October update - and some discarded/unfinished pics

Happy October everyone! Although not so happy for me, as I managed to begin the month with a nice dose of Covid! 🤒 On the mend now though, just tired limbs and some lingering flu symptoms.

That aside, I've felt more conscious of the seasonal change this year - the darker mornings and evenings, which I know many have trouble adjusting to, so I hope everyone's good. As an Englisher I personally love the misty Keats-and-Tolkien feel of an Autumn morning: not too hot but not too cold, light but not bright. Though I always feel the clocks should go back at the start of October, rather than the end, to give us lighter mornings. But maybe that's just me. 🍂

Another thing I'm very conscious of is that there wasn't much to show here in September, with just one "proper" post. It's also been far, far too long since I updated my two main stories: The lady wot lunched, and The perfect dress.

I can only apologise and promise that I am making good writing progress in the background on both stories, along with some others. Unfortunately, the nature of writing (at least for me) is that it's quite a long process, and progress sometimes means scrapping - or not so much scrapping as cutting out and putting aside ideas and passages which, though I love them in themselves, don't fit into the story I'm working on. I suppose it's a bit like cooking. You've got loads of cool ingredients that you're excited for everyone to enjoy, but if you give in to temptation and cram them all into the same dish it'll taste awful, and you may end up with something like George's Marvellous Medicine.

Hmm... reducing the writing process to a food metaphor. I think my characters must be rubbing off on me.

That said, I will strain every nerve and sinew to make October a good month, to show how immensely grateful to you guys for sticking with me, and continuing to support my work, even when there doesn't seem to be much of it!

For now, I though I thought I'd share an unfinished image that I gave up on. You can probably work out who the character is supposed to be and which story it relates to. I spent quite a lot of time on this one, and I was happy with the background but... I dunno. I just wasn't happy with her overall look (not quite glam enough) and couldn't seem to make it right. My skills have improved a fair bit since then, but if I come back to it I'll probably start the character again and incorporate her into the same background if possible. Let me know what you think.

I've also included a couple of early character concept pics, which I did just for fun years ago, showing a pouty blonde with very slight weight gain. I did these years ago, but never quite got around to coming up with a story for them, or getting the pics properly finished!

I realise it's not much, but I hope these things plug the gap while I work on other pics and stories for the rest of this month. Aiming to get at least 3 proper posts out this month (not counting this one).

Keep well, everyone, and please let me know what you'd most like to see. I'll be back with more soon! :)