I wasn’t waiting to become a better artist—I was waiting for a different life. I thought that if I could just get a book deal, make enough money, and create full-time, then I’d finally have the creative life I was supposed to be living. My day job felt like the obstacle standing between me and that dream.

Looking back, I don’t think I was really waiting for more time. I was waiting for permission.

That realization eventually led me to a mindset I now call the full-time part-time artist, and it completely changed the way I approach my artistic career.

What is a Full-Time Part-Time Artist?

A full-time part-time artist is someone who decides to build their artistic career right where they are—with the tools they have, the job they’re working, and the life they’re living.

They stop seeing their current circumstances as the reason they can’t begin. More importantly, they stop defining success as the day they finally quit their job. Instead, they make an identity shift.

Being an artist isn’t something someone else gives you permission to become. It’s who you are. Whether you work on your craft forty hours a week or forty minutes a week doesn’t change that. That doesn’t mean you stop dreaming about going full-time someday. It simply means you stop putting your creative identity on hold until your circumstances change.

Why This Mindset Matters

I know what it’s like to believe your day job is ruining your dream because I spent years thinking exactly that. Everything I did creatively was tied to one goal: Maybe this is the project that lets me quit. The problem was that I had attached my happiness to something I couldn’t control.

Eventually I realized my day job wasn’t preventing me from becoming an artist—it was giving me the stability to become one. It paid my bills. It helped support my family. It meant I didn’t have to take every commission that came along just because I needed the money. Instead of chasing work I didn’t really want to do, I started building the creative career of my dreams because—I could!

So, I started making the books I actually wanted to see exist.

When I started making Adamsville, nobody had offered me a publishing deal. Nobody was waiting for it. I just decided to make it. And when I finished, still no one offered me a publishing deal. So I printed it myself through Kickstarter.

When the Kickstarter copies arrived, I remember sitting in my living room signing books before shipping them to readers. I had this strange thought: How could I tell my younger self that I hadn’t accomplished my dream?

The book existed. I had written it. I had drawn it. I was holding it in my hands. The victory wasn’t the publishing deal. The victory was the book.

And so, I made the next one.

Ironically, those finished books eventually led to being featured on Webtoons.com and to my first publishing contract for my graphic novels The Sleepover and Deepwater Creek. It even helped me land the writing day job I have today! Life is weird.

But none of that would have happened if I had spent those years waiting for permission instead of doing the work.

That’s the change that matters. Stop measuring your success by things you can’t control. Measure it by the work you can.

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How to Start

1. Change the meaning of success. If success only means quitting your job, you’re setting yourself up to spend years feeling like a failure. Instead, let success mean finishing the project, improving your craft, showing up consistently, and doing the work that’s in front of you.

2. Embrace the life you’re living. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t improve difficult circumstances or pursue better opportunities. It simply means you stop believing your life has to become completely different before you can begin. Maybe you have an hour today. Maybe you have fifteen minutes. Don’t dismiss that time because it feels too small. Small drops in the bucket of creativity become books, games, albums, and eventually a library of your work.

3. Remember that this isn’t just a strategy; it’s a shift in mindset. Maybe one day your art becomes your full-time job. I hope it does if that’s your goal. But even then, I think we still need the mindset of a full-time part-time artist. Life is bigger than our work. Our families, friendships, communities, faith, and experiences aren’t distractions from creativity. They’re the things that give our creativity something meaningful to say.

More than anything, I hope this idea becomes a rallying cry.

I want creatives to stop being miserable because their lives don’t look the way they imagined. I want them to stop waiting. To stop believing they’re failures because they haven’t “made it.”

Start where you are. Use what you have. Make the work that matters to you. Because whether your art ever becomes your full-time job or not, I believe your life will be richer simply because you decided to create anyway.

Dive in deeper

If this idea resonated with you, I’ve published two other articles on Substack from a little zine I created called The Full-Time Part-Time Artist: A Short Field Guide for Working Creatives:

• The Myth of the Ideal Creative Life

• Finding the Time: Drops in the Bucket

Or if you want to dive all the way in, you can pick up The Full-Time Part-Time zine! It comes with:

• 24 pages of content

• 10 essays exploring how I’ve built my artistic career while living life

• 30 exercises to help you apply the concepts to your own life

  Shop The Full-Time Night-Time Artist

And now, stickers are here, too!

I love these stickers. I’ve put them on the notebook I’m using for my newest book project—more on that soon! They remind me to keep on moving, right where I am.

You can pick up the stickers and the zine on my website. Including a combo with the stickers and zine together at a discounted price!

Shop The Full-Time Night-Time Artist

International folks, I am only shipping physical orders within the United States at this time. I’m sorry. :-( BUT! You can purchase the zine as a digital download right here.

Oh! And I made a video on this subject for YouTube as well!

Thank you all for being here! Until next time.

What I’ve learned is that a lot of creative work can get done in what I think of as drops in the bucket. Fifteen minutes on a break. Thirty minutes during lunch. An hour in the morning before work. A little focused time here and there, done consistently over a long period. That may not feel like much in the moment, but it adds up. A page written is a page written. A rough sketch is still progress toward the greater whole. A comics panel figured out is one less thing hanging over your head.

That said, I think this only works if you’re intentional about it. You have to start looking at your day differently. Where are the pockets of time? Where are you losing thirty minutes to scrolling, zoning out, or being unintentional? What parts of your project can be done away from home or in a shorter burst of creative energy? If I know I’m going to be out somewhere and may have some break or waiting time, I try to bring whatever tools I might need in my bag so I can make progress. I always have my backpack with me, loaded with my iPad, Bluetooth keyboard, and a notebook and pen. In my experience, if you can find even 30 minutes a day to work meaningfully, you’ll be surprised how much that adds up over time. Be on the lookout for when you might have those times in your day.

And just as importantly, you need boundaries. Not every spare second belongs to your creative work. Some of it needs to belong to your health, your sleep, your family, and your actual life (we’ll discuss that more later). The goal here is not to squeeze every ounce of productivity out of yourself. The goal is to become someone who knows how to use the time they do have on purpose.

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Watch me work through these exercises in my most recent YouTube video!

The Full-Time Part-Time Artist

This article is from my new zine The Full-Time Part-Time Artist. You can pick up a copy of the full zine on my store!

Purchase the zine

Here’s what you’ll find inside

• 24 pages of content and illustrations.

• 10 articles covering topics such as:

  • The myth of the ideal creative life

  • Embracing the day job

  • Reframing failure

  • And more

• Three reflection exercises with every article, designed to help you build your own creative process instead of simply following mine.

• A link to additional resources from other creators to help you continue the journey beyond the zine.

The zine is $12 plus shipping (U.S. shipping only for now) for a physical copy, which also includes the PDF, or $5 for the PDF-only edition.

Purchase the zine

This is a project I’ve had on my mind for quite some time. Many of you know my books and my YouTube videos, but not everyone realizes that I do all of this while still working a regular 9-to-5, raising a family, and trying to build a life full of friendships and purpose.

It’s not easy, let me tell you.

But that’s exactly what this zine is about.

The Full-Time Part-Time Artist is a 24-page field guide to how I’ve managed to build a creative career I’m proud of—and one I’ve always dreamed of—despite having to do most of it in the margins of my time.

Here’s what you’ll find inside

• 24 pages of content and illustrations.

