Will's Break: One Month Down

1/30/2021

First off, I intended to blog at the beginning of my break, but I had to give up before I smashed my computer into little tiny pieces.

When I tried to blog on the first day, Weebly (the service through which I managed my site) mandated a password change before I could log in. I reset my password, and my password reset went through, but the email to change my password didn't. Leaving me lunging at my laptop with a hammer while my loved ones wrestled me down.

Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed, so I was able to start my break peacefully. At the time, I intended to stay connected through social media, so it didn't matter if I blogged at the beginning or not.

But I quickly realized that I need a break from social media too.

When I checked my Reddit or my Facebook or Twitter or whatever, I was mentally still working. I kept thinking about the next book, and what we could do later on in the series, and basically still thinking like an author.

I needed to cut that off, so I've been on a strict no-social-media diet for a month now.

I did not expect that to be necessary, and it's been difficult, but it's been good for me.

So that's where I've been all this time, cooped up in my Regeneration Pod with no phone waiting for my Reddit addiction to die down. Which begs the question: what have I been doing?

Well, in the first week off I didn't do much of anything. I don't remember much. Probably many YouTube videos were watched. I pretty much coma-d non-stop.

Second week, I spent most of my time catching up on my reading. I read between a million and a million and a half words that week, which was nice and refreshing as I haven't done that in a while.

I spent some time in a cabin in the woods, played a truly disgusting amount of Minecraft, bought the Dragon Ball manga (now I own the complete series; I only had the DBZ half before), and picked up my re-read of One Piece where I left off last year (right after the Paramount War arc).

Essentially, I've been having a nice, relaxing time! There's a lot I wanted to do that COVID prevents--visiting friends, traveling internationally, cruising, forming a Team-Rocket-style evil organization to take over the world--but within those restrictions, I've been having fun!

Physically and mentally, the break has been great so far, and while I regret having to step away from you guys for so long, I definitely needed it. It's only this week that I've stopped thinking about the business and book sales and the future of the series, because it took that long for my previous thought patterns to reset.

I'm installing a manual reset button in the back of my skull to expedite this process next time.

-Will

P.S. For all you One Piece readers out there, I'm regularly amazed at how great One Piece is and has stayed for so long. What great, resonant, emotional storytelling. Having said that, Punk Hazard sucks and I hate it.

79 Comments

Avinash

1/30/2021 10:14:00 am

Welcome back to the land of the living WILL

Eithan

2/7/2021 03:34:42 am

He's welcome to stay here and you know, write us some more Cradle if he wants. I wouldn't be mad about that.

Draque

2/12/2021 12:05:34 am

Or he could take his break like he was planning, not burn out, and we get a finished series. Let him chill.

Vargas

1/30/2021 10:17:16 am

Glad to see you're a fellow One Piece fan! I started catching up on the anime after I got done playing One Piece World Seeker!

Glad you're getting the rest and relaxation you deserve!

Jim S.

1/30/2021 10:18:43 am

DON'T COME BACK! IT'S A TRAP!!!!

Fred

1/30/2021 10:22:32 am

I loved one piece so much but stopped reading it after I left college (shortly after the time skip). This post leads me to assume that it might be worth picking it up again.

Anon

1/30/2021 10:41:04 am

Immediately after the skip there's the reunion arc which starts with the classic group fun stuff but ends with a pretty cool show of new talents trained and earned.
Latest arc is pretty dope.

Tower of gawd

1/30/2021 02:58:45 pm

Latest arc is firreeeeeeee cant believe how far the straw hats have come

Nikolai Ø.

1/30/2021 10:30:37 am

Glad to hear that you are able to disconnect! Enjoy your vacation!

Francisco

1/30/2021 10:44:09 am

Hey Will! Glad your break is relaxing.
If you wanted a manual reset button for your brain, you could have just asked, I'm sure I have one around here somewhere...

God

2/1/2021 04:16:06 pm

Ah here we go found them, now would you like the big hammer or the bigger hammer?

Ian

1/30/2021 10:51:33 am

I’m glad you’re taking a break. Don’t worry about your readers. We’ll be here when you get back (or our remnants, but I’m sure they’ll buy books, too.). Take care of yourself.

EFlorey

1/30/2021 11:07:01 am

Glad to see your break is paying off.

