I'm a real novice with writing fiction, creative non-fiction and journalism is why I'm a Writing major in college. But out of boredom and curiosity, I'm trying to devise a graphic novel this summer, and do I ever get storywriters block... designing characters, all that. Thing is I generally have a cartoonist's mentality (cartoons are my main thing, influences range from Bill Watterson to Japanese comics to Robert Crumb), and so my thoughts are always drawn to making satire, absurd/comical twists in stories, can't ever devise anything "serious" or dramatic. It's kinda because I feel I have a good enough sense for humor, but I feel like I'm fumbling around in the dark when I attempt something serious. Arrgh, any tips?
I find it helps to write the comic in script format first with just a description of the art -- or even to write is as a short prose story first. If it works in that form it will work as a graphic -- and you can show it to some people and get fee=dback before spendingall that time pencilling. p.s. I do some comic work also. I just had my first piece accepted to an anthology. If you are into some kind of collaboration just let me know.
Nah I'm not in any collaboration, I've just been drawing comics since a really early age. I'm hoping to get a cartoonist gig sometime, maybe with my college's newspaper.
There are open markets all the time. Why just practise cartooning when you can also 'practise' getting published?
I'm naive when it comes to publishing and that sort of thing. I'm hoping to change that sometime soon. Been trying to think up ideas for a comic strip as well. I do specific satires pretty well, it's something I've always done and was known for throughout school and now in college. Doing broader and less specific humor (meaning larger audience) is something I'm trying to work on now.
Well, satire is just tragedy with good timing, I suppose if you were good in one you should be able to work out the other.
That's what I was thinking There are loads of books about publishing, help for writers etc. Have a look in your nearest libary. There are also websites that offer advice on eithier writing in general or specific genres. (Can't think of any in particular, so you'll have to run a google search) Good luck TTFN Sage