• 10 articles covering topics such as:

  • The myth of the ideal creative life

  • Embracing the day job

  • Reframing failure

  • And more

• Three reflection exercises with every article, designed to help you build your own creative process instead of simply following mine.

• A link to additional resources from other creators to help you continue the journey beyond the zine.

The zine is $12 plus shipping (U.S. shipping only for now) for a physical copy, which also includes the PDF, or $5 for the PDF-only edition.

Purchase the zine

Here’s a quick look at the zine itself.

I’m really happy with how it turned out. But even more than that, I hope this little project has a big impact for those of you building your own creative careers and artistic projects while holding down the rest of life.

And if you’re feeling discouraged, I hope it gives you permission to start exactly where you are—without waiting for the perfect circumstances and without resentment.

Subscribe now

As a preview, here’s the first full article:

The myth of the ideal creative life

It’s easy to feel unhappy as a creative person (or any person, for that matter) when you imagine a fantasy version of another creator’s life is perfect and compare it to your own. I did this for years. When I was younger and trying to turn art into a career, I thought landing a book deal or the right job would make everything fall into place. I believed I’d be happier, more financially secure, and finally feel like I had “made it.” I expected one big opportunity to fix more than it really could.

Eventually, I realized that wasn’t true. I saw friends and other artists get the chances I thought would fix everything, but they still faced the same struggles. They got the book deal or the creative job, and while those were great achievements, they didn’t take away doubts, money worries, tough situations, relationship issues, or life’s everyday problems. Some still needed another source of income to survive or had the same questions about creative work that I did. That was a bit disappointing, but it was also a relief. It helped me stop expecting my art or my job to solve everything. A contract, a project, or a finished book doesn’t have to change your whole life to matter. It can just be a good thing that happened, and that’s enough.

When you stop chasing the idea of a “perfect” creative life, you can focus more on improving your skills and feeling proud of your work. You can see the progress you make and the projects you finish as their own successes. This lets you enjoy the journey you’re on instead of feeling like you’ll never arrive. Your perspective on your own life shapes a lot of how you see it. In my experience, you’ll find more peace by slowing down, working on your craft, and letting your creative path develop at its own pace. The goal isn’t to build some perfect version of an artist’s life—it’s impossible and never as glamorous as you think. The goal is to make good work, keep learning, celebrate your successes, and enjoy the life you have.

Quick exercises

1. Name the fantasy. Ask yourself: Do I want the work, or do I want the life I imagine comes with the work? Be honest. A lot of clarity can come from this one.

2. Redefine success. List three creative wins that are within your control. This could be something like buying a notebook to start on an idea, outlining a new story, or creating a new piece of art. Tackle them, then go celebrate!

3. Reality-check your heroes. Think of one creative person whose life or career you admire. Listen to some interviews with them where they discuss their path and the struggles they face. Does anything surprise you?

The Full-Time Part-Time Artist is available now! Pick up your copy on my online store.

Purchase the zine

Thank you so much to all of you for your support! And hey, if this zine resonates with you, I’d love to hear what you think. Feel free to email me on my contact page.

Also, stickers coming soon! :-)

Each story in this upcoming anthology (more details when ready to announce it) is told from a different character’s perspective, each witnessing the events of JAWS. I chose to focus on the youngest member of the Brody family, Sean.

The anthology is still in the works, but I wanted to share my story with you all here. Check it out!

A personal JAWS retrospective

I first saw JAWS when I was only two or three years old—at least, that’s the best I can tell. You might be wondering why in the world I saw that movie at such a young age, and honestly, I’m not entirely sure myself. I had a habit of sneaking out of bed in the middle of the night to watch TV, and JAWS was often on during those late hours. I can still remember where specific commercial breaks occurred within the story. So, maybe that’s when I saw it… Who knows?

What I do know is, regardless of how I first saw it, my parents kept letting me watch it—something I’m immensely grateful for.

This wild story about a monstrous (possibly supernatural?) great white shark terrorizing a New England island town wasn’t just a movie to me. It spoke directly into my life and shaped it. I’m pretty sure my obsession with fishing, marine life, and being on the water was conjured up because of this film that came out 50 years ago. And while I still love those things today, what really stayed with me was how the movie sparked a deep, abiding love for well-crafted visual storytelling.

I was seven or eight when I made my first comic book, after discovering—on a school bus one morning—that it was even a thing I could do, a job someone could pursue. I didn’t know how to make movies, but I knew how to wield a pencil and a pen, and I knew I could tell my own visual stories with those tools. As I got older and started making the kinds of stories I tell today, JAWS has always remained a benchmark for what great, suspenseful storytelling can be.

JAWS has stood the test of time because, in my opinion, it’s the best movie ever made. Every year we watch it on the 4th of July, and I gotta tell you, it’s as fresh today as it was 50 years ago. Some of its sequences are as good as cinema gets. The soundtrack is iconic. The scares are trauma-inducing. The themes are timeless. And I don’t care what you say–the special effects still hold up to me!

I made this little comic to pay tribute to a story I love so much. Whatever the reasons were for my parents letting me wade into the waters of such a scary tale at such a young age, I’m sure glad they did. I would be a very different person if not for that.

I might even still be on the beach making sandcastles.

Thank you, James Michael Roddy, for reaching out and asking me to create a story for your project. I really enjoyed making it and look forward to seeing the full anthology when it’s done.

Physical copies of “Sandcastles”

I have printed some copies of this story as a mini-comic, too! For now, the comic can only be picked up if you see me at a live convention or festival. I will be attending a few in the near future:

• Fall For The Book Mini Fest— February 19, 2026 - Fairfax, VA. I will be a featured author at this show and will be giving a presentation on my journey as a creator and my comics process. There will be a Q&A and a book signing. Learn more at their website.

• Amelia Island Book Festival—February 28, 2026 - Amelia Island, FL. This festival was the first book show I ever tabled at with my comics. It holds a special place in my heart. If you live in this area, you should definitely come check it out. Learn more at their website.

Hope to see you around!

Check out my books!

My own version of JAWS. A group of kid fishermen believe there’s a real-life monster in their river, so they steal their dad’s boat to prove it exists. Discover the horrors of Deepwater Creek. 

Order Deepwater Creek

A sleepover party turns deadly when the kids begin to suspect their babysitter is a witch from local legend.

Order The Sleepover

Just a quick reminder that the site-wide 20% off sale is live on my online shop now through Monday, December 8. This includes original art currently listed on Deepwater Creek — so if you’ve been hoping to snag an original piece at a discount, now’s the perfect time.

Go to my shop!

Adamsville books back in stock (mostly!)

Big announcement: Adamsville Books One and Two are back as a two-book combo in my shop!

I am currently out of stock on Book Three, but the two-book combo includes PDF downloads of all three volumes, so you can still read the entire trilogy.

• Two-Book Combo: $25

• Shipping: $7 within the United States

Supplies here are VERY limited. So if you’re hoping to snag copies of this edition—now’s the time!

Go to my shop!

Free bonus comic: Sandcastles (Jaws short)

Also, any purchase made between now and Monday the 8th includes a free copy of Sandcastles, my Jaws-inspired short comic.

Some of you have asked about buying Sandcastles separately. I’m working on a way to offer it soon — likely a pay-what-you-want setup that also covers shipping — while making sure everything is handled properly since it’s based on an existing property.

I got my copies in yesterday, and they look awesome!

International shipping

I’m sorry international shipping isn’t currently set up on my shop. International shipping is very tricky, as costs vary widely. If you’re outside the U.S. and interested in ordering, just send me a message through the contact form — I’m happy to work with you to figure something out.

