Sorry for the absence! Been caught up with these layouts for the past few weeks. Starting from scratch and combing over it for problems from the last set of layouts have been taking up all my time. I’ve barely enjoyed anything summer related other than sweating and racking up an inflated electric bill but, hey! I had an awesome meeting last night! One step closer with one more solid fix!

TAK

Another meeting and another 3 pages full of notes. This time I’ll be overhauling large parts of the story with major tweaks to pretty much every character. Although that sounds pretty rough, it’s actually a relief to discuss and be given advice on my story which has been stewing, churning and weighing heavily, solely in my head. It’s like therapy, really. It’s also awesome to see the plot getting tighter and characters growing meatier after every adjustment. Man, editor’s really know their shit. Like, seriously.

TAK

Green chili oil is not good for the eyes. It’s basically equal to the effects of pepper spray. Well, it kinda is just a crude form of pepper spray, huh? Anyway, in my youth, I would frequent a Pho place next to my summer job and break up green chilis with my fingers then remove my contacts that night. Sharp pains in my head and blood shot eyes soon followed. Me so stupid. But, y’know, I learned and have others break up my chilis now. It’s just the sensible thing to do. Learn from experience.

So, last night, I grind up garlic to put in my ramen broth and then try removing my contacts that night. Sharp pains in my head and blood shot eyes soon followed. Me SOOOOO stupid… Don’t do it kids. Take it from the expert.

TAK

P.S. I wonder what ginger does to the eye?

It’s cooled down a lot after a typhoon rolled past us last week. So nice not sweating loads after stepping outside for a quick drink.

Been spending the last week on edits and ironing out characters old and new. A lot of small things that seemingly should be easy but they have to fit a larger canvas now so it’s been more time consuming than I thought. Anyway, I hope to finish tonight or tomorrow and go back for another meeting this week.

In the meantime, I picked up Hiromu Arakawa’s new book Silver Spoon. I read the first chapter in the mag but haven’t had the chance to follow it so had to pick it up. The book is about an aimless kid from the city that enrolls in an agricultural high school up in Hokkaido. It’s a good read; deftly paced with quirky distinctive characters. She’s a pro. My dad’s been raising chickens for the past few years. I wonder if he realizes eggs come out of their bum hole.

TAK

Had a meeting at Shueisha yesterday. I couldn’t help but take a moment to reflect before walking in. Thinking about the last time I was there and all that’s happened since. It’s been about 4 years. A long time to prepare and, more importantly, find the balls to come back. But, y’know, I have books under my arm now and the knowledge that I can actually handle a monthly. Go me. Then I pee-ed my pants. No, not really.

Btw, I’m gonna keep this short. So, in short, it was a good meeting. My story clocked in at 60 pages which made me worry about it being too long but the editor didn’t see any problems with. I mostly got comments about it being entertaining and easy to read considering it’s length. I have character motivations to edit and adjust and 1 or 2 scenes of fore-shadowing to add but mostly minor changes. After I iron these things out it’ll (hopefully) be presented to more senior editors where I expect even more changes and after all that (with bucket loads of luck) it’ll then possibly/just maybe see the light of day in print. That’s me being super-optimistic, btw. So, yeah. Fingers crossed, stoked and a little tired but still at it.

TAK

New ride at Fuji Q. It looks pretty awesome, although, just looking at all those loops on YouTube makes me wanna puke. Also, you’re practically falling at a negative angle at one point.

TAK

So, layouts are taking a little longer than I thought. About 3/4 done but I’m only still about 50% happy with how things are going. I’ll just get this hammered out cuz I need some pointers.

In the meantime, I’ve been addicted to justin.tv. Scrolling through random movies and old tv shows has been a killer way to waste time. I am Legend is on at the moment. Dope!

TAK

Layout thumbnails are done. I have to go back and edit it now while I draw them bigger. Some of the dialogue needs some major tweaking and I also need to add in small events that have consequences later which were made up on the fly. It’s turning into a house of cards where even one seemingly insignificant thing could completely ruin motives of characters and leave major plot holes. Soldiering on!

TAK

It’s been a busy couple of weeks. Last week was taken up with a sake tasting, roller coasters at Fuji Q and a farewell party for a friend where I unleashed my show-stopping guacamole. Make it next time. You’ll get pats on the back. And this week has been dedicated to layouts and sweating. Yes, it’s officially summer and we’ve been told to conserve energy in order to not dry-out a crippled power grid, so, I’m doing my part. No A/C. Just a fan. Last night I made pho for dinner and I had to change my tank top and boxers after. I don’t know what compelled me to eat a steaming bowl of noodles in 30C heat… Anyway, layouts are coming along. I will most likely have a 50 page draft to show by early next week. I’m also considering pitching with 2 more chapters worth of plot as well so I’ll leave that till after this initial work is done. Oh, shit. Have to draw up the finalized characters, too.

TAK

So, it’s down to game 7… Either way it goes, at least it’s made for an interesting and thrilling play-offs. Will definitely be glued to a screen somewhere on Thursday morning!

Work is progressing into the layout stage finally. I’ve plotted out a 50 pager to show editors and I’m currently breaking that down now. Hopefully they’ll like it. If not, it’s back to the drawing board. Gotta stay positive!

TAK