This weekend was amazing! I spent two whole days surrounded by people who love comic books as much as I do!
However, the best part of it was the panel I went to on Saturday morning about Breaking into Comics. Editors, artists and a writer from Marvel (you know, the X-Men and Wolverine people!) were there, talking honestly and openly about what it took for them to get into the field. The most fascinating part was that it seems no two people take the same route in! For some of them it was something they "fell" into on the back of creative works in other industries, and for others it was something they had fought for since they first discovered comics.
There were two things, however, that stuck with me. The first is that, as a writer, I'm going to struggle to get into comic books without an artist to work with. My script may be the greatest thing ever, but without the visuals to make it easier to read, no editor is even going to bother. They have too many scripts to read that they've requested, so there is little to no chance that they'll have the time to read my unsolicited one.
The second thing that I will remember is from the writer Kieron Gillen whose two pieces of advice were simply to "Do Stuff" and "Not Mess Up". They remind me of a quote I read when I was just starting out writing that said "If you write, you're a writer".
Words for all of us to live by, I guess!
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Comic Books as Literature
This weekend, I'm off to London to go to a huge Comic Book convention. I've never made a secret of my geekiness and my love of comic books, but something I've only recently come to realise is how interested I am in actually writing them.
This isn't, however, something I would tell to a writing or critique group. Why not? Why is is that writing comic books is seen as such an insignificant for of literature?
The skills needed to write a comic book are different to a novel or a short story, but that doesn't make them any less legitimate. The biggest challenge seems to be that you have to try and tell your story almost in two separate ways - one to give instructions to your artist, and one to entertain your audience. Show, not tell is still a fundamental part of this storytelling process, but it seems to take on another layer when you're working in such a visual medium.
People compare it to screenplay writing, but while the physical format of the writing is similar, I can see a lot of differences too - the primary one being that you have static images to work with, rather tham moving ones. It must be a lot harder to portray a character's terror when you can't see his heart thundering or tell that his palms are sweating.
There's a panel at this convention that is about breaking into comics and is being presented by some big names in comic editing. I can't wait to hear their advice and discover what steps I need to take. And maybe in another few years, it'll be my name on a comic book, being picked up by a little girl who is dreaming of being a writer...
This isn't, however, something I would tell to a writing or critique group. Why not? Why is is that writing comic books is seen as such an insignificant for of literature?
The skills needed to write a comic book are different to a novel or a short story, but that doesn't make them any less legitimate. The biggest challenge seems to be that you have to try and tell your story almost in two separate ways - one to give instructions to your artist, and one to entertain your audience. Show, not tell is still a fundamental part of this storytelling process, but it seems to take on another layer when you're working in such a visual medium.
People compare it to screenplay writing, but while the physical format of the writing is similar, I can see a lot of differences too - the primary one being that you have static images to work with, rather tham moving ones. It must be a lot harder to portray a character's terror when you can't see his heart thundering or tell that his palms are sweating.
There's a panel at this convention that is about breaking into comics and is being presented by some big names in comic editing. I can't wait to hear their advice and discover what steps I need to take. And maybe in another few years, it'll be my name on a comic book, being picked up by a little girl who is dreaming of being a writer...
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
Useful Links
Thanks for you comments on my last blog entry, Sarah, Tara and C. It's always nice to know that other people feel as strongly about their favourite authors as I do!
Anyway, for today, some useful links.
I have a bunch of websites bookmarked that I regularly return to, not just for research purposes, but for inspiration and instruction. So I thought maybe I should link to some of them here. If you have any especially wonderful sites that you love, please let me know!
Research
Inspiration
Instruction
Anyway, for today, some useful links.
I have a bunch of websites bookmarked that I regularly return to, not just for research purposes, but for inspiration and instruction. So I thought maybe I should link to some of them here. If you have any especially wonderful sites that you love, please let me know!
Research
- Seventh Sanctum - Stuck for a name, or a plot idea? This is the place for you. There are loads of name and story generators on the site, and while most of them aren't directly usable, they're a fantastic place to start.
- Symbols.com - Contains more than 1,600 articles about 2,500 Western signs and symbols.
- Literary Liaisons - A site dedicated to the art of historical romance writing. The most useful section contains a huge amount of articles about the Victorian period in general.
Inspiration
- WriteOrDie - A website that does nothing more than force you to write! If you're feeling blocked or just need an added push to get words on paper, give it a try.