Clementine

1/30/2021 11:14:07 am

Nice to hear from you Will. Glad your break is going well and you’re enjoying your down time!

Aidan

1/30/2021 11:18:56 am

PunkHazard is good and I like it

mcspaddin

1/31/2021 05:46:40 am

At least it isn't as bad as Filler (Thriller) Bark

ObeseRodent

2/16/2021 12:35:47 pm

Or Skypiea

Nicholas Scott

1/30/2021 11:50:44 am

Glad to see you doing well! Everyone needs a break and you absolutely deserve it!

Alex

1/30/2021 11:54:25 am

Glad you're enjoying your (well-deserved!) time off...have fun, relax, and do what ya gotta do to maintain spiritual and physical well being, we'll still be here shit-posting and arguing fan theories when you emerge fresh and blinking into the sun to ride once again.

Clint

1/30/2021 12:45:09 pm

Keep up the good relaxation!

Diarmadhim

1/30/2021 12:53:48 pm

Eew One Piece? I thought you'd have better taste than that. I kid! I have no room to talk considering my guilty pleasure is slice of life. The wife picks on my constantly for it. Glad to hear you're winding down and enjoying yourself!

Larry

1/30/2021 01:14:47 pm

Best wishes for your well-deserved break Will! In the last several years, the pace at which you have released books that I've actually wanted to read and enjoyed, has been nothing short of astonishing. So please take time to enjoy your life. I've been re-reading Cradle 6-8, and I find myself truly, truly hoping that Lindon will make a dream tablet of Ethan's astonished face from when he revealed Dross to him, and gift it to Cassias. My 2 cents. Love the work, enjoy the break!

Camille

1/30/2021 08:09:31 pm

Yes! Like he wants something drom5 Cassius or Cassius gets mad at him for using the family library etc. And he trades the dream tablet of Eithan and Cassius loves it runs to show everyone!

Bill

1/30/2021 01:51:01 pm

Testing to see if I can get Will to reply to this comment, thereby tricking him into working.

I can sense his desire to reply even now...

Mesmer

1/30/2021 02:23:48 pm

The real question, is what Will's minecraft username is!

Phil Thomas

1/30/2021 02:29:40 pm

I really kind of thought you’d have been writing daily letters a d emails to the makers of Oreo’s to try and get a special edition made for you.

Keep switched off and recharge your soul and happiness until you feel relaxed and less stressed.

Rachael

1/30/2021 02:55:13 pm

I’m in for Team Rocket!!

Thief

1/31/2021 07:59:44 am

But it needs a new name.......
Also, are you streaming said Minecraft, Will? I am intrigued and need something to blow my time.

1/30/2021 02:56:12 pm

Punkhazard was a dry up arc it put into action everything that happened next

Ryan

1/30/2021 03:03:15 pm

Enjoy the time off. Social Media is just like work I avoid most of it.

DreamweaverMirar

1/30/2021 03:05:07 pm

Aha, so the trick to get a Will update is to finish rereading Cradle! That's what I've done for this half of January :P
Ghostwater is truly fabulous even the second read through.

Glad to hear you're enjoying the break! Have you tried Genshin Impact at all? I think you might enjoy. Don't get too sucked in by the Gacha though!

Rubico

2/9/2021 09:13:13 pm

I reread the whole series too and Ghostwater is definitely one of my favorites and where things get really crazy interesting. Halfway through Wintersteel again too and trying to make it last

Diego

1/30/2021 03:21:12 pm

Hi Will great to hear from you. Wish you well!

As for One piece, I was a fan up until about the Red Line. The 2 year return was nice, but for me its one of those things where the story has dragged on for too long.

I mean I get manga artists want to keep pushing a work until its done, because they're not sure their next work will be as popular, but I'm a fan of good endings.

2/27/2021 02:42:34 am

One piece drags a lot. Too many characters I do not care about. Come to think of it I lost interest even in the main ones. Punk hazard and onward I kept loosing interest. First I stopped reading it weekly.. then I would only check now and then.. In past one 2 years I haven't felt even a tiny bit of curiosity about where the story is at currently.

Jonny

1/30/2021 05:12:42 pm

Hi Will great to hear that you are having a well deserved break.

