Distance

There is something lonely about the landscape of middle California. I took the train down to Los Angeles last week and it wasn't as peaceful as I remember it being. Maybe it had something to do with the hour long delay on the way down. Or maybe the charm of traveling by train has worn off. Next time I'll probably fly.

It had been so long since I ran away to LA. Last summer I was too poor to take my annual trip to clear my head, which is probably why I've been feeling so off lately. It didn't make any sense, I have so many good things going on in my life, yet there was a lingering cloud of unease. I couldn't put my finger on it.

Perspective. I needed to leave to gain perspective.

I needed to spend time with one of my favorite people in the world. I needed to walk everywhere and eat delicious food. I needed to get out of Santa Rosa and break my daily routine that has become stale.

Most importantly, I needed to be around my creative partner to fall back in love with my story. I've been working on Delirium for four years now, which makes it my longest running project. After struggling with it for a year, I realized it needed to be a graphic novel because the story couldn't just be told in one point of view. And what better person to have illustrate than your best friend?

Your insanely talented best friend.

But then because I am a crazy person, I kept trying to write it as a traditional story anyway. It took half a bottle of wine and spending a weekend with Blair to finally start writing it as it was meant to be. Granted, I regret writing while mildly intoxicated, but I am at least going in the right direction.

Luckily we are both struggling with the project, so we can commiserate together.