Not too long ago my wife and I took a trip to see several of our old friends out on Long Island. This was a special trip for all of us, a reunion of friends (the Pallys as we refer to ourselves). Like often happens with old friends, our relationships are now exclusively long-distance with very few of us even living on the same side of the continent. But for this one weekend most of us would be under the same roof together, and it was going to be awesome.
In the weeks leading up to this trip I had been feeling incredibly uncreative. Whenever I stop making things, my self-doubt and self-loathing usually start to get the better of me. This starts a self-destructive cycle of unproductiveness. I’m unhappy so I can’t be creative. I’m not being creative so I’m unhappy. Repeat.
We all arrive on Long Island and immediately pick up where we left off five years ago when we were all together last. We all take turns making each other laugh, getting crazier and zanier with every rotation, and because we’re idiots shameless we record everything we’re doing. Our conversations organically grow into sharp improvised skits with each of us playing comical caricatures of ourselves. And for the first time in weeks I feel like myself.
Throughout the weekend our improvisations were punctuated by our usual conversations of life, politics, and the entertainment we’re currently ingesting. During which Louis C.K. and his independent series “Horace and Pete” kept coming up over and over again (in no small part due to our own experience that weekend in a century old dive bar). This led to us all of us, jam packed in a rented Dodge Charger, listening to Louis C.K. talk about his process on Marc Maron’s WTF Podcast somewhere on the Long Island Expressway. Louis’ words punched me in the gut. He was doing what he was supposed to be doing, why wasn’t I? What’s stopping me? “Oh yeah, nothing!”
Inspired, my self doubt lifts and my purpose is once again revealed–I need to create.
The weekend ends and I’m heartbroken to say goodbye to the Pallys, but more than that, I can’t wait to finally get to work. On the plane cross-continent I break the story for “Another Working Night” and less than twelve hours after landing I’ve started the art. In what feels like the blink of an eye, the book is finished.
“Another Working Night” is the fastest turn-around from initial idea to finished product I’ve ever had. The speed of production meant a lot less time to edit and doubt myself. Which is scary, but also authentic.
Which brings us to now…
“Another Working Night” is available today. Please check it out, as well as my other comics.
My Pallys: Teri, Jay, Jen, Jeff, Chris, and Erik (in spirit). Thank you all so much. Prost! 🍻
