The official "What's up with Avalon?" thread

[Josh Phillips]

Every once in a while I post this in the front page News section, but some people just miss it, and it eventually scrolls off as new news posts are made. I keep getting e-mails from people wondering what's going on with Avalon nowadays. So I'm just going to start a thread for it here, and make a good, prominent link to it on the front page.

First of all, Avalon has *not* concluded. It *will* conclude, eventually, but not before the story is completed. I will not alter the story (which has been planned out in my mind for years now) in order to speed up the telling.

Originally, Avalon was intended to last three years, and I chose to have everything concluded by August 30, 2002. That obviously didn't happen. Beginning in Avalon's second year, the daily updates began to falter, and there was a growing increase in missed updates, until now, when I miss whole months in a row.

I'm sticking to my original intent that there would be a specific number of daily comics left before Avalon concludes. So I'm continuing to backdate new comic strips, as if they were to be posted on the date specified (this is the date on the bottom of every comic strip image). And in order to keep the archive uncluttered and easy to read, I'll occassionally move each comic strip back to the date in the archive when that comic was supposed to be posted. (One side benefit to this backdating scheme is that you can always tell roughly what day it is in-comic)

Now, to explain why Avalon has been delayed as much as it has: in October of last year, I was pretty much debilitated by a case of depression (which, as it turns out, has existed for years; Avalon's delays began long ago when it become too difficult for me to handle both the comic and work/school simultaneously). Since October, I've been under treatment which has drastically improved my condition. Unfortunately, I'm still affected by some sort of sleeping disorder, plus I've fallen seriously behind in school.

So, suffice it to say that there have been far more important things for me to worry about than producing comic strips. But I seriously miss the early days of Avalon when I could easily post a new comic strip on time every night. For a while (especially a year ago), I tried to believe that I could, and I often let down Avalon's readers *and* myself when I couldn't. So, lately, I've been making it a policy not to make any more promises on when Avalon will return for good (and unfortunately, that means having to say "I don't know" when anyone asks, which isn't much better).

I'm still trying to find a way to bring Avalon back to reliability (even if it can't be daily). Whether it means trying to work out some form of time-management, finding means of inspiration, or even changing Avalon to make it easier for me to produce. One of the things I've been doing lately is adding more detail with colour to create a slightly different artistic experience, and it's been a positive one, but obviously not enough to kick-start things permanently. So I'm still working on it.

I think that's enough exposition for now, and hopefully that explains most of the situation. If anyone has any other questions related to the status of Avalon, please ask it in a reply to this thread, and I'll try answering it for you.

JOSH.

[Josh Phillips]

Also, it should be known that I'm *really* bad at replying to e-mails. I really appreciate it when people send me e-mail, but I think I have a backlog of about 6 months that I haven't replied to.

So if you've sent me something that I haven't responded to, and you really want a reply, please send it again, and I'll try harder this time. :-)

<I>(Thanks to Marcos for having saved the original post up there, after this thread was eaten by the February forum crash)</I>

JOSH.

[nodooze]

as a fellow artist i know how it feels when you want to create but but don't feel the love because of things pressing down on you,but what ever happens josh, we'll wait patiently ,so rest up, take whatever time you need to get through things and come back at top speed!
and remember..

AVALON IS STILL KING OF THE JUNGLE!! (or great white north if you would)




I could be bound in a nutshell and counted king of infinite space...if it were not that i had bad dreams

[MarkusN]

Ok, since the original question was lost in The Big Crash:

What about Guest Artist Sunday?

Would you still like to get hese contributions, or is it simply too much to bother with those in your current situation and we should publish those bits and pieces of creativity on Packy's site and just present them in the forum? (Boy, I would love the extra publicity I could get from a front side appearance )

[Josh Phillips]

At this time, if you want people to see your work, post it right away in the forum.

Meanwhile, whether it's posted here or e-mailed to me, I always save it locally for future inclusion in the mythical Avalon Gallery. And there was a time when, if I didn't have a comic ready for the front page, I'd post a saved piece of fan art... but these days I don't manage to update the site every day. Plus, there's the matter of whether the fan art should be shoved into the archive (which simplifies the matter of getting it on the front page), even temporarily, though that means later it'll be removed... it's all quite confusing, and I still need to sort out a decent system.

JOSH.

[MarkusN]

Meanwhile, whether it's posted here or e-mailed to me, I always save it locally for future inclusion in the mythical Avalon Gallery. And there was a time when, if I didn't have a comic ready for the front page, I'd post a saved piece of fan art... but these days I don't manage to update the site every day. Plus, there's the matter of whether the fan art should be shoved into the archive (which simplifies the matter of getting it on the front page), even temporarily, though that means later it'll be removed... it's all quite confusing, and I still need to sort out a decent system.

Have you considered to outsource this part of the effort? There's really no reason why you should be bothering with all aspects of administering the site; I'm sure you would find a volunteer or two willing to help you out with that. Though I understand that the communication effort needed for that is also quite considerable. Plus I gather you are the type who is rather in control himself, so maybe it doesn't look like such a good idea to you. Anyway, maybe something worth mulling over.

[Gigafreak]

Hey... Maybe you could put a bunch of guest-art in the "missing" days and weeks where the comic originally started droppping off... it'll at least settle where (or is it when?) the art would go if it went to the front page...

[Darth Paradox]

Hey... Maybe you could put a bunch of guest-art in the "missing" days and weeks where the comic originally started droppping off... it'll at least settle where (or is it when?) the art would go if it went to the front page...

Problem is, those days will eventually get filled in by the missing comics.

[Gigafreak]

No, not that... I mean the ones where there are simply blank spots.
(Then there's the large gap between late Novemeber and early December of 2001...)

