Once again it seems I lied.

Apparently I am not going to post daily writing progress updates here, during the month of February. Just as I have decided to go deep into the writing hole this full coming month, my buddy and oft-times writing partner Matt Sturges has decided much the same thing, although in deference to the fact that he has a loving family that needs occasional attention and care, his hole won't be dug quite as deep or isolated as mine.

        But, that said, the fact that Matt is doing much the same thing for the same month is too much of an opportunity to pass up. So, instead of just posting my own daily progress here, Matt and I are both going to post daily progress reports over at the Clockwork Blog. That doubles the accountability, which is the entire purpose of posting daily reports in the first place. You can get to the Clockwork Blog by clicking on the link right there in the upper left hand side of this page.

February Plans

In March I move into the new digs, up in snowy Minnesota, just in time to officially move in on April 1st. That means I can't count on getting too much writing work done then. So I need to get ahead on all deadlines and various writing obligations now.

        Therefore, in the month of February, I am disappearing deep into the writing hole. No days off. No dinners out with friends. Few phone calls. No computer activity not directly related to getting my work done. Just writing, and more writing.

        Here's what I need to get done in one month: 1) I need to finish the current novel, which is fully plotted, researched and begun, but much of which remains unwritten. 2) I need to write at least three full issues of Fables. 3) Along with Matt Sturges, I need to complete, at a minimum, two issues of Jack, two issues of The Literals, and two issues of JSA. 4) I need to finish a couple of short stories and various items that always come up, and can't really be scheduled.

        Can I do it? Sure. I'm pretty prolific when I decide to knuckle down. For the prose work I just need to channel my inner Chris Roberson, who can write a full length novel in a long weekend. For the comics work I just need to do daily what I am able to do, when I really dedicate myself. Will I do it? We'll see.

        In order to help keep the fire lit under my too-often lazy (insert earthy anatomical reference here), I'm going to try to post daily progress reports here.

JSA Days (and Daze)

As you may already have heard, I'll be writing DC Comics' JSA series soon, in collaboration with my oft-times funnybook writing partner, Matt Sturges. By the way, the image to the left isn't from one of our issues, as they've yet to come out. It's from a previous JSA issue and doesn't show the full immensity of the team that we'll be inheriting from Geoff Johns, the current JSA scribe.

        Since this news broke, I've been asked more than once, "Why would you even consider taking over a book from Geoff Johns? It's about as suicidal a career move as whoever the long forgotten act was who appeared after the Beatles, in the old Ed Sullivan Show." (Too ancient a reference for you? Ask your parents.)

        Believe me, I have the same concerns. Geoff is a titan of superhero writing. It would be folly to try to follow him, right?

        Sure.

        That's one way to frame the argument. But, after much consideration, I have a drastically different way of looking at it. Following Geoff Johns on any project is a no-lose situation. Confused? Then think it through as I did. The two possibilities are that I fall flat on my face, or I do a good job with the book against all expectations.

        If I fall flat on my face, that can't reflect badly on me, because he's Geoff Johns. No one can be expected to do well following him. See? Can't lose.

        However, if I succeed against all expectations then the glory is even more sweet, because who would have thought I could do it, following Geoff Johns. Once again: can't lose.

        So that's my reasoning. Or at least my rationalization.

        I have no idea why Matt agreed to this folly.