Good question. Though I may assume I know some answers?

...yeah. Once again I have to apologize for being this slow this year. Though December isn't over yet, I have NOT done much work in 2024, well, not as much as I wanted to. And a few bits and pieces just aren't uploaded yet, or are sketches I may never finish. By now, I should've already completed all 10 slots and all 7 extras I've gathered in this year's FIRST batch. But here I am, procrastinating, unable to focus, no motivation, no nothing. And I can deduce a few reasons why, and I know I might be wrong.

First off, my lack of motivation has an obvious driver to it, and I've mentioned it countless times. Do I have to mention it again? You know what the HELL is going on. Nobody likes it. These past almost three years have been the most demotivating yet. And I just HOPE it ends soon, but in a fair way. I'll be okay with having to pay more for groceries, I don't care. I just want... no. This still isn't a good place for politics, despite my older comments. But you know what I mean!

Second, for some reason, I think my sleep schedule has been borked in the past two years. Years ago, my night mode could've been justified by my ISP at the time using infinite nighttime traffic, and by most people commissioning me sleeping during my daytime. But back then, I was able to sleep decently at least. Now? Morning farm chores I cannot skip since, I think, last year. As a result, I've been unable to sleep for more than 5 hours in a row without waking up for some reason. Getting the rest after the chores barely helps, either. And yes, I am trying to fix it. But more often than not, it also didn't leave me in the mood to do my job. Overworking is bad, too.

...and I think I can guess one more reason... I'm just afraid. Not of my drawings, though one commission can look a bit provocative, but of the uncertainty. Months ago, I said my disappearance should be a matter of if, now it seems to be a matter of when, now that a test of offing the internet in a few other regions seems to be successful. No, I will NOT return to the garbage that calls itself VK just for the 1,5% of people who follow me, being there is a crime now, in my understanding at least. However, hope it works out differently in my region that I can't afford to leave. And yet, the main downside of this happening would be that I'll have to stop uploading and working on commissions at all, possibly for a long while. Unless it'll become a predictable event... but I got 10 more slots I've barely even started because I'fe lazed off too much this year, and I don't even know if sending the results will be an option.

Other than that, I would love to get myself a boost in productivity and solve at least one of these issues. I left the clients disappointed with the wait, but the results so far (of the finished pieces, of course) seem like they did not. But it's on me that they're in the making for a year. At least I have no plans on getting new slots until these are finished. And I have no plans on leaving any platform while I can still use the "banned" ones. Unless forced offline mode does happen, but hope it won't.

Also, I think I have to mention side projects... For one, that bigger one that I postponed for the next 5 to 6 years, I may have to reconceptualize it) I mean that many ideas I had for the plot, I just don't really like 'em. I can't guarantee reuse of old ideas, though I like some of them. The characters, though, I think some of them will definitely get new names, besides different design elements. Older illustrations, I think I can call them a little obsolete) To not hype it up while it's re-developed, I may stop drawing the project's characters in personal pieces for now, fan art gets far more interest in anyway. But there's been another one, a shorter comic to try myself in a full chapter, a what-if fan fiction, I'd say. It's not even fully written yet, about a third draft by now) But this time, I think commissions go first, so still no news.

Either way, really sorry for being too slow. I'd really like to finish it all sooner, only because I don't want to disappoint those who are waiting) I just don't know if I can, and how would I find enough energy to be more productive before it's too late than I was the past 11 months. Or I'm just too paranoid lately, I don't know. And yes, I am doing mostly fine, aside from not doing too well with sleep. Regardless, stay safe, no matter where you are.