Hello, friends!
If you’ve been following along for a while, I’ve been alluding to things at work that have been causing a lot of stress. This past week saw some answers and hints at some answers, and while anxiety is still there, so is excitement. That said, teaching in the 21st century is not for the faint-of-heart. I even heard that someone in administration had said, “If you’re not using AI in education these days, are you even a teacher?” Or some bullshit to that effect.
I have thoughts, but you probably already know them.
Welcome to the 64th installment of Gauthic Times, the newsletter about my writing, my life, and my attempts at drawing.
I just know you’re wondering how you can get me to write more and be even more creative.
Well, becoming a Patron on my Patreon, where I write about things in more detail than I do in the newsletter or on my website, including the actual names of my works-in-progress and not just codenames, would certainly help. The lowest tier for Patreon is $1. Check it out: if every social media follower I had did the $1 tier, I could write more and pay my bills better. The same would happen if they bought copies of my books.
You can also buy me a coffee through Ko-Fi.
Echoes on the Pond is out now! Grab a copy, if you haven’t already. If you have bought it already, books make great gifts! And if you’ve read Echoes on the Pond, I’d also really love (and appreciate) it if you’d leave a nice review on Amazon or Goodreads.
You can also get my collection Catalysts or my novellas Alice on the Shelf and Shadowed.
Anyway, let’s do this!
***
I’m over halfway through revising Project: MG Space Adventure II. Last night, I got through page 105 of 139. I’ve been working on this draft for nine days. If Project: MG Space Adventure I is any indication, I’ll be working on Project: MG Space Adventure II for another two or three days. And then it’ll be time to jump into Project: MG Space Adventure III (the title of which might change since G thinks it’s cheesy…we need to make her happy since she is the audience).
Project: MG Space Adventure II has more action and a bigger cast than Project: MG Space Adventure I, which makes it interesting to deal with. The main character is dealing with higher stakes and it’s been fun playing with that.
***
Patreon Patrons know about a side project I’m playing with that’s either a comic book or graphic novel. I know I’ve mentioned Gabby Ray here but there’s something else I’m playing with. While I’m not planning on revealing what that is here, I thought I’d write about how I’m approaching the comic/graphic novel.
Stephen King used to talk about toy truck projects that he’d work on. Basically, he worked on his main project in the morning and then sometime later on that day or night, he’d go back to the office and work on an idea for fun that he called the toy truck. It was a story he had that sounded fun and a way to play with writing while not focusing the main attention to it. Almost like a hobby. Once the main project was finished, the toy truck sometimes became the main project. I like that idea although I’m not really in a position to do something quite like that.
I love writing and storytelling. My worst day writing is still better than some of my best days doing other things. However, as I’ve gotten older, a little more weight has come onto it. Every rejection stings just a tiny bit more than it did ten years ago, which stung a tiny bit more than it did ten years before that, which…. You get it. Sometimes I may play with a story for fun but I also like to do other creative things. If I had more time (and more talent) I’d learn the guitar. For now, though, drawing has become a thing for me again.
I’ve been drawing since I could pick up a pencil. My mother drew and so did I. Before wanting to be a writer, I wanted to be a comic book writer and artist. At thirteen, I went along the path to writing because it felt easier for me and it’s not a wrong choice. I’m naturally good at writing. Yes, I work very hard and yes I’m constantly trying to improve, but I find I can create an image with words much better than I ever could with lines.
That said, I recently rediscovered drawing. Not just doodling, which never stopped, but drawing. I also rediscovered my interest in creating comics. Not just writing comics–though, trust me, there are some dreams in that direction–but drawing them, too. As I played with Gabby Ray for school, I found that digital art really helped me realize what my childhood self could only dream of.
As a result, I’m playing with comic books and graphic novels as my side/fun projects. The need to be creative is as strong as ever and I find that playing with comics on the side helps me focus on my writing in the main. There’s a balance there.
What’s been cool about rediscovering my love of drawing is that I’m not only doing digital art, but also playing with physical art, too.
Here’s a drawing of Superman I did in pencil, playing with some ink pens, and markers (with some Posca paint pens for highlights). It’s no José Luis García-López, George Pérez, Jerry Ordway, Gary Frank, Nicola Scott, or…well…you get it, but I’m proud of it. I did what I could with what skill I had. Most of all, I had fun.
I think it’s important that creative types find other creative outlets, something that isn’t necessarily being looked at as a career though could become one under right circumstances if the creative type wanted.
Rediscovering my love of drawing has been big. And, better yet, I feel no pressure to improve. I know I will, but there’s no pressure in it because for right now, it’s all mine.
***
Okay, that’s this week’s newsletter. Thank you for reading!
If you’d like to see what I could do if I wrote full-time, share this newsletter with others and consider a paid subscription.
You can also tip/donate on Ko-Fi.
Of course, you could also become a Patron on my Patreon, which has a lot more information about my works-in-progress and the books I’ll be querying, including titles and some simple, non-spoiler details.
Get my collection Catalysts, my novellas Alice on the Shelf and Shadowed, and definitely order Echoes on the Pond, out now!
If you haven’t left a review on Amazon, Goodreads, or anyplace else for Echoes on the Pond, please consider doing so. This greatly helps sell copies.
And maybe call your local brick-and-mortar bookstore and demand they carry it! I’ll even sign copies! Well, if they’re local to me. That means Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and maybe some of the other New England states.
Gautham: Bill Gauthier.com 
Leave a comment