If you are relaxing with some Manga such as Dbz and One Piece, I would highly recommend some manhwa. Personally I loved reading The breaker manhwa. I think you would love the art style as well.

Have a great break and can't wait untill the next Cradle book.

Michael H

1/30/2021 05:19:35 pm

Go back to enjoying your vacation Will. You have time and your true (read as rabid) fans like us will still be here when you get back and happier for the re-energized you.

That said, if I see you on here or other social media too much I will send another random case of oreos and maybe some sort of shock collar for your loved ones to get some classical conditioning in. Go! Frolick! Be Free! :)

Robert

1/30/2021 06:01:27 pm

Well, it sounds like you got absolutely nothing done.

Good! That's what you should be doing on a break, keep it up! :)

Juan

1/30/2021 06:08:09 pm

You had me at, “First off.” I miss you. A lot.

sean

1/30/2021 06:18:42 pm

You've been missing out on all the hilarious reddit posts since you went dark. If you can read them without thinking about work I think they'd be good for a laugh.

Hayden

2/4/2021 04:54:44 pm

Just imagine how much content he will have when he finishes his break! Sometimes I wish I could take a break for a while just so I could spend hours reading the subreddit!

Way

1/30/2021 08:43:42 pm

One Piece is amazing...the man was planning out the story since childhood and it shows!

Kandra

1/30/2021 08:56:58 pm

Wait. You're a spot of blood and temporary remnant, too? Excellent.
.

Andrew

1/30/2021 09:04:39 pm

Thanks for sharing Will. Glad you're enjoying your break.

Penelope27

1/31/2021 04:31:24 am

Wonderful to hear from you. Best, to you and yours.

Jay

1/31/2021 08:41:20 am

May I suggest, for your physical posture, forming a differently shaped workspace?

I'm imagining something like this...

A new chair where you remain close to standing, but leans back a bit to ease weight off your knees and hips, and has lumbar support.

Perhaps, for a time to break your habit of hunching over, one of those harnesses that pull your upper back and shoulders into better posture.

One of those standing desks that adjusts height and tilt, to place your keyboard exactly in the right location for where your non-goblin spine needs it.

Likely a mouse with a cable, so that on the tilted standing desk it will always return to the same resting spot.

And your monitor mounted to the wall by an armature that has full articulation and extension, so you can reach out and put it however close to your face you want it.

It's probably better for you to shift into a differently shaped computer space during a break and aren't trying to be productive. And preventing the onset of goblin hunchback IS better for you than trying to recover from it. I've had experience with tendons and muscles and joints needing reshaping - due to surgery for me but still... I guarantee you do not want the countermeasures it takes. Sleeping in a contraption that pulls a joint back into proper shape is not fun. Change your workspace so that your time stepping away from the keyboard doesn't have similarities to a diver filling a few breaths before getting dragged back under.

Juan Chavez

1/31/2021 09:02:06 am

Glad to hear you're resting well! You've said you liked Veritas and Breaker. If you haven't checked it out already, I'd really like to recommend Karate Shoukoushi Kohinata Minoru. Well drawn, awesome fights, good martial arts progression, and funny. Although there are some moments that will offend people these days >>; BUT you can skip over that!

Ashton Rust

1/31/2021 07:42:31 pm

I think it's been a few years since I've commented, but thank you for being who you are. Reading about your life through the years has always been a wonderful time.

Jesse Kaukonen

1/31/2021 10:28:07 pm

Thank you for the words of caution about overworking. So many people end up going at high speed for too long without realizing what it does to them. It's only when you don't have to work and notice you're still thinking about work that it becomes apparent.

Hayden Desrosiers

2/1/2021 10:36:58 am

I hope you are doing better even than you claim. Punk Hazard is the worst ark Oda ever did, but it was more due to poor panelling and dialogue. Good bones in that story that could have been filled out better. Lucky for you though, its setting up the best story work, panelling, and artsitic growth ODA has ever exhibited. You have so much to look forward to reading for the first time, I am jealous.

I reccomend Dragonballs OG season one Season 1 Dubbed ending theme. Fantastic song sung by the woman who would go on to be the VA for Android 18.

Enjoy your break. You are getting more prolific and talented with each novel and I am ravenously awaiting your next work. I am sure it will be a stunner.

