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When did I join SE? Uhhh…. Somewhere during this year? XD
Wow, you did draw your profile pic? That’s awesome! Skip’s and Kavi’s expressions have so much character. And space elves…I’ve never heard of that before, but I love it. (wait, I’ve sorta heard of them from Star Trek, but it’s not quite the same thing I think)
That’s so cool! And yeah, I get the haven’t-finished-one-yet…
Cool, I once knew someone with double-jointed elbows. They could do really weird stuff with their arms, but I guess that’s kinda obvious…. As for me? I guess that when I have a cold I can sound exactly like Peppermint Patty from the Charlie Brown. Random, I know.
Lol, I get that. And thanks! (about the quotes, I mean)
How long have I been interested in writing? Well, I was interested in smaller stuff about a year or two ago, but this year I’ve been serious about an actual book, which I’m now writing. HBU?
AND YESS!!! I’m want to publish my book someday so much, lol. Actually, I am sorta publishing a book with a buncha other people who I wrote it with, but we’re still on the rewriting/editing stage 😉 Would you like to publish your stuff?
"I threw stones at the stars, but the whole sky fell."
@millennium Hey, it’s okay, motivation is a tricky thing. But it always comes back when it’s meant to. :’) Glad your life otherwise fairs well. Certainly, something to be thankful for. <3 If your itch to write comes back, you’ll have to tag me and let me know what you’re working on.
@eden-anderson Thank you, I do too. <3 I’m sorry life has been interesting for you, whatever that entails. Life has a way of being that way, I find, haha. Aaa, hey, congrats on Nano! I know that’s no easy feat. 😂 Is it still going okay??
Writer’s brains are definitely weird. Haha.Life has been, in a word, slow. Haha. This year after covid hit and things began to calm, I got a part-time job at a daycare as relief staff. That’s been pretty great. It’s hard for a multitude of reasons, but overall it’s been good. I didn’t foresee myself getting so attached to the kids, but here we are, haha. I’m illustrating for a small girl’s magazine here and there and trying to make a dent in a very large stack of unread books in my bedroom. XD Currently though, I have a lot of time on my hands because I’m quarantining, (ty, covid.) Not a fan, but it’s definitely not the worst, so it’s hardly worth complaining about, haha.
"Though I'm not yet who I will be, I'm no longer who I was."
@deeprun
Yes, see! Exactly, !! Idk, I don’t really feel right about bashing anything anyone makes creatively (that’s a completely different rant though X’D) so to say it in a way that doesn’t belittle other comics/graphic novels, I just don’t feel like I vibe with most stories told through that medium.Though again that’s a complicated statement for several reasons x’D. I guess just as an example, there are a few comics I actually really like. –But a common thing I’ve noticed about comics that are done well, is that people tend to make comments about how it would make a good movie. And it’s almost like in an unspoken way, comics are seen as a lesser form of storytelling? And so any comic done well, deserves a “better” medium of storytelling. (like a movie.)Again there’s an insane amount of rabbit trails to be made to make all that clearer and more fleshed out, as a thought. TBH if I had the motivation and the energy I could probably write an entire blog post about this hahahaha…I suppose in short, because comics are a very accessible medium, there is a lot of more amature level content being made, and so people tend to see comics as a more amature level medium?? But done well, comics have a lot of potential as their own legitimate medium of storytelling. Just like books and movies are both equally legitimate mediums, both with strengths and weaknesses, I think comics are exactly the same, BUT because most of them are very amature-ish (another possible side rant, being an amature isn’t bad– it’s just part of the journey to something better) the entire medium is not usually utilized the way I think it could be???
–That’s only part of the equation ofc, and tbh probably didn’t even really answer your question, which was more specifically more to the effect of, what do I find to be meaningful in a story?? o-o That’s another complicated question. X’D This is probably the rantiest thing I’ve posted on SE in a very long time. I will try to think about your question long enough to give you a more digestible answer."Though I'm not yet who I will be, I'm no longer who I was."