Website updates

A quick note about the website:

Some of you may have noticed security warnings, and some serious slowness. I’ve installed the new security certificate, so you should see the site marked as secure now. I’m also continuing to work on performance improvements, and things should already be running a bit faster. But I am hoping to improve it much more as I learn… Hang with me!

Thank you all so much for your support, and I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season.

I wanted to send a quick note to let you know that I listed a batch of original watercolor pages from my graphic novel, Deepwater Creek! 15 pages for now, to be exact. And I am also selling them, and all items in my online store, at 20% off for the next two weeks—sale ends December 8, 2025.

Grab them while you can!

SHOP FOR ORIGINAL ART

United States shipping only—for now

I currently only have shipping established for within the United States. If you live outside of the U.S. and really want to purchase a piece, please send me a message through my contact form, and we can discuss options.

It’s just crazy expensive, y’all… Like… Wow.

Free JAWS comic with original art purchase

As an extra add-on, I will include a free signed mini-comic I made set in the world of JAWS!

This story was a ton of fun to create, and I look forward to sharing it more broadly with you all very soon. Here are a couple of sample pages for you to check out:

Shipping timeframes

Please allow me until after December 8th to start shipping these packages. I am waiting on the JAWS comics to arrive. Once they’re here, I will start shipping.

A special thank you

This year has been super exciting. Deepwater Creek finally going out into the world was so exciting, and I have been overwhelmed by everyone’s responses to it. I look forward to a big and exciting new year, making more comics, games, and videos for you all.

Happy shopping!

Let’s dive in!

Purchase a copy

Praise for the book:

I was on the news

On Monday, I got to be on First Coast Living, a newscast in the Jacksonville area focusing on fun locak news. This was such a cool experience.

An interesting fact: My first job out of college was working for this TV station. I was a film editor for the noon and 7:00 pm broadcasts. Very cool to return there for my first television appearance.

Book launch party

Tuesday evening, we had a book launch party at San Marco Books and More. They’re an awesome local book shop. It was an amazing evening celebrating the book’s release with friends and family. Truly special to me. Thank you to everyone who was there. Here are some pics from the event.

I will be partnering with them very soon to sell signed copies of both The Sleepover and Deepwater Creek. Stay tuned!

What’s next?

Book shows

I will be attending a couple of local shows soon:

• Ancient City Comic Con - September 12-14: I'm thrilled to return to this awesome local con with a new book.

• Jax Book Fest - September 20: The Jacksonville local library hosts a great annual book festival. Looking forward to being back at it again this year.

And a few more in the works! I hope to see you at a signing in the future.

Also, educators, remember that I am available for in-person and virtual school visits.

A new book pitch

I am currently working on a new book pitch. This time a series! It has been daunting trying to think of something I feel I could sustain creativity on for a long time. I am looking forward to seeing where this pitch goes.

The little I can share: It’s a Twilight Zone/Goosebumps-like anthology, but with some strong interconnectivity in the mythology. It’s been a blast working on it.

I should be finished with it in the next few weeks!

Leave a review for Deepwater Creek

The next major phase is getting the word out about this book. If you enjoyed the book, I would appreciate it if you could consider leaving a review on your preferred platform. It is a massive help in getting the word out there on the book.

• Goodreads

• Amazon

• Wherever you purchased your book

That’s it for now! Thank you, everyone, for your support.

We’re less than a week away from the release of my next graphic novel, Deepwater Creek, on August 26th! Here’s a look at what’s happening with the launch and how you can still take part in the preorder campaign before it closes.

Preorder Bonuses (through August 25th)

If you preorder the book before release day, you’ll receive:

1. A PDF of the solo-journaling RPG Deepwater Creek: Show Me The Way To Go Home

2. Entry to win one of three original watercolor pages from the book (U.S. only)

3. Entry to win one of twenty-five signed bookplates (U.S. only)

4. Digital desktop wallpapers

• Just added: All three PDFs of my original graphic novel series, Adamsville

  • This was my debut series, once featured on Webtoons. The print run is nearly sold out, so this is currently the only way to read it—and all three volumes are included free with your preorder.

How to Claim Your Rewards

1. Preorder Deepwater Creek from your favorite retailer (I’ve linked a list here: www.getthiscomic.com)

2. Email a copy of your receipt to deepwatercreekpreorder@gmail.com

3. You’ll receive an email with a link to all the digital rewards and be entered to win the bookplates and art if you live in the United States.

The preorder campaign ends on August 25th, so don’t miss your chance to grab these extras.

Book Launch Party – Jacksonville, FL

If you’re in the Jacksonville area, we’re celebrating release day with a launch party at San Marco Books and More on August 26th—the same day Deepwater Creek hits shelves!

I’d love to see you there. If you plan to come, please RSVP and consider preordering your copy through the store to support this wonderful local bookseller. Let’s make it a great celebration together! And make sure you email that receipt to get your preorder benefits!

So many cool things are going on with the release of this book, and I can’t wait for it to be out there in the world for you all to read. I so hope you enjoy it.

Barnes & Noble Signing

I’ll also be signing copies at the Barnes & Noble in St. Johns Town Center (Jacksonville, FL) on September 1st (Labor Day) at 6:00 PM. So cool to finally be doing my first in-person B&N signing!

A Note About This Newsletter

One quick update: I recently migrated my mailing list to Substack and combined my different lists into one. While I’d hoped to post more regularly here, I’ve realized my main focus needs to stay on creating the next book.

That said, I do expect to share occasional updates and articles, and I really appreciate how Substack makes it easier to manage everything in one place.

Until next time!

Preorder Deepwater Creek

Hey friends,

My graphic novel, Deepwater Creek, comes out this month on August 26th!

To help celebrate the launch, if you preorder now, you can claim some great rewards—and get early access to a brand-new game I’ve been working on. Here’s what’s included:

🎁 Preorder Rewards Include:

• Digital BETA rules for my solo-journaling RPG, Deepwater Creek: Show Me The Way To Go Home

• Exclusive desktop wallpapers

• Entry to win 1 of 25 signed bookplates

• Entry to win 1 of 3 original art pages from the book (handpicked by me)

📩 How to claim your rewards:
Just email a copy of your preorder receipt to deepwatercreekpreorder@gmail.com and I’ll send your digital goodies right to you.

Physical prize winners will be selected after the campaign wraps up.

🌎 Note: Physical rewards are U.S. only due to shipping costs—thank you for understanding! But the digital awards are open to everyone!

What’s Deepwater Creek all about? Here’s a quick rundown:

From the creator of The Sleepover comes a horror graphic novel for kids about two brothers and their friends who set out to uncover what terrors may be lurking in their nearby creek. Perfect for fans of Goosebumps!

There’s nothing that Wade and his younger brother, Andrew, love more than fishing together. As summer draws to a close, they’re excited for one last hoorah before classes begin and they end up at different schools for the first time. But a typical fishing trip with their best friends, Camilla and Tommy, quickly takes a darker turn. As heavy fog creeps over the creek, Andrew hooks something big—too big. In a moment of chaos, the brothers end up overboard. There, in the murky depths, they get a glimpse of what waits at the end of the line. And it seems far more monster than fish.

