SS6 98 Nagging Doubts
skyangel on Oct. 13, 2018
When Niccea mentioned we had taken an award this year for ‘Best Plot Development’ I was over the moon because as you're all aware, the story over these last 98 pages has been a lot different to the previous chapters before it!
In my case the idea of Sarah falling in love with a girl who had a secret past was the basic spine I set out to build on which fleshed out to Laura dying in mysterious circumstances along with a sideline story about Sarah feeling haunted by her ghostly presence. I then thought it would be interesting to have Sarah's imagination fuelled by Lucy talking in her sleep, rightly or wrongly about what really happened to the girl.
At some point the story seemed rounded off enough but then the idea of Laura turning out to be alive after all started to play on my mind as it caused everyone problems in all directions, especially Sarah's relationship with Lucy. Then the story started to really write itself, because all the main characters seemed to have different levels of guilt, fear, and resentment towards Laura still being alive depending on whose perspective I was viewing the situation from and as old ideas no longer worked out I was forced to reconsider different motives, attitudes and events which started to feel comfortable with everything else going on. At one point I had so many unexplained loose ends that I was beginning to think I'd made the story too complex for it's own good so it was a nice feeling to be able to start tidying all those up at last. It's been a long, long story I know but I'm so glad you guys stuck with it as I was sure you would enjoy it in the end.
The funny thing is that I can't even remember how the Legend of Lenore became entwined along the way! It was never planned from the start but something that grew from the idea of Laura trying to connect with her dead mother and a confusion of spirits stemming from two similarly traumatic losses; Laura with her mother and Lenore with her child.
But that's enough of that for now.
Have a nice week, and thanks as always for all your lovely support that has kept this comic going for so long! xx
DarkVisor at 6:57AM, Oct. 15, 2018
Hmm, is that Lenore in panel two... ? o_O
skyangel at 5:19PM, Oct. 18, 2018
DV: No way! It was actually a sketch I did years ago of some actress. Bardot I think.
DarkVisor at 6:53AM, Oct. 15, 2018
Okay Nikki, spill it! You've been chatting with Janey, haven't you!!
skyangel at 5:20PM, Oct. 18, 2018
DV: It does sound a bit like that doesn't it.
BearinOz at 5:36AM, Oct. 14, 2018
I especially like this page, but it's difficult to put my finger on why...the line art is particularly good, the backgrounds are uncluttered and the colours are great, the skin tones not being the least of that . Well done on the plot award too ! Not sure about the Janey mention, despite all the 'pro-Janey' fans of the idea B-)
skyangel at 5:29PM, Oct. 18, 2018
Bear: Thanks. I've been enjoying doing the cosy chats between Nik and Sarah a lot lately. As for the art, I often just have 2 people chatting over a cup of tea but it feels nicer when I think of it to give at least one of them something slightly distracting.
bexlicious at 9:14PM, Oct. 15, 2018
Thanks Bear... I've been struggling with the coloring now that I have a different screen. Its just so different than what I was used to. Thank goodness I at least had some swatches saved!
tommym at 8:51PM, Oct. 13, 2018
Dear Sky, Sarah picks up phone "Oh Hi Janey, long time no see old friend and bosom buddy of mine. How would you like to spend a night with me grave digging for a witch bottle in order to free a friendly spirit? You would? Ok We can meet at midnight. I can't wait to see you again love" I am impressed with how you developed then changed the story/plot. I would like to see Sarah date Janey again or start a more than friends thing with Nikki or Maybe Nikki can meet a woman whose name happens to be Lenore Is it true you have more awards than anyone in drunk duck history? Congrats! tommym
skyangel at 5:16PM, Oct. 18, 2018
Tommym: Haha You're pretty close ;) As I said to Nic and Ben, I started with just Sarah and Janey so I rather wanted the epilogue to revolve around them again. Who said I have the most awards? I guess it's possible as we have had 10 years to build a collection and we have been a top 10 comic for years too so it's a cool thought!
NicAndBen at 4:47PM, Oct. 13, 2018
Congratulations on the award! You've earned it ^_^ Nikki looks gorgeous in that fourth panel! Also, glad to see Sarah is starting to think about Janey again. Like fredhedges said, the cheating part IS difficult to get past :/ but maybe Janey has matured/truly regretful for her mistake and is maybe worth giving a second chance? Argh, it's hard to choose. Either way, it'd be nice to have them back in each other's lives, even if it were only in a platonic way :)
skyangel at 4:57PM, Oct. 18, 2018
Nic and Ben: Hi guys and thanks :) As I said to Fred, it needs a lot of consideration but as we started with Janey I wanted to come back to her as she was a very loved character once and I like the way Sarah still has a soft spot for her always.
fredhedges at 2:06PM, Oct. 13, 2018
Hmmm indeed. I've always been in the "get Sarah and Janey back together" camp, but she did cheat on her her with an unpleasant girl (Claire I think it was), and for me at least, that would be very hard to get past. Sarah seems not to be focussing on that at the moment.
skyangel at 4:14PM, Oct. 18, 2018
Fred: Good point and it's pretty much a big part of why I decided to end chapter six at 100 pages because there are several issues that I wanted to go into in depth that would have wrecked the rhythm of this particular chapter. I want to do an update on Stacey, Leo, Janey, and especially Nikki whose personal life has been overshadowed by The Lucy/Laura/Lenore storylines.
DarkVisor at 6:56AM, Oct. 15, 2018
Have always been in the "they will both end up in the same nursing home and raise all sorts of hell for the staff, so no rush" camp :D
moizmad at 1:22PM, Oct. 13, 2018
Congrats on award sky, I got one too for most offensive something?
skyangel at 4:04PM, Oct. 18, 2018
Mo: Congratulations, that's 2 years running then yea? Well deserved too, I must catch up on it!!
Infected Blood at 8:51AM, Oct. 16, 2018
Offensive congrats, then!
Infected Blood at 8:00AM, Oct. 13, 2018
Oh, congratulations on the award, it's well-deserved! This plot has been developing really nicely, I enjoyed it. And now I'm glad Sarah's thinking about Janey again ;)
skyangel at 4:02PM, Oct. 18, 2018
IB: Thanks. Do you think Sarah will phone her? ;)