the Commenters, even if my dictionary says that isn't a word. I honestly cannot tell you how helpful it is to get a positive comment on my writing, whether it's here on the blog, in email or over on Maskingwriter. It literally gives me a reason to keep writing.

I have heard the old, old argument from writers that 'you should write because you want to', and sure, that's true. It's a hell of a lot easier to motivate yourself to write when you know someone out there is going to appreciate it. So if you've ever written an email, left a comment or posted a message reply - thank you. (Oh, and feel free to do so again.)

Third and final are my Collaborators. This is a very small and select group of people - I'd actually say, realistically, it's a pair of people. These two are brilliant sounding boards, great inspirations, honest critics and genuine cheering squads when I need it. They get me.

I appreciate every minute they spend with me, every email they read and every honest critique they give me. They've dramatically improved writing I've done, they've given me ideas that I've been proud to showcase, and they're as close to 'real friends' in this community as anyone. So V and M - you know who you are - cheers for that lads. Maybe one day I'll buy both of you a real drink.

For now though, if you fall into any of those categories (and I hope you do), thank you.

New release: Spider-Girl, issue #16

Arriving in another dimension to hunt the Chameleon, Betty Brant found herself powerless... but luckily, she also found the protection of Gotham City's dynamic duo, Batman and Batgirl. After attending a charity ball as Bruce Wayne's date, Betty was seduced by Bruce when he appeared inside her bedroom, thanks to a secret passageway. Meanwhile, the Chameleon is working with Two-Face, by first impersonating Batgirl, and now Catwoman. Little does the Chameleon know, Two-Face intends to betray his partner in crime....

Issue #16: The Shadow of the Bat

Download from Maskingwriter (Yahoo! Group)

The Chameleon's nefarious plans start to become a little more apparent, as Betty and Barbara get close, and Betty and Batman get even closer...! As always, if you enjoy this issue - please click an ad in the right hand column, and keep me in the expensive frothy coffee that allows these things to happen!

So much for getting ahead of myself, eh? Not a word of issue 17 is written, thanks to various other commitments... but I wanted to keep my promise and release this on time. Hope you all enjoy, and as always, comments are welcome either here, in email, or on Maskingwriter. Enjoy!