If I was still doing the long pages I would have held that beat for a whole panel. I stopped doing those pages quite some time ago because I was getting enough requests for more volumes in print I was afraid it would be a big problem in the future. Then I never was able to do anything with the books. That’s a whole other thing.
It is completely adorable how mad Carol is at being forced to admit how much she actually pays attention to Thomas. This is one of those things that came to me after not being able to get where I was going with this right. I had gotten in my head too much about other things going on and let myself briefly forget to let the characters be themselves. Generally it’s very easy for me to slip into and out of each character but when I’m really disrupted or distracted I can get blocked off from them. I’m sure every writer approaches these things in their own way and to some of you it will sound strange, but I had to stop myself for a minute and listen to them. I took a step back from myself and let them live in the scene. When my head was cleared out Carol offered up the through line that I couldn’t see. The previous page, this page and the next one all got set down mostly in one session, which is not usually how I do things. Usually I just keep several pages in my head in a general way, then only set the most current page in stone as I get ready to draw it. That’s not how I’ve always done it but it’s been that way generally for years. I hadn’t been able to relax properly and the lack of rest was starting to affect my memory so I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to remember where I wanted to go. Usually I just make a note of dialog in my phone, but since I couldn’t sleep I did most of it in one go. Recently I’ve been just getting up and working when I can’t sleep, or my sleep is disrupted in some way. Rather than trying to force rest I find it’s better to just work until my brain is too tired to fight.

Anyway, enough about that. I’ll leave you to your oncoming weekend. I hope it is a pleasant one. I’ll see you on Monday, I hope. Until then, enjoy an authentic blend of 23 flavors.

Posts authored by Jackie

2999 Lunch Blush.