- 13 Writing Tips by Chuck Palahniuk - I love this man's writing, and I regularly read through these tips. I've seen several lists of tips, but these are the ones that I relate to best.
- The Bookshelf Muse - A blog where the authors list a new scenario or emotion or something similar and provide ideas and phrase words to help with your prose writing.
- Save The Words - A site where you can "adopt" a word that is in danger of becoming extinct!
Instruction
- WriteWords - This is a UK based online writers' group that is filled with extremely talented and extremely friendly people.
- The Quick and Easy Cheaters Guide to Writing Plotlines - This is from FlashFiction Chronicles, and I find it amazingly useful, along with the sequel article, The Quick and Easy Cheaters Guide to Writing Storylines.
- Writing World - A website with more useful writing tips and hints than you could need!
Sunday, 27 March 2011
Who influences you?
At least once a year, I pick up my tattered copy of Stephen King's "The Stand" and re-read it. The love I have for this book (and all things King) is one of the defining factors in my goal to be a writer.
I want to give people the adventures that King gives me. I want to transport them to the places he sends me. And I want to give them the inspiration that I get from him.
While "The Stand" was the novel that fully cemented my love for his works, it's his short stories that influence me most today. When I'd completed my first flash fiction (which isn't particularly good, I now realise), I showed it to a few friends. One of them, also a King fan, gave me the greatest compliment anyone ever could - "It's kinda like a Stephen King story."
The way he can take a simple idea and twist it into something that is so much more, so disturbing, and yet so real. That's what I want my writing to be like. I want people to come away from my stories with the same goosebumps that I got the first time I read "Firestarter" or "Insomnia".
I try, intermittently, to write stories that are lighter in theme, less dark and twisted, but each time something happens to the characters, and it ends up with someone being killed, or maimed, or psychologically scarred for life. I don't mean it to happen like that, but I guess that's the way my brain is wired. I like darkness in my characters. I like stories where people don't always act the way you expect them to. I like situations that make people do things that they wouldn't do under any other situation.
Maybe I need to give up on writing happy, fluffy stories and just accept it will never happen. After all, I don't think Stephen King's going to be writing a Mills and Boon novel any time soon.
So tell me, who influences your writing and why?
I want to give people the adventures that King gives me. I want to transport them to the places he sends me. And I want to give them the inspiration that I get from him.
While "The Stand" was the novel that fully cemented my love for his works, it's his short stories that influence me most today. When I'd completed my first flash fiction (which isn't particularly good, I now realise), I showed it to a few friends. One of them, also a King fan, gave me the greatest compliment anyone ever could - "It's kinda like a Stephen King story."
The way he can take a simple idea and twist it into something that is so much more, so disturbing, and yet so real. That's what I want my writing to be like. I want people to come away from my stories with the same goosebumps that I got the first time I read "Firestarter" or "Insomnia".
I try, intermittently, to write stories that are lighter in theme, less dark and twisted, but each time something happens to the characters, and it ends up with someone being killed, or maimed, or psychologically scarred for life. I don't mean it to happen like that, but I guess that's the way my brain is wired. I like darkness in my characters. I like stories where people don't always act the way you expect them to. I like situations that make people do things that they wouldn't do under any other situation.
Maybe I need to give up on writing happy, fluffy stories and just accept it will never happen. After all, I don't think Stephen King's going to be writing a Mills and Boon novel any time soon.
So tell me, who influences your writing and why?
Sunday, 20 March 2011
Author Biography
I know, no posts from me in ages, and then two almost at once :)
My question for you all (if indeed there is actually anyone reading this blog, otherwise it's more of a rhetorical question), is what do I write as an author bio, when I don't yet have anything published?
I'm submitting some of my flash fiction pieces to various online ezines, but several of them are asking me for a short (3 sentence or so) professional bio. Without having anything published (other than one twitter-fic!), how do I go about this?
Do I discuss this blog and my twitter fics? Do I shrug it off lightly and write something lighthearted and jokey, or is that unprofessional?
It'll be a lot easier once I manage to get a couple of pieces published, I know, but until that time, I'm feeling like I'm stuck in a catch-22 situation: without being published, no one will look at my work, but without anyone looking at my work, I can't get published.
Help me,Obi-wan Kenobi fair reader, you're my only hope!
