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TOTAL VIVID VICTORY
Posted 4 weeks agoIn the Harms vs. David Lillie / Vivid Publishing lawsuit, there is now a definitive outcome. The Plaintiff had their literal day in court, and court subsequently decided that a single day in court was quite enough.
âWhy shouldnât I dismiss this case?â the judge essentially asked during a hearing on Thursday August 07, 2025.
Despite the Plaintiffâs strange hunger for a trial, no legally coherent answer to the judgeâs question emerged from his floundering counsel, and the remainder of the lawsuit was thrown out on jurisdictional grounds.
Entirely.
It is over. We won on absolutely everything. Victory to Vivid and the good guys.
We feel an ocean swell of gratitude and pride in our unstoppable team at Front Range Legal Services, the formidable Mr. Arsenault and Mr. Peterson, for their patience in capably wrangling the years of antics splurting from the opposition. And, of course, we owe COLOSSAL thanks to every last backer of our Legal Defense Fund. ( https://www.givesendgo.com/FreeTheArt ) Your steadfast support and goodwill carried the day.
Itâs incredible just how badly some people DO NOT WANT YOU OR ANYONE to be able to enjoy Vividâs work, to the point where they will expend untold resources(?) and start a literal federal lawsuit aiming to cut you off from our art.
But we fought for us, and for you, to keep the shining loop of creation alive.
Thanks to this battle, Vivid is stronger than ever. Before we had no legal contacts, and now we are connected to incredible talent in the field of copyright, IP, and litigation. Readers rallied to the cause, solidarity came from unexpected corners, and our support has never been higher. The ripple effects of this triumph go beyond us:
We hope this precedent serves to protect all independent artists.
If a creator has drawn every last line of art and written every single word of story, they should be allowed to post it. (ESPECIALLY when another party signs a contract explicitly granting the artist permission to share their work forever!) At no point should an artist be at risk of getting dragged into federal court over simply showing you, freely, what they themselves made.
Because we fought and won, hopefully nobody will do this to any other innocent artists, ever again.
But itâs not quite accurate to say everything is over.
While the lawsuit targeting us is toast, the law itself may not be done with the Plaintiff and his counsel.
The Plaintiff went a little wild, using this lawsuit as a vehicle to subpoena internet companies, a furry convention, the personal information of totally unrelated convention attendees (well, unrelated to us, one of the targeted attendees seems to have quite the interesting personal history with the Plaintiffâs attorney) the contents of the e-mails of their own friends / witnesses, social media companies, you name it.
Representing some of the 3rd parties harassed by these proceedings, another attorney has alleged that the Plaintiffâs lawyer should be sanctioned for his conduct. If the court agrees, the Plaintiffâs attorney will be forced to pay potentially up to $12,000 in sanctions.
And thatâs only the tip of the iceberg.
According to multiple attorneys weâve consulted, the Plaintiffâs actions may have done more than enough to merit a counter-suit. In addition to a steaming pile of fraudulent DMCA claims, the Plaintiff violated their contract with us repeatedly, and this doesnât even begin to touch on âtortious interference with a business,â which weâre told makes for a rock-solid cause of action in this circumstance. To make matters worse, they admitted under oath during a deposition that their actions were colored by political motivations. And exacerbating their liability even more, they did ALL OF THIS while being fully advised and informed by their legal counsel, which removes the brightest defense they might have retreated to, that of clueless ignorance.
They had none of this potential liability in their life until they seemingly abused the law to attack us, on the advice of their counsel. If I were in their shoes, Iâd be googling âlegal malpractice.â
Amazing to consider what the alternate branch of possibilities was. For years, the Plaintiff was happy at the prospect that together weâd publish this book with a crowdfunding campaign. Hand-painted figurines, glossy hardcovers, color prints, with no effort needed on his part, and profits being shared with him, all for the glorification ofâŚ
Well, I guess we canât really call it fully âhisâ character anymore, because legally the graphic novel is ours. When he suddenly wanted us to cancel the crowdfund, we were disappointed but honored his request. But he decided that wasnât good enough, and initiated all of⌠this.
So what happens next?
If we decide to pursue the Plaintiff with a lawsuit of our own, fleet members will be the first to know. (Well- the third to know, after our legal team and the parties being served.) Could be very soon, or years from now. Weâll keep our eyes open so we can make the appropriate decisions.
But for now, letâs all toast to a flawless victory.
Independent creativity, art, and story carried the day.
Viva la Vivid.
âWhy shouldnât I dismiss this case?â the judge essentially asked during a hearing on Thursday August 07, 2025.
Despite the Plaintiffâs strange hunger for a trial, no legally coherent answer to the judgeâs question emerged from his floundering counsel, and the remainder of the lawsuit was thrown out on jurisdictional grounds.
Entirely.
It is over. We won on absolutely everything. Victory to Vivid and the good guys.
We feel an ocean swell of gratitude and pride in our unstoppable team at Front Range Legal Services, the formidable Mr. Arsenault and Mr. Peterson, for their patience in capably wrangling the years of antics splurting from the opposition. And, of course, we owe COLOSSAL thanks to every last backer of our Legal Defense Fund. ( https://www.givesendgo.com/FreeTheArt ) Your steadfast support and goodwill carried the day.
Itâs incredible just how badly some people DO NOT WANT YOU OR ANYONE to be able to enjoy Vividâs work, to the point where they will expend untold resources(?) and start a literal federal lawsuit aiming to cut you off from our art.
But we fought for us, and for you, to keep the shining loop of creation alive.
Thanks to this battle, Vivid is stronger than ever. Before we had no legal contacts, and now we are connected to incredible talent in the field of copyright, IP, and litigation. Readers rallied to the cause, solidarity came from unexpected corners, and our support has never been higher. The ripple effects of this triumph go beyond us:
We hope this precedent serves to protect all independent artists.
If a creator has drawn every last line of art and written every single word of story, they should be allowed to post it. (ESPECIALLY when another party signs a contract explicitly granting the artist permission to share their work forever!) At no point should an artist be at risk of getting dragged into federal court over simply showing you, freely, what they themselves made.
Because we fought and won, hopefully nobody will do this to any other innocent artists, ever again.
But itâs not quite accurate to say everything is over.
While the lawsuit targeting us is toast, the law itself may not be done with the Plaintiff and his counsel.
The Plaintiff went a little wild, using this lawsuit as a vehicle to subpoena internet companies, a furry convention, the personal information of totally unrelated convention attendees (well, unrelated to us, one of the targeted attendees seems to have quite the interesting personal history with the Plaintiffâs attorney) the contents of the e-mails of their own friends / witnesses, social media companies, you name it.
Representing some of the 3rd parties harassed by these proceedings, another attorney has alleged that the Plaintiffâs lawyer should be sanctioned for his conduct. If the court agrees, the Plaintiffâs attorney will be forced to pay potentially up to $12,000 in sanctions.
And thatâs only the tip of the iceberg.
According to multiple attorneys weâve consulted, the Plaintiffâs actions may have done more than enough to merit a counter-suit. In addition to a steaming pile of fraudulent DMCA claims, the Plaintiff violated their contract with us repeatedly, and this doesnât even begin to touch on âtortious interference with a business,â which weâre told makes for a rock-solid cause of action in this circumstance. To make matters worse, they admitted under oath during a deposition that their actions were colored by political motivations. And exacerbating their liability even more, they did ALL OF THIS while being fully advised and informed by their legal counsel, which removes the brightest defense they might have retreated to, that of clueless ignorance.
They had none of this potential liability in their life until they seemingly abused the law to attack us, on the advice of their counsel. If I were in their shoes, Iâd be googling âlegal malpractice.â
Amazing to consider what the alternate branch of possibilities was. For years, the Plaintiff was happy at the prospect that together weâd publish this book with a crowdfunding campaign. Hand-painted figurines, glossy hardcovers, color prints, with no effort needed on his part, and profits being shared with him, all for the glorification ofâŚ
Well, I guess we canât really call it fully âhisâ character anymore, because legally the graphic novel is ours. When he suddenly wanted us to cancel the crowdfund, we were disappointed but honored his request. But he decided that wasnât good enough, and initiated all of⌠this.
So what happens next?
If we decide to pursue the Plaintiff with a lawsuit of our own, fleet members will be the first to know. (Well- the third to know, after our legal team and the parties being served.) Could be very soon, or years from now. Weâll keep our eyes open so we can make the appropriate decisions.
But for now, letâs all toast to a flawless victory.
Independent creativity, art, and story carried the day.
Viva la Vivid.
đENTER IF YOU DAREđ
Posted a year agothe 19th annual Dreamkeepers Halloween Fanart Contest!
Updates to the categories, rules, and entry format this year: https://dreamkeeperscomic.com/halloween
Updates to the categories, rules, and entry format this year: https://dreamkeeperscomic.com/halloween
Commissions Open- 1 week
Posted 2 years agoIn addition to early-access to the game, the Ruthless expansion, & the Vi pajama skin, OC commission from Dave are available exclusively through the Skirmish campaign:
https://dreamkeeperscomic.com/crowd.....rmish-Campaign
From Sharpie sketches to Golden Mementos, all the way up to one last (previously sold out) Gloria Aeterna tier.
Sharpie Sketches are available to backers in the Add-On tab, and details in the Policies tab.
Final week for the Launch Window! After that, the Sharpie Add Ons are gone.
https://dreamkeeperscomic.com/crowd.....rmish-Campaign
From Sharpie sketches to Golden Mementos, all the way up to one last (previously sold out) Gloria Aeterna tier.
Sharpie Sketches are available to backers in the Add-On tab, and details in the Policies tab.
Final week for the Launch Window! After that, the Sharpie Add Ons are gone.
Vivid Q3 Broadcast
Posted 3 years agoSomeone let me near the broadcast button đđđ https://youtu.be/rQhricj-54g
MEGAPLEX & Cthulhu
Posted 3 years agoAbout to post our art for Megaplex's 2022 theme, "Electric AveuWu," but the illustration fails to capture the full experience of MEGAPLEX. (Although they did have some fantastic art decorating the event.)
Thank you to everyone who came out to see Liz & I (And Geo, and Skidd & Phuufy.) It was great having a whole set of Vivid authors there, and awesome meeting old & new readers. I loved some of the commission prompts we got to work with!
The dealerâs room seemed twice as big as last year, with a huge swell in attendance as well. Megaplex has that vibe Liz and I felt in the very early years of Anthrocon- the feel of an event with upward momentum, carried by enthusiasm and a pure sense of fun.
