Hiatus
As you guys might have noticed, Generation 17 updates have been quite rocky recently. There are several reasons behind that, but the MAIN reason is, to put it simply, I’m getting tired of this story.
I started Generation 17 four years ago with a somewhat simple premise : put the characters I had in a more interesting story that the one I was writing at the time. I also wanted to avoid the pitfall I fell in with y previous comic, where I wrote the story in too much detail and left too little room for improvisation. Of course, since I’m a writer noob, I fell into the exact opposite pitfall.
By not putting down enough waypoints in my outline, I caused Generation 17 to have a chronic pacing problem. This is what caused the reboot of Chapter 3, and this is what causes the plot to be barely 25% done in four effing years. It was simply too big of a project that I went through like an amateur (because as far as writing goes that’s what I am). I should have started smaller. Another problem is, I changed a lot in the last 4 years. To the point I can say that I’m not the same man I was back when I started G17, and today, I feel like I’m working with someone else’s plot. And in the end, I’ve simply grown tired of telling a story that feels like I’m swimming through molasses.
I’ve always been both surprised and impressed at the support G17 got from you all. This is because of it that I’ve hesitated putting G17 on hiatus for so long – I didn’t want to disappoint you. But today, I decided I needed to be honest with you. I just can’t keep on pretending to still be working on G17 when every weekend I feel like, well, not. I can’t keep on pretending to update weekly when I barely do so monthly because I can’t work on the comic. And while putting G17 on hiatus breaks my heart, this is just acknowledging what has been going on for a while now. I need a clean break, and hopefully I’ll come back to this story later.
So, is Generation 17 dead ? Well… I hope not. I plan on coming back to it later when I’m a bit better and can write the plot NOT by the seat of my pants. I might have to reboot the whole thing. I just don’t know yet, and I don’t want to make promises I might not be able to keep.
What I can tell you, however, is that I have other projects I’m going to start soon. The main one is named Chimaera High, and might sound familiar to those following me on FA. It is an interactive comic that I’ll start here on Petite Symphony very soon, and I hope you’ll like it. I’ll keep you posted about it ^^
Thank you all for your support through these years, and see you soon 🙂
Been there, done that. I had one series that got rebooted three times before I finally admitted to myself that, no matter how I changed the story, it was going to take me about 120 years to finish. I was making world maps, writing languages for locals, drafting lore and ignoring how the characters get from point A to point B.
I hope Gen17 isn’t dead, but if you’re losing interest and feeling like it’ll take 20 years to finish, maybe it is time to move on to a new project. Shorter is better, if you’re the only person working on the comics, really… Hence why, when I rebooted AN, I intended to make it a series of short stories. THe intro chapter is probably going to be the longest one. If I lose interest in one of my short stories, I can just do a different one.
Take your time. I loved reading this when I could.
Oh well. I completely understand your position. I’ve been following Generation 17 for a long while and I have loved ever page of it. Regardless if the plot was clunky and confusing, I have to say that your characters understandability and development is top-notch. Very good job in that respect. I’m sure you will be able to apply your skill-set to providing another excellent story, whatever it may be.
Hello;
I’ve been following your comic for only a few short months, and I must say I was impressed with the way the comic started strong, (you kind of lost me at the mass panic/breakout thing though) and how the story has unfolded so far. I do hope you will eventually come back to the story, though if not I understand. I wanted to let you know I’ve enjoyed learning about your characters, and the difficulties they’ve faced.
Sincerely,
Snore23
I’ve been following your comic for only a few short time biut I need to say. Brilliant. I love Generation 17 and I understand you. But Please… (I dont know how to say) Come back soon.
I cannot tell a lie. I love this story and I truly love the charactors and the plot. I do hope you recreate the spark for this lovely storie. I do make my own comics and understand how short spells can hit.
We really appreciate you telling us this, it certainly wasn’t easy and many webcomic artists simply lack the back-bone to admit out-loud that they can’t continue the comic. It certainly would have been alot easier for you to have an unannounced hiatus then ignore us until we went away. Alot of web-comic artists do that, it makes us wonder if something horrible happened to the artist or they simply don’t care enough to post a 3 minute update on their status.
We get it, those that don’t are either A. asshats or B. have no real world experience. So if…or more likely WHEN the odd troll comes rolling around to bitch at you for the hiatus don’t take it to heart. So don’t beat yourself up or feel guilty about the hiatus most of us are behind you 100% of the way.
Chimaera High sounds like a good plan though. At the college level instructors teach you to skip ahead and compose the stuff that is already in skull rather then trying to bludgeon your way through a writer’s block.
Sometimes you’ve got to put down something and work on other things to get a fresh perspective and desire to work on a old project.
Best of luck on however you choose to precede and hope you next project goes well and one day you might come back to this project feeling inspired again. Wishing you luck.
I’ve read your comic for quite a while, enjoying every page produced. Even if you end up deciding to end this project, might I suggest ending it with merely a text story to show where you wanted to have the tale end?
While I don’t have enough Drawing skill to make I webcomic, I do know the issues from my P&P Rolepalying.
I always have grand stories and ideas I either loose myself in details or leave a fault somewhere. And often I loose interest before I can even get it of the ground.
I will keep this one among my RSS feeds of Webcomics I read so I will see if something comes. Don’t beat yourself too much up about it. Beating myself up about my faults (that maybe aren’t even faults at all) is one of my biggest mistake that I am currently working to get rid off.
What makes you better than some other webcomic producers, is that you provide your readers and followers with updates and 2-way feedback. That is why you have such a devoted following, because you care.
P.S. Can I have a Marianne plushy?
Sad to hear that you’re stopping Gen 17 for now, have always totally enjoyed the comic, great story and terrific characters, but you have to take a break sometime, be looking out for any of your work in the future, you’re a really great artist and very detailed in your story telling, hopefully you can come up with an intermediate end to Gen 17 to be taken up later and thanks for letting us know, you’re really professional about that.
And another webcomic I love dies.
Sad to see this going so pear shaped for yourself and to see the story line getting cut short, but at the end of it, you are whats most important. Keep yourself happy and healthy and don’t change that for others. We’ll be there behind you no matter your decision with the comic. Look forward to seeing your other projects and hope that you will continue to create the great work I’ve grown to love over the years! 🙂
Honestly, I think G17 is much better written than several other webcomics out there, that have been around for several years before it, even on it’s early beginnings. I think it has the good ammount of mistery that keeps readers looking forward to see what secrets will be revealed , unlike many other comics that don’t know where the line between “mysterious” and “annoyngly confusing” is.
I look forward to your glorious return – you do good stuff. What are you going to do for your Patreon?