Wade and the others wonder if the recent hurricane that hit the area may have stirred up more than just water, unleashing something horrible from below. Their parents don’t believe they saw anything at all. But if there really is something out there, the kids know someone needs to stop it. So, they decide to do what they do best and go fishing for their biggest catch yet: evidence of a real-life river monster. Will these four friends be able to prove everyone wrong and save the creek, or are they about to discover they’re in way over their heads . . . and in deep trouble?

Reviews:

“I adored it, and thrill-seeking middle grade readers are going to eat it up.” —Lora Senf, Bram Stoker Award winner and author of The Clackity

"Deepwater Creek is an absolute blast!” — Trevor Henderson, author of Scarewaves

“This is the kind of book I’d have devoured as a kid.” —Douglas Holgate, illustrator of the #1 New York Times bestselling The Last Kids on Earth series

"Michael Regina is making meaningful, masterfully crafted, middle-grade horror stories unlike anything else on the shelf." —Josh Ulrich, author of The Terrifying Tales of Vivian Vance

📺 Watch the launch video for all the details:

Preorder Deepwater Creek

This story means a lot to me, and I’d love your support in helping launch it strong. If the campaign gains momentum, I may add more rewards—so now’s the perfect time to jump in.

Thanks so much for being here with me!

—Michael

Something is wrong with Haskin Park.

It sits at the edge of one of the only shopping centers in our small historic town, full of towering trees, winding paths, and playgrounds. For most of the year, it was the place for us kids. We fed the ducks and squirrels, played tag under the trees, and fished in the lake. I once caught a seven-pound bass there.

But every summer—without fail—the city shut the park down.

At the start of each break, we’d gather in front of the gates, begging to be let in. Officer Roberts always had the same excuse: “Tree maintenance.” Which, let’s be honest, was complete nonsense.

Still, every year the park closed from June to September. We’d walk past the gates and see Officer Roberts standing guard, while the playgrounds sat empty, the swings still. It didn’t make sense. Why close one of the busiest parks right when all the kids were out of school?

Something wasn’t right.

We had theories, of course. Aliens. Buried treasure. Secret government testing. Most of them were ridiculous. But one summer, Tommy Timmy (yes, that’s really his name) noticed something that stuck with me: all the animals were gone. No squirrels, no ducks, not even birds. It was like the entire ecosystem vanished every summer.

And when the park reopened in the fall, it always took weeks before the animals came back.

That summer, my friends—Charles, Tommy, Mark—and I decided we had to find out what was going on. We were going in.

We waited until nightfall, flashlights in hand and sneakers tied tight. We slipped through the shopping center toward the park, where we saw Officer Roberts patrolling the perimeter. In a town like ours, everyone knew the three cops by name—and they knew us. Getting caught wasn’t an option.

We waited until he disappeared behind the far side of the trees, then made our move. Over the fence and into the dark.

The park was eerie without people. Silent. Still. And just like Tommy said, there were no animals—not a chirp, not a rustle. Nothing. We crept toward the playground, tempted to swing, but we knew better. Any noise and we’d be caught.

Then we heard it: a strange cracking sound from the trees. Like a groan. Or maybe... a stomach growling?

Curious, I moved toward it. My friends followed, their footsteps crunching softly behind me. The trees loomed above us, impossibly tall in the moonlight. They looked like giants watching us.

Mark whispered, “Let’s play hide-and-seek. Just one game.”

We hesitated—Officer Roberts could still be close—but the thrill of it won. Tommy volunteered to be “it,” and we scattered among the trees.

I ducked behind a bush, heart pounding. Then came the scream.

At first, I thought Tommy had found Mark. But it wasn’t laughter—it was terror. Real terror.

I bolted from my hiding spot. The screaming grew louder, panicked. I saw Officer Roberts running toward the noise, yelling for us to get out. But I didn’t run. I had to know what was happening.

I pushed through the underbrush and froze.

The trees were absorbing my friends.

That’s the only way I can explain it. Their bodies were slowly being pulled into the trunks. Their limbs stuck out at odd angles, slick with sap. I grabbed at Mark’s arm, trying to pull him free, but it was like tugging against concrete. The bark wrapped around him like teeth.

Then Officer Roberts was there, yanking me away.

“There’s no saving them,” he said, eyes wide with grief. “They’re gone.”

I screamed. I cried. So did he.

“Why didn’t you stay out?” he whispered. “The trees eat in the summer. That’s why we close the park.”

And as I watched the last of my friends disappear into those monstrous trunks, all I could think was: Why did we come in here?

I don’t have a good answer. We were just kids.

A Personal Story: The Adamsville Experience

When I first began pitching Adamsville, my graphic novel series, back in 2008, I was full of ambition but lacked experience. I had never finished a graphic novel project before, let alone a children’s book. My initial approach was to jump straight into building a book pitch to secure a literary agent and a book deal. In hindsight, I skipped crucial steps. My pitch wasn’t strong, and I clearly was not prepared for taking that big step into professional publishing. I hadn’t yet learned how to illustrate or write for children’s books.

Despite these shortcomings, I managed to land a literary agent who pitched the book to publishers. A year later, every publisher had passed, and I lost the agent. It was a crushing moment. I had spent nearly two years chasing this dream, only to face failure. At the time, it felt like a dead end. But as I gained distance from that experience, I realized it was a grace in disguise. I wasn’t ready for the demands of a professional publishing contract. Success at that stage might have been a hindrance rather than a help.

That failure forced me to pause and reassess. I realized I needed to focus on the craft, not just the outcome. I went back to the drawing board, literally and figuratively, and committed to learning the process of creating graphic novels. This decision opened doors I couldn’t have imagined at the time.

Failure as a Learning Opportunity

Failure, when viewed through the right lens, is a powerful teacher. It’s an opportunity to identify your shortcomings and work on them. There’s a saying: “You’re either winning or you’re learning.” Reframing failure as a learning opportunity allows you to evaluate what worked, what didn’t, and why.

In my case, the initial failure with Adamsville highlighted a critical deficiency: I didn’t know how to finish a project. How could I convince a publisher to take a chance on me if I hadn’t even completed a book? So, I focused on developing project management skills and learning how to see things through. After finishing the Adamsville series, I realized I still wasn’t achieving the level of success I wanted. This led me to shift my focus to honing my craft—improving my drawing, writing, and storytelling skills.

The Role of Community and Mentorship

One of the most valuable things I gained during this journey was a community of like-minded creatives. My friends Josh Ulrich and Steven McCraney shared similar goals, and we often strategized about finishing projects and improving our skills. Additionally, I interned on the Amulet book series, working with author and illustrator Kazu Kibuishi. This experience gave me firsthand insight into managing large-scale projects and developing a creative process. It also taught me the importance of time management, which led to the creation of a time-tracking Excel sheet that became an essential tool for hitting my goals.

Strategies for Dealing with Failure

When faced with failure, I’ve found it helpful to:

1. Reflect on the reasons why. Sometimes, the reasons are within your control, like skill deficiencies. Other times, they’re external, like market perceptions. Differentiating between the two is crucial.

2. Focus on what you can control. If the failure stems from something within your control, develop strategies to improve in that area.

3. Reevaluate your path. Sometimes, failure signals that you’re pursuing the wrong opportunity. It’s okay to pivot and explore new directions.

A Common Misconception About Failure

Many creatives fear failure, believing it reflects their worth or abilities. But the truth is that failure is an inevitable part of the journey to success. Think of M. Night Shyamalan, whose early films, Praying With Anger and Wide Awake, were largely unsuccessful financially. He faced rejection and criticism but kept pushing forward. Eventually, he achieved massive success with films like The Sixth Sense. His story is a reminder that failure is not the end—it’s a stepping stone to grow and improve. He later faced similar challenges as criticism mounted on his films, but he has learned from those challenges and is now, I think, creating great work that is true to himself.

