Monthly Community Update - October 2023 (Patreon)

Hey everybody! I'm a week late but once again it's time for another monthly update!

Overall my plans for this month were simple:
After uploading my newest animation I wanted to
- Work on/finish a new Commission
- Finish the next Comic Update

But it SEEMS we might be in for a surprise this month, or at least I hope so!
I received another e-mail from one of the literature agencies I contacted - and the agent in question is already familiar with one of my books 🤯 She ACTUALLY has read my very first book "Die geheime Welt der Gartendrachen" in the past and LIKED IT. She's "looking forward to look into Fio & Tika" after the upcoming Frankfurter Buchmesse, so I'll definitely hear from her again in a couple of weeks, if I'm lucky maybe by the end of October.

NOTHING is decided yet.
It's TOO EARLY to celebrate and I don't want to jinx anything.
But it DOES feel promising 🤞
I will try to not get too excited yet but the fact that she's already familiar with my books (this feels like a cosmic joke, this feels UNREAL) and LIKED the first one is a good sign, so let's hope for the best.

I don't know what this will entail for the future, but I'm excited for it. Naturally I started thinking about how my schedule might change in the future - I'll obviously start to draw more Gardendragons art for upcoming books and switch some of my priorities for writing new ones.

But knowing me I will still want to do a bit of EVERYTHING ANYWAY and I'm sure I'll find a balance to do so - I mean I did so before, making comics while I was still writing books for my old publisher, but on the other hand I think I'll be way more actively presenting myself than I did before. I  was too shy and anxious back then to do any book signings, readings, public presentations. I think I 'm ready for them now. And BOY would I love to make some Gardendragon YOUTUBE VIDEOS once I know we're back on track again :D

I'll try to finish the Gladion-Arc in the meantime as long as I'm waiting for an answer and no matter what'll happen, you'll definitely be able to watch all of it unfold on here.

And in OTHER NEWS I'm once again reactivating my HORSE FEVER - My Bella Sara Video essay script has laid dormant for half a year, but I'm starting to get the itch again to bring it to life...WHEN I don't know yet, comics & comms come first for now, but I also found a new seller who sold a BUNCH of merch & cards I wasn't able to get before and it's INCREDIBLY exciting as all of this will find its way into the video eventually
ESPECIALLY the book-series I still need to read up on, I'm missing 4 more books I desperately want to read for a potential bonus-video

And
well
uh
I might draw some horses again this fall
They're calling me

On a COMPLETELY different note, uploading on Instagram and twitter has become quite a challenge.

Not that it's DIFFICULT to upload something, it's that Clout and engagemet online has been on an all-time low for me on both Instagram and twitter, but considering the massive changes on both platforms it's not surprising.  Instagram is pretty much forcing me to upload regularly and preferrably reels ONLY and I HATE IT. And I ALSO hate that other artists call this a standard now you must abide to, no questions asked, this is what you need to do now if you want to call yourself a "professional industry artist"
BULLSHIT
I'm already losing HALF A DAY EVERY TIME I prepare uploads of new art & videos on 5 different platforms at once and you all KNOW how much I work each day - I'm not buring myself out anymore, I know my limits, I do take breaks - but having to create REELS to post every SECOND DAY would definitely break that limitation and be the end of me. I was honestly considering doing it for a moment - and instantly accidentally smashed my foot against the shower, being unable to properly walk for 4 days. Everytime I get bad ideas I instantly get punished for it by the Universe.

So. My Instagram is pretty much shadowbanned. And I know that at this point only reels could possibly change this. So what am I gonna do? I don't know yet. I just' CANT upload daily. But I know that IF I should make reels in the future, I will make videos I'll actually have FUN with. None of those "film yourself drawing"-videos, I hate recording my drawing process because I rarely finish a piece in one go, I don't have any of the drawing programs or tablets that automatically record your progress and I find this format to be INCREDIBLY BORING most of the time anyway.  Doing something like homework without any passion behind it never worked for me before, so I'll try to think of some video ideas in the future that I'd be excited to do. Probably some silly stuff. I really like doing skits actually if I have an idea for one

SO THAT'S ALL THAT HAS BEEN ON MY MIND LATELY, what's been happening and what I'm planning to do.

It's bound to be an interesting October for sure and I'm curious to see what'll happen over the next couple of weeks
Either way, I'm looking forward to sharing new art and maybe even some short videos with all of you.

As always, thanks for reading my MASSIVELY LONG UPDATES and for your incredibly generous support! 🥰☺️💖💝💕🧡💛💙💜💚
~Eleanor ☺️💖