Newsletter #130: Actually Writing The Comics
A new look at our redesigned website, a convention announcement, and a discussion about an essential element to becoming a full-time comic book writer: honesty.
Gave the Pocket Watch Press Website a Face-lift!
We’ve overhauled the Pocket Watch Press website! It’s now a REAL, functioning thing! For the rare few of you that ever spent time prancing around the old one, it was very much a holdover from my YouTube review days. It was real obvious that the Pocket Watch Press elements were a shabby add-on to the old house, if you know what I mean. Well, now, we have a new jam entirely geared toward comics publishing at POCKETWATCHPRESS.NET. It better embodies where my ambitions lay. It’s a relief, for sure, but also, on the business side, it’s nice to have a site of my own that isn’t quite as reliant upon other institutions. If any of you have any thoughts about where I could improve it or features you’d like to see included, please let me know!
I have to learn how to write like a full-time writer if I’m going to make it.
*Becoming a full-time writer pt. 2*
I don’t write enough. That’s the reality. I’m sure that there are a bunch of ambitious writers wherein whatever time they spend isn’t enough, but I genuinely don’t put enough time in. I’ve alluded to the notion that I’ve never gotten to write as much as I’d like to between my “day" job, editorial, travel, and the business/logistics side of Pocket Watch Press. But I go weeks without adding a word to a script or an outline or a pitch. There are pockets of almost zero creative progress, and that simply won’t cut it anymore. It’s time to nut up, because I ain’t shutting up.
Apropos of the last newsletter where, at your behest, I started diving into a segment about what it’s going to take for me to become a FULL-TIME comic book writer before I turn 30. There were business plans; logistical theories on how to generate revenue.
Next, comes the necessity of being honest with myself. And shit, I guess you guys, too.
I need to spend more time in the writer’s gym, and if I don’t have the time, then I need to make it. That’s what I’m supposed to do, after all, right? Create?
So, given that the business side of things will only get busier, and that I still need to work a regular-degular ass job to keep the lights on, there are certain parts of my life that need to take a back seat if I want to excel at this thing I love. So, yeah. This is my next step. I’m creating the time to write in places where I usually hadn’t. You might be asking, “Trevor, how are you doing that?”
I’m drinking less. A lot less. That may sound like nothing—some of you might not drink at all. But me? Boy, oh fucking boy, have I spent some serious time sipping. This comes from a few places. First, and most innocent of which, is that I work in hospitality. It’s an industry wherein I’m surrounded by liquor and wine, and one where it does genuinely behoove me to understand flavor profiles and pairings. Therefore, I’ve come to enjoy it. My palette is developed to do so. Hospitality industries are also just known to gravitate toward after shift social occasions either at your place of work after-dark, or at a nearby dive. Part unwind, part, “let’s shit on that bitch that acted like she was the only person in the restaurant during the rush and then still decided to tip 10% even though her every need was met.” Specific? Yeah. Been there.
Second, is that I developed a poor habit that probably bordered on addiction. I was trying to blunt my brain after work, either from the happenings of the day or dissatisfaction in my professional or personal lives. To be candid, my father was also an addict for an overwhelming majority of his life, and despite my best efforts to avoid as many of his traits as possible, this one stuck.I’m creating feedback mechanisms. I’ve been using things like alarms and scheduled tasks based on when I think I’ll be most primed to completing a chore or job. In order for this to work, I have to really consider when I’m most likely to do something and cross reference that on when it needs to be done by. If I just have a million things on one big list, I will get psyched out. So, there are timed reminders of when to do what thing. I think this has actually helped me to be more effective with my time.
I’ve come to hate my fucking day job. I really do. My previous location was somewhere that I loved the product, what we were able to do with it, and most importantly, I loved the people I worked with. And for better or for worse, I recognized that it was slowing me and my ambitions way the hell down. Without going into too much detail, I also found the environment draining because of how much I felt like I was investing into those relationships I’d fostered. I was too comfortable, and was in an environment where I put myself last more often than not. So, I had to learn how to be more self-concerned, and I left. The place I’m at now is not somewhere that I jive with, and it’s that acknowledgment which I’m using as a channel to redirect more of my focus toward the comic book business. Innovation rarely comes from comfort—often from fire.
I’m still fairly early in this new initiative, but so far, progress is being made. As far as the near future, I’m still looking for ways to become more efficient, but even when things teeter on disappointment, I have to remind myself that this is a more efficient path than I’ve been on in a long time. Over complication will send me careening right off its sides, so I’d better keep my eyes on the road, you know?
Hope this sheds some light. Do me a favor and leave a comment, letting me know whether you like this kind of raw and honest content or not.
Going to MCM London Comic Con!
BABY, WE’RE GOING BACK TO LONDON!
I’ll be going to my first ever MCM LONDON COMIC-CON to hang with y’all! I know there’s been a decent amount of supporters over the years hailing from the area, and I would adore the chance to shake your hand! I will have a fairly limited selection of comics and covers for you to buy. Because I may or may not be traveling around Europe for a month (more dates and locations coming soon), I have to be really strategic with my packing. This likely means that high end / limited variant covers will sell out face. And since this is my first of this tour, it might be the best change to get your hands on some. I can’t wait to see you there! Keep an eye out for our next newsletter for a surprise specific to this show!
We Hit 1000 followers on Instagram! So, we’re giving things away!
🎉🎉 Thanks to you, Pocket Watch Press has crossed 1,000 followers! 🎉🎉
In honor, we're giving away comics and free merch!
🔸️ RISE 1-2 (Digital)
🔸️Area 51: The Helix Project (Complete set, 1-6)
🔸️ T-Shirt (RISE or Helix Project, depending on supply)
🔸️ Helix Project Art Print
🔸️ Helix Project Bookmarks
🔸️ Pocket Watch Press Stickers
✅️ HOW TO ENTER:
◇ Follow us on Instagram.
◇ Like this post.
◇ Comment on that same post with why you follow us and tag a friend.
WINNER will be announced on September 8th!
I appreciate the raw honesty. It makes me feel a little less alone in my own creative journey as well as my frustrations trying to juggle multiple balls in the air.