The Importance of Self-Reflection

Self-reflection is key to processing failure. It allows you to honestly assess your emotions and the feedback you’ve received. For example, if publishers reject your work, it’s easy to feel defeated. But by analyzing the feedback, you can identify areas for improvement and decide whether to continue or pivot. It’s also okay to decide that a particular path isn’t for you and choose a different direction.

Detaching from Feedback

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to detach from taking feedback personally. Failure is not an indictment of your potential—it’s a setback. By adopting a mindset of “I’m either winning or learning,” you can use feedback as a tool for growth. Resilience is a hallmark of those who achieve success, and it’s built through perseverance in the face of failure.

Learning from Others

Finally, I’ve found inspiration in the stories of other creatives who’ve faced similar challenges. Whether it’s M. Night Shyamalan’s journey or Todd McFarlane’s rise in the comic book industry, these stories remind me that I’m not alone. They reinforce the idea that success is a long, hard journey, and failure is just part of the process.

Failure is not the opposite of success—it’s a part of it. Reframing failure as a learning opportunity allows you to identify your weaknesses, develop new skills, and ultimately achieve your goals. Whether you’re a creative professional or pursuing any other passion, embracing failure as a teacher will help you grow and succeed. Remember, every setback is a setup for a comeback.

What I’m digging

“Refuse to Be Done” by Matt Bell

Getting out of your own way is one of the biggest challenges of being a creative writer. I often find myself overthinking, hitting roadblocks, and focusing on problems instead of moving forward with what excites me. My friend Brian Russell recommended this book to me, and it’s been incredibly encouraging. Matt Bell offers practical tools to help writers push past self-doubt and finish their drafts. If you’re struggling to get words on the page, I highly recommend checking it out on Amazon!

Check out my books

The Sleepover: Perfect for fans of Stranger Things, this middle-grade graphic novel follows a group of kids trying to cheer up their friend after a recent loss with a fun-filled sleepover, but their plans soon take a dark turn when they discover his new nanny may literally be a monster. Amazon.

Deepwater Creek: Two brothers and their friends set out to uncover what terrors may be lurking in their nearby creek. Perfect for fans of Goosebumps! Preorder on Amazon.

I’m on YouTube

If you enjoy my newsletter, I also have a YouTube channel where I talk about all kinds of creative things. Check it out!

The Struggle of Finding Time

When I first decided to take my creative work seriously, I quickly realized that time was my most limited resource. Between an eight-hour workday, family obligations, and the need to unwind, carving out space for my creative projects felt nearly impossible. I had to confront the reality that if I wanted to make progress, I needed to reevaluate how I was spending my time.

This meant taking a hard look at my habits. Was it worth spending hours playing video games every night, or could I redirect that time toward my creative work? I began to reframe my mindset, seeing my creative projects not as additional work but as a form of relaxation and self-expression. This shift allowed me to free up time and make my craft the thing that brought me joy and fulfillment.

As David Allen, the creator of Getting Things Done, puts it:

"You can do anything, but not everything."

I knew that if I wanted to make real progress, I had to prioritize deep, focused work over fleeting entertainment.

Strategies for Making Progress

Over the years, I’ve discovered a few key strategies that have helped me stay productive and make consistent progress on my creative projects.

1. Start Early or Stay Late

I’ve found that the early hours of the day, before the demands of life kick in, are the most productive for me. Waking up two to three hours before my workday begins allows me to focus on my creative work without distractions. Of course, this doesn’t work for everyone—some people are more productive in the evening. The key is to identify the time of day when you’re most focused and carve out at least an hour or two for your creative endeavors.

As Steven Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, advises:

"The key is in not spending time, but in investing it."

By structuring my schedule around my most productive hours, I’ve been able to make steady progress without feeling like I’m constantly fighting against time.

2. Use the Margins of Your Day

Even small pockets of time can add up. I often use my lunch break to make progress on my projects, whether it’s writing a few pages or sketching out ideas. The key is to make the most of these moments, no matter how brief they may seem.

3. Define Success as Progress

In the beginning, I defined success not by external outcomes but by the steady progress I was making. I couldn’t control whether my books would become bestsellers or whether I’d be able to quit my day job, but I could control how much time I dedicated to my craft. By focusing on actionable steps—writing a page, finishing a sketch, or plotting out a story—I was able to build momentum and stay motivated.

As Deep Work author Cal Newport puts it:

"If you don’t produce, you won’t thrive—no matter how skilled or talented you are."

This mindset helped me let go of the pressure to do it all and instead focus on steady, meaningful progress.

4. Overcoming Distractions

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is staying focused in a world full of distractions. My phone and the internet are constant temptations, especially when I’m in the middle of a creative block. To combat this, I’ve developed a few habits that help me stay on track.

I use tools to block distracting websites on my phone and computer, and I’ve adopted the “distraction list” technique. Whenever a distracting thought or idea pops into my head, I jot it down on a list to revisit later. This allows me to stay focused on the task at hand without feeling like I’m missing out.

I also use a timer to structure my work sessions. Setting a timer for 45 minutes helps me stay in a focused, creative mindset, and taking short breaks in between allows me to recharge and stay productive.

5. The Power of Rituals

Creating rituals has been another game-changer for me. Whether it’s lighting a candle that reminds me of the project I’m working on, listening to music that sets the tone, or going to a specific place to write, these small habits help me get into the right headspace for creativity.

For example, I used to write at a local restaurant that was open late. Even though I now have my own office, I sometimes return to that same restaurant because it reminds me of the ritual of sitting down to write. These rituals signal to my brain that it’s time to focus and create.

6. The Importance of Rest

All of these strategies are valuable, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge a simple truth: sometimes, life just happens. No matter how well you plan, unexpected challenges arise, and you have to adapt. That’s normal—and it’s okay.

There have been times when I’ve been deep into a project and suddenly felt overwhelmed. The pressure of creative work, combined with my commitments to family and friends, can sometimes feel like too much. When that happens, I’ve learned to take it as a sign that I need to slow down and recharge. And that’s not just okay—it’s necessary.

One practice that has helped me maintain balance is setting aside Sundays as a day of rest. I used to work on creative projects seven days a week, never allowing myself a real break. But as I’ve reflected on my routines, I’ve realized the importance of having at least one day with no work expectations. Now, I spend Sundays worshiping, catching up with friends and family, and making time for things I enjoy—like playing Baldur’s Gate 3!

If you’re feeling stretched thin, consider scheduling intentional downtime. Your mental health will thank you.

The Role of Support Systems

One of the most significant factors in my ability to balance creativity with life’s demands has been the support of my spouse. She has been instrumental in helping me stay focused and encouraging me to prioritize my creative work. Whether it’s stepping away for a couple of hours in the evening to write or draw or simply reminding me to use my time wisely, her support has been invaluable. Finding your support system is key to your success, whether it’s your spouse, friends, family, or like-minded creators. We’re not meant to go at it alone.

I’ve also found ways to integrate my creative work into family time. For example, sitting at the table with my kids while I sketch or write has become a meaningful way to bond with them while still making progress on my projects. It’s a win-win: they get to see me pursuing my passions, and I get to spend quality time with them.