Viktor Peterzén

2/1/2021 12:01:21 pm

Hey Will! Glad to hear the downtime is doing you well. Do not worry about not writing right now. While I absolutely love the cradle series, no work is more important than a person's health. You owe us nothing more than enjoying the same amount of happiness in your life that your stories has brought to ours.

BRYCE

2/1/2021 05:19:48 pm

Im honestly interested if you will make it 3 whole months. I managed to take two months off of work a couple years ago. Wasnt able to meet up with people (different reasons of course).

The first month was incredible, shortly into the second though i found that i gad caught up on a lot of the things i had wanted to (that i could do on my own) and started to get stir crazy.

Good Luck

Mike.

2/1/2021 06:19:43 pm

As if I needed any more reasons to be a fan, you add in ONE PIECE. fan for life! WinterSteel was epic. YERINDROSS Forever!!!!

RAY

2/3/2021 07:01:02 am

Happy to both hear from you and to hear you are having a happy break Will :) I hope you continue to relax and enjoy it!

2/4/2021 04:53:19 pm

I'm so glad you are taking a break! As a fan of HunterxHunter, Asoiaf, and the Kingkiller chronicles, I'm no stranger to authors taking some time off. I would much rather you be healthy and ready to continue the series than work yourself to death. I hope you are having a great break, and that it continues to be what you need!

Matt

2/9/2021 11:01:26 am

Hey would it be possible to get a new narrator for house of blade? That one sounds like he's reading to me while I sit with my legs crossed sitting on an abc floor mat. Thank you for cradle! #teamturtle

2/9/2021 08:39:29 pm

Will, you turd

2/9/2021 08:47:07 pm

While some of us are working the front lines, treating patients, donating our time giving vaccines and working relentlessly, you sitting at home casually working on your computer after a good night of sleep. And you need a freaking break.

Green

2/10/2021 11:05:03 am

Obviously, not Will, but I don’t think him feeling in need of a break negates the sacrifices that a lot of healthcare workers are making right now. The only way that makes sense is if you are saying that, by taking a break, Will is intentionally mocking our healthcare providers. Unless Will legit has an evil twin that’s manipulating him in his sleep, that doesn’t sound like something he would do.

People get tired. It happens. Doing one thing, and exclusively one thing, for a long time is draining, no matter what it is.
One person taking a break doesn’t malign the hard work of everyone who can’t take a break right now. If anything, Will expressed genuine sympathy for people who have to work themselves to the bone for weeks and months on end.

So, there’s no reason to be toxic about it. Just my two cents.

2/10/2021 12:15:37 pm

Couldn’t agree more!

Bernie

2/15/2021 08:42:04 pm

You Green Party people are even more socialist than me. I get not wanting to work but who does. You still have to or the country falls apart.

FredIsAnIdiot

2/16/2021 09:16:36 am

You're an idiot.

Mike

2/17/2021 08:32:40 pm

The fact you let Fred get to you shows your quite simple minded.

Awkwizard

2/22/2021 03:21:02 pm

Hey there Karen, I see you're bitching up quite the storm. Nobody here, really cares about your "courageous" needle jabbing escapades. Will needs a break. Will is his own boss, so Will doesn't answer to ANYBODY. Therefore, Will does whatever he damn well pleases. Thank you Will, for caring enough about your greedy, ass-hole fan-base, to actually give us an explanation. We love your books, but we also love health and happiness! Most of us do, at least. Please ignore the Karens, especially nurse Karen. Nurse Karen, should probably just go poke more bums. Consensually.

2/9/2021 09:17:19 pm

Enjoy your break and ignore any obnoxious replies! You deserve it!

Trump

2/15/2021 08:38:10 pm

Listen little Marco, you will always be a looser

Remnant Of A College Student

2/10/2021 01:29:57 pm

I always struggled during breaks as well. It's so hard to get out of a particular mindset when that's how you've operated for a long time! There is definitely a lot of mental adjustments to switch gears into relaxation mode. I hope you end up feeling super refreshed and enjoy your time off! Thank you for such amazing books, they are best path to relaxation.

