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How have you been? It feels like la rentrƩe is in full swing in newsletter-land, and so The Third Something returns after a break.
Iāve had a fine summer. The weather here has been typically British (an unpredictable and unsatisfying mix of sun and rain) but with the rest of the world either on fire or swept into the sea, Iāve taken to saying (with dark humour, granted) that Britain has the best weather in the world.
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I stopped therapy in late July after three-and-a-half years. It felt rather momentous in the moment (what a three-and-a-half years!) and scary to be āon my ownā, but equally, the right thing to do.
It was three years of clearing the ground and we stopped on the cusp of doing some really deep excavation.
Tools downed, for now.
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I keep thinking about the graph in this story published by my colleagues at The New York Times last week.
As someone who doesnāt like crowds, Iām mildly annoyed to be alive at what may turn out to be the one short blip of high traffic in the history of the species.
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I have published one of my favourite short stories from Biteguard Fever Dreams #2 on my website for everyone to see.
Itās called Connection Error and it speaks a truth about technology, progressā¦and printers.
It was long-listed in last yearās Manga Jiman awards. Itās good! If you havenāt read the zine yet, go check it out.
And if you like the story, there are more copies of Biteguard #2 available.
Both issues were on sale at a popular zine and comics fair in London back in July and several were bought. At the previous yearās fair, I had no zines to my name, and this year I had two!
It felt likeā¦not success, but progress.
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Oh, and on a related noteā¦I think Iāve started drawing a graphic novel?
It was very unceremonious. At the end of July, I bought a small square sketchbook and started filling it with panels, pretty much making events up page by page.
Two months (and another sketchbook) later, Iām still going strong. There are four intriguing characters Iām enjoying getting to know and a few others who are really making me laugh.
I honestly donāt know where itās going or how itās going to end. My promise to myself is to keep showing up every day until it does.
I wonāt say much more than that right now; Iāve not told many people about this yet. A graphic novel is such a huge undertaking with so many chances for failure, Iām not sure I want the accountability!
To prioritise the project, Iām making some sacrifices; hard choices on a logic of: āwhich of these activities has the greatest potential to change my life?ā.
Iāve decided not to submit entries for the usual comics competitions this year (writing entries for which have structured my autumn for the last 3 years); there wonāt be a third issue of Biteguard, at least for a year or so.
And this newsletter will be quieter for a while. But it wonāt be silent ā I have lots to write about. Unbelievably, January will mark a decade since the very first Long Game video was published and I think thatās worthy of reflection.
But Iām in my element. I love writing stories and ā dare I say it? ā Iām quite good at it!
Until another Sunday soon
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Very excited to see your graphic novel come to life - sounds like the creative process is an incredibly organic one!