One of the most rewarding aspects of prioritizing my creative work has been the impact it’s had on my family. They get to see me pursuing my passions and understand the effort that goes into creating something meaningful. It’s also opened up conversations about their own dreams and goals, allowing us to connect on a deeper level.

Final Thoughts

Balancing creativity with the demands of daily life is no easy feat, but it’s absolutely possible. By reevaluating how I spend my time, leaning on my support system, and developing strategies to stay focused, I’ve been able to make steady progress on my creative projects while still maintaining a fulfilling life.

The key is to start small and stay consistent. Even just an hour a day can make a significant difference over time. As Ali Abdaal puts it:

"The most successful people are just normal people who have made a habit of doing the things that help them succeed."

By prioritizing your creative work and making it a part of your routine, you can find the space to pursue your passions and create something meaningful.

What I’m digging!

Voicepal

Ali Abdaal is one of my favorite voices on productivity on the YouTubes. Recently he began talking about a ghostwriting app that he was helping develop called Voicepal. What intrigued me about it is that it was an AI writing tool completely driven off of the inputs you give it. You tell what you’re looking to write and it will ask you relevant questions to answer. As you answer the questions, it builds more questions and creates content completely based on your answers and capturing your tone of voice. I’ve been using it for about a month now, and I love it!

A lot of AI tools feel like they’re trying to cheat the system by bypassing you as the creator. This doesn’t feel that way at all. Everything it has created from my inputs feels just like a cleaned-up version of my writing. I recommend checking it out! Here’s a link where you can give it a try and save 10%. I used it to help write this article and my last one!

Also, here’s a video of Ali showing how he uses it.

Mothership TTRPG

As you all know, I love TTRPGs! And I love horror. And space. Mothership is all of those things, and it is simply one of the most elegantly constructed TTRPGs I’ve seen. The game plays like a breeze and is just a ton of fun.

Think of it as a game based on the ALIEN franchise, without the ALIEN IP. While there is a great ALIEN RPG, what I love about Mothership is that its construction allows me to create stories and adventures that feel like ALIEN without feeling like that’s what is expected by the ruleset and players. It’s a great game, and I highly recommend checking it out.

I’m playing with some friends tonight, and I look forward to taking them through the horrors I’ve constructed for them. :-)

What is “the dip?”

Seth Godin defines The Dip as the temporary setback or period of difficulty that occurs after the initial excitement of starting something new. It’s a challenging phase where your progress may seem to slow, obstacles arise, and quitting becomes very tempting. However, Godin argues that pushing through The Dip is what separates the best from the mediocre—those who persist through it emerge as leaders in their field.

At the same time, he emphasizes that not every struggle is worth enduring. Some difficulties are Cul-de-Sacs (dead ends) where no amount of effort will lead to success. The key insight from The Dip is knowing when to quit strategically and when to persevere.

In thinking about my own journey toward becoming a professional graphic novelist, I identified three distinct “dips.”

The Three Dips

1. The "Can I Do This?" Dip

The first dip is all about proving to yourself that you can complete a project. It's the stage where you question your ability to finish a graphic novel, write a book, or pursue any creative endeavor. While many people claim they want to create something, very few actually do. Reaching the point of completion instantly sets you apart from 90% of other aspirants in the field.

The key strategy here is volume—producing work consistently to understand the process from conception to completion. Quality is important, but the primary goal is to demonstrate competence and reliability. The good news here is that you are almost entirely in control of this process—you can break through this dip entirely through your own effort and dedication. That’s a fantastic thing!

2. The Professional Dip

Once you've proven you can complete a project, the next challenge is elevating your work to a professional level. This involves improving your skills to the point where your work is comparable to that of other professionals. The focus shifts from merely finishing a project to ensuring it meets high standards, whether for self-publishing or attracting a publisher.

This step is harder to achieve because it requires developing your skills to the point that they can withstand the scrutiny of others. When I entered this phase following the publication of my graphic novel series Adamsville, I knew that for me to achieve the breakthrough I wanted into the professional publishing world, I needed my work to be undeniably good.

So, my focus shifted to producing work of unquestionably high standards, which I hope to have accomplished with my books The Sleepover and the upcoming Deepwater Creek.

3. The Excellence Dip

The final dip is the pursuit of excellence. Here, the challenge is to stand out from the crowd and be recognized as one of the best in the world. This stage requires finding your unique specialization and excelling at it. It's about becoming world-class and being known for something that sets you apart from others.

The good news is that you can get highly focused here. You find your specialty and focus on it. Maybe your goal is to become the best adult portal fantasy writer in the world! While difficult, it does narrow your focus. It gives you a mark to aim for. For me, my focus is on children’s graphic novel horror.

This dip is, undoubtedly, the most difficult one to achieve. While you can focus your energy on the work and try to improve your skills, the verdict of who is considered the top of a field is largely determined by factors outside of your control. So, do you pursue it? Is it worth the effort? That depends on you and your goals.

I say, you pursue this step while remembering these limitations. Remember to focus on what you can control and that life is about more than success professionally. Work hard, be balanced in life, and see what the world does with it.

Overcoming the Dips

Let’s quickly look at some ways to navigate these dips in your journey.

Strategies for Success

• Dip 1—Volume and Consistency: Focus on completing projects to build confidence and competence.

• Dip 2—Skill Improvement: Work on enhancing the quality of your work to reach a professional standard.

• Dip 3—Specialization: Identify what makes you unique and strive to excel in that area.

Emotional Resilience

Each dip presents its own emotional challenges. Patience and resilience are crucial as you navigate these stages. It's important to recognize that growth takes time and that setbacks are part of the journey. It’s a dip for a reason! It can often take years to work through any given dip as you build the skills needed to progress to the next.

Community Support

Finding a community of fellow artists can be invaluable. Sharing experiences and learning from others who have faced similar challenges can provide guidance and support. Having mentors or peers who have been through these stages can help you avoid common pitfalls and stay motivated. I can’t underscore enough how much these things helped me in my own journey.

Conclusion

As I continue my journey, I think I have found myself in the excellence dip. My focus is on becoming the best in my chosen field. It's a challenging path but one filled with opportunities for growth and discovery. It’s exciting, though! It gives me things to focus on, work to do, and direction to move in.

If you're on a similar journey, remember that each dip is a stepping stone to success. Keep pushing forward, and consider subscribing to stay updated on more insights and stories on being a productive creative!

What I’m digging

• Brandon Sanderson’s interview on the Tim Ferriss Show: Brandon Sanderson is an author I haven’t read much of—yet—but one that I admire a great deal. He’s incredibly prolific and intelligent on the craft of storytelling. His interview on the Tim Ferriss is wide spanning, covering just about every topic you could think of. I highly recommend giving it a listen.

• Witch Hat Atelier: My oldest daughter picked up the first two volumes of this manga series, and I decided to give it a read. I really enjoyed it! The illustration work is incredible and the story intriguing. I definitely recommend checking out this wonderful series.

Check out my books

The Sleepover: Perfect for fans of Stranger Things, this middle-grade graphic novel follows a group of kids trying to cheer up their friend after a recent loss with a fun-filled sleepover, but their plans soon take a dark turn when they discover his new nanny may literally be a monster. Amazon.

Deepwater Creek: Two brothers and their friends set out to uncover what terrors may be lurking in their nearby creek. Perfect for fans of Goosebumps! Preorder on Amazon.

