And that's it! You want the backstory?

About a year ago I was looking for something to help give me a creative kickstart. I'd been more than a little infatuated with graphic novels for awhile -- reading Flight my last semester of design school made my head explode (in a good way). That said, I'd always hesitated at making my own comics. There were a myriad of excuses: I didn't understand the format, my storytelling experience was minimal, I lacked the time and I was, to be brutally honest, terrified to try (and fail) at a new form of art.

My workaround was this: a diary comic would allow me to try sequential art in a small, bite-sized way. Also, by pulling material from my day to day life, the storytelling aspect would be a bit easier. Finally, by making the whole crazy thing a New Year's Resolution, the ensuing guilt would eat me alive if I didn't finish. If you think I'm lying about this, I should probably explain that I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about overdue book library fines.

So I dove in head first January of 2011. Was every entry perfect? Nope. In fact, I look at quite a few now and wince, thinking how differently I'd tackle things. But each week I finished a comic and in the process learned more than I could have imagined, had a whole ton of fun and did something that a year ago wasn't even on my radar. And besides the artistic side of things, I also learned to look differently at life. Like John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." I didn't win the Powerball this year or learn Cantonese or take up hang gliding. Instead I spent the year worrying about the zombie apocalypse, eating glitter cookies, obsessing over life-sized plastic dinosaurs and and attempting to find humor and goodness in the little things. And as a I read back through this comic, I think I like life best that way.

And some thank you's -- I owe Erik Evensen BIG TIME for his advice about diary comics. Erik kept a way awesome daily comic a few years back, so he had some great pointers. And when I tweeted early on about my trouble coming up with material, John Lechner made the excellent observation that hopes and dreams are as much a part of daily life as actions. Also, thank you to friends and family who lended their faces, feedback and foibles to this comic. You guys all rock, for reals.

So, thanks for reading and commenting and letting me test the comic waters. I'm hooked, without a doubt. Happy 2012!

(for now)

11 comments:

  1. I like what you did a lot! Have a very happy new year and here's to more comics (and coffee)!

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  2. I loved reading these this year - wonderful work. Congrats!

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  3. Congrats on achieving your goal! I've really enjoyed reading your posts. I hope you continue to share your art on line in whatever form you choose. Happy 2012!

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  4. What a great finish to a great project! I love your diary comic, I love how you experimented with layouts and colors and different kinds of stories. I can't wait to see what new projects you have in store for 2012. Thanks for sharing!

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  5. I've loved occasionally checking in on your comic diary this year. You have a good feel for the format, in my humble non-professional opinion. Keep telling stories in 2012 (in whatever format tickles your fancy, of course.)

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  6. So cute!! Great work and cheers for this new year. :)

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  7. I'm sad to see the end, but boy did I enjoy the journey! Your webcomic inspires me and I so looked forward to the lovely and funny insights you shared. :)Wonderful finish, Abigail!

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  8. I have seriously loved checking in on your comic since I stumbled onto it this year. You gave it such a great voice, and all around, I'm bummed to see it end. I really hope you keep up with the story-telling in one way or another because you definitely have a flair for it. I, for one, am a big fan!

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  9. This has been such a cool thing to keep up with this past year. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with next. Happy New Year!

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  10. ...Ooohh, new diary comic found! Gimme some time to plough through the archive (and please keep up the good work in the meantime). :)

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  11. Thank you for making your Comics! They are great :-)

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