Also, PSA for the scattering of folks who occasionally ask when they will see Dreamkeepers at Anthrocon again- you wonât.
https://www.deviantart.com/dreamkee.....Over-828938348
Megaplex is our new convention home- the staff is absolutely fantastic. Weâve been to many events, and this one is run smoothly and professionally, by a great group of people. The other dealers are spectacular. Big name artists like Golden Druid, tried-and-true outfits like Ringtail Cafe & Paw-to-Press, and more pizzazz than I can adequately describe in one journal.
And as a bonus, thereâs a HUGE array of extracurricular activities in Orlando, from Disney attractions to tourist traps of the highest caliber. (Word to the wise: The haunted house in Old Towne is more than worth it. Cthulhu large & in charge.)
We brought as much as we could to the table, and all the big ticket items sold out. Again, a heartfelt thank you to the readers who came out to see us, won prizes, and went home with Vivid books, games, art, & merch. We are already looking forward to seeing you again next year.
And thank you as well to the readers at home who took advantage of our MEGA sale online- weâre delighted to deliver unique indie books and art, and youâre helping Vivid keep the lights on for our fantastic artists and authors.
A quick Vivid recap now that weâre back:
The Dreamkeepers Volume 5 IGG, our most involved campaign ever, has been successfully fulfilled. As well as Cloudscratcher Volume 1, and Beymanâs âReports from The Institute.â
Whatâs coming next?
Fulfilling this autumn is ABDâs first graphic novel âBethelliumâ (Still In-Demand on IGG) and the Vivid Rescue Campaign for UberQuest Volume 2, Call of the Relic.
Also, Couchcon customers- the final items have been manufactured and should be here soon, so your loot will be on the way shortly. Keep an eye on your e-mail for tracking. (Same to the Dreamkeepers Pledge Pin backers- weâll be asking for your addresses tonight to get the Vi pin mailed.)
Volume 6 production continues, as well as new Prelude comic updates- and upcoming Vivid plans include a Prelude Collection 2 IndieGoGo this fall. Weâre also moving to colors on the âHuge Ultra Sexyâ commission from Couchcon, which has 40+ unique characters in the mix. (Folks in the backers-only Dreamkord, weâll share progress pics as they are prepped.)
In addition to book creation and publishing, we have some video content in the works Iâm excited about- I want to create a series that impart everything I learned at art college, and more, with a price tag of zero.
So- more art, books, videos, from Liz & I, and more Vivid authors. To say nothing of the secret things we have in the works.
Stay tuned!
The best way to do that, unless you implicitly trust the social media corporations, consider jumping onto our free newsletter:
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webf.....landing/t4r2y6
Thank you to everyone who came out to see Liz & I (And Geo, and Skidd & Phuufy.) It was great having a whole set of Vivid authors there, and awesome meeting old & new readers. I loved some of the commission prompts we got to work with!
The dealerâs room seemed twice as big as last year, with a huge swell in attendance as well. Megaplex has that vibe Liz and I felt in the very early years of Anthrocon- the feel of an event with upward momentum, carried by enthusiasm and a pure sense of fun.
Also, PSA for the scattering of folks who occasionally ask when they will see Dreamkeepers at Anthrocon again- you wonât.
https://www.deviantart.com/dreamkee.....Over-828938348
Megaplex is our new convention home- the staff is absolutely fantastic. Weâve been to many events, and this one is run smoothly and professionally, by a great group of people. The other dealers are spectacular. Big name artists like Golden Druid, tried-and-true outfits like Ringtail Cafe & Paw-to-Press, and more pizzazz than I can adequately describe in one journal.
And as a bonus, thereâs a HUGE array of extracurricular activities in Orlando, from Disney attractions to tourist traps of the highest caliber. (Word to the wise: The haunted house in Old Towne is more than worth it. Cthulhu large & in charge.)
We brought as much as we could to the table, and all the big ticket items sold out. Again, a heartfelt thank you to the readers who came out to see us, won prizes, and went home with Vivid books, games, art, & merch. We are already looking forward to seeing you again next year.
And thank you as well to the readers at home who took advantage of our MEGA sale online- weâre delighted to deliver unique indie books and art, and youâre helping Vivid keep the lights on for our fantastic artists and authors.
A quick Vivid recap now that weâre back:
The Dreamkeepers Volume 5 IGG, our most involved campaign ever, has been successfully fulfilled. As well as Cloudscratcher Volume 1, and Beymanâs âReports from The Institute.â
Whatâs coming next?
Fulfilling this autumn is ABDâs first graphic novel âBethelliumâ (Still In-Demand on IGG) and the Vivid Rescue Campaign for UberQuest Volume 2, Call of the Relic.
Also, Couchcon customers- the final items have been manufactured and should be here soon, so your loot will be on the way shortly. Keep an eye on your e-mail for tracking. (Same to the Dreamkeepers Pledge Pin backers- weâll be asking for your addresses tonight to get the Vi pin mailed.)
Volume 6 production continues, as well as new Prelude comic updates- and upcoming Vivid plans include a Prelude Collection 2 IndieGoGo this fall. Weâre also moving to colors on the âHuge Ultra Sexyâ commission from Couchcon, which has 40+ unique characters in the mix. (Folks in the backers-only Dreamkord, weâll share progress pics as they are prepped.)
In addition to book creation and publishing, we have some video content in the works Iâm excited about- I want to create a series that impart everything I learned at art college, and more, with a price tag of zero.
So- more art, books, videos, from Liz & I, and more Vivid authors. To say nothing of the secret things we have in the works.
Stay tuned!
The best way to do that, unless you implicitly trust the social media corporations, consider jumping onto our free newsletter:
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webf.....landing/t4r2y6
Treasure Unlocked: Vivid 2022
Posted 3 years agoTime for a crowdfunding rescue mission.
https://youtu.be/FyWrJgGitlM
IndieGoGo loot, 2022 conventions, new figurine lines, Couchcon, and more. Don't miss out on what's happening with all the new titles dropping from Vivid Publishing.
https://youtu.be/FyWrJgGitlM
IndieGoGo loot, 2022 conventions, new figurine lines, Couchcon, and more. Don't miss out on what's happening with all the new titles dropping from Vivid Publishing.
Attend Couchcon- HOW?
Posted 5 years agoCOVID flooded out conventions- but we have an ark!
Crash this vid with me and the rest of the crew and learn how to attend #CouchconOnIce, the safest, funnest, free-est online convention on earth. Comin' up this weekend!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI0.....tu.be&t=93
Comics, cosplay, gaming, and more happening Dec 4-6 at http://couchcon.org
Crash this vid with me and the rest of the crew and learn how to attend #CouchconOnIce, the safest, funnest, free-est online convention on earth. Comin' up this weekend!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI0.....tu.be&t=93
Comics, cosplay, gaming, and more happening Dec 4-6 at http://couchcon.org
Unexpected Challenge, Good Outlook
Posted 5 years agoWe have encountered a bump in the road, and wanted to keep our readers and supporters in the loop about our plans to deal with it.
In the last week David has experienced a sudden onset of medical issues, and we just received a preliminary diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.
We are in the hands of excellent doctors, and due to catching the issue immediately, Davidâs outlook is very good. While MS is a serious condition, there is a robust array of treatment options that make it highly manageable.
David has stepped down from his duties as Con Chair for Couchcon On Ice, but the best staffers on earth are taking on the mantle and doing excellent work.
While he may need to delegate some management of Vivid Publishing, David plans to focus and continue work on the production of the Dreamkeepers saga, and we do not expect any delays to Volume 5 at this time.
We will keep you in the loop if that changes: And we have developed contingency plans to keep the story thriving and moving ahead in case of any eventuality.
The story we love will continue, and so will we. We are in good spirits, and hope to show just what the power of creativity and determination can accomplish for all of us.
Best,
Liz Lillie (with Dave delegating)
In the last week David has experienced a sudden onset of medical issues, and we just received a preliminary diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.
We are in the hands of excellent doctors, and due to catching the issue immediately, Davidâs outlook is very good. While MS is a serious condition, there is a robust array of treatment options that make it highly manageable.
David has stepped down from his duties as Con Chair for Couchcon On Ice, but the best staffers on earth are taking on the mantle and doing excellent work.
While he may need to delegate some management of Vivid Publishing, David plans to focus and continue work on the production of the Dreamkeepers saga, and we do not expect any delays to Volume 5 at this time.
We will keep you in the loop if that changes: And we have developed contingency plans to keep the story thriving and moving ahead in case of any eventuality.
The story we love will continue, and so will we. We are in good spirits, and hope to show just what the power of creativity and determination can accomplish for all of us.
Best,
Liz Lillie (with Dave delegating)
!KITTIES! Games, Streaming, Art, and DK Raffles!
Posted 5 years agoIf you are a fan of cats big and small, computer games, having art drawn, and/or winning Dreamkeeper items during raffles, check this out!
Starting 12 am Saturday through Sunday (the 24th and 25th) our friends Genesis and Fox hold a 48 hour game stream to help raise money for a lion and tiger rescue center. Â They have been doing outstanding and have partnered with us to give away Dreamkeeper Prelude books, Whip plush, and Volume 1's on the hour along with many other prizes donated by wonderful supporters of Gen and Fox's work. Â Please visit them here during their time and if you can, help them with their goal! Â And, of course, showing up at the right time might result in a prize!
More info is here: https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/9656835/
The streaming link is here: https://www.tigerdile.com/stream/littletales
Starting 12 am Saturday through Sunday (the 24th and 25th) our friends Genesis and Fox hold a 48 hour game stream to help raise money for a lion and tiger rescue center. Â They have been doing outstanding and have partnered with us to give away Dreamkeeper Prelude books, Whip plush, and Volume 1's on the hour along with many other prizes donated by wonderful supporters of Gen and Fox's work. Â Please visit them here during their time and if you can, help them with their goal! Â And, of course, showing up at the right time might result in a prize!
More info is here: https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/9656835/
The streaming link is here: https://www.tigerdile.com/stream/littletales
V5 Livestream LAUNCH!
Posted 5 years agoExclusive shirts and never-before-seen sketches are coming your way October 7th at 7EST, as we launch Volume 5 on IndieGoGo.
Join us as we go live, hosted by Cryptocomics at 6:30pm EST October 7th: https://twitter.com/CryptocomicsM
The Cryptocomics team will be helping us stream EVERYTHING, including exclusive giveaways. The 'FRONT LINE' shirt here will be available only during our launch stream.
And during launch night, every step closer to our goal, we'll be updating the new Dreamkeepers Living Sketchbook with never-before-seen sketches and art.
The Living Sketchbook will be available to peek in here: https://cryptocomics.com/u/VividPublishing
And as we raise funds during the Launch Stream, new art will pop in before your very eyes.
