Hello everyone!
Crow Time usually updates on Mondays, and Namesake on Tuesdays. However, this schedule is making my workload a bit smushed together, so we are officially moving the Namesake update to THURSDAYS from now on!
There’s a few reasons for it. Mainly, it makes it a bit easier for me to work on both comics this way as I won’t be inking and coloring both at the same time, making the workload a bit more varied and my wrists less burdened. This also allows me to work around employment / weekend events.
Here’s a few other updates on things on our end!
As you all know, Namesake used to update 3 times per week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays!) In 2024, my goal was to step down from a full-time job and focus on comics for a few months, to re-build a webcomic buffer, get back to the old update schedule, and finish a few projects that are incomplete - including the third Valor book and the 4th Namesake book. Unfortunately, my spouse lost his employment during my break, so I had to commit to more contract work and temp work than initially planned.
The good news is, I’m now in a situation that will allow me to work part-time for a longer period, so I have more time for comics! The bad news is that the outstanding projects are still incomplete, and that the buffer doesn’t exist yet. Other things we need to do - merch prep, site repairs, finding a new ad supplier, etc - are also piling up. We JUST got our store a new coat of paint last month.
For folks unfamiliar with the term, a “buffer” is basically a batch of comics drawn in advance of the date they are getting posted. Having a buffer in webcomics makes it easier for an artist to generate ad revenue on platforms, to work around their job, and to plan a story. It’s just an overall useful thing to have. I don’t have one right now for Crow Time or Namesake.
I thought that after a bit of rest, I'd regain my pre-burn-out project completion speed, but I think my current slower drawing speed is my new normal at this point. I used to be able to juggle posting 3 pages per week along with full-time employment. Even with more free time, I can barely get through the work that needs to be done each week. My art did improve in some ways thanks to rest - While I'm still slow, my lines regained a lot of their cleanliness when they were super shaky in early 2024. That is still a huge relief to me!
Long story short, I'm making changes - such as this schedule change - to create a workflow that works better with my current limitations, rather than continue pursuing the productivity ghost of my 30’s. I’m going to make choices to prioritize generating a buffer and finishing those outstanding projects, so I can start 2026 well, and hopefully have time to make more of the stories Meg and I are planning after outstanding stuff is done.
Patreon is still my primary source of funds at this time, so I gotta take a moment to give a huge THANK YOU to everyone supporting us on Patreon, and everyone buying our crow plushies, and everyone being so kind on social media. Things are really rough for a lot of people right now, and the fact that we have a community of folks supporting us despite the *gestures at everything being on fire* is touching, humbling, and appreciated. Thank you, so, so, so much.
We are working to have good news soon regarding Valor 3, Namesake 4 and Crowmance!
Also - Namesake is 15 years old this month. Dang, that’s crazy.
tldr; Namesake will now update on Thursdays. I am prioritizing creating a buffer for our webcomics and finishing Valor 3 during the last months of 2025, knowing I need to work slowly.
Isa
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