HAPPY SPOOKITYDOOPITY… TOBER!!
Hello hello my ever-so patient friends! Welcome to another edition of “Why the Next Episode is Delayed”, with your host, me. And today’s special guest is… also me, and the cat sitting on my lap while I write this.
First off, and as always, thank you all so much for your patience and understanding of the delays I so frequently run into. As you are all aware, while I handle all of the writing, editing, and production of the show, I also have a full time job, a home and family to take care of, and believe it or not, I too like to have little hobbies and personal time when I can. So, I truly appreciate the grace you have all given me when I am unable to release episodes in the frequency that I used to. How I ever released 2 episodes a month at the beginning is beyond me.
Oh wait… It was Covid lockdown and I had nothing else to do. Right.
One challenge I have run into with writing the new version of the show is including scenes that existed in the first run. I want to create a sense of deja vu for both the characters and for you, so I want some scenes to be absolutely identical (but with updated effects), and others I want to be eerily similar but slightly different. Now, you might think - “...but Mr Writer Man, wouldn’t that make it EASIER to write an episode since there are scenes that are already made for you?”
You would think so. I thought it would. We are both wrong. What this requires is for me to read through the old scripts (that are now 4-6 years old) and find the scenes I want to keep, and figure out where they will fit. Since the new version is not following the EXACT plot or timeline as the original, things can be shifted. Later scenes can happen sooner and vice versa. So what I essentially have to do is draft out what I intend to happen in an episode and then shuffle through the old scripts to see what will fit where, and if it will work at all.
Now, you might be thinking - “...but Mr Writer Man, you WROTE this show end to end. Of all people, wouldn’t you know what happened, where and when?”
You would think so. I would like to agree with you. We are both wrong. You see… This guy was diagnosed with ADHD only a few years ago and it heavily affects my short term memory, and some of my long term memory. And with the speed and frequency that I was writing and producing this show, while dealing with the stress of living through the Covid times, there are literally episodes that I read through and think “wait… I wrote this?” So… it’s a good amount of extra work.
Thankfully, I have Adrian to help me out, who has a memory like a well organized library*, complete with those long drawers filled with the library’s catalog**, tracked by the Dewey Decimal System***.
Notes for the youngin’s:
*A library is a place where you can get books. Those are words that are printed on paper and not something on a tablet or phone. If you’ve never been, please go. Library cards are usually free.
**We used to catalog, organize, and keep track of things without computers. Wild, right?
***Dewey Decimal System - look it up. You’ll hate it.
(The irony that I write about text on a computer while writing this on a computer…)
Anyway, along with my own struggles on the story, we also have to take into account that I have other actors who are crucial to this story. And those people also have lives, and sometimes very busy ones, all with a similar story to mine. Right now, Melissa is very busy putting together a Norse inspired theater production called Lokasenna, which will take place in Union, CT on December 5th and 6th. It’s an incredible event and a LOT goes into it. (Link at the bottom of this blog) Unfortunately for us, this means that she doesn’t have the free time to do any recording until after the show is done.
In the past, we have done our recordings while on a Discord call, but she’s been having technical issues doing that, and its often required a few re-takes. So, once her show is done, she’ll be coming to my studio here and we can record stuff together. I’m hoping that we may be able to live stream some of it, or at least do a streamed hang out and Q&A.
Now, you might be thinking - “...does this mean we won’t get a new episode till later December or possibly the new year?”
You would think so… and sadly, you are correct. However, this does give me time to get a lot more writing done so that when I have access to everyone, I can get many episodes recorded all at once.
Alright, that’s enough babbling for now. If you haven’t joined the Discord already, we would love it if you did. Due to the updated Meta policies for pages that aren’t personal pages, we will be using Facebook and Instagram much, much less. And I refuse to get a TikTok account… I’m too old for that shit.
When is Myspace coming back?
While you all wait for another episode, here are a few things to keep you busy:
Here is the link to the event Melissa is helping run:
Wyrdlands Caravan Presents: Lokasenna
Did you know Lee is into antiquated fiber arts? Well now you do. Adrian streams a few times a week doing historical bobbin lace and loom work. (Just an FYI - he is on a short hiatus while he recovers from a minor surgery)
And I still stream from time to time on Twitch as well, with the intent to hang out with friends and play some games.
Well, I hope you all have a fantastic October and if you celebrate it, have an amazing Halloween!
See you all soon!
JD (aka - Tom/ Mr. Writer Man)
Comments