Lead Balloon Falls Behind…:*(
It is with regret that I must announce dropping Shards down to one strip a week for the foreseeable future. I have debated this much over the last four months and it boils down to an inability to keep up. I’ve tried to reach the same peak I had for two straight years with no delayed or cancelled strip posts but, in the end, it isn’t presently manageable. In order to enjoy time with my husband and two young children and still attempt to get a shred of time to wind down for myself, I have to make a cut somewhere. However much I wished I could get paid to better my skills in art and produce at least three strips a week, it was a dream I was fairly sure I could not accomplish at this point in my life. I don’t know whether the Shards readership simply isn’t big enough or my art skills cannot compare with others who have succeeded, or both…
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I love Shards. I have always loved the concept, the characters, and what we have in store for you all. I am dropping to one strip a week with angst in my heart because I want to show you all so much of this fantastic story TB and I have devised, as well as the characters not yet revealed. It won’t go away.
I will continue to do the comic and to put out one strip a week but I wanted to ask which day you’d prefer to see this strip, and if you’d prefer the sketches I’ve been including prior or would you rather just have the full strip when it’s done? Please respond and thank you for your patience. I know it must be a bit frustrating to expect a strip and only get a sketch on the previously scheduled days.
I wish you the best of luck on your personal life. As I wish to see this strip come in on Thursdays during the week.
I don’t mind which day I get the strip, one a week is enough and perfectly understandable (although as a reader I’d like it all to be available right now, that’s hardly realistic :P)
Concerning seeing sketches first, It think only if they are moved out of the archive to somewhere else before the next sketch comes out. Otherwise it’ll most likely be easier for readers if you only have the finished strip on whichever day you decide to update.
Although having the sketch of the next update as a voting incentive would work (I’ve seen other webcomics that do that)
Spending time with your family is important.
As reluctant as I am to admit it, more important than giving us a good webcomic to read.
Jade and Trevor, I have faith in you both that Shards will only become stronger as time goes on, regardless of setbacks or schedule hiccups. I understand that a decision like this is done for the betterment of both the strip and yourselves, and want you to know I will continue reading regardless of when it updates.
To be honest, I would prefer finished strips to the sketches if I have a choice, although as Seros mentioned, using the strip as extra content or voting incentives would be a fun idea.
Best of luck to you both!
Thanks, guys:) I really am sorry. Part of it is having young kids and having to tell them I can’t play with them because I have to finish the comic… more times than I’d like to say. But don’t worry:) Though I am sick, our strips will resume on Thursday.
I know I’ve been terrible at keeping up with reviews, but I haven’t missed a day with the strip.
If you need to cut back, do not feel angst on our behalf. You have a beautiful story, and being told once a week doesn’t change that. Enjoy your life and your family. We’ll be paitient.
I’ll probably still check it daily, regardless of when you update it. I’m pretty bad at remembering update schedules.
Also, is the title a Bloons (TD) joke?
What is TD?
Lead Balloon was a race horse with the worst odds but somehow managed to win. That name has been referenced in shows from Bugs Bunny to Quantum Leap. I am using it as an obscure underdog reference. Oddly enough, I can’t find a reference link on Google referring to what I am speaking of, however there is a current race horse by the same name:
http://www.trophyhorse.com/horse.aspx?id=166491
Fascinating!
Oh, and a real “lead balloon” of course does not rise but goes directly back to its point of origin, unless you saw them foil this myth on “Mythbusters”. Yes, pun intended. They DID get a lead balloon to float. It was a great episode LOL.
Bloons Tower Defence is a game about monkeys with darts popping bloons (balloons by another name) as they go round a track. One of the types of bloon since the second game is the lead bloon. I should have guessed it came from something much older.
Well; if you’re going to cut it down to once-a-week anyway, I’m going to go with Marcus and say “Thursday, please.”
The day matters not, preliminary sketches are good. As long as it continues.
Maybe a rally to put the word out would work. I’ll start by a Google+ post.
Thanks:) Though I’m not sure what you mean by a rally to get the word out. I posted on Twitter and FB that we are moving just to Thursdays. I don’t want to make people to pay for any extra normal comics and that’s what I’ve used rallies for. I will mention that I do have the next strip waiting in the wings for the “Rumpled Snow” side arc. Just no biters yet.
Well, I meant to have each reader post a comment on their pages. Informational to get the word out. The more who post, the more chance of bringing in more readers.
Do what ya gotta do. One thing that I do find annoying by ‘fans’ of webcomics/blogs is that the ‘fans’ feel that the artists are OBLIGATED to keep to a constant schedule, and throw hissy-fits if something happens. The artists are doing this out of LOVE, not because of obligations to their fans. All of us here support ya on the descision you feel you have to make.
Family and other obligations come first… as does a little recharge time for yourself! Slow but steady wins the race… better this than burning yourself out on it completely and never wanting to do it again!
I check here daily, so it doesn’t matter to me when the strip airs… I’ll see it when it pops up. ;)