Update

January 14th, 2010

First, let me say thank you, emma, for the New Year’s wishes. I hope 2010 is kind to you and your musical pursuits. Thanks, too, to Kevin and Hodge for checking in. And to Val.

It’s very out-of-character for me not to update folks and let them know what’s going on. Or not. Sorry ’bout that. I’ve been bombarded with a variety of distractions and opportunities that needed–and will continue to need–my attention.

In short, I am running on empty.

Perhaps this is why each time I sat down to draw a comic, some part of my unconscious resisted. It reminded me of Victoria Nelson’s wonderful book On Writer’s Block. Only it’s not the writing–I wrote down four or five comic ideas this morning. It’s the drawing. Some part of me is saying enough. Again, this could be that I’m on overload. It could also be that my unconscious is ready to move on. Or to take a major break. Hopefully, within a month, I’ll regain some structure and balance in my life, and then looking at ink pens won’t be a neutral or even kind of repulsive experience.

In any case, thanks for reading my stuff, commenting on it, sending me e-mails about your life, and so on. (I often get e-mails that are apologetic, like the writer feels like he or she is intruding or interrupting. That’s never the case. e-mail from readers of The Bitter Pen is so much more interesting and engaging that the dreck I get day-in, day-out. Almost always, hearing from a reader boosts my day.)

Anyway, thanks. Please check back some time.

Peace.