Movin' on out, movin' on up!
Added 2017-12-04 19:02:18 +0000 UTC Good god, I never imagined I'd find myself in the position I'm in now.
On December 10th, I'll be moving into a new place, starting up a new work/life schedule, and making comics my fulltime job.
A brief recap: earlier this year, watsup convinced me to try opening a Patreon. I figured "Oh why not, I might get an extra 50 bux a month or something!" But it quickly turned into much more, and has been a bigger source of income than even my freelance/part-time "real" work for a few months now.
Even so, my comic work has remained something of a "hobby-level" thing, i.e. something I do whenever I'm finished with other, "real" work. Which means that I don't often produce the 4+ comics a month (plus Patreon rewards) that I'd like to aim for, and the work I do is sometimes a bit rushed.
With this move, I'm making comic work my fulltime profession. I want to put out more comics a month. I want to spend some time practicing and tightening up things like character designs, more background detail and other little things, and post pages that are just a bit less rushed in production. This is my thing now, and I want it to represent the best of my abilities, instead of the current "I'll give it some work whenever I find the time, boy I wish I had more time."
I actually planned to get this move done in the beginning of November, but at the last minute I found an apartment that is not only basically my dream location and has everything I'm looking for in a modest place to live, but is also over $100 less in rent each month than my other options! The only downside is that it wasn't available until Dec. 10th, so the price I've had to pay for this ideal apartment is patience.
And believe me, I've been super anxious to make this transition all month. I cannot tell you just how eager I am to pour all my energy into my comic work, without it being a secondary priority behind other work. There is so, so much story that I desperately want to draw and share with all of you. And that is now indeed possible, because enough people feel what I'm doing is worth throwing a few bux at via Patreon.
God, I love you people. Your support, whether it's been via Patreon, or comments, +watches and faves, is something I actively think about and appreciate daily. You've turned this from a little project I started to keep myself drawing regularly, to something I can actually support myself on, full-time. I never imagined my comics would result in me getting any sort of money, so naturally it never entered into my head that it's something I could do as a living.
Yet, here we are. Because of you, entirely because of you, this is now the reality of my life. You, readers and supporters out there, have unexpectedly changed my life in a way so tremendous that I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around it. I appreciate you so, so much. Seriously, I get this warm little glow when I think about all of you out there who feel it's worth their time and effort to read, comment, and even lend me their hard-earned money in support.
And I think I know just the way to show my appreciation; more/better comics, of course! And it's because of you all that I'll soon be able to offer more, so it's a nice circular thing we got goin' on.
From the bottom of my strange little heart, thank you.
Comments
Val, it is a wonderful zhing to read zhis. I wish you all zhe very best wizh zhis new chapter, and I sincerely hope I can continue to bring new friends and fans along for zhe trip. We all look forward to joining in zhe adventure!
Sesra
2017-12-17 13:04:00 +0000 UTCIt sure does! Consider me patronized.
Val Salia
2017-12-15 17:48:26 +0000 UTCAnd I'm a doner now! Does that mean I'm patronizing you?
Leonhard Printz
2017-12-12 16:35:25 +0000 UTCWell, not full, just the two of us. But we're looking forward to more awesomeness from you!
Xanthos
2017-12-07 21:17:26 +0000 UTCAll right! Not only a reader, but a house fulla them! I'll make sure to keep the good stuff coming. : D
Val Salia
2017-12-07 18:08:36 +0000 UTCSo awesome to see you succeeding! Patreon sent me your way back at the end of September - I've been following ever since. In my house we love your sense of humor, your story and your world, and look forward to seeing more of it (and the embarracursening).
Xanthos
2017-12-07 08:37:19 +0000 UTCI have not looked, but have no doubt a tiger-Khajiit mod exists, because of course it does.
Val Salia
2017-12-05 22:05:08 +0000 UTCThanks a lot! These good things happening for me are coming DIRECTLY from you guys, so thank YOU! Also I never really took a liking to awesome in its sauce form, I prefer awesome pie or awesome fritters.
Val Salia
2017-12-05 21:19:51 +0000 UTCYeah, it could be liked to transformation, couldn't it? A transformation of lifestyle, and of location. Going by this, you could say that pretty much every story written is a transformation story! Unless the main character sits in the same place throughout the book without doing or thinking anything.
Val Salia
2017-12-05 21:18:09 +0000 UTCOh man, is it ever! What's more, is that by doing it because I enjoyed it, for free, for years and slowly building up readership, was actually setting me up perfectly for this! All the while, I never considered the possibility, thinking it was simply unrealistic to think I could support myself by drawing comics. : D
Val Salia
2017-12-05 21:16:07 +0000 UTCSeriously; even just a buck from someone really adds up over time when there's a bunch of people doing it! And it's not just a minor supplement or anything; the people supporting me on this Patreon are COMPLETELY responsible for allowing me to make this change. I don't do commissions (at the moment at least), or sell merchandise (yet!) or anything. Without you all. I simply would not have this possibility open to me.
Val Salia
2017-12-05 20:28:14 +0000 UTCGo get 'em tiger... I mean Kahjiit! ^^
SenGrisane
2017-12-05 18:34:37 +0000 UTCAwesomesauce Val! It's great to see good things happening for you! GRATZ!
johnny_vulpine
2017-12-05 11:29:13 +0000 UTCYou could say this is a heart warming transformational tale. It brings me so much joy to know that you are ready to move to a new phase of your life. Gives me some hope. So very very happy for you.
Vikis The Snarky
2017-12-05 05:11:41 +0000 UTCCongrats Val! Its so cool hearing that you get all this support. Living off of something you brought to life has got to feel pretty great.
pon
2017-12-05 04:57:17 +0000 UTCWow, this is the kind of thing that makes pledging completely worthwhile. I always think to myself "A buck or two is nice, but not doing much." But then more and more people do the same, and suddenly we're hearing that it's enough to support you as a job? It feels really good, thank you ♥
Ngrasta
2017-12-05 00:02:23 +0000 UTCThanks! But I didn't do much, I think it was mostly the yinglets
Val Salia
2017-12-04 20:57:17 +0000 UTC: D : D
Val Salia
2017-12-04 20:57:02 +0000 UTCYay dream location and dream job! You won! (Thanks in no small part to your efforts and talents)
Little Napoleon
2017-12-04 20:12:09 +0000 UTCCongratulations Val! Im happy for you ^w^
T0mmen
2017-12-04 19:58:58 +0000 UTCI'd certainly like to think so! In the end, it's you all that ultimately decide if I've earned it or not. : D
Val Salia
2017-12-04 19:14:00 +0000 UTCAnd I believe in you, who believes in me!
Val Salia
2017-12-04 19:13:31 +0000 UTCHere's a preview: it involves a lotta yinglets.
Val Salia
2017-12-04 19:13:12 +0000 UTCCongratulations! You've earned it.
ArcadeDragon
2017-12-04 19:13:06 +0000 UTCGood nudging-me-into-Patreon, Wat!
Val Salia
2017-12-04 19:12:44 +0000 UTCWe believe in you, Val!
Max Last
2017-12-04 19:12:37 +0000 UTCHuzzah! Just know that we are just as excited as you are! We're looking forward to the future and what will unfold in your world.
Maradrax
2017-12-04 19:09:18 +0000 UTCGood work Val :B
Wat
2017-12-04 19:08:38 +0000 UTC