Plus catch a slate of guests- from comic industry veterans to some of the talented people working hard to create the special items in this campaign.
So join us that night- let's see some new art, hit some goals, and get ready to share something special with the world.
Volume 5, only on IndieGoGo- October 7th at 7pmEST! https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/.....oon/x/12805942
Join us as we go live, hosted by Cryptocomics at 6:30pm EST October 7th: https://twitter.com/CryptocomicsM
The Cryptocomics team will be helping us stream EVERYTHING, including exclusive giveaways. The 'FRONT LINE' shirt here will be available only during our launch stream.
And during launch night, every step closer to our goal, we'll be updating the new Dreamkeepers Living Sketchbook with never-before-seen sketches and art.
The Living Sketchbook will be available to peek in here: https://cryptocomics.com/u/VividPublishing
And as we raise funds during the Launch Stream, new art will pop in before your very eyes.
Plus catch a slate of guests- from comic industry veterans to some of the talented people working hard to create the special items in this campaign.
So join us that night- let's see some new art, hit some goals, and get ready to share something special with the world.
Volume 5, only on IndieGoGo- October 7th at 7pmEST! https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/.....oon/x/12805942
Volume 5 Pre-Launch Page Premiere TONIGHT
Posted 5 years agoWe're getting closer! Official IGG Pre-Launch page is LIVE, with a link to the Volume 5 cover-art speedpaint premiere tonight. Questions? Ask us in the comments live.
Please share and support independent comics, the time to start building momentum is now: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/.....oon/x/12805942
We're beyond thrilled to be on the brink of releasing not just Volume 5, but our first hardcover collection for the graphic novels. The rewards we can bring to the table here are like none other.
Please share and support independent comics, the time to start building momentum is now: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/.....oon/x/12805942
We're beyond thrilled to be on the brink of releasing not just Volume 5, but our first hardcover collection for the graphic novels. The rewards we can bring to the table here are like none other.
Couchcon LIVE!
Posted 5 years agoNo time to type it twice- Opening Ceremonies goin' live in 20!
https://preview.mailerlite.com/k9s2p1
https://preview.mailerlite.com/k9s2p1
CONTROL FREAK
Posted 5 years agoThe coalition grows.
Strap in for the latest comic to join the Vivid team, "Control Freak" by Superflatpsychosis.
https://controlfreakcomic.tumblr.co.....l-freak-page-1
As the defective product of a megalithic AI, Nadia must fight for control of her life and, ultimately, the fate of reality itself.
Catch the opening salvos between Nadia her algorithm-driven progenitors, and dive into some more Vivid titles here: https://vividpub.com/about.php
Read what you want. Think what you want.
Cut free, and be Vivid.
We are just getting rolling.
Strap in for the latest comic to join the Vivid team, "Control Freak" by Superflatpsychosis.
https://controlfreakcomic.tumblr.co.....l-freak-page-1
As the defective product of a megalithic AI, Nadia must fight for control of her life and, ultimately, the fate of reality itself.
Catch the opening salvos between Nadia her algorithm-driven progenitors, and dive into some more Vivid titles here: https://vividpub.com/about.php
Read what you want. Think what you want.
Cut free, and be Vivid.
We are just getting rolling.
Couchcon 2020
Posted 5 years agohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTn-KBoqvCY
Get ready for #Couchcon 2020- we're at nearly 100 vendors! Much is in store for you guys.
Streaming panels, a dedicated Discord, online gaming- June 25-28 at http://couchcon.org/
Artist signups open now.
Get ready for #Couchcon 2020- we're at nearly 100 vendors! Much is in store for you guys.
Streaming panels, a dedicated Discord, online gaming- June 25-28 at http://couchcon.org/
Artist signups open now.
Volume 5 Returns
Posted 5 years agoVolume 5 updates will resume next week, March 25th, for backers. https://www.patreon.com/posts/35018904
We plan to continue with weekly updates after that point.
2020 is coming into focus.
Especially with current events so chaotic, we don't want to spring any big surprises on you- so here are the major Vivid Publishing events to plan for in 2020.
Volume 5 Kickstarter
We're aiming to complete the book and launch the V5 Kickstarter in September or October.
This is the big cahuna. The V5 campaign will include a Volumes 1-4 hardback omnibus, an art book, and a stretch goal to raise production capital for the Dreamkeepers animated short. (More in the campaign, but those are the highlights as of now.)
Video Game Sample
Before then, we plan to share a playable environment of the Dreamkeepers video game in August at Megaplex (and for backers, of course.)
Couchcon
And June 25-28, Vivid is hosting the second year of our online convention, Couchcon. http://couchcon.org/ Coronavirus lockdowns have us opening the doors to a surge of artists with great things to share. So in addition to commissions, merchandise, and specials from the Dreamkeepers table, look forward to a full schedule of streaming panels and a whole dealer's room packed with great work to discover.
Vivid Wallscrolls
Get your commissioned art as a big, beautiful wallscroll. Vivid will be running a special during Couchcon: Any art a Vivid author https://vividpub.com/Titles.php?pg=titles has ever created for you, we'll let you purchase a copy of it as a full-size wallscroll. Have a Dreamkeepers, False Start, Uberquest, Blue Deer Art you'd like? Vivid Wallscrolls will be available during Couchcon only, more details coming.
False Start
Chapter Zero approaches completion, and there will soon be a False Start website for you to enjoy Vivid's first hand-painted action comic, slated for it's premiere crowdfunding printing later in 2020.
Tectomic
I'll have a little teaser for Vivid's Tectomic soon, too- we're all taking a trip to space, kids. Bring your battlecruiser.
We will share V5 updates every Wednesday for backers. If we need another month to focus on animation and finish Mace's video game assets, the Volume 5 updates may be limited to concept art, but I'll alert backers well in advance if that's the case.
We need you.
I want to create more, and faster- Vivid has a chance to become a fully-fledged entertainment company with actual production capabilities. But it can only happen if readers make it happen.
We have the stories, the characters, the skills. But we need the ability to hire more talent, so things can happen in a timely manner.
Algorithms and unpleasant gatekeepers have been suppressing us every step of the way. If we're to grow, it'll be because of readers like you. So let's do this.
This horrible quarantine is the perfect time to share a whole new world with bored friends. They're stuck inside? Let them explore the Dreamworld. https://dreamkeeperscomic.com/Intro.htm
More readers enjoying the world will bring in the resources we need to grow, and produce faster.
Vivid will be the kingdom we built together- and we're going to be making the most fun things in the world.
Onward!
We plan to continue with weekly updates after that point.
2020 is coming into focus.
Especially with current events so chaotic, we don't want to spring any big surprises on you- so here are the major Vivid Publishing events to plan for in 2020.
Volume 5 Kickstarter
We're aiming to complete the book and launch the V5 Kickstarter in September or October.
This is the big cahuna. The V5 campaign will include a Volumes 1-4 hardback omnibus, an art book, and a stretch goal to raise production capital for the Dreamkeepers animated short. (More in the campaign, but those are the highlights as of now.)
Video Game Sample
Before then, we plan to share a playable environment of the Dreamkeepers video game in August at Megaplex (and for backers, of course.)
Couchcon
And June 25-28, Vivid is hosting the second year of our online convention, Couchcon. http://couchcon.org/ Coronavirus lockdowns have us opening the doors to a surge of artists with great things to share. So in addition to commissions, merchandise, and specials from the Dreamkeepers table, look forward to a full schedule of streaming panels and a whole dealer's room packed with great work to discover.
Vivid Wallscrolls
Get your commissioned art as a big, beautiful wallscroll. Vivid will be running a special during Couchcon: Any art a Vivid author https://vividpub.com/Titles.php?pg=titles has ever created for you, we'll let you purchase a copy of it as a full-size wallscroll. Have a Dreamkeepers, False Start, Uberquest, Blue Deer Art you'd like? Vivid Wallscrolls will be available during Couchcon only, more details coming.
False Start
Chapter Zero approaches completion, and there will soon be a False Start website for you to enjoy Vivid's first hand-painted action comic, slated for it's premiere crowdfunding printing later in 2020.
Tectomic
I'll have a little teaser for Vivid's Tectomic soon, too- we're all taking a trip to space, kids. Bring your battlecruiser.
We will share V5 updates every Wednesday for backers. If we need another month to focus on animation and finish Mace's video game assets, the Volume 5 updates may be limited to concept art, but I'll alert backers well in advance if that's the case.
We need you.
I want to create more, and faster- Vivid has a chance to become a fully-fledged entertainment company with actual production capabilities. But it can only happen if readers make it happen.
We have the stories, the characters, the skills. But we need the ability to hire more talent, so things can happen in a timely manner.
Algorithms and unpleasant gatekeepers have been suppressing us every step of the way. If we're to grow, it'll be because of readers like you. So let's do this.
This horrible quarantine is the perfect time to share a whole new world with bored friends. They're stuck inside? Let them explore the Dreamworld. https://dreamkeeperscomic.com/Intro.htm
More readers enjoying the world will bring in the resources we need to grow, and produce faster.
Vivid will be the kingdom we built together- and we're going to be making the most fun things in the world.
Onward!
Bethellium
Posted 5 years agoVivid Publishing is excited to unveil our latest creator- https://twitter.com/ABD_artist with their ongoing story âBethellium.â
Master alchemist Zoana is invited to the mystical city of Bethellium under false pretenses. Brought to save a life, why is her craft treated with fear and suspicion?
Jump into the web of magic and danger here:
http://dbcomics.darkblueworkshop.co.....apter-1-cover/
The webcomic is ongoing, with each page bringing us closer to a new Vivid book printing.
Everyone welcome https://twitter.com/ABD_artist to the Vivid coalition.
Read what you want. Think what you want.
Cut free, and be Vivid.
https://vividpub.com/
Master alchemist Zoana is invited to the mystical city of Bethellium under false pretenses. Brought to save a life, why is her craft treated with fear and suspicion?
Jump into the web of magic and danger here:
http://dbcomics.darkblueworkshop.co.....apter-1-cover/
The webcomic is ongoing, with each page bringing us closer to a new Vivid book printing.
Everyone welcome https://twitter.com/ABD_artist to the Vivid coalition.
Read what you want. Think what you want.
Cut free, and be Vivid.
https://vividpub.com/
Convention: Megaplex
Posted 5 years agoConvention news- the Vivid Publishing team is being welcomed to Megaplex this year.
https://megaplexcon.org/ (August 2020)
We were looking for a good venue to do something special, and we found it- in the Dealerâs Room this year, we'll run a playable sample of the Dreamkeepers video game.
