Taking The 38 Week Social Media Colonic.

Joe Q’s Patented Detox And Cleanse to a New Social Media You!

Heeeere’s Joey!

It's hard to believe that it's been two hundred sixty-six days since we last spoke. I hope you're doing well, and thanks for still being here. I was petrified that I'd be walking into an empty room. I also want to say welcome and what up to those who signed up during my absence. It looks like you've all kept the place neat and tidy.

---

So, where have I been? Where do I start?

This isn’t the first time I’ve disappeared from social media. In the summer of 2014, I went into a six-week self-imposed lockdown. I remember it vividly. I was up to my ears prepping for our first Netflix show, Daredevil, and I missed the whole Ice Bucket Challenge thing.

Some of my initial design work for season one. There were dozens of variations on this urban commando theme.

I rented a house out west, away from the hustle, bustle, and distractions of New York, set up a temporary studio, and went into hermit mode. My sole focus was on the show and the occasional cover Marvel needed me to do.

One of my “Lockdown” covers.

Two unexpected and wonderful things happened when I finally stuck my head out the window: I finished the work that had to get done, and whatever endorphin dependency I had on the internet was gone. It was like a fever had broken; I could take it or leave being on social media. I could post when I wanted, not because I needed to be there. I could suddenly see social media for what it was: a great place to connect with you, tell some fun stories, promote upcoming projects, but also the greatest siphon of time, positive energy, self-confidence, and imagination to which any creator could fall victim.

All those rabbit holes I used to jump into willingly, I could now see as a massive waste of time. Posting on social no longer had the same charge and urgency that it used to have…until I landed here on Substack over a year ago. The other thing I discovered is that working to increase your followers on, let’s say, Xwitter -- or whatever they call it these days -- was fool’s gold because it didn’t add up to actual engagement or better sales. As Howard Chaykin likes to say, "Trust me on this." I would watch creators work their tails off to get more and more followers, but they couldn’t entice a tenth of those followers to purchase their books. I get it; losing yourself in that stuff is easy, but it’s not the real world. This, however, is a topic for another day.

---

My latest break is no different.¹ I looked at my to-do list and saw a freight train heading straight for me, so I knew I had to shut it all down to get remotely close to getting any of it done. This included everything from how often I would answer emails, texts, and phone calls during the day to turning down covers, commissions, podcasts, and convention requests. I didn’t announce that I’d be stepping away for a bit because I thought it wasn’t a big deal. I’d miss maybe three or four weeks' worth of newsletters and be back before anyone knew I was gone. And then things got crazier as several fantastic but time-consuming opportunities landed at my doorstep, projects I couldn’t say no to. Each passing week, I kept promising myself that I would write a new newsletter, but then I looked at all the work in front of me and thought, what’s the point if it’s going to take another month to send another installment? But here we are, and I want to thank you for your patience.

---

To give you a sense of what’s been happening in the most cryptic way possible...

• I’m drawing two large comic projects, about 300 pages in total. One of them is for Marvel, and one of the two may be announced this fall or winter. We’ll see about the second.

• I’m wrapping up some covers and commissions I committed to pre-blackout (yes, I overbooked myself).

• I’m art directing and doing world-building designs on a large project.

• I had a wisdom tooth pulled.

• I’m working on a short film.

• I lost an argument and had to agree that “cowlick” is the most adorable word in the English language.

• I’m developing outlines for a film and T.V. presentation

• I’ve been stuffing a bunch of surprises up my sleeves.

• I’m assembling my first crowdfunded sketchbook, which will be announced shortly.

• And then there were all the other times life got in the way: Christmas and New Years. I traveled to L.A. four times (sorry, I can’t tell you why yet) and made several new friends along the way. I visited Santa Fe, where my daughter is a P.A. on a T.V. show, and squeezed in a weekend trip to Vegas (WHIVSIV). I got my hair cut four times; one was decent. I listened to a boatload of audiobooks and started meditating (I love it), and while it may not look like it, I’m back in the gym.

• Did I mention that I’m drawing two large comic projects, about 300 pages in total?

With all that said, it feels great to chat with you again. But I’m not out of the woods yet. I'm still figuring out how to manage my time effectively. Many of my projects are still fully active, but I feel like I have a better handle on them at the moment.²

So today’s installment is simply to say hello and reacquaint myself. Next week (fingers crossed), I’ll be back with some stories and opinions, surely to delight some and piss others off.

Not you, of course, because…

You’re Amazing!

JQ

1. It is. I posted thrice over this 266-day period. Each occasion was to help promote something important for a friend.

2. But you never know. Things could get crazy again.