The Birth of a Metaphorical Monster
New year, new thing.
Feels like the right time.
Way back in 2015, I sold my first prose novel—two of them, actually—and at the time, I was convinced that I was going to spend the rest of my life writing children’s fiction. I’d had some success in comics before. I’d even dipped my toes into TV animation. But prose writing felt different. Long before I’d sold that first book, I had a feeling, deep in my gut that this was what I was meant to be doing. It just felt right. Nearly ten years, two kids, a pandemic, and a dozen unsold drafts later, however, I found myself creatively deflated. It was easy to put that kind of heartfelt, personal work aside for a while, maybe even healthy, but I can’t ignore the pull forever. The worm in my ear that whispers ideas to me as I sleep is still there. So, it’s time to start again. Which is where Metaphorical Monster comes in.
Feels like the right place.
I don’t think it’s too hyperbolic to say that the current state of social media is a wasteland for creatives. Writers in particular. In the long run, I’m not sure if Substack will fare any better, but in its current form, at least, it certainly feels more promising than the alternatives. I like the format and it feels like a chance to build a real connection with an audience again. Most importantly, it gives me a place to experiment with producing the type of work that I actually want to be making. I don’t want to make short videos in order to sell people on my writing. I don’t want to go viral (again). I want to write prose and illustrate for an audience that loves prose and illustration. Here, I feel like I have a chance to do exactly that.
Feels exciting.
Currently, plans are a bit nebulous for the final form that Metaphorical Monster will take. I know it will feature a mix of process posts, first drafts, short stories, illustrations and comics. And I know that it will be a place where I can practice and share my craft. It will also be a place where I can pull back the curtain on my process and share the experiences that I’ve had since I started making a living as a creator nearly twenty years ago.
If you’re a fan of my work, whether way back in the day from Magical Game Time, the Thisby Thestoop books, my comics or TV work, or all of the above, I hope that you’ll follow along here. Regardless of the direction this particular Metaphorical Monster takes, for the first time in years, I’m feeling excited to be sharing again and that’s gotta be worth something.