Come visit Dave, Liz, Geo, Bone, and possibly more Vivid authors, and give the video game sample a whirl while youâre at it.
I wouldnât call it a full demo, but you will be able to run around as Mace and get a sense of the gameâs kinaesthetics.
Youâll also be able to check out Davidâs exclusive panel on Crowdfunding, tips to dodge failure and achieve success.
All this in a tropical paradise resort.
...Admittedly I may have more than business on the mind in my excitement to be at Megaplex.
Anyone else who can make it, weâll love to see you there! Bring your sunscreen, itâll be bright by the pool.
https://megaplexcon.org/ (August 2020)
We were looking for a good venue to do something special, and we found it- in the Dealerâs Room this year, we'll run a playable sample of the Dreamkeepers video game.
Come visit Dave, Liz, Geo, Bone, and possibly more Vivid authors, and give the video game sample a whirl while youâre at it.
I wouldnât call it a full demo, but you will be able to run around as Mace and get a sense of the gameâs kinaesthetics.
Youâll also be able to check out Davidâs exclusive panel on Crowdfunding, tips to dodge failure and achieve success.
All this in a tropical paradise resort.
...Admittedly I may have more than business on the mind in my excitement to be at Megaplex.
Anyone else who can make it, weâll love to see you there! Bring your sunscreen, itâll be bright by the pool.
Artist Sponsorship and Posters Available
Posted 5 years agoWhy should podcasters and youtubers have all the fun? Vivid Publishing is founding a program that sponsorsâŚ
Artists!
Everyone say hello to the talented traditional artist, https://twitter.com/MURAZAKI9
Insider-level backers voted on what she would be creating: fresh new art of Vi!
In addition to a Vivid commission, sponsored artists are granted access to the Dealer System, where they can earn revenue when people use their coupon code.
https://vividpub.com/Dealers.php
So if youâd like to send Murazaki something for the tip jar, visit our store, pick out some high-quality merchandise, and remember to use the code âMURAZAKIâ at checkout and save 5%.
(Note- normally available only at conventions, we just added the poster âCast in Shadowâ to the Vivid store: https://vivid-publishing.mybigcomme.....ast-in-shadow/ )
As Vivid has more titles to offer, we look forward to sponsoring more artists. We'll be sure to show off Murazaki's new Vi art when it's ready!
Read what you want.
Think what you want.
Cut free, and be Vivid.
Artists!
Everyone say hello to the talented traditional artist, https://twitter.com/MURAZAKI9
Insider-level backers voted on what she would be creating: fresh new art of Vi!
In addition to a Vivid commission, sponsored artists are granted access to the Dealer System, where they can earn revenue when people use their coupon code.
https://vividpub.com/Dealers.php
So if youâd like to send Murazaki something for the tip jar, visit our store, pick out some high-quality merchandise, and remember to use the code âMURAZAKIâ at checkout and save 5%.
(Note- normally available only at conventions, we just added the poster âCast in Shadowâ to the Vivid store: https://vivid-publishing.mybigcomme.....ast-in-shadow/ )
As Vivid has more titles to offer, we look forward to sponsoring more artists. We'll be sure to show off Murazaki's new Vi art when it's ready!
Read what you want.
Think what you want.
Cut free, and be Vivid.
Anthrocon Over
Posted 5 years agoWe polled the readership asking where you wanted us. Over a hundred votes, thank you!
Anthrocon won by a landslide.
Those who were excited to meet us there, bad news.
Last year we were excluded, but it was the very first time AC staff took control of curation, so oversights were understandable. Thank you to the readers who took the time to get in touch after missing us. It was both heartwarming and painful to hear our absence left a hole in your experience.
We heard folks say they couldnât find their usual friends, as our table had become the de-facto rally point, and now everything felt like a disjointed mass of strangers.
It felt bad over here too.
Weâre told readers also e-mailed AC staff to politely explain our presence was desired. Plus in 2020, the dealerâs room has twice as many tables as ever before. So we had high hopes of reuniting with you this summer.
Staff declined our application. All those votes, I figure I better have some kind of explanation for everyone. I asked why they curated us out again, and why they were policing table-sharing so vigorously. They told us that there simply wasnât enough room, and that they earnestly wanted our participation.
The curator who had us blocked on social media apologized when we pointed that out, saying it was a mistake caused by a blocklist. We accept their apology without reservation, and thank them for reversing the error. But none of this brings you, me ân Liz any closer together, so letâs move on.
It was a fantastic 12 years. I know many marvelous people that I never would have encountered otherwise. We got to be there from the ground floor, the very first year Anthrocon was in Pittsburgh, and itâs been a thrill to watch the event flourish as more people discover their interest in the genre.
Weâre planning to cut down on conventions overall.
Vivid is onboarding new authors, Dreamkeepers is growing into tabletop, video games, animation- our production time is becoming ever-more precious, and we must spend it wisely.
Even so, we hope to maintain one or two core events every year, where readers can trust that weâll be there to greet them with a wave of the red hat and a smile. I donât want to roll the dice on waitlisting or other gambles. We want to maintain a tradition you can rely on, to make travel planning that much simpler. One less variable to worry about.
So weâre trying out some fresh new things. If youâd like to try them with us, check our convention listing on the news page, and hop in our newsletter.
https://dreamkeeperscomic.com/News.html
http://www.dreamkeeperscomic.com/Em.....Newsletter.htm
Thanks for everything so far, weâre excited for the next leg of the journey.
Anthrocon won by a landslide.
Those who were excited to meet us there, bad news.
Last year we were excluded, but it was the very first time AC staff took control of curation, so oversights were understandable. Thank you to the readers who took the time to get in touch after missing us. It was both heartwarming and painful to hear our absence left a hole in your experience.
We heard folks say they couldnât find their usual friends, as our table had become the de-facto rally point, and now everything felt like a disjointed mass of strangers.
It felt bad over here too.
Weâre told readers also e-mailed AC staff to politely explain our presence was desired. Plus in 2020, the dealerâs room has twice as many tables as ever before. So we had high hopes of reuniting with you this summer.
Staff declined our application. All those votes, I figure I better have some kind of explanation for everyone. I asked why they curated us out again, and why they were policing table-sharing so vigorously. They told us that there simply wasnât enough room, and that they earnestly wanted our participation.
The curator who had us blocked on social media apologized when we pointed that out, saying it was a mistake caused by a blocklist. We accept their apology without reservation, and thank them for reversing the error. But none of this brings you, me ân Liz any closer together, so letâs move on.
It was a fantastic 12 years. I know many marvelous people that I never would have encountered otherwise. We got to be there from the ground floor, the very first year Anthrocon was in Pittsburgh, and itâs been a thrill to watch the event flourish as more people discover their interest in the genre.
Weâre planning to cut down on conventions overall.
Vivid is onboarding new authors, Dreamkeepers is growing into tabletop, video games, animation- our production time is becoming ever-more precious, and we must spend it wisely.
Even so, we hope to maintain one or two core events every year, where readers can trust that weâll be there to greet them with a wave of the red hat and a smile. I donât want to roll the dice on waitlisting or other gambles. We want to maintain a tradition you can rely on, to make travel planning that much simpler. One less variable to worry about.
So weâre trying out some fresh new things. If youâd like to try them with us, check our convention listing on the news page, and hop in our newsletter.
https://dreamkeeperscomic.com/News.html
http://www.dreamkeeperscomic.com/Em.....Newsletter.htm
Thanks for everything so far, weâre excited for the next leg of the journey.
We're Trying Something NEw
Posted 5 years agoOnly good for a couple days. You want in, get in: https://cryptocomics.com/u/DreamKeepersComic Exclusive invite from the guys at CryptocomicsM. Me 'n Boneitis grilled them on the Snake Pit last Saturday, and they survived! Part of the Vivid Coalition to bring more freedom and fun to comics.
More info in our newsletter: https://preview.mailerlite.com/g0m2z1
More info in our newsletter: https://preview.mailerlite.com/g0m2z1
Dreamkeepers Decade: Ten Tips From Ten Years of Business & A
Posted 5 years agoHappy New Year, and thank you everyone!
Dave & Liz have attained the first stage of our ambitions: Devoting our labor towards breathing life into the series. For over a decade, that has been the dream.
Thanks to the best readership on earth, we are now there. Working full-time on our original graphic novel saga, with absolute creative freedom as CEOs of a company we founded, gathering a coalition of talent with which to advance.
Vivid Publishing is poised to occupy new territory in 2020, leveraging creative firepower that exceeds the limits of our own two sets of hands. Comics, games, animation...
Before we sound the charge and share the yearâs battle plan, how did we attain this vantage point? Even professional industry artists dream of having the prerogative to pursue their own projects full time.
Here at the juncture of decades, itâs as good a time as any to share some war stories. So before we reveal our 2020 plans, reflect with us.
Vivid Publishing and Dreamkeepers started with nothing. No investors, no ritzy business loans or trust funds, absolutely zero online following, and not a helping hand from anyone in media or publishing.
Young David paid his way through art college with scholarships and work programs, graduating with debt and bills. No parental basement, no help with rent or food, just an immediate obligation to keep the lights on using one tool:
A pencil.
So how did we get from poverty and a blank sheet of paper to here? When 96% of businesses fail within ten years, what explains Vivid?
A decade provides a lot of survival lessons- Iâll try to distill some here, in the hopes that others can benefit from our experience.
So without further ado- here are ten tips from ten years of business and art.
1) Maintain your health.
Donât break the only tool in your box.
In early 2006 Vivid did not yet exist, another company was slated to publish Dreamkeepers, and I was scrambling to finish Volume 1 for their deadline. I took four days off from my movie theater job- which if youâve ever worked minimum wage, you will realize that means risking termination. I also took four days off from sleeping.
I nailed the comic deadline and immediately crumpled with a devastating fever that resulted in days of delirium. Despite the timely submission, the publisher decided to push our release date back for over a year. Their deadline proved pointless, I experienced unnecessary misery, and my net productivity was down after accounting for recovery time.
To cover distance in your career, think like a marathon runner and not a sprinter. Diet, exercise, and sleep will magnify your energy levels and result in consistently better output.
2) Get a job- a smart one.
If you have financial problems, swallow that pride and get a job. Advice that nobody wants to hear. More enticing to be the next crowdfunding superstar, stepping out of school and directly onto a landmine of automatic internet fame.
To those fortunate lottery winners of the artistic world, good! Onwards and upwards, and letâs hope it happens to more of us. But itâs not smart to assume itâll happen to you, and it sure didnât happen for me.
Most of us have to work our way up the old-fashioned way. Our customer base is like a precious baby that has to be nurtured so that it can grow and become stronger. Feed it consistent, superior value.