All of these weeks are 404's. That's what I'm referring to.
Or is he actually going to fill those in with those missing comics?

[Josh Phillips]

So it looks like my university education is over, for now. I just fell so far behind in my courses I had to drop them all. So now I have five or six months "free" until I get married and move to Kingston. I'm actually looking forward to not having to worry about my horrible academic status any more. And -- I dare say it -- I might have the time to get to drawing comics regularly again. I should italicize and embolden "might," but it's late and I'm tired.

But currently I'm living between my old place near Carleton University (the lease is up in April anyway) and my parents' place (a temporary home until September), and I need to figure out whether I should move permanently right away or not. So, at the moment, comics are extremely difficult for me to produce... so it's a guarantee that I won't be able to put anything new up for at least several days. Once I have my computer and drawing supplies moved, that will change.

And I *really* want to have Avalon concluded before this August. I'm not even sure if it's mathematically/chronologically possible at this point, but it is my current goal for the comic. After that, I'm going to work on establishing a living in Kingston, and then start development on some new webcomic.

JOSH.

[MarkusN]

So it looks like my university education is over, for now. I just fell so far behind in my courses I had to drop them all.

Aww, that sucks. (Fool, grab the opportunity!) Will it be possible to pick up where you left? But then, a depression like this usually is also a hint that something may be wrong with the goals in your life, so maybe that's the last thing you want to do.

And I *really* want to have Avalon concluded before this August. I'm not even sure if it's mathematically/chronologically possible at this point, but it is my current goal for the comic.

Well, the current comic date is mid April, so theoretically it's possible. You would have to go back to a daily strip though. Dunno if that's feasible / desirable.

Get well, and stay there!

[Fool]

Just don't forget to live.

[Wheresmybeer]

There's an old joke appropriate here:

One day, on a bet, an Aggie (or some other individual worthy of insult) decides to swim across the English channel. He manages to reach the halfway point, but decides its too far and swims back.




Getting a college degree, especially in engineering, isn't a race (for non-masochists, that is). If you can get halfway through, you can get all the way through, if you're willing.

Remember, a man's got to do whatever is necessary to reach his goals. In the end, he'll keep moving foward at some pace because it'll eat away at him if he doesn't. But if he gets used to being where he is, then it really wasn't that important a goal in the first place. Of course, that's something he's got to figure out on his own.




I digress: Whatever series of events ends with me reading more Avalon, I can't help but see as a good thing. (insert smiley)

[Tangent]

Just do what's right for yourself.

That's what matters.

[Darth Paradox]

I'm going to have to disagree with you here, WMB.

College isn't a constant thing. Some parts of it are harder than others. Especially when you're dealing with all sorts of external pressures as well.

Maybe someday, Josh, you'll feel healthy enough to go back to college and finish things up. Maybe you won't, maybe you won't need to.

Good luck.

[Wheresmybeer]

Actually, college is constant in one sense. Its always hard if you take it seriously.

But if you keep moving foward, you'll eventually get done, even if you have to take a break every once in a while. That's what students should remember.

[DaFalcon]

Good luck in everything, Josh

We all look forward to a time when your life is nice and relaxed enough that you can take time to enjoy regularly producing a webcomic for us again Avalon really is something special, and it has taken a special kind of person to bring it to where it is. Years ago I lamented that I never wanted Avalon to have to end, but now I'd have wish you good luck in finishing off your masterpiece

Alan 'Da Falcon
-- We Love Avalon!

[Trillan]

If your doctor offered prescription drugs to you, take them. If s|he didn't, ask if there are any.

My business partner was depressed for at least a year. He was finally diagnosed with it and given drugs. It was all he needed; within a few months he was off the drugs and back to normal.

Depression breeds more depression. Success breeds more success. Sure, it's possible to slip back in, but it's also possible (and even likely, I think) that once you climb out you'll stay out.

Best of luck, Josh.

[Joseph Tek Fox]

    Damn you.  Why is it I always end up getting seriously hooked on comics in their autumn years, right when they're coming to a close?  ;-;  Ah well. . .

    Seriously, though, if worse comes to worse, you could do like Sabrina Online(for example) does, and make the comics in monthly blurbs, if you wanna keep some kind of set schedule for updates.  Like, two-to-four new comics every month.

[Josh Phillips]

So I've completely moved now, and all of my stuff is in one place. So I'm giving myself a deadline now: I'm going to start posting some new comics starting next week. But it won't be Monday, since I'm out of town this weekend. Otherwise, I should have lots of time to draw something.

JOSH.

[Haesslich]

So I've completely moved now, and all of my stuff is in one place. So I'm giving myself a deadline now: I'm going to start posting some new comics starting next week. But it won't be Monday, since I'm out of town this weekend. Otherwise, I should have lots of time to draw something.

JOSH.

Good luck, man. In the meantime, can you see if Hildegard has a net connection? We'd like to talk to her about some coffee...

[Symok]

Alright Josh! WTG. Just don't try to force it. You know we'll all be here waiting, as long as it takes.

hehe Maybe you can get your characters under control... they're starting to run amok ^_^

-Symok (The Happy Vulcan)

[DaFalcon]

YESS!!!!

Apologies for the semi-uselessness of this post, but I had to do it

[MarkusN]

<img src="http://stat.livejournal.com/img/talk/md10_thumbup.gif">

[Gigafreak]

Umm, about coffee.

Yeah.

Coffee? Or cream?

Hey Josh, why don't you alert the non-forum fans by putting up a little message on the front page again?

(Edit)
Duh! That's right, this thread is linked from the front page. Never mind.