The Reality of Independent Publishing

This isn't meant as to discourage, simply educate.

Comic writer Jim Zubkavich breaks down the cost of publishing your own comic, including how much or little you stand to make,

http://www.jimzub.com/?p=1953

As I said -- not meant to discourage, but to encourage you to do your best work possible.

- Zach

DECOMPRESSED - Podcast by Kieron Gillen

A customer of mine gave me the heads-up on this podcast series and I figured I'd pass it along. podcast DECOMPRESSED (also available on iTunes!) is an interview/discussion/dissection of a single comic between Kieron Gillen, a current Marvel Comics writer (and a personal favorite), and whichever creator he's convinced to sit down with him for an hour and "talk shop." He's British and speaks somewhat quickly, so it can be a little difficult to keep up at times, but his discussions with a writer or artist (and sometimes both) on how they make their comics is definitely worth a listen (and look -- there are visual aids!).

In particular, I liked the interview with Matt Fraction & David Aja about Hawkeye #1; I'm not a huge fan of Fraction's work, but he understands the mechanics of storytelling and loves making comics. David Aja, in my opinion, might be one of the best illustrative storytellers working in comics today (Chris Samnee, too).

I also liked the discussion with Matt Fraction & Mark Waid about the pros and cons of scripting using the "Marvel Method." The "Marvel Method" of scripting is when the writer giving the penciller a page-by-page plot breakdown, writing the dialogue for the pages only after the artist turns in the finished pages; an approach I think I myself will be trying to speed up my writing.

Enjoy!
-Zach

Demonic Symbols for Prof Kerr!

Zach and I stumbled upon these while looking through tumblr and thought you might find them interesting reference for your story.

Potential Comix

Hi, haven't contributed in a while, and I probably won't make it this sunday. Though here's what I have been doing while absent.

http://potentialcomix.tumblr.com/

Basically, there's a weekly topic, and you have an entire seven days to complete a page. Simple. I've been participating, (mbrillo) and it's been running for six weeks, so check it out.

Date Change! Sept 2nd Meeting.

Hi All, Due to conflicting plans for many of the members, the meeting is moved to the following week (Sept. 9th) at 1:00pm. Look forward to seeing you all there. --Tom

Alex's Zombie (Chimmy) Apocalypse

Hi Guys, Here is my contribution to the "Worst Zombie Death" It is only a couple of hours worth of work, but fun just the same. Add, if you've completed yours.

Notes and Links from Today's Meeting

So here are the links for each of the writing advice pages that I had during today's meeting.  I'll also paste in the outline of today's notes as well.

John Steinbeck's Six Tips on Writing


Writing Tips from Elmore Leonard, Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, etc.

Kurt Vonnegut's Eight Tips to Writing a Good Story

Six Rules for a Great Story

Pixar's 22 Rules of Storytelling


Below are my notes, all of which came from writing lists off of the Writer's Digest website.


Attitude:

1) Take yourself seriously and act like a professional

2) Do not write as revenge


3)  Just start writing, don’t try to wait for perfect moment/perfect mood

4)  Don’t get jealous/competitive

5)  Don’t try to be trendy.

 6)  Don’t be a perfectionist.

7) Write in small pieces


Plot:

1)  Start with a smash, don’t build up to it -- “Bob crashed his car”

2)  Show, don’t tell

3)  There needs to be cause and effect -- do not make people do things only because you want them to or because of the plot

4)  Escalate the stakes throughout the story

5)  Don’t do what people expect you to do based solely on your premise

6)  Avoid prologues

7)  If it’s something you’d skip over in someone else’s book, don’t put it in



Characters/Language:


1)  Dialogue is how you show who a character is -- don’t have everyone talk about how wonderful Mary is, have Mary be a wonderful person and let readers figure it out

 2)  Make sure each character has a voice -- they shouldn’t all ‘sound’ the same

 3)  Be conversational but don’t get bogged down in how people actually talk -- “Hi, how are you?” “I’m fine.  You?” “Oh, I’m okay.”  “That’s good.”

 4)  Try to simplify your character’s lines -- people don’t speak in prose. 

5)  Don’t overemphasize.

6)  Avoid regional dialect

7)  Everyone has to want something/don’t write about wimps

8) Be sadistic


Storytelling:

1)  Do not clutter with detail -- don’t need to show Bob getting dressed, brushing teeth, eating breakfast, driving, then crashing car -- just show the car crash

 2)  Try to make every page interesting -- don’t waste time on filler

3)  Don’t try and telegraph when you’re being funny, thoughtful, serious, etc.


4)  Kill your darlings.




What Not to Do:

1)  Avoid cliches --  the morning routine, explaining a day-to-day routine, start of a phone conversation, etc.

2)  Don’t rely on coincidence

3)  Don’t try to force symbolism/themes

4) Don’t write for the invisible audience

5) Don’t write for your mother

6) Don’t focus on the weather