If youâre being eaten alive by bills, itâll be tempting to hit the emergency-commission self-destruct button, or find other ways to squeeze money from that baby in the crib. Extract more value than you provide, and you can kiss your crowdfunding career goodbye. The only thing harder than building trust is rebuilding it.
I wasnât above getting a joe-job, and if you need one, then neither are you. But finding the right type of job makes a huge difference.
Fresh out of art college, I felt it was mandatory to earn income with art. Otherwise what was the point of all that education?
Working at a little animation studio and prolific freelancing (kind of) paid the bills, but left me spent.
I added a movie theater job to the mix, leaving me with more artistic energy to spare. But it was suboptimal, so I upgraded to a security guard job. That was easier, paid enough for me to drop freelance, and let me brainstorm stories at work. Then a further upgrade, when I moved to a night-shift position that allowed me to draw Dreamkeepers discretely between foot patrols.
There were some downsides. They turned the heat off in the building at night, when all the people who mattered were gone. They also banned plug-in space heaters for the guards at the desk. Some Volume 2 and 3 art was drawn through gloved hands in a parka. But the important part was, it got drawn.
I could work on Dreamkeepers, pay the bills, and nurture our fledgling readership in the hopes that one day it would grow to take care of us in return.
It took seven years.
Maybe you can pay the bills with a trust fund, or magic guardian-angel boomers, or maybe youâll be the one-in-a-million that stumbles upon instant fame. But if not, resist the temptation to squeeze the baby. Just get a job. A smart one.
3) No More Video Games.
You canât get something for nothing- there are going to be sacrifices. I heard the phrase recently- âFind out what the cost of success is, and then pay it.â
Working to get Dreamkeepers off the ground, while working to pay the bills, left no time for messing around. I gave up video games, vacations, a social life⌠In my head, I figured I was quite literally gambling away my twenties, in the hopes that I might secure the career of my dreams in the next decade.
Even holidays were forfeit. The security job had time-off limitations. I had to choose between seeing family over the holidays, or dealing at Anthrocon and other events to promote our comic.
Holidays were thrown onto the fire during my time as a security guard.
Now do you, personally, really need to give up video games entirely? Maybe, maybe not. I think of it as a vice, like alcohol or sugar. If youâre achieving your goals and you can indulge, then good. But too much can derail your life, and âtoo muchâ is different for everyone.
All I know is, I had to give up video games to get where I am now, and Iâve never known someone who attained greatness by investing half their waking hours in World of Warcraft. Is it more important to be a consumer or a creator?
4) Donât stop.
Sometimes life hits you with a truck.
During Volume 3, Liz and I had one car and two jobs. My work site was only a couple miles away, which meant I could sling on a backpack with my lunch and a guard uniform and hoof it. Knock out exercise and transportation needs in one fell swoop, not bad. Being in Ohio meant occasionally jogging through freezing rain or snow, but it beat waiting for a bus. Who has time for a bus when there are Volume Three pages waiting at home? Every footfall was taking me towards a better future, and there was no reason to delay that process.
The route home was a straight shot sidewalk alongside Broad Street, the busiest road in downtown Columbus. One day- incidentally, the last time I would need to run that route- was particularly slushy, with rush hour traffic blazing the lanes to my right as I numbly lurched home.
Darting between cars to make a left turn, a truck zipped at me just as I was crossing a side road. After a mile in the frozen rain, my legs were lead. No tricky ninja dodging, but I could choose under or over. I chose over, hopped up a bit, and got punted about 20 feet through the air by the truck. The pavement came up like a midnight slap in the face, but I managed to roll like a drunk octopus. Between that, the backpack, and the kevlar, my hide was intact.
A woman popped out of the truck horrified, asking if I was alright. I had no idea, so I thought, âwell letâs test everything out.â I stood up, tried out all the limbs, and was happy to report no pain. But the hood of her truck had an ugly David-shaped dent. As long as she was worried about me, maybe she wouldnât notice that dentâŚ
I calmed her down, and we parted on friendly terms before she realized there was a new birdbath on her hood. I strapped everything back on, and started walking the rest of the way home. And then picked up speed, and got back to running. Because I could, and because why not?
The moral of the story is, life will throw trucks at you in one form or another. Bet on it. Sometimes they will cause damage, but if they donât, then why break stride? Something truly harmful will happen soon enough, so if an event doesnât stop you, keep going while you can.
5) Take help, but not for granted.
How about a change of pace from the pious self-reliance sermons? At one point we received a life-changing boost not because of any trace of manly virtue, but rather because it was so manifestly obvious how pathetic my struggles were. Buckle up, and I will tell you another tale.
This was a Tennessee convention, and my rolling collection of spare parts got tuckered out just as we pulled in to Memphis. At first I thought the city had curiously loud pavement, but discovered later it was my car doing a half-baked transformers impression, and dragging itâs guts along the pavement. Dealing at the convention gave me time to solve the riddle of how to arrive home in time for my Tuesday work shift.
Without the funds to pay a local repairman, I was left to my own devices. Later I proudly told Lizâs parents how I discovered that duct tape wouldnât work. The muffler would get too hot and melt through it. But when I tore the duct tape into strips and wove them into a makeshift rope, I was able to keep everything together long enough to get home.
Lizâs parents were super impressed and happy with this story, and in an unrelated decision later, opted to put us into a real car, with all the bells and wheels. The only reasonable response to that generosity was, âthank you.â
Previously I had no choice but to haggle for the cheapest possible junkers and drive them into the ground, trying to balance repair costs against the need for the next mechanical liferaft. Outside kindness broke us out of that cycle. It may be unexpected, but you never know when someone will give you a helping hand. Take it, and respect their goodwill by ensuring it does not go to waste.
6) Kaizen.
Get better. If youâre not good enough now, maybe you can get that way over time. Itâs easy to see visually, compare early Volume 1 and Prelude art to our current comic pages. Hone your skills whether itâs storycraft, dialogue, penciling, coloring & lighting, layout, storyboarding, game design, marketing & branding, finance, you name it. Things do not stay the same- if youâre not getting better, youâre probably getting worse.
So always keep your eyes and ears open for new techniques, keep your brain turned on while working, and seek small ways to continually improve. Combining âKaizenâ with âDonât stopâ organically leads to tip seven.
7) Adapt.
The world doesnât stay still- just ask any professional Youtuber. Algorithm changes and âadpocalypsesâ constantly distort the landscape, and a failure to adapt can mean extinction. Adaptation sounds good in general, but it has become an acute requirement within our corporate silicon-valley dystopia.
2004-2008 was the âGolden Ageâ of webcomics. Internet users wanted their daily hit of dopamine, and frequent comic updates were a favorite nostrum. Sites would sport âlink exchangeâ pages or âwebrings,â and accessible ad platforms like âProject Wonderfulâ augmented the ecosystem. Jokes were nonfatal.
By 2009-2015, times had changed. Internet users broadly abandoned websites in favor of interacting within social media environments, during what I call the âOpen Social Media Age.â Instead of visiting websites, now every user WAS a website. Dopamine was easier to get by indulging in tribal slapfights and endless videos, so comics faded in prominence, and old promotional techniques no longer had the same punch. Mobile phones meant smaller screens, smaller attention spans, and increasingly users did not explore their world, but had it presented to them by algorithms. Crowdfunding became a tool, with many demonetized youtubers fleeing to Patreon as a refuge.
2016 initiated what I call the âClosed Social Media Age.â Tribal pettiness was enthusiastically adopted by silicon valley staff, feverishly infecting the internetâs brain with a distorting pus of shame and hate. Blacklisting, whitelisting, algorithms, pay-to-play and brute bias now control what consumers in the social media sphere see and think. Patreon betrayed its users at the behest of Mastercard, while Paypal and other financial institutions swung a sledgehammer at the knees of competing crowdfunding platforms.
Who knows where things will go from here? Consumer habits, silicon valley financial cartels, cultish political blacklisting, it all impacts the landscape for normal artists and authors.
My advice at this point is, diversify. Investing your time and presence on a social media platform, crowdfunding service, or website should be treated like a literal investment. If you only have a following on Twitter and one deranged employee decides to erase you (or worse, blacklist you) there is no recourse. That investment is damaged or gone. So put your eggs in more than one basket. Things change fast and bystanders can get crushed in the gears.
8) Judge people by actions, not words.
Simple, but powerful. Pay attention to what people do, rather than what they say, and you will see past the mask. If you remember this quote at the right time, itâs a social superpower.
9) Stick to your Guns.
Doormats get stepped on. Well-meaning appeasement is blood in the water to a belligerent zealot. How many times have you seen a celebrity apologize publicly, and how does that usually work out for them?
Say what you want in your work. It can be inappropriate, violent, funny, horrific, itâs fiction. Donât let anyone stab their handle into your cherry red sports car and tell you how to drive- because even if they knew what a steering wheel looked like, theyâd crush your beautiful ride into a ditch.
If youâre telling a story that is fun or matters, expect people to try and co-opt or destroy it. The Comics Code mutilated artistic expression in the 50âs, the conservatives tried to stamp out sex and violence in the 90âs, the left is having their decade of fear and hatred presently. Pander to it at your risk.
Down that path you become the quivering hostage of your own inquisitorial readership. One wrong tweet, one political view that was updated a little too slow, and theyâll be roaring with glee waving your head on a pike. Another flapping scalp to fuel their open-mouthed purity.
Discretion is one thing, but donât ever bend the knee because they will never permit you to stand straight ever again. A good rule of thumb- donât let fear make your creative decisions. To achieve authenticity in your work, you must be fearless. Thatâs what your true audience craves.
A note on constructive critique- itâs very rare, and often a disguise for passive aggression. But a criticâs intent doesnât really matter. Listen if you want, and use anything that can make your work more true to itself.
Know the target you want to hit with your story. Anything that improves your aim, use it. But when people tell you to choose a different target, let them write their own story.
10) Delegate.
This is the last tip, because itâs the one I need to finally get right in order to tackle what we have planned. Iâve gotten delegation wrong the following ways:
A) In art college, I learned that the only person I could rely on in a group project was myself. Every other person would drop the ball and fail to provide anything. But I learned the wrong lesson. I thought the problem was that nobody was being paid for their work. Proper compensation, surely, would correct everything.
B) Freelancing color blocking has been very helpful- but at times Vivid would run thin on funds, so we couldnât procure it consistently, and so I would stop offering work to people that probably still wanted to help.
C) I finally had an opportunity to pull in helpers on a major project, and since I wanted things to go better than college, of course I paid the contributors. Imagine my surprise when that made no difference whatsoever, and they vanished without a word, leaving me to my own devices. The lesson here: Proper compensation doesnât guarantee anything.
