The biggest lie ever told was treating progress as a means to an end, and not something that is itself valuable.

I've spent the past decade learning to draw. I'm still learning. I was never guaranteed success. I have an art degree, I'm currently working at Walmart.
But I draw because I enjoy the process, I find learning about art fulfilling. I don't need to objectively justify my time spent.

Because that to me is the narrative: FGs are only worth it if you're good, otherwise don't bother learning, you're wasting your time. And people are already bad with gauging being "bad" and "good" as distinct categories. As if you eventually transition from bad to good like a Pokemon evolution.

What bothers me too is how much "getting better" is described like wasted busywork. Like it's shit, you'll hate it, but "eventually" you'll have fun?
It's like trying to get a child to eat bland mushy vegetables because "they're good for you". And it's so normalized in FG discussion.

I've only ever experienced Love Hina from other people talking about it. Which is fascinating because there's always a sense of foreboding dread.

Like it's described as influential the same way a Sci fi horror game will piece around word documents describing The Horrors.

I've had to really balance myself given I'm working a full time retail job so things don't always align.

Because I will have days where I'm fuming over not being productive enough artwise... despite also having a 38 hour work week.

I did seasonal retail work at a Lego store for a bit. And we got a 50% employee discount on Lego products.

We even got free Lego sets whenever they had the bonus gift stuff. Pretty solid gig for retail.

100% the reason I went into comics is because I majored in animation, but wanted to have original stories that would come out sooner rather than later.

And I'll still take a month/few months for a 30 page chapter (granted I'm also working full time retail but still).

Optimally though I do want to finish the set of chapters I planned by the end of next year. Of which I'll figure out where to go from there.

Chapter 5 and 6'll get into a weird hitch. Because they'll be part of a 5 chapter arc. And well... I've been a bit on the slow side. For real-life reasons, sure. But it ain't optimal.

Having a full time Walmart job does cut into it a bunch, but it also means financial stability.

They shoulda went all the way with the jokerification of miyamoto tbhtbh.

And Homecoming does it all. It really encapsulates why SH as a series floundered for a long time. Any mistake the franchise has had, it's got it.

Up and to my favorite: "Goddammit you had original ideas stop trying to do SH2 again please see another horror."

I have a weird soft spot for the Western SH quadology. They ain't great, but they're fascinatingly bad. They are jank in a way you can learn from as a horror dev.

I've rubbed against "western devs can't do SH". Because that's not the main problem. They're interesting, they also blunder. A lot.

The one I always think of is the possum bridge shot.
Just an absolute flex for what is otherwise Just A Scene.

Right now I'm only making about 1700-1800 a month, so barely above water.

Thankfully I'm at least not in a dire situation. And given how shit things are rn, I don't want people to donate if they cant.
Any support is appreciated.

clutch to your heart is a web illustrated novel! its about magical girls, yuri, and a lot of trans characters.

wanna support its development? mayhaps throw me a couple bucks through my patreon!!

patreon.com/MEidOmachine