Here Be Dragons - August/16 - Absolutely call it a comeback

I reemerge from the Brain Slime Times - ready to write, and read, and hit up some conventions :]

♫ Shine here to us, and thou art everywhere;

This bed thy center is, these walls, thy sphere. ♫

The Sun Rising, John Donne

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This fortnightly [who the hell knows when] drop goes through what I’ve been up to in my writing - I have to account for myself and what I have to show for my efforts recently. Have I been productive, or not…? A map of my brain, so to speak, and here be dragons.

2023 -- better.

Dive up for air, or learn to breathe water?

Well, it’s been a while. Happy to report that, while not perfect, as nothing is nor should be, the year continues. Continues to be what? I guess I don’t fully know, but today I have no complaints.

When last I wrote, things were looking pretty sour. As things stand now, there’s plenty of sweet to appreciate. Things on the homefront with the health situation, took a real roller coaster. It’s hard to imagine if things could have been presented to us in a worse way, but I guess that allowed each month that passed to show us that things could be different, and things could be better and things could bring us together and things can lead to here - and here is a much better place than anyone told us to expect.

It’s been interesting to try and consider how I’ve managed to get through the past few months, and how things might have changed me. Then, as always, I try to figure out if that change can somehow be for the better. I certainly know my writing and productivity took a nosedive, but probably only in certain ways. When things are tricky, I’ve always found it really easy to throw myself into work. This year has seen me continue a full teaching load while also taking on extra responsibilities at work, which I have completely loved, and then also add a new teaching pathway to explore: a University Intro to Creative Writing class one night a week. That line up is plenty enough for me to throw myself into, and it probably did a good job of giving my brain focus at a time where if left unattended it may have really wandered too far to call back. 

Alongside the multitudinous roles of teaching and work, I could admit I did not get much written. The next step after admitting is, I guess, accepting that there was a problem, and then, if possible, allowing it. I don’t like not feeling productive, and I know I pride myself on always being able to get in the chair and get something written. But nothing is an absolute, nor should anything ever really be that concrete, so there is an aspect that is quietly proud of myself for allowing a few months to adjust and readjust repeatedly, and ultimately not take myself to task over possibilities not explored on the page, nor written.  I’ve never once wanted to be only a writing machine, putting words out nonstop no matter the quality, no matter my heart, and this year has really solidified that point. As I always have, I wish to tell stories that matter. 

There has been one main story that I have been tinkering with, when my brain has allowed such fancies, and it has helped keep me afloat. Even though most days, it seems to feel like perhaps I am the heavy weight and dragging it underwater, but then I can only consider, maybe we’re supposed to breathe down there, and what we might find if we can just come in and dive and evolve. This story is not an easy one, and while I have a plot worked out, it’s the quality and the depth and the soul of it that need to be refined, and until they are, I know this won’t be ready. I’m grateful for the artist that I’m working with, as we are and always have been a really deep and personal collaboration, and he’s been very understanding that it’s not just the fact I’m taking my time on this, but it’s that time is taking its way with me lately.  I do what I can, and I remind myself that this story we are cooking up together will be something that truly matters. 

I’m finally writing back here again I guess to signify that my brain might be ready to somewhat switch back on again, to the best of its new abilities. I’ll finalise the story/pitch, I’ll prep the launch of a new comic for very early next year, and I’ll also continue to build this fun, small, weird, solo role-playing game that has been a very fun distraction and writing exercise. 

So those who wrote to me months ago, sending well wishes, checking in, being the sort of good people that I always appreciate I’ve somehow managed to surround myself with – thank you. I know I did not get back to everybody, in fact, my email unread number has just about quintupled, but I’m slowly bringing myself back around as things feel better, and I feel better.

It’s nice to take a kind of break from writing, and know that I would want to return to writing, I would be able to return to writing, and it would still feel important to me to write. The stories within me still feel so connected and so real, and I’m in no rush to fumble out whatever I think I can manage, I only wish to do my very best. I might need to rebuild a bit of my stamina, but everything else is still just as hungry and passionate as it ever was. 

Well, I’ve been able to effectively create these pages and worlds, I’ve tried my best to continue to exist within the world of my family, which is much stronger and brought me more joy and meaning than any words on a page, and I’ve spent my time reading and thinking and watching films and laughing and I can only hope that my creative energies and well have been topped up. 

I guess that’s enough for a short personal check in, thank you for obliging such navel gazing. I hope your year is going well, and that the right pages and people and characters and care fills your day as well.

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I bought a corner bookshelf [ages ago, because I wrote this part ages ago, enjoy]

I needed more shelves in my office. I’ve long loved corner bookshelves, but so rarely see them in the wild. Then I spotted one for $10 and it was an insta-buy for me. Here it is, meeting the other shelves.

And now I get to slowly sort out what kind of new balance and order this will create. I’m prepared to slowly discover this as nature intends.

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Be one of the good guys, because there's way too many of the bad.

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Who is Ryan K Lindsay?

I’m an award-winning Australian comic writer. I’ve been published by Black Mask, Dark Horse, ComixTribe, Mad Cave, IDW, Heavy Metal, Vertigo, and a few more. Kickstarter has been a home for many short comics. I often get to collaborate with great mates, and this brings me joy.

I write about balancing this creative game alongside a full teaching load [currently College English and University Intro to Creative Writing] and a lovely family load and the forever melting brain that is modern man. I think about a lot of stuff, I still don’t know if it’s the right stuff. ymmv.

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POST CREDITS SEQUENCE

I’ll be out and about at some shows soon.

Adelaide - Papercuts Festival

I’ll be at the Papercuts Festival in Adelaide from Friday to Sunday, September 15-17. Friday night is the Comic Arts Awards, which I look forward to attending as there are some great comics shortlisted for prizes.

Saturday I’ll be on a talk with Jessica Walton and Scott Wilson and we’ll be talking about writing comics.

Sunday is the marketplace day and I will have a table to sell some comics. I’ll also be honest: I’ll be buying a bunch of comics, too.

I haven’t been back to Adelaide in so long, and I’m excited to catch up with some comic peeps, and an old friend I haven’t seen in far too long.

Oz Comic Con Sydney

The next weekend I’ll be in Sydney for Oz Comic Con, September 23-24. I’ll be selling comics, talking comics, buying comics, and just enjoying the first 2 days of my school holiday break.

If you are in either town, please pop in and check out the amazing creators and comics that will be available.

I love conventions, exhausting as they are, and I always look forward to them. For those looking for copies of A FISTFUL OF PAIN these shows will be for you. That book is selling hot, and selling out.