D) I HAVE run into a handful of spectacular folks over the years, who- despite our inability to provide financial compensation- have been astronomically helpful. So I think at last I have the proper lesson on how to delegate:
Learn to rely on good people, and see where that takes all of us.
Then & Now.
In 2010 Dreamkeepers had Volume 1 and Volume 2 graphic novels, with a few hundred readers. There were no public pages, and Prelude was just getting rolling.
Now we have Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 nearing completion, Prelude Collection 1, thousands of print editions and tens of thousands of digital books sold, a manufactured plush, a full orchestral album for Volumes 1 through 4 and Volume 5, the tabletop game Skirmish with the âRuthlessâ expansion, the award winning spinoff novel Wayward Astronomer, and a talented coalition of new authors signed with Vivid Publishing and ready to join us for the next steps forward.
Stage 1 of success was for Liz and I to have our full time available: Time for Stage 2.
Did you really think weâd rest here?
Itâs time to get the Dreamkeepers Animated Series rolling.
Hazbin Hotel has blazed the trail, showing that thereâs a market for independent animation- if you can produce it first.
We donât have the budget or the team for a full pilot, but that I bet we can get there if we start smart.
Weâll begin with a two-minute animated short, placed as a stretch goal in the Dreamkeepers Volume 5 campaign. The short will feature unseen storyline that takes place between Prelude and Volume 1 of the series. Fresh content for veteran readers, and also a punchy introduction to the series for new fans.
With two minutes of knock-your-socks-off traditional animation, I think we can spike awareness of the DK franchise, and use that to crowdfund the pilot episode.
To aid in the process, weâre doing a Custom Wallscroll Drive during 2020âs Couchcon (our online annual convention.) If youâve ever gotten a commission from David, or Skidd & Phuufy, or Boneitis or any other Vivid Publishing author- youâll have a chance to get your personal commission printed and delivered to you on a full size wallscroll.
Uberquest wallscroll proceeds will go towards fulfilling & closing out their Volume 2 Kickstarter, and Dreamkeepers wallscroll proceeds will go into the war-chest for funding animation.
Vividâs False Start is launching in 2020 as well, with the first book release of the Worldâs Greatest Furry Artist, Boneitis. Another author with an intrepid story of personal fortitude.
In addition, the Dreamkeepers sidescroller video game is officially moving onto the front-burner. To solidify our animation techniques Iâll be completing the asset library for the primary playable character, Mace. Then weâll launch playtesting modules to begin refining the combat, stealth, puzzle, and platforming elements of the game. If all goes well, we can share a sample environment to explore this summer.
Volume 5, False Start 1, the Couchcon wallscroll campaign, the Dreamkeepers animated short, and the video game.
Oh, and Vivid will be showcasing all of this in a brand-new Toonami-style animated content block, featuring our very own interstellar battle cruiser.
We never would have come this far without you- but together, weâre about to go even further.
Thank you for being along on the adventure, things are about to get wild.
Stay tuned via our newsletter: http://www.dreamkeeperscomic.com/Em.....Newsletter.htm
Dave & Liz have attained the first stage of our ambitions: Devoting our labor towards breathing life into the series. For over a decade, that has been the dream.
Thanks to the best readership on earth, we are now there. Working full-time on our original graphic novel saga, with absolute creative freedom as CEOs of a company we founded, gathering a coalition of talent with which to advance.
Vivid Publishing is poised to occupy new territory in 2020, leveraging creative firepower that exceeds the limits of our own two sets of hands. Comics, games, animation...
Before we sound the charge and share the yearâs battle plan, how did we attain this vantage point? Even professional industry artists dream of having the prerogative to pursue their own projects full time.
Here at the juncture of decades, itâs as good a time as any to share some war stories. So before we reveal our 2020 plans, reflect with us.
Vivid Publishing and Dreamkeepers started with nothing. No investors, no ritzy business loans or trust funds, absolutely zero online following, and not a helping hand from anyone in media or publishing.
Young David paid his way through art college with scholarships and work programs, graduating with debt and bills. No parental basement, no help with rent or food, just an immediate obligation to keep the lights on using one tool:
A pencil.
So how did we get from poverty and a blank sheet of paper to here? When 96% of businesses fail within ten years, what explains Vivid?
A decade provides a lot of survival lessons- Iâll try to distill some here, in the hopes that others can benefit from our experience.
So without further ado- here are ten tips from ten years of business and art.
1) Maintain your health.
Donât break the only tool in your box.
In early 2006 Vivid did not yet exist, another company was slated to publish Dreamkeepers, and I was scrambling to finish Volume 1 for their deadline. I took four days off from my movie theater job- which if youâve ever worked minimum wage, you will realize that means risking termination. I also took four days off from sleeping.
I nailed the comic deadline and immediately crumpled with a devastating fever that resulted in days of delirium. Despite the timely submission, the publisher decided to push our release date back for over a year. Their deadline proved pointless, I experienced unnecessary misery, and my net productivity was down after accounting for recovery time.
To cover distance in your career, think like a marathon runner and not a sprinter. Diet, exercise, and sleep will magnify your energy levels and result in consistently better output.
2) Get a job- a smart one.
If you have financial problems, swallow that pride and get a job. Advice that nobody wants to hear. More enticing to be the next crowdfunding superstar, stepping out of school and directly onto a landmine of automatic internet fame.
To those fortunate lottery winners of the artistic world, good! Onwards and upwards, and letâs hope it happens to more of us. But itâs not smart to assume itâll happen to you, and it sure didnât happen for me.
Most of us have to work our way up the old-fashioned way. Our customer base is like a precious baby that has to be nurtured so that it can grow and become stronger. Feed it consistent, superior value.
If youâre being eaten alive by bills, itâll be tempting to hit the emergency-commission self-destruct button, or find other ways to squeeze money from that baby in the crib. Extract more value than you provide, and you can kiss your crowdfunding career goodbye. The only thing harder than building trust is rebuilding it.
I wasnât above getting a joe-job, and if you need one, then neither are you. But finding the right type of job makes a huge difference.
Fresh out of art college, I felt it was mandatory to earn income with art. Otherwise what was the point of all that education?
Working at a little animation studio and prolific freelancing (kind of) paid the bills, but left me spent.
I added a movie theater job to the mix, leaving me with more artistic energy to spare. But it was suboptimal, so I upgraded to a security guard job. That was easier, paid enough for me to drop freelance, and let me brainstorm stories at work. Then a further upgrade, when I moved to a night-shift position that allowed me to draw Dreamkeepers discretely between foot patrols.
There were some downsides. They turned the heat off in the building at night, when all the people who mattered were gone. They also banned plug-in space heaters for the guards at the desk. Some Volume 2 and 3 art was drawn through gloved hands in a parka. But the important part was, it got drawn.
I could work on Dreamkeepers, pay the bills, and nurture our fledgling readership in the hopes that one day it would grow to take care of us in return.
It took seven years.
Maybe you can pay the bills with a trust fund, or magic guardian-angel boomers, or maybe youâll be the one-in-a-million that stumbles upon instant fame. But if not, resist the temptation to squeeze the baby. Just get a job. A smart one.
3) No More Video Games.
You canât get something for nothing- there are going to be sacrifices. I heard the phrase recently- âFind out what the cost of success is, and then pay it.â
Working to get Dreamkeepers off the ground, while working to pay the bills, left no time for messing around. I gave up video games, vacations, a social life⌠In my head, I figured I was quite literally gambling away my twenties, in the hopes that I might secure the career of my dreams in the next decade.
Even holidays were forfeit. The security job had time-off limitations. I had to choose between seeing family over the holidays, or dealing at Anthrocon and other events to promote our comic.
Holidays were thrown onto the fire during my time as a security guard.
Now do you, personally, really need to give up video games entirely? Maybe, maybe not. I think of it as a vice, like alcohol or sugar. If youâre achieving your goals and you can indulge, then good. But too much can derail your life, and âtoo muchâ is different for everyone.
All I know is, I had to give up video games to get where I am now, and Iâve never known someone who attained greatness by investing half their waking hours in World of Warcraft. Is it more important to be a consumer or a creator?
4) Donât stop.
Sometimes life hits you with a truck.
During Volume 3, Liz and I had one car and two jobs. My work site was only a couple miles away, which meant I could sling on a backpack with my lunch and a guard uniform and hoof it. Knock out exercise and transportation needs in one fell swoop, not bad. Being in Ohio meant occasionally jogging through freezing rain or snow, but it beat waiting for a bus. Who has time for a bus when there are Volume Three pages waiting at home? Every footfall was taking me towards a better future, and there was no reason to delay that process.
The route home was a straight shot sidewalk alongside Broad Street, the busiest road in downtown Columbus. One day- incidentally, the last time I would need to run that route- was particularly slushy, with rush hour traffic blazing the lanes to my right as I numbly lurched home.
Darting between cars to make a left turn, a truck zipped at me just as I was crossing a side road. After a mile in the frozen rain, my legs were lead. No tricky ninja dodging, but I could choose under or over. I chose over, hopped up a bit, and got punted about 20 feet through the air by the truck. The pavement came up like a midnight slap in the face, but I managed to roll like a drunk octopus. Between that, the backpack, and the kevlar, my hide was intact.
A woman popped out of the truck horrified, asking if I was alright. I had no idea, so I thought, âwell letâs test everything out.â I stood up, tried out all the limbs, and was happy to report no pain. But the hood of her truck had an ugly David-shaped dent. As long as she was worried about me, maybe she wouldnât notice that dentâŚ
I calmed her down, and we parted on friendly terms before she realized there was a new birdbath on her hood. I strapped everything back on, and started walking the rest of the way home. And then picked up speed, and got back to running. Because I could, and because why not?
The moral of the story is, life will throw trucks at you in one form or another. Bet on it. Sometimes they will cause damage, but if they donât, then why break stride? Something truly harmful will happen soon enough, so if an event doesnât stop you, keep going while you can.
5) Take help, but not for granted.
How about a change of pace from the pious self-reliance sermons? At one point we received a life-changing boost not because of any trace of manly virtue, but rather because it was so manifestly obvious how pathetic my struggles were. Buckle up, and I will tell you another tale.
This was a Tennessee convention, and my rolling collection of spare parts got tuckered out just as we pulled in to Memphis. At first I thought the city had curiously loud pavement, but discovered later it was my car doing a half-baked transformers impression, and dragging itâs guts along the pavement. Dealing at the convention gave me time to solve the riddle of how to arrive home in time for my Tuesday work shift.
