And not just any monster, a purple monster.
And not just any purple monster, this monster represents the achievement of a Big Hairy Audacious Goal!
I received BHAG (or Mr BHAGgy, as I like to call him) from Nicole Fende, the Numbers Whisperer, a friend and client of mine, for finishing the Big Project: What to Feed Your Raiding Party. Nicole received him from Tea Silvestre, The Word Chef, who had him made and sent him out into the world to reward and encourage others to achieve their very own Big Hairy Audacious Goals.
Now that Mr. BHAGgy has spent some time with us, I’ll be on the look-out for the next worthy recipient. Have you done something Big, Hairy AND Audacious lately? Let me know!
Now, then, with Mr. BHAGgy and Chef George looking over my shoulder every night, it’s been a bit tough to go back to the pre-book status quo. And this past weekend I realized just why it felt like pulling teeth, trying to get that week’s comics put together: I’m not in love with the format anymore. I don’t have a problem with a weekly schedule–I blog 5 times a week. No, it’s not the schedule–at least not only the schedule–it’s how much time those strips tie up when things aren’t clicking. And how much time there just isn’t if I were to be faced with a killer opportunity or have a wild hair that needs straightening right that moment (metaphorically speaking, of course).
So, effective immediately, Cocktail Hour as we knew it is done. I’ll still use it for odd one-shots here and there, but a weekly schedule is out the window. For now, Where the Geeks Are is going to stay the same, though I anticipate a change in format somewhere down the line. Right now I’m about halfway through the Sophie’s Tale chapter, and when that comes to a close decide what changes would be best for it. Probably doing away with the twice-weekly 4-panel strip in favor of page layouts and possibly a downloadable chapter at a time instead of regular updates. This is just me thinking out loud, though, so grain of salt and all that.
Because that’s where my heart lies right now–not the salt, that would sting–in book-length projects or one-offs. I want to explore some new subject material (for me), and be free to pursue short term and longer term projects as they present themselves. I also have book projects I want to complete for Sips & Shots, so there’s that, too.
I’m still here, I’m still drawing, but my goals–big, hairy, audacious or otherwise–and just shifting.
I hope you’ll hang around and see what I’ve got up my sleeve!