Creating your own system for organization

What so intrigued me about the process of bullet journaling was that it taught me that I could create my own system. While bullet journaling is its own defined process that you can find numerous videos and posts about online to explain, for me, it was the simple idea that I could use any old notebook to create a system for organizing my day that was exactly what I needed to hear. So, while I will discuss my specific process in this newsletter, I want you to use this as a springboard for you to build something that works for you. If something I mention sounds interesting to you, try it! If it doesn’t work, throw it out and try something else.

Analog vs. digital: The case for tactile notebooks

Why choose a tactile notebook over digital tools? While I love digital note-taking tools and plan to discuss my current favorite, Notion, in the future, there's something special about an analog notebook. It feels tangible and allows for focused thinking without the distractions of a screen, the internet, or notifications. When I write things out by hand, I somehow feel less attached to it, and more comfortable erasing it and moving on. So, whether I'm ideating or planning, I prefer capturing ideas quickly in a notebook.

So, what is my notebook process? I've developed a hybrid system that combines bullet journaling with other methods. Here's a breakdown of my approach.

Bullet journals

When it comes to bullet journaling, I am very minimalistic in my approach. I’ve tried using some of the more robust approaches others take, but it usually overwhelms me. Two weeks later, that habit tracker section I created to help stay motivated has, well, stopped being a habit.

What I have found exceptionally powerful for bullet journaling has been two things: The weekly log and the daily log.

The weekly log

The weekly log is where I capture my plans goals for the week by breaking them into four categories:

• Family and friends - I think about things I want to tackle specifically related to my primary relationships. It might be a game night with friends, lunch with my wife or kids, or a reminder to call a loved one.

• Work - I list out the major tasks related to my comics, YouTube, and books.

• Home—I write out any major tasks I have for work around the house or general home life.

• Personal - Anything I want to accomplish for myself, like reading a book, solo-playing an rpg, or going fishing.

If I know what day I want to do any of these specific tasks, I write the date in parenthesis next to the entry and enter it into the daily log.

The daily log

The daily log is the heart and soul of the bullet journaling method. It's the process that got me hooked on the method and finally helped me start to get a handle on things. It’s essentially a to-do list, but it includes a process for re-evaluating each task at the end of the day and either transferring that item to the next day or a future date or completely removing it if you feel the task is no longer needed.

Going hybrid with the Kindle Scribe

One part of the bullet journaling process that never worked for me was the concept of creating random spreads throughout the bullet journal for other topics like planning a vacation, a home project, and so on. I like one notebook for one idea. Which led to me having lots of notebooks lying around for nearly everything I was working on. Until I purchased the Kindle Scribe.

The Kindle Scribe is an e-writer tablet that allows you to create endless notebooks and organize them within the device. While it’s a digital tool, it functions like a standard notebook, where you write on the surface with a digital pen. The experience feels very close to writing on paper, with all of the benefits that a digital experience can give you. And it’s an amazing e-reader tablet, too!

Once I purchased the Kindle Scribe, I moved my bullet journal out of my notebooks and into the Scribe. I also started keeping track of notebooks for my projects, so if I am ideating on something, I open up a new notebook and start logging ideas. It also features an export feature that allows users to export their notebooks as digital text, so you can always start an idea here and move it to the computer later.

Quite simply, I love this thing and can’t recommend it enough if you like using notebooks.

Single purpose notebooks

So, I haven’t completely moved everything into my Kindle Scribe. A recent video with Cal Newport discussed the idea of using what he called “single-purpose notebooks.” The concept is that for any given project you are working on, you purchase a small pocket notebook and completely dedicate it to working on that project. This is great if you’re constantly on the go because you can throw a notebook into your pocket with a pen, and if you ever get a moment, you can use this notebook to make progress on that idea. It also means it helps you stay focused on one idea rather than potentially jumping to ANY idea you could be working on. When you finish with that project, stop using the notebook.

I started trying this out on a recent vacation and really enjoyed it. While I love my Kindle Scribe, I still do enjoy a good notebook and pen.

In closing, my notebook process is constantly evolving. However, I hope sharing current my processes with you inspires you to create your own system. Whether it's a bullet journal, a digital tool like the Kindle Scribe, or single-purpose notebooks, the key is finding what works for you.

Try new things, adapt, and see what sticks. Happy journaling!

What I’m digging

Chiron’s Doom by Nick Bate

This is a journaling RPG that can be played solo or co-op, where you create a group of explorers/researchers who set out to discover the secrets of a strange structure that has mysteriously appeared. If you like stories like 2001: A Space Odyssey or Annihilation, you’ll enjoy this game. Once again, I can’t praise tools like this enough. If you’re a writer who wants to have something to inspire you, sit down and start writing; games like this can help you get started writing and stay surprised until the very end.

Speed Reading: Learn to Read a 200+ Page Book in 1 Hour by Kam Knight

I am a super slow reader, and it keeps me from enjoying reading as much as I could, especially novels. So I decided to start learning to improve in this area by learning to speed read. This book has some helpful tips so far, and I look forward to seeing if it can help me improve.

Story or Die by Lisa Cron

A book that examines why stories cause people to take action and change. It’s been an incredibly insightful read that I found helpful not only for my book writing but also for the kind of writing I do in user experience content strategy. If you enjoy stories and want to learn how they can affect people, I highly recommend checking it out.

Michael Regina is the author and illustrator of the all-ages horror graphic novel The Sleepover and Adamsville trilogy.

When I’m writing, everything feels so big and uncertain — stories can literally go anywhere, and just getting started can feel immobilizing. I tend to overthink details or get lost in deciding a story's direction. Story guides like the Save The Cat beat sheet are immensely helpful, but that doesn’t stop me from getting into my own head; thank you very much.

But then, I discovered a unique approach to unstick my creative process: solo role-playing games (RPGs).

I came to role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) pretty recently—in my 40s. But I can tell you that when I finally got the chance to play my first game, I had that feeling of, “Where have you been my whole life?” I was completely smitten. I immediately bought books, branched out to games beyond D&D, and played as often as possible. I loved being able to make stories with my friends and play make-believe with my kids again by building our own worlds. I quickly became obsessed.

But a bigger thing was also happening. After my first game of D&D, I immediately had the thought: I bet this can make me a better and more productive writer.

When I discovered the concept of solo play, I felt like I had found something that would make writing fun and help remove the roadblocks that usually bog me down.

That became the subject of an entire video series I made on my YouTube channel:

You can watch the video series to see me walk you through how solo play works. But in this article, I want to summarize why I think writers should try this process and discover all of the fun, tools, and random nature these games bring to the table (pun intended).

World-building and character-creation

Quite simply, tabletop roleplaying books are the single best writer’s guide I have ever seen for writing for a specific genre. Beyond the often-mentioned Dungeons and Dragons, hundreds of tabletop roleplaying games are out there. The content of those games spans the entire spectrum of genres, including fantasy, sci-fi, horror, mystery, and romance… You name it, it most likely exists. I recommend perusing DrivethruRPG to see all that’s out there.

But this is so helpful because each game is designed to help you tell a specific kind of story. The books are usually divided into two sections: one for the players and one for the game masters.

The player section will help you design your character and fill your world with personalities that suit the story. I’ve never been very good at having a detailed character creation process, but now, when I create a character for a story, I love breaking out a character sheet from a game I think closely matches the story I am telling and creating that character. The process is usually filled with great questions about your character’s background, fears, wants, description, and abilities. At the end of the process, you’ll have a really clear idea of who your character is. And it’s a lot of fun!

