The previous post here — my advice delivered a long, long time ago to a new writer in the comic book world having numerous deadline problems — brought this message from my pal Tom Galloway…
So what happened with him? Did he manage to overcome those first impressions of lateness or did he have to give up and do something else?
The update is, sad to say, not "He got his act together and now has a thriving career in comics." It's that he's now supporting himself with a second (or maybe third, fourth or even ninth) choice career. I think he's making an okay living but not primarily in comics.
In the interest of sheer honesty, that's probably not wholly because of his rep as a guy who couldn't meet deadlines. There were other factors, some beyond his control. Companies downsize or shut down…new talent can edge out someone who's been in the game a little longer…that editor who loves your work is no longer an editor…
There are many reasons why careers cool and some of them have very little to do with the quality of your work or your reliability. That's why I've never put all my proverbial eggs into that one proverbial basket.
In this case, the writer we're talking about is still in the game — but that's what it is for him now: A game. It's what he does for the occasional extra money, not to pay his monthly mortgage. Fortunately, he seems to be getting it paid.