My question for you all (if indeed there is actually anyone reading this blog, otherwise it's more of a rhetorical question), is what do I write as an author bio, when I don't yet have anything published?
I'm submitting some of my flash fiction pieces to various online ezines, but several of them are asking me for a short (3 sentence or so) professional bio. Without having anything published (other than one twitter-fic!), how do I go about this?
Do I discuss this blog and my twitter fics? Do I shrug it off lightly and write something lighthearted and jokey, or is that unprofessional?
It'll be a lot easier once I manage to get a couple of pieces published, I know, but until that time, I'm feeling like I'm stuck in a catch-22 situation: without being published, no one will look at my work, but without anyone looking at my work, I can't get published.
Help me,
Saturday, 19 March 2011
What's Missing?
I've found myself recently watching films and reading books with a much more critical eye.
I pay attention to the overall plot, breaking it down to its simplest points to see if it fits in with what I know about writing. I look for the conflict in each character, studying how it helps develop the character. I'm watching out for "show not tell" moments, as I know this is something I need to work on, learning from these people who have succeeded where I hope to tread.
I'm also using some to teach me how not to write. I'm halfway through a book at the moment that I consider to be poorly written. None of the secondary characters are fleshed out - I can't remember the names of any of them - and there seems to be no conflict at all, either internally or externally. The descriptive scenes are very well written, but it proves to me that it takes more than pretty writing to write a novel.
There has to be obstacles, there has to be character growth, there has to be something to makes these people stand out. Without them, you're just writing words on a piece of paper, not a story.
I pay attention to the overall plot, breaking it down to its simplest points to see if it fits in with what I know about writing. I look for the conflict in each character, studying how it helps develop the character. I'm watching out for "show not tell" moments, as I know this is something I need to work on, learning from these people who have succeeded where I hope to tread.
I'm also using some to teach me how not to write. I'm halfway through a book at the moment that I consider to be poorly written. None of the secondary characters are fleshed out - I can't remember the names of any of them - and there seems to be no conflict at all, either internally or externally. The descriptive scenes are very well written, but it proves to me that it takes more than pretty writing to write a novel.
There has to be obstacles, there has to be character growth, there has to be something to makes these people stand out. Without them, you're just writing words on a piece of paper, not a story.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7
Monday, 14 March 2011
Afraid to Write?
I have a short story in my head. Almost fully formed in my head. It'll probably end up around the 5 or 6 thousand word length by the time I'm finished. I have the characters detailed so well in my head that I swear one of them keeps talking to me during the day.
But I haven't written more than the first 100 words yet.
The reason is simple. I'm scared that I won't be able to do justice to this awesome idea I have. I'm scared that my descriptions won't be able to express the images I can see. I'm scared that the story will come out flat and emotionless. I'm actually scared to write it. In my personal opinion, it's the first story idea I've had that seems "perfect" straight away. It's something that is close to my heart, but also something that I know others might object to, or find uninteresting. That's not new - my penchant for writing morbid apocalyptic fic often distances me from potential readers who are looking for fluffy or literary stories - but I want other people to like this as much as I do.
This is insane, I'm fully aware. I know that all I need to do right now is get the words on the paper and then I can worry about making them perfect afterwards, but it seems like such a daunting prospect.
The other problem is that while this is in my head, it seems to be pushing aside every other thought. So I really, really need to write it. Maybe I should just sit at my desk and switch off my brain and just write. Let the words flow and not even think about it.
Any suggestions?
But I haven't written more than the first 100 words yet.
The reason is simple. I'm scared that I won't be able to do justice to this awesome idea I have. I'm scared that my descriptions won't be able to express the images I can see. I'm scared that the story will come out flat and emotionless. I'm actually scared to write it. In my personal opinion, it's the first story idea I've had that seems "perfect" straight away. It's something that is close to my heart, but also something that I know others might object to, or find uninteresting. That's not new - my penchant for writing morbid apocalyptic fic often distances me from potential readers who are looking for fluffy or literary stories - but I want other people to like this as much as I do.
This is insane, I'm fully aware. I know that all I need to do right now is get the words on the paper and then I can worry about making them perfect afterwards, but it seems like such a daunting prospect.
The other problem is that while this is in my head, it seems to be pushing aside every other thought. So I really, really need to write it. Maybe I should just sit at my desk and switch off my brain and just write. Let the words flow and not even think about it.
Any suggestions?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)