Under Lock & Key status (Patreon)

Three chapters have been out so far. One in 2017, Two in 2018.

Two chapters a year should be perfectly doable. So when Peculiar Changeling and I finished the script for chapter 4 back in February, we thought we were on the right track for 2019.

Then stuff started happening. Life intervened.

Patreon

The difference between the first two years and my current situation is that I have made Patreon into a serious thing. I have commitments there now. Commitments of which Under Lock & Key is actually NOT one of them.

Why not? Because people would be paying ME for doing the comic, when it was Peculiar Changelings story to begin with. Split the money? Not so easily done. Who says people actually subscribe for the comic, instead of my own work? Pecu would be profiting from work I'm doing solo as well as the comic. And do we split BEFORE or AFTER taxes? Oh, let's not forget taxes are different for him than for me, us being in different continents.

This has been figured out. Pecu and I discussed this, and we agreed Under Lock and Key would NOT be a part of my Patreon. The only thing is that Patrons get a slightly earlier look. The comic is, and will remain, free for all to see and read. I do draw for money, but the comic is just fun!

But that means I have to keep up with my Patreon workload now. In the past, I simply didn't draw much else while working on the comic.... Not so now.

The comic is just for fun!

Or should be...

After the script was done back in February, I started drawing. And pretty soon, I had sketched and lined all pages. Yes, seriously, I have had lineart done for this chapter since May.

But then summer began.... Now, I'm not a big lover of heat. I prefer colder temperatures. In fact, being unable to do anything but sweat depresses the hell out of me. And that's what happened.

I got a non-kinky commission in summer as well. This was an exciting assignment for me, but..... Could I do it? Well, I started working, and...... it didn't work. I couldn't get into it. On top of this commission, I was trying to get the comic out, some kinky commissions, and the regular workload for Patreon. And something snapped..... I lost my confidence. I couldn't draw at all anymore. Everything I drew looked like shit to me. This mostly effected the non-kink commission on which I had been so excited.

Well, with the help of some friends, I managed to fix the issues of the commission, and it turned out decently. It served its purpose, for it became a recurring commission, and the next few were done far more confidently and efficiently.

But before things went better, things reached a low, and I threw everything out for a bit. I cancelled commissions (Sorry, Hadalis!!) and took a month off from Patreon in August.

I know all went to shit because of a depressing summer. But the thing that really put me in stress alley was Under Lock and Key. Remember, all lineart was done. Only coloring and shading left!

Problem is, I don't actually enjoy coloring and shading. It makes my work look a lot better, but the fun in drawing, for me, is sketching and lineart. So with only the boring stuff left to me, and all other pressures I felt right then, my motivation was drained to its minimum. It just wasn't fun anymore....

So..... the status?

Well, since August, things have been significantly better. I have found my confidence again, and the fun in drawing. I started working like crazy, and right now, even before half of November is done, all of my deadlines for November are done. This leaves me time to finally pick up the comic.

But here's a funny thing: It scares the shit out of me...... I know it's unfair to be saying it like this, but I feel the comic was what went wrong last time. What if it does so again?

That's what has been stopping me for the past few months, and even though I HAVE started work on it again, it's still what's holding me back.

So....... I COULD start publishing right now. I have 3 pages and the splash image all ready to go. With posting 2 pages a week, this gives me a 2 week head start to get working on the rest. It's absolutely possible.

But.... I can't guarantee I'll keep up the pace.... I may stumble, and the comic will suddenly stop for a while.

Or I can finish the whole chapter before posting, which may take as little as 2 weeks, or as much as half a year. I just don't know.

Well..... I tried the second strategy for the past few months, and it has gotten me nowhere. So..... I think I'm going to give the first strategy a shot.

That said, I need to figure out a few things.

So here's my announcement: Under Lock & Key, chapter 4, will finally see the light of day in late November or early December! So keep an eye out for that! I will officially let you all know once I'm sure how things will work out, which should be within a few days!

I thank you all for your patience and continued support. People have been asking for the next chapter for ages, and I hate that I wasn't able to give more satisfying answers... Now let's rectify that mistake. See you all soon!!!