Christian

2/10/2021 08:41:03 pm

I know I'm kinda late to the party, but I started Unsouled a week ago, and just finished Wintersteel. My intro to your work was Elder Empire, and I wanted more, lol. This definitely didn't have Shera or Calder, but WOW what a ride!

Micah

2/12/2021 11:48:15 pm

Looking forward to the next cradle book, but in the mean time if you need somebody to game with or talk about anime hit me up! Keep kicking ass with the books, but enjoy your much needed break.

EldritchNeko

2/14/2021 03:13:31 pm

As much as I want to read the next book in the Cradle series (especially due to Lindon & Yerin's new cutely awkward romantic relationship), I'm glad that you are taking some time to avoid burning out.

As someone who is currently in the process of writing a story, I believe that taking breaks is very important for authors. Not only in order to avoid burnout, but also to refresh and gain new inspiration (although inspiration can sometimes be inconvenient if your mind frequently spins concepts into stories - personal experience).

I hope you enjoy your time off and that it's not too difficult to get back to work after you've finished (personally, regaining focus after a break is
far more difficult for me than taking the break itself.

One piece of advice (if you don't already know it): Don't be afraid to write down a few notes if you have some particularly strong inspiration for a scene. You can fill it out and refine it when you're back to work. That way you won't forget it or worry about losing it.

Also, I'd advise you to minimize your worry about book sales. Your series are all really high quality so far and the little quirks of personality (like the Blooper Reel in Cradle) make your work absolutely amazing. So long as you are you, then your work will sell.
That's also why you should feel safe taking a break and spending time relaxing.
Or at least as much as you can with your knowledge of The Coming Flesh-Storm.

PS: When you get back, please make a separate edition of your books that includes the excerpts from the Necornomicon that Nega-Will adds. It may seem crazy, but I'm curious about the eldritch demons. I also want to see if the insanity inducing effects will still work on a mind of questionable sanity.

2/14/2021 03:20:12 pm

If anyone asks, about the reason for the post script, it's curiosity. Yes, I know the saying about curiosity killing the cat (me), but the next line says that satisfaction brought it back, so my existence will probably persist and I might even become ceaseless. Also, I'm just really curious.

Bewildered

2/20/2021 04:24:24 pm

Maybe it's just me but I'm hoping Will doesn't pursue the romance line too much. Lindon and Yerin as bloodsiblings rather than dating works just as well IMHO. It'll also be interesting to watch how Mercy fits into everything. That being said the books to date have been ... innocent if you know what I mean and I hope they remain so.

Of equal concern, will Lindon be visiting the academies when he goes home? Will he go full dragon on those who kidnapped his mother, blinded his father, and hunted his sister? I'm really looking forward to some dragonfire and brimstone. KNEEL OR DIE YOU WORMS! Oh and don't forget he has that magic cupboard to fill now so any and all treasures ... : D

Turtle

2/25/2021 06:23:36 pm

Bet Will never thought of writing his ideas down! Excellent advice...also Will, dont forget to hit Save after every once in a while while writing! And no liquids by the keyboard...oh and maybe write down character names in case you forget!

Boy, Will wouldn't be able to write without us!

Zexand

2/17/2021 02:46:47 pm

Ah, Will is a fan of One Piece. Excellent. As if his books weren't proof enough, he is clearly a refined man of culture.

2/20/2021 06:55:26 am

Dear Will, I hope you’re enjoying your holiday. I hope you take a holiday whenever you want or need one without any concern of criticism. If you do happen to spot a cloning device and are able to clone yourself enough times to publish at least once a month I would appreciate it tho. But seriously, hope it’s going well!

Kevin O'Malley

2/23/2021 07:11:33 pm

Keep resting, Will. We will be OK.

Bonk

2/23/2021 08:36:06 pm

Hope the influx of fanart when you come back to the land of the living gives you joy

Lightsyde

2/24/2021 01:59:15 pm

82% into Kings and Killers and I’m starting to wonder if I will like the ending of the Cradle series. I belatedly recall that I did not like the end of House of Blades and I distinctly dislike both Calder and Shera.

Leo link

2/25/2021 11:09:51 pm

me want new book

Dave

3/14/2021 11:12:05 pm

I keep alternating between the "where are the books old man!!" And the "take as much time as you need will" mentality

In which we ramble on.
And by we, I mean me.