2021 State of the Comic
I’m overdue to make some kind of blog post addressing the state of the comic and I, and a new year seems like as good a time as any. Scroll to the bottom line if you’re not interested in what will probably amount to a blow-by-blow of 2020.
First of all let’s not mince words: last year was a catastrophe as far as Next Town Over was concerned in addition to being a disaster all around. Heading into 2020 I felt like I was heading into the homestretch, the finish line of this sucker in sight, and I was simultaneously excited to be working on the Patron-only comic again, as well planning on a return to streaming and more work on game dev in addition to being back at doing illustrative work for hire, which is always more lucrative if somewhat less of a passion. I was also about half done with a new website on a new host meant to eliminate several extremely longtime issues with the current site and just update the comic’s primary home to be more usable, more readable, etc.. And then March and April happened. My kid and spouse came home for keeps. I was suddenly responsible for essentially homeschooling the boy because there was no virtual learning plan in place when the school initially closed and they were scrambling to even send out any kind of resources. My partner makes the lion’s share of our money, so I was functionally banished from my office as he [needfully] took it over to work from home. It got real hard real fast to stay on top of the comic while making good on additional commitments made pre-COVID. Then it was summer. Then it was fall, and school recommenced – virtually. And then it was the holidays. On Christmas morning we awoke to a freezing house; our boiler had died in the night and we had no heat. And and and.
I am tired.
Since I started posting Next Town Over I have always managed 52 updates a year, give or take, until last year. In 2020, I posted 21. Coincidentally and somewhat hilariously, last year was NTO’s 10th anniversary. I have been doing this for a decade. And rather than commemorate it with something big, I mostly just rattled around my house trying to keep up with my kid’s education and stay on top of commissions. I’m sorry. I hate it. I wanted to be celebrating the conclusion of NTO by now, for all our sakes.
But all I can say is I’ll keep going if you will! Thanks for sticking around! An extra thanks to Patrons who’ve supported me throughout this fallow stretch, some even offering to support me when I paused my billing for a few months because I didn’t feel I was keeping up my end of the bargain!
I hope 2021 finds you faring … decently, at least. It’s hard times for a lot of people right now and I don’t mean me; I was fortunate my big issue in 2020 was I couldn’t update my webcomic as much I wanted to and I’m very aware of it.
All the best.
Your work on this comic is fantastic and I’m always excited for a new page, but the last year has been hard for us all. I hope that the year ahead is fantastic, but please take what ever time you need. Thank you for this fantastic ride.
Hear hear!
Ibid!
What she said!
ditto!
Thank you for 10 years of amazing art and story!
May 2021 be less of a shitshow than last year (and than ’21’s started out as)!
+1
A new NTO is the highlight of any week it happens. Thanks for sticking with it Erin. Hoping 2021 offers everyone a reprieve from 2020.
We love your art, your story, and you… that’s why we’re here. I’m only sorry that you couldn’t do more of what you loved in 2020, but there’s always tomorrow… the sun will come out, it’s another day, etc. Be Well!
At this point, I was just glad to hear that you and the family are healthy. Finding a new comic this morning was a bonus.
I second this comment. Caring for your family (especially a young kid) in the current circumstances is extenuating work. Hope this year is better than the last.
Stay strong! 1 – 2 year hiatus or scarce updates on a webcomic is not a big deal, those who love the story will stick around…
I hope everything will go better this year!
You do fantastic work with the comic, but do not put pressure on yourself. The health of you and your family is much more important than the comic. We who love the comic will stick around if you want to continue doing it, and we will wait.
Hope 2021 is a much better year.
You’re amazing and your work is amazing. We’ll stick with you until the end, no matter how long it takes. Glad to hear y’all are hanging in there.
Erin: Thank you! I have been in the fortunate ??? Position of having a Vital Profession. You know Police, Fire, Medical Personnel, Emergency Responders, Deli Meat. 8D As near as I can determine, I’m in the Business of selling “Normal.” As of January, I’m 64, and associate daily with a few hundred of om closest friends. [Yes you may detect some sarcasm there.] I have either never contracted Wuhan Virus [to use it’s proper name,] or have had so mild a case of it I didn’t notice. I have been careful, for the sake of my 89 year old father. I have very carefully kept up with the numbers since early February, and I’m growing increasingly impatiaent with the degree to which those in autority have not. Enough Ranting! That isn’t sympathizing, which is what I DID set out to do.
Short Form- I have every, based on readily available data to be optimistic that THIS TOO SHALL PASS [with astonishing alacrity,] as soon as the Powers that Be allow it to. When you can find the Time and the Energy, I would VERY Much like to read the Conclusion to I can say, with Confidence We’ll ALL be Here.
AND I really Wish there was a way to edit this feed. -Matt
You take care of you and yours. Don’t worry about us. I’ve been laying low because, well look at 2020…and I know I’m a pest so. Yeah, just take care okay.
Hmm … prioritizing your kid specifically and family generally. How retro and honourable.
I totally get that and wish I did a better job myself.
When the world goes crazy we need to prioritize stuff and sometimes there’s not enough energy, time and mental strength to do other things.
I will check here no matter the pace of updates and I think many others would also wait and be happy with updates whenever they happen, so you take your time and do things when you have the energy, time and willingness.
All the best to you, I hope 2021 will be a way better year for you than the previous one.
No worries! You’re a fantastic artist and storyteller, and we appreciate all you do; you need to take care of yourself most of all, then you can worry about the comic. We’ll be here regardless, so please, don’t stress out too much.
2020 was hard for me too. I was laid off and then my dearest sister passed away from covid. But I’m back to work and so far 2021 is starting out better and more hopeful. Stay strong everyone and stay hopeful.
Thank you for all the hard work.