Without the funds to pay a local repairman, I was left to my own devices. Later I proudly told Lizâs parents how I discovered that duct tape wouldnât work. The muffler would get too hot and melt through it. But when I tore the duct tape into strips and wove them into a makeshift rope, I was able to keep everything together long enough to get home.
Lizâs parents were super impressed and happy with this story, and in an unrelated decision later, opted to put us into a real car, with all the bells and wheels. The only reasonable response to that generosity was, âthank you.â
Previously I had no choice but to haggle for the cheapest possible junkers and drive them into the ground, trying to balance repair costs against the need for the next mechanical liferaft. Outside kindness broke us out of that cycle. It may be unexpected, but you never know when someone will give you a helping hand. Take it, and respect their goodwill by ensuring it does not go to waste.
6) Kaizen.
Get better. If youâre not good enough now, maybe you can get that way over time. Itâs easy to see visually, compare early Volume 1 and Prelude art to our current comic pages. Hone your skills whether itâs storycraft, dialogue, penciling, coloring & lighting, layout, storyboarding, game design, marketing & branding, finance, you name it. Things do not stay the same- if youâre not getting better, youâre probably getting worse.
So always keep your eyes and ears open for new techniques, keep your brain turned on while working, and seek small ways to continually improve. Combining âKaizenâ with âDonât stopâ organically leads to tip seven.
7) Adapt.
The world doesnât stay still- just ask any professional Youtuber. Algorithm changes and âadpocalypsesâ constantly distort the landscape, and a failure to adapt can mean extinction. Adaptation sounds good in general, but it has become an acute requirement within our corporate silicon-valley dystopia.
2004-2008 was the âGolden Ageâ of webcomics. Internet users wanted their daily hit of dopamine, and frequent comic updates were a favorite nostrum. Sites would sport âlink exchangeâ pages or âwebrings,â and accessible ad platforms like âProject Wonderfulâ augmented the ecosystem. Jokes were nonfatal.
By 2009-2015, times had changed. Internet users broadly abandoned websites in favor of interacting within social media environments, during what I call the âOpen Social Media Age.â Instead of visiting websites, now every user WAS a website. Dopamine was easier to get by indulging in tribal slapfights and endless videos, so comics faded in prominence, and old promotional techniques no longer had the same punch. Mobile phones meant smaller screens, smaller attention spans, and increasingly users did not explore their world, but had it presented to them by algorithms. Crowdfunding became a tool, with many demonetized youtubers fleeing to Patreon as a refuge.
2016 initiated what I call the âClosed Social Media Age.â Tribal pettiness was enthusiastically adopted by silicon valley staff, feverishly infecting the internetâs brain with a distorting pus of shame and hate. Blacklisting, whitelisting, algorithms, pay-to-play and brute bias now control what consumers in the social media sphere see and think. Patreon betrayed its users at the behest of Mastercard, while Paypal and other financial institutions swung a sledgehammer at the knees of competing crowdfunding platforms.
Who knows where things will go from here? Consumer habits, silicon valley financial cartels, cultish political blacklisting, it all impacts the landscape for normal artists and authors.
My advice at this point is, diversify. Investing your time and presence on a social media platform, crowdfunding service, or website should be treated like a literal investment. If you only have a following on Twitter and one deranged employee decides to erase you (or worse, blacklist you) there is no recourse. That investment is damaged or gone. So put your eggs in more than one basket. Things change fast and bystanders can get crushed in the gears.
8) Judge people by actions, not words.
Simple, but powerful. Pay attention to what people do, rather than what they say, and you will see past the mask. If you remember this quote at the right time, itâs a social superpower.
9) Stick to your Guns.
Doormats get stepped on. Well-meaning appeasement is blood in the water to a belligerent zealot. How many times have you seen a celebrity apologize publicly, and how does that usually work out for them?
Say what you want in your work. It can be inappropriate, violent, funny, horrific, itâs fiction. Donât let anyone stab their handle into your cherry red sports car and tell you how to drive- because even if they knew what a steering wheel looked like, theyâd crush your beautiful ride into a ditch.
If youâre telling a story that is fun or matters, expect people to try and co-opt or destroy it. The Comics Code mutilated artistic expression in the 50âs, the conservatives tried to stamp out sex and violence in the 90âs, the left is having their decade of fear and hatred presently. Pander to it at your risk.
Down that path you become the quivering hostage of your own inquisitorial readership. One wrong tweet, one political view that was updated a little too slow, and theyâll be roaring with glee waving your head on a pike. Another flapping scalp to fuel their open-mouthed purity.
Discretion is one thing, but donât ever bend the knee because they will never permit you to stand straight ever again. A good rule of thumb- donât let fear make your creative decisions. To achieve authenticity in your work, you must be fearless. Thatâs what your true audience craves.
A note on constructive critique- itâs very rare, and often a disguise for passive aggression. But a criticâs intent doesnât really matter. Listen if you want, and use anything that can make your work more true to itself.
Know the target you want to hit with your story. Anything that improves your aim, use it. But when people tell you to choose a different target, let them write their own story.
10) Delegate.
This is the last tip, because itâs the one I need to finally get right in order to tackle what we have planned. Iâve gotten delegation wrong the following ways:
A) In art college, I learned that the only person I could rely on in a group project was myself. Every other person would drop the ball and fail to provide anything. But I learned the wrong lesson. I thought the problem was that nobody was being paid for their work. Proper compensation, surely, would correct everything.
B) Freelancing color blocking has been very helpful- but at times Vivid would run thin on funds, so we couldnât procure it consistently, and so I would stop offering work to people that probably still wanted to help.
C) I finally had an opportunity to pull in helpers on a major project, and since I wanted things to go better than college, of course I paid the contributors. Imagine my surprise when that made no difference whatsoever, and they vanished without a word, leaving me to my own devices. The lesson here: Proper compensation doesnât guarantee anything.
D) I HAVE run into a handful of spectacular folks over the years, who- despite our inability to provide financial compensation- have been astronomically helpful. So I think at last I have the proper lesson on how to delegate:
Learn to rely on good people, and see where that takes all of us.
Then & Now.
In 2010 Dreamkeepers had Volume 1 and Volume 2 graphic novels, with a few hundred readers. There were no public pages, and Prelude was just getting rolling.
Now we have Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 nearing completion, Prelude Collection 1, thousands of print editions and tens of thousands of digital books sold, a manufactured plush, a full orchestral album for Volumes 1 through 4 and Volume 5, the tabletop game Skirmish with the âRuthlessâ expansion, the award winning spinoff novel Wayward Astronomer, and a talented coalition of new authors signed with Vivid Publishing and ready to join us for the next steps forward.
Stage 1 of success was for Liz and I to have our full time available: Time for Stage 2.
Did you really think weâd rest here?
Itâs time to get the Dreamkeepers Animated Series rolling.
Hazbin Hotel has blazed the trail, showing that thereâs a market for independent animation- if you can produce it first.
We donât have the budget or the team for a full pilot, but that I bet we can get there if we start smart.
Weâll begin with a two-minute animated short, placed as a stretch goal in the Dreamkeepers Volume 5 campaign. The short will feature unseen storyline that takes place between Prelude and Volume 1 of the series. Fresh content for veteran readers, and also a punchy introduction to the series for new fans.
With two minutes of knock-your-socks-off traditional animation, I think we can spike awareness of the DK franchise, and use that to crowdfund the pilot episode.
To aid in the process, weâre doing a Custom Wallscroll Drive during 2020âs Couchcon (our online annual convention.) If youâve ever gotten a commission from David, or Skidd & Phuufy, or Boneitis or any other Vivid Publishing author- youâll have a chance to get your personal commission printed and delivered to you on a full size wallscroll.
Uberquest wallscroll proceeds will go towards fulfilling & closing out their Volume 2 Kickstarter, and Dreamkeepers wallscroll proceeds will go into the war-chest for funding animation.
Vividâs False Start is launching in 2020 as well, with the first book release of the Worldâs Greatest Furry Artist, Boneitis. Another author with an intrepid story of personal fortitude.
In addition, the Dreamkeepers sidescroller video game is officially moving onto the front-burner. To solidify our animation techniques Iâll be completing the asset library for the primary playable character, Mace. Then weâll launch playtesting modules to begin refining the combat, stealth, puzzle, and platforming elements of the game. If all goes well, we can share a sample environment to explore this summer.
Volume 5, False Start 1, the Couchcon wallscroll campaign, the Dreamkeepers animated short, and the video game.
Oh, and Vivid will be showcasing all of this in a brand-new Toonami-style animated content block, featuring our very own interstellar battle cruiser.
We never would have come this far without you- but together, weâre about to go even further.
Thank you for being along on the adventure, things are about to get wild.
Stay tuned via our newsletter: http://www.dreamkeeperscomic.com/Em.....Newsletter.htm
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The- OWLS. OWLS.
Posted 5 years agoLiz: And The Face of 3 Hour Procrastination
Posted 6 years agoNew journal with pictures is up, please check it out here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/liz-a.....ce-of-31016589
Free to read!
Free to read!
Assuming Direct Control!!! >3
Posted 6 years agoWhy hello, hello all my lovely fellow fans and furries out there.
Allow me to introduce myself~
I, dear sweet fans of DreamKeepers and the Vivid universe at large, am Sibu Sandrent, mid-twenties, gender-fluid, she/her pronouns, pansexual, dominatrix, sexy, stunning, beautiful and, unfortunately for you, recently married~ <3 (try not to cry too hard sweethearts hankies will be doled out at the door)
The pleasure is all yours I assure you~
And more to the point I, Sibu Sandrent Queen of Kink, am your new page manager for this site and several other Vivid sites throughout the interwebs~
You may hold your applause, though I will remind you that flattery will get you everywhere my dears ;P
What you are required to understand is that this means on this site I will be taking good care of you from this point going forward <3
I will repost Vivid art
I will respond to your questions, comments, and whining. . . erm . . . I mean . . . concerns . . . to the best of my extraordinary ability
Lucky you
And any questions I can't answer will be directed towards the Lillies :3
Plain and simple
I look forward to spending copious amounts of quality time with you going forward <3
P.S. I tend to refer to people as hun, sweetie, dear, dearest, and sweetheart as terms of endearment <3 should anyone find this language not to your liking just let me know and I shall address you in whatever manner you deem appropriate. I want to make everyone feel comfortable here <3
Allow me to introduce myself~
I, dear sweet fans of DreamKeepers and the Vivid universe at large, am Sibu Sandrent, mid-twenties, gender-fluid, she/her pronouns, pansexual, dominatrix, sexy, stunning, beautiful and, unfortunately for you, recently married~ <3 (try not to cry too hard sweethearts hankies will be doled out at the door)
The pleasure is all yours I assure you~
And more to the point I, Sibu Sandrent Queen of Kink, am your new page manager for this site and several other Vivid sites throughout the interwebs~
You may hold your applause, though I will remind you that flattery will get you everywhere my dears ;P
What you are required to understand is that this means on this site I will be taking good care of you from this point going forward <3
I will repost Vivid art
I will respond to your questions, comments, and whining. . . erm . . . I mean . . . concerns . . . to the best of my extraordinary ability
Lucky you
And any questions I can't answer will be directed towards the Lillies :3
Plain and simple
I look forward to spending copious amounts of quality time with you going forward <3
P.S. I tend to refer to people as hun, sweetie, dear, dearest, and sweetheart as terms of endearment <3 should anyone find this language not to your liking just let me know and I shall address you in whatever manner you deem appropriate. I want to make everyone feel comfortable here <3
Big Game and Trophies from Hell
Posted 6 years agoTrophies prove the hunt-
Just ask any grief-stricken Warhammer fans.
