P.S.I. – A Pessimistic Sense of Inadequacy

Alright, for those who still check this site, I do apologize. I hate leaving projects unfinished.

The Ramble…

The sad truth is that I purely don’t have time to work on this comic, as I have other projects that have a higher potential for both earning, as well as success. That being The Webcast Beacon Network and Ardra.

I’m incredibly behind on PSI and The Shifter Archive, and I wish I had more time. Lately I’ve been trying to keep track of the time I spend working on all of the “Fesworks, LLC” stuff. With the time I spend now to get proper sleep, and the time I spend at work, and the times I can spend with my girlfriend… Honestly, I’d really have no time for myself to just no do anything, if I maximized my time to set time aside for EVERY project, each week. I’m not kidding when I say my “Fesworks, LLC” stuff is a part time job (that pays poorly).

Of course, wasn’t it a hobby? Sure was. At first. But If I want to really keep doing what I’m doing, I need to make it worth my time to do it. Though I would much rather get a podcasting crew to takeover many aspects for me on The Webcast Beacon Network, so I can concentrate on other things more important to me.

What is to become of PSI?

Well… There are a few options. Honestly, I DO want to continue this comic, but I also want to redo the whole thing to make a better story, streamlined, for a print version. With the same characters I’ve loved creating and working with for the past 5-6 years. Lots of people already know this.

But what about the audience I already had? Albeit a very, very small audience, but still an audience nonetheless. What would you guys want to see?

I mean, I can’t expect you all to wait around for me to remake the comic (which would have basically the same story, tightened up, and actually would be precisely same content after the mall sequence…. meaning that everything now, and in the future of the comic would be the same in the remake, more or less).

So, what would people want? I could possibly attempt to do really sloppy, sketchy drawings that progresses the story from here on… who knows, it might get me back into drawing properly. And maybe actually get back to practicing so my art gets better and I can really define my style more. Anyway, they would be sporadic updates at best…. but I would try to at least HAVE updates.

Another idea would be to give people an outline, or a short write-up of what would happen after this point (as of PSI update 495), but I am less inclined to get spell it out… at least publicly on the site. I feel like… if I just TELL you, then I may not be as motivated to show you. Additionally, it’s always likely that if I ever get drawing it all again, it could change. At many points in the comic, I have changed script last minute because of things working better another way.

Still, maybe a basic outline would work. I have a plan that would basically get Nemi and the guys to a resolving conclusion (with a possible set up for a continuation).

Ehhhh. I dunno. Thoughts?

Sorry guys. I REALLY need the time to get other things done. I’m in way over my head, but I do need to concentrate on projects that can potentially return a bit of revenue to compensate for how much I spend on all of my projects. The taxman will like that.

So I must go on a story-update-hiatus until March 2012 at least. Giving me November, December, January, and February to catch up on everything.

I will, however, continue to update the website weekly with something. Mostly cover sketches and new covers in the archive. I may also finally answer some questions for the comic, in comic form.

I’m not sure what kind of a readership I have here. PSI has always been my baby. My learning comic. My one thing I want to at least FINISH some day…. though there really is no end in site. I have so many story ideas,  just wish I could better market the comic and its weird archive.But I appreciate everyone that has stuck by me, and I will never fully abandon this comic (unless it finishes satisfyingly, story-wise, somehow).

I hope to answer a ton of questions, including some un-asked questions, such as “Will the comic ever just be about Fes and Ernst again?” or “The story has been getting more serious… will it ever be funny again?” or “Will Fes and Nemi ever get together?”

To quickly answer:

1. PSI is not just about Fes and Ernst… and I don’t think it ever can be just about them again…. In fact, it may more often avoid them in future storylines. I think I will focus on shorter storylines, but more characters. I do like the idea of a “trio of main characters”, so I may follow different groupings of three in future storylines.
2. I was never good about gag-a-day. In fact, I sucked at it. I recognize the increasing seriousness of the storylines, and I agree it needs more humor. Once I finish the storyline with the Magickal Armor, I think things will be easier to write, but I don’t think the comic CAN be predominately humorous… it’s been too long, perhaps.
3. When I first made Fes and Nemi… I decreed that they will NEVER get together…. However, as I write PSI, it is very character driven…. so much so, that the characters have surprised me and multiple storyline intentions AND reactions. I have their character in my head, but I have not FORCED any character to do something that seemed to go against what they would really do (despite me wanting something different)… So the fate of ALL characters remains a mystery to me. What will happen to Nemi at the end of the coming storyline… keeps changing in my head….

Additionally, I believe that PSI, as it currently is….. may END after the next storyline. The storyline will END everything that has to do with the Magickal Armor (as it exists). Nemi’s and Bodil’s fates are VERY unknown to me. When it is all “resolved”, I don’t know what Fes and Ernst will do (as far as things going “back to normal” or not). Jenny Everywhere’s role is ultimately unknown to me.

I can tell you that there WILL be a confrontation with the Goddess (as ambiguous that can sound), and that after that confrontation, the comic could end… and/or begin anew (in a way).

When I finally come back, I hope to do one, full page comic a week, and really do the art much better. No more rushing PSI just to get the story out there. I want to do better than that! I want to spend time inking. I want to do a better job of coloring (like how I color Ardra). I want to really bring this potential final chapter home, and do it very well!

As I have stated, I have tons of ideas to place and/or follow characters for more storylines. It is just that PSI, as it currently is, is STILL a muddled mess of trying to solve long-placed plot seeds….. though, actually, it IS a lot better than it was. The only major plot seed needing to be concluded is the Armor of the Day Raven. Aside from that, everything is fairly newly introduced for set up (including Bodil and the Goddess). So much will… nay, MUST come together by the end of the next storyline, that PSI will be FORCED to change (or end as we know it). It is very likely I will need to jump one year into the future after this next chapter. It’s exciting and daunting at the same time.

As usual, People can ask me any question they like about the comic, characters, me… I may not fully answer, depending on spoilers, but you will get an answer.