Additionally, the GM section of most TTRPG books is a great “how to” guide for creating a story set in the genre of your choice.

One of my favorite games, Monster of the Week, is a great example of this. The game does such an awesome job of telling you how to create an action-oriented horror story. It helps you create monsters, build a world your characters live in, the structure of a horror mystery, and the kinds of feelings a story like this should evoke. This is true for almost every tabletop roleplaying game out there. If you want to know how to tell a story in a certain genre, TTRPG books are so helpful.

Randomization

While I am a staunch believer in story structure, it often feels like stories have become so formulaic that the excitement of discovery is gone—for me at least. One of the things I have most enjoyed when solo-playing a story has been being constantly surprised by where the story goes through the randomization created by the dice and how they sometimes force you to go in directions you never would have otherwise.

Want to have your character jump over that table and run out of the room before the monster gets them? Nope, you rolled poorly—what happens now? Think that the murderer your character has been pursuing is on the other side of that door? Nope, the dice tell you that it’s not the murderer—who is it? Roll to find out!

This sort of thing has made writing a story an absolute joy for me. I love being surprised by what the dice say and then trying to put the pieces together so that the story still holds together. Sometimes, the dice reveal things to me that completely recontextualize the story up to this point.

I still have to go back through the outline and clean things up, but I am never left staring at the wall, simply wondering what to do next. Whenever I am stuck, I roll some dice and go in that direction.

How to get started with solo play

Hopefully, by now, I’ve given you some great reasons to give this a try. It can take some getting used to, so be patient. You don’t need much to get going, but here are a few things you’ll need:

• A tabletop roleplaying game that you think closely matches the kind of story you want to tell. A Google search will get you going in the right direction, or browse DriveThruRPG and see what’s out there.

• A game master emulator. The best of the best is the Mythic Game Master Emulator. The one-page version costs only a few bucks. Additionally, more and more games are building their own solo-play rules into the system.

• Dice that go with the game you’re playing. There are free digital dice rollers as well.

• Something to capture your gameplay and story outline. This can be a word processor or a journal where you handwrite your adventure.

I put together a basic guide on how to do this, with a few helpful guides, that you can download here.

If you subscribe to my newsletter, you’ll also get access to other resources I have created to help you in this journey.

Subscribe now

Have fun writing that story! You never know where the dice will take you.

What I’m digging

The One Ring TTRPG by Free League Publishing

This tabletop game is set in Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, and I absolutely love it. This is the only game I have an ongoing group for right now. We’re breaking Tolkien canon all over the place, but it doesn’t matter because we’re having a blast! The game perfectly captures the mood and spirit of the series and, in the spirit of this article, has its own solo rules called Strider Mode. It’s a blast for solo play or with your group.

Out There by Seaerra Miller

This was such a great graphic novel. As a huge UFO buff, I was excited to see a story digging into that culture more. But the dynamic of the father/daughter relationship really hit me. Trying to understand loved ones can be hard. I found the honesty in this story to be pretty moving and compassionate. I highly recommend checking this book out.

Keep Going by Austin Kleon

This is the third book in Austin’s series on creativity, and I have found this book to be a great companion to the thoughts I expressed in my recent video on staying creative when life gets hard. I recommend his entire series.

To summarize the key points of my video, I have learned to see my day job as something that aids me in pursuing the kinds of art I care about. Here’s how:

I changed my perspective

I used to be miserable at my day job, like capital M. I would sit in my car during my lunch breaks, dreading going back into the building and pining for the day I could leave and do the kinds of work I felt I truly cared about. I was looking for every way out. I applied at movie studios, taught art classes, and took on commissions (whether I liked the project or not) so I could try and find something that would allow me to leave.

But then something changed. I realized that I actually had a really great job that provided for my family, and it was me who made it so miserable.

I started thinking about how my day job took the financial pressures off of me so that I could pursue the things I truly cared about in my off hours instead of looking for a way out. When money or changing my career was not my chief concern, I stopped trying to take on artistic pursuits that weren’t furthering my ultimate goal of becoming a professional comic book artist. I stopped taking on commissions and building portfolios for a job search and wholly focused on my pursuits as a comic artist. Freed from my frustrations, I could dive into my comic work with energy and excitement. I made decisions that were good in the long run, like learning how to finish a book.

Simply learning to be grateful for what I had made such a difference.

I looked for ways to use the spare moments

Depending on your work situation, we often have moments to spare at work or on our commute. Maybe you’re waiting on something from a co-worker (as was the case when I worked in television), or you’re stuck on a train. While others would use these moments to browse the internet, I would try to be intentional with my spare moments and ask if I could do anything to advance my projects instead of wasting time.

I often think of the hugely popular author Brandon Sanderson and a story he tells about a night shift job at a hotel he picked up specifically because it allowed him to write when there was nothing going on. He would use the open spaces when there was simply nothing to do but wait and use that time to make progress. He wrote several books this way.

The principle is simple: use your time well. And be a good employee, of course!

I learned valuable lessons about productivity and professionalism

There’s more to being a professional artist than just drawing or writing. As I’ll talk about more in upcoming installments, I quickly realized that I was terrible at basic productivity practices and organization. These business and interpersonal skills play a massive role in your success and often go unnoticed.

I started implementing skills I was learning on the job into my comics practices and saw a huge lift in all areas of my work life. I suddenly had systems for getting things done and a tool kit to adapt when challenges arose.

It’s hard to quantify how much my day job has impacted me this way, but I’ve learned a tremendous amount because of it, which has helped me be a better creator.

Don’t miss this! Look for ways to learn from your job.

When is it time to quit?

Now, I’m not saying all of this to tell people that they shouldn’t ever go full-time with their art. Instead, I’m encouraging you to see your situation as something that can help you in your pursuits of creativity. At some point, you may be able to leave and do your creative work full-time, or maybe your creative work will open up new opportunities for you in the world of employment, as it has for me.

Keep on keepin’ at it!

New book update: Project “Deepwater Creek”

Production is entering its final months on my latest graphic novel, Deepwater Creek. I’m down to just a few weeks now to finish the line art and turn in cover sketches.

I also need to make a few story changes, but overall, they’re pretty small things compared to what they have been.

Now that the story feels more solidified, I’m really beginning to enjoy this book and what I think it can become. Here’s a recent page:

What I’m digging

The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington. I recently picked this book up after watching Ali Abdaal’s review on his channel. The principle is simple: instead of planning your work over the course of a year, think about it as a twelve-week stretch. Essentially, this is quarterly planning! I always use this process in my business life but have never applied it to my creative endeavors. I am really enjoying the results so far as I implement it into my system.

Lichdom from Feral Wizard is a solo journaling RPG game in which you create the story of a sorcerer’s fall into ruin as they pursue immortality by becoming a lich. I started building my own character as part of the process I am using to create a fun fantasy story. It’s a fantastic game, and I love tools like this, where creativity and storytelling are made fun and unexpected.

Notion—I was this year’s age when I finally learned about Notion, the powerful digital workspace tool, and wow! I am blown over by it. I am only a few weeks into using it, but I adore it and its flexibility to build workflows that work for me. I’m even writing his newsletter in it!

Check out my book The Sleepover

The Sleepover follows a group of kids as they try to cheer up their friend, Matthew, following the loss of a loved one with a sleepover party. But things turn nightmarish when they begin to suspect their babysitter is a witch from a local legend.