But first, Tinsel returns from a hunt of her own https://www.patreon.com/posts/30416962 to announce the 14th annual Dreamkeepers Halloween Fanart contest- PLUS a separate nano-wrimo Fanfiction contest.
https://preview.mailerlite.com/c3o1r4
And, by popular demand, we are introducing a new Vivid Dreamkeepers item this fall:
2020 Calendars!
Thank you Drawing Board and Vivid Task Force for brainstorming flourishes- more details to be announced. Suffice to say:
Trophies dangle in your future.
You can click out now- those are the bare-bones announcements. Contests, prizes, new merchandise as Volume 5 strides closer to completion. What comes next is less direct, and perhaps more troubling.
If youâre curious about my thought of the day, Iâm here to share.
I realize I probably donât write often enough- I tend to keep myself buried in art. Planning pages, drafting the structures on the page, the motives in the minds of our characters. Losing myself in this fictional world, in the hopes that others will see fit to wander, and wonder.
Work keeps me disconnected at times, but this week I woke up and realized something horrible seems to have crept up on us.
Imagination is dead.
Nietzsche declared the cultural reality of the Death of God, and similarly in our culture, I see the death of something far more precious than God. The death of His womb- the expiration of imagination and truthful creation.
Forgive my melancholy, but in case you hadnât noticed, Disney owns everything.
Star Wars. Muppets. Fairy Tales. Thor. Iron Man, copyright law.
And owning is not enough: They have killed their captives, and hang them on the walls of the cage as nothing more than dead trophies. For the spark of life is gone.
Every movie is a remake. We see the same characters, in the same dilemmas, ripped from the afterlife and forced through morbid self-parody again, and again, japing at the charm of their first dance.
Audiences are not permitted to disapprove.
Your voice is erased by totalitarian algorithms. (Totalgorithms?)
And not only that- you are condemned to hell for your crimes of opinion.
Because mainstream creative culture has not been gutted by greed alone. To fill that moral void, the board room cobbles for us⌠The holy of holies, the sacrosanct, that glimmering broom which brushes all sins under the most pure of rugs:
Repeating the Right and Good Opinions.
The key is to consume, and obey. Do as you are told. Think as you are told. Love the new remake, and swallow the proper ideological bullet-points. Or:
You will be called a bigot (old-world terminology: heretic) and the social media gods will gladly watch as lesser demons swarm in bloodlust, until you flee to a dark online forest. There the banished cower, isolated from the bright glare of the interconnected corporate cages which capture all creative potential.
Even the last stronghold, the one franchise who stood strong upon decades of brutal lore, has fallen:
Warhammer 40K has signed their soul over to Marvel- property of Disney. Next in line to have their essence, their truth, poisoned and drained away by resentful stewards, next in line for the Star Wars treatment.
I look up from my pencil and my paper, to see culture being systematically caged, creativity being crushed into looping, leering caricatures. While good authors, artists, creators, are locked on the outside, consigned to obscurity by the bloated death-star monopoly.
Liz & I started Dreamkeepers not with any grand plans. Just a simple desire to create something imaginative and new.
Iâm grateful a proactive cadre of readers has stood by us, and other authors have joined Vivid Publishing. I never expected a full soundtrack to our work, tabletop games, spinoff novels, additional comics- and the professional connections with Vivid are multiplying as we grow. Itâs humbling.
But itâs also something else.
Vivid blooms as the other companies fall into the Cage.
And even those companies or creators too tiny to be subsumed fall victim to the contagion of the zeitgeist, rushing to obey the Moral Compulsion:
Rip the spine from your fiction, and replace it with mandated conformist political dogma. There shall be no more truth, no more fun, no more danger⌠Only pandering and preaching.
The spark of imagination is thus sacrificed to corporate greed by the hand of plenty, and to ideological fervor by the hand of desire.
But then thereâs Vivid.
We havenât sold to Disney.
And we have never bent our knee even a centimeter to the social terrorism of the Cancel Cult.
All the hate theyâve hurled at us has only made us stronger. Bolder. Brighter. And more numerous. One by one, contacts and creators are joining the ranks of our plucky little coalition.
Iâm beginning to think thereâs a reason for all this. My creative obsession, our refusal to obey, and the loyalty of our readers. That a rose unremarkable in the garden of the past, surviving with ruby flame in the ashen wasteland of today, may hold some pivotal vitality, some key to altering the landscape.
Iâm beginning to think that, when it comes to creativity, sharp is better than big. True is better than safe. And Vivid counters conformity.
Iâm still putting my thoughts together. But if any of this resonates, know that Iâm more committed to our story than ever before- and the picture is becoming bigger than that. New puzzle pieces, new powers, and new players are entering the frame.
Weâre powerless alone- but if we join forces⌠I have hope.
Please share this with a friend you like, and Iâll share more as I can.
http://www.dreamkeeperscomic.com/Em.....Newsletter.htm
Just ask any grief-stricken Warhammer fans.
But first, Tinsel returns from a hunt of her own https://www.patreon.com/posts/30416962 to announce the 14th annual Dreamkeepers Halloween Fanart contest- PLUS a separate nano-wrimo Fanfiction contest.
https://preview.mailerlite.com/c3o1r4
And, by popular demand, we are introducing a new Vivid Dreamkeepers item this fall:
2020 Calendars!
Thank you Drawing Board and Vivid Task Force for brainstorming flourishes- more details to be announced. Suffice to say:
Trophies dangle in your future.
You can click out now- those are the bare-bones announcements. Contests, prizes, new merchandise as Volume 5 strides closer to completion. What comes next is less direct, and perhaps more troubling.
If youâre curious about my thought of the day, Iâm here to share.
I realize I probably donât write often enough- I tend to keep myself buried in art. Planning pages, drafting the structures on the page, the motives in the minds of our characters. Losing myself in this fictional world, in the hopes that others will see fit to wander, and wonder.
Work keeps me disconnected at times, but this week I woke up and realized something horrible seems to have crept up on us.
Imagination is dead.
Nietzsche declared the cultural reality of the Death of God, and similarly in our culture, I see the death of something far more precious than God. The death of His womb- the expiration of imagination and truthful creation.
Forgive my melancholy, but in case you hadnât noticed, Disney owns everything.
Star Wars. Muppets. Fairy Tales. Thor. Iron Man, copyright law.
And owning is not enough: They have killed their captives, and hang them on the walls of the cage as nothing more than dead trophies. For the spark of life is gone.
Every movie is a remake. We see the same characters, in the same dilemmas, ripped from the afterlife and forced through morbid self-parody again, and again, japing at the charm of their first dance.
Audiences are not permitted to disapprove.
Your voice is erased by totalitarian algorithms. (Totalgorithms?)
And not only that- you are condemned to hell for your crimes of opinion.
Because mainstream creative culture has not been gutted by greed alone. To fill that moral void, the board room cobbles for us⌠The holy of holies, the sacrosanct, that glimmering broom which brushes all sins under the most pure of rugs:
Repeating the Right and Good Opinions.
The key is to consume, and obey. Do as you are told. Think as you are told. Love the new remake, and swallow the proper ideological bullet-points. Or:
You will be called a bigot (old-world terminology: heretic) and the social media gods will gladly watch as lesser demons swarm in bloodlust, until you flee to a dark online forest. There the banished cower, isolated from the bright glare of the interconnected corporate cages which capture all creative potential.
Even the last stronghold, the one franchise who stood strong upon decades of brutal lore, has fallen:
Warhammer 40K has signed their soul over to Marvel- property of Disney. Next in line to have their essence, their truth, poisoned and drained away by resentful stewards, next in line for the Star Wars treatment.
I look up from my pencil and my paper, to see culture being systematically caged, creativity being crushed into looping, leering caricatures. While good authors, artists, creators, are locked on the outside, consigned to obscurity by the bloated death-star monopoly.
Liz & I started Dreamkeepers not with any grand plans. Just a simple desire to create something imaginative and new.
Iâm grateful a proactive cadre of readers has stood by us, and other authors have joined Vivid Publishing. I never expected a full soundtrack to our work, tabletop games, spinoff novels, additional comics- and the professional connections with Vivid are multiplying as we grow. Itâs humbling.
But itâs also something else.
Vivid blooms as the other companies fall into the Cage.
And even those companies or creators too tiny to be subsumed fall victim to the contagion of the zeitgeist, rushing to obey the Moral Compulsion:
Rip the spine from your fiction, and replace it with mandated conformist political dogma. There shall be no more truth, no more fun, no more danger⌠Only pandering and preaching.
The spark of imagination is thus sacrificed to corporate greed by the hand of plenty, and to ideological fervor by the hand of desire.
But then thereâs Vivid.
We havenât sold to Disney.
And we have never bent our knee even a centimeter to the social terrorism of the Cancel Cult.
All the hate theyâve hurled at us has only made us stronger. Bolder. Brighter. And more numerous. One by one, contacts and creators are joining the ranks of our plucky little coalition.
Iâm beginning to think thereâs a reason for all this. My creative obsession, our refusal to obey, and the loyalty of our readers. That a rose unremarkable in the garden of the past, surviving with ruby flame in the ashen wasteland of today, may hold some pivotal vitality, some key to altering the landscape.
Iâm beginning to think that, when it comes to creativity, sharp is better than big. True is better than safe. And Vivid counters conformity.
Iâm still putting my thoughts together. But if any of this resonates, know that Iâm more committed to our story than ever before- and the picture is becoming bigger than that. New puzzle pieces, new powers, and new players are entering the frame.
Weâre powerless alone- but if we join forces⌠I have hope.
Please share this with a friend you like, and Iâll share more as I can.
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