Law of Diminishing Returns
May 10th, 2014
Pilot strip for spinoff comic of Willow’s Grove: Subtropic
As you know, I’ve been toying with a spin-off comic of Willow’s Grove based on the life of Nick on his home island of Piggypork. I’ve actually had it in the pipe since Nick’s first appearance way back when in 2009 but have put it off and put it off. Now, I’m at a point where I don’t know if I will ever bring it into full production, although I think it would be a nice addition to the Willow’s Grove family of products. Why? You may be asking yourself. Simply put, the Law of Diminishing Returns. Let me explain. See, I produce Willow’s Grove for all you Grovers to enjoy Monday through Friday without fail. I’ve also written and published one novel, Accidental Earthling that has experienced very little success as far as sales. I wrote a sequel to this novel, called Sea of Stars and was offered a publishing deal through a hybrid publishing house, but the catch is, I have to put money up front in order for it to be published. I could go the route I used for Accidental Earthling, which was self-publishing, but my publicity attempts, my social media buzz attempts, have brought me very small sales. How small? Royalties claimed on taxes from the sales were so small, they were actually counted as no sales whatsoever. I’ve got a third novel in the final chapters of the rough draft stage, but my excitement level has dropped from WOW to meh. I really see no point in continuing the writing process of it, but yet, I seemed compelled to complete it, just so I can say, “well, that’s over with.”
Which brings me back to the Law of Diminishing Returns and Subtropic. Why should I bother producing a second comic when it will most likely gather more dust than anything else and I should just concentrate all my efforts into one project with that one project being Willow’s Grove. I may be wrong, but, hey, that’s just how I feel at the moment. So enjoy this sneak peek into Nick’s world and what might be, but most likely it will be more like, what could have been.
Stumble it!
Some ppl dont do likes / tweets / facebook / etc.
Does not mean they dont like it. (like me)
I was actually under the impression that accidental earthling was still being written.
I most certainly am gonna go read it.
I was going by something that happened recently on FB. I helped a fellow cartoonist who had been describing how sad his life had been the past year (sob story and all) so I thought I’d help him out to spread the word about his new syndicated comic strip and shared his post. Within a day he was up to 1500 likes and then doubled it within another day or two. I had sent him an invitation to like the WG FB page thinking I scratched his back, etc., but nope, nothing in return. I could’ve raged about it after finding out his life wasn’t so troubled after all, he works for a very popular comic strip and thus was well connected to get a foot in the door. I’m all for lending a hand and spreading the word but would love to see something like that happen with WG. True, FB likes mean little when only 6% of the fine folks who like the WG FB see any updates or posts because of how FB pages now work, but you know what I’m getting at.
Ah yes, Accidental Earthling was self published July 2013. Got an offer to have the 2nd book published by a publishing house but I have to front $ I just don’t have which is why I tried drumming up some social media buzz through the same sob story cartoonist with the same results as the WG page. I have a third book I just finished the rough draft for but am still trying to sell the 1st to raise $ to publish the 2nd so who knows what will become of the 3rd.
I’ll just keep chugging along and thanks for 1) being a Grover who leaves comments (always brings a smile to this old face when folks take the time and do that) and 2) for wanting to get a hold of Accidental Earthling to read. I look forward to hearing what you think about it.
I did read a part of the first chapter a while ago .. think you published a sneak preview somewhere.
It was interresting enough for me to want to read more.
So i just ordered the through your store.
Cant wait to read it.