The Premature End of Whitechapel
This is a very bittersweet post to write, so forgive me if I ramble a bit.
A couple of months ago, things got busy for me — generally a good busy, but still busy. I figured it was just a bit of a rough patch, so I decided to work through it. I moved some things around with Whitechapel and made it work. No problem — it happens.
Then I got out of that patch of busy into a completely different patch of busy. It was tough, but I decided to put some things on hold until I got through it. Again, I expected it was just a tough spot.
After that, I had a run of computer problems. Okay, that was actually a bad patch. But, chin up, we’ll get through it. I was able to actually get the Q&A episode out, and I figure it would all work out.
Over the past few days, I’ve been asked to take on some additional work responsibilities. It’s an exciting opportunity, and I’m really looking forward to it. However, it does mean that my schedule needs to be a little more flexible, because the days of working weird hours are probably going to continue. Essentially, I’m at a place where I have rebalance my ratio between work and life. So, I had to sit down and think about what things in my life I can reshuffle to make it all work.
Sadly, Whitechapel has to go.
It’s been an amazing run, but the truth of the matter is that my life has changed quite a lot in the past year. I can’t plan around having a run of five days every two weeks in which to write, edit, record, and edit Whitechapel anymore. I can’t even be sure that I can handle just the writing and editing. I’m sure that I’ll be able to get my work/life balance back on track at some point, but I don’t know how long that will take.
So, what’s going to happen to Whitechapel? Honestly, I don’t know. I might sit down and rewrite these episodes, finish it up, and polish it into a novel manuscript at some point. I doubt nothing will ever happen with it, though. It might be weeks, month, or years, but I expect Whitechapel will live again at some point.
Understand that this wasn’t an easy decision to make. It’s something I’ve been thinking about and reexamining for a while, and thinking about very seriously for the past several days. This is just one of a number of overall changes in my life. It’s bittersweet, because I wanted to finish this, and I enjoyed working on it, but the reason why it’s happening is for a lot of really awesome reasons for me personally. There’s just too much good stuff going on for me to be able to give due attention to all of them.
But I do want to take a moment to thank you, my audience. If it wasn’t for you, I probably would have gotten frustrated and dropped this long ago. It’s because of you that this crazy idea that sat in the back of my head became something real. It didn’t go the distance that I hoped for, but it went a hell of a lot further than I could have anticipated because of your support and encouragement. You gave me some constructive criticism, but I never heard a negative word about Whitechapel, which is very rare for an Internet project. You guys have been, and continue to be, amazing.
Thank you.
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June 14th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Obviously, I’m sad to see it go, but pleased to see what it is that comes out of this — I am assured by the quality of your work and effort that your next steps will grow in leaps and bounds.
So, here’s to a sad loss, but a step forward.
– c.
June 15th, 2010 at 9:53 am
Thanks. I think this new opportunity will be very cool. :)
June 14th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
What Chuck said and it’s your life. Neither that nor your work should suffer by trying to do too many things at once.
I really enjoyed it so far and I’m looking forward to the time it will continue, in whatever form this might be.
Thanks a lot for the ride.
June 15th, 2010 at 9:53 am
Thanks for coming along for it. :)
June 14th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Things change, and sometimes you have to let go of things you love in order to take the next step. I hope we’ll see Whitechapel’s new incarnation sooner rather than later, but you do what you gotta do.
We got your back, man.
June 15th, 2010 at 9:53 am
Thanks! :)
June 14th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
These are all good problems to have, Eddy. (Okay, all except the computer problems.) Congratulations on… whatever it is.
June 15th, 2010 at 9:54 am
Thanks, man. Alas, it is a bit of an NDA thing, but it’s a new direction for me, and one I’m excited about.
June 14th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
It’s not a thang, Eddy. Well, okay, it is. It’s a big, huge, wonderful thing that’s happening for you or else you wouldn’t need to drop production.
So … much happiness for you, and much much MUCH anticipation and delight that you’re not closing the project for good. :)
June 15th, 2010 at 9:54 am
I know me. I obsess on things. So, I doubt this will never surface again in some form. :)
June 15th, 2010 at 4:14 am
Awww. But it’s been a wonderful thing, to read your prose and enjoy your choose-your-own-podcast interactive narration. Thank you! And have fun with your new responsibilities.
June 15th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Thanks for being so supportive! :)
June 15th, 2010 at 9:35 am
I do hope to see a post-mortem dissection — thoughts on the process, where this could’ve gone, etc.
– c.
June 15th, 2010 at 9:55 am
I did do a fair bit of that in the Q&A, but I will post up some more thoughts, as well as answering some of the lingering mysteries.
June 15th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
I was hoping for the new episode soon. But I prefer a premature end then a botched end.
Plus, Whitechapel is ending so good things can happen to you, we can’t complain. After all, this is not the end of Eddy Webb! ^^
Congrats on whatever is this new stuff.
June 15th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Thanks! You’re right — I think too highly of the audience and this story to muck it up and half-ass the ending. I’d rather put together something good far down the road than muck it up out of misguided devotion.
And this is absolutely not the end of me. :)
June 17th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Damn! I had a tough week last week, and didn’t check the majority of my feeds, including this one. Man, this is sad. I totally understand it, though. Several of my personal projects (including the translation of this particular opus) are on hiatus because of urgent work-related matters. I can empathize. I hope you can find the time to give this project another shot sometime in the future. In any event, thanks for making it so far. It’s been exciting to experience, and it’s been truly an honor to have taken part in it.
June 22nd, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Is there some way to make sure we find out if you do end up releasing it sometime down the line in some form or another?
Best wishes with everything.
June 22nd, 2010 at 10:47 pm
I plan to keep this site up but, barring that, I’m sure I’ll make some sort of announcement and updates on my personal blog at eddyfate.com.
June 23rd, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Can you keep the podcast feed open and do an announcement there as well? For anyone not following your personal stuff. (Which I normally do, but I’m bogged down with a couple courses I’m taking.)
July 13th, 2010 at 3:29 am
I’m back online after a bit of a working frenzy, check the WCP to see what I missed… and well you know the rest. ;-) But seriously, Special thanks for a great run! I enjoyed it and look forward to any new project (workrelated or not) you’ll share with us. Thanks again and here’s to you! Cheers!