@mischievous-thwapling I think I realized storytelling (not specifically writing, in my case, haha.) was important to me sometime around 2016, but the interest was probably there before I was consciously aware of it. I would love to hear about the book you’re working on, should you ever have the urge (tbh what writer doesn’t feel this every now and then) to rant about it to someone.
hmmm… Would I like to publish. I suppose I would? Someday? But having anything to publish is such a big step for me rn that I don’t really look past it very often to think about publishing.
So fun that you’re written a book with friends! Kudos to you, ’cause that kind of thing can be hard to organize and maintain sometimes. :’)
"Though I'm not yet who I will be, I'm no longer who I was."
Did you hear my knuckles crack as I flexed my fingers before typing? Couldn’t wait for a more digestible answer! Really enjoyed your response and please do not apologize for “rants”. It reads to me as you figuring out why you do what you do. That’s important. Very important. Especially at a place like SE where there’s the hope of great feedback.
I have several thoughts. First of all, yes, I’m overly harsh in my condemnation of things like deplorable Captain Underpants. Anything like that does take an immense amount of time and effort to create, so I can not nor will belittle there being a finished and completed project. And I have not attempted a graphic novel or comic myself, yet, because of the amount of work. It would claim a year or more of your life.
That said… I’ve little time for things that rely on cheap tricks AND then are passed off as quality. The “well, it’s getting kids to read so what’s it matter how we make it happen as long as it happens”… that’s a thin veneer over huge amounts of ridunkulousness. That’s harsh but here’s why I say that. I did try to read it. If it’s popular, I’m always curious as to why but my objections still remain. As I found it unreadable. I’m not a nine year old boy and my tastes are far different but I call it deplorable because I think it runs “comic art” further away from art and into a pit of shock value.
Comic art is a hard thing to take seriously for people BECAUSE it is potentially cartoonish in nature. Cartoons are deceptively simple but elegant. For example, cave paintings are cartoonish and symbolic in nature, and often belittled. Yet, the simplistic elegance there that represents things with a minimal amount of lines is beautiful. Less can be indeed more. Things like Captain Underpants (I’m going to continue to use that as a placeholder) take simplistic beauty and use it as a springboard for cheap gags. While I do chuckle at the Three Stooges, I’d never hold that up as fine art. And I’ll stop now before I derail my train of thought into the world of abstract vs. realism and what makes quality art and so on and so forth. That’s a dangerous train to ride…
So, yes, picking up your train of thought, I think that comic art attracts the amateur who thinks that it will be easy and is able to show some success through cheap gags or humor. I.e., that simple is easy. Real comic art, from my studying and research, is usually far from that. Aside from some of the digression into odd anatomical renderings (I’m sorry… no one’s thighs should be that big.. you’d be able to wear nothing but sweatpants) and other shock value representations… It’s an incredible art form. Even the potentially simplistic nature of it allows for larger themes to come across. The Maus book (warning they are very, very rough) was belittled when it came out because critics said that it trivialized the Holocaust. Rather the opposite. I’m still shaken from having read it.
Also… that’s a really interesting point. Why do we always default to wanting a movie made? That, that is the end all somehow? It is a fully formed representation of our story or idea but it does a lot of the work for us. Sights, sounds, images are all there to intake not shape or form. The hard work is done. Cinematography is an art form… but it definitely has been elevated to the highest. That’s a little distressing.
Also, I’d love to see any of your art too! This was such an interesting post to stalk as I’m currently working on some art that is very comic book themed. Far more complex and engaging than I’d every imagined! How do you show midtones or grays with only black and white?!? What mind bending fun!
If I only drew when I felt I was good at it I would have significantly less art to account for. :’) Haha.
Is that why I still don’t think I’m that good at drawing? 😛
Dude, your wip sounds awesome! Sounds like you’ve put a lot of work into ironing it out. :o!! How long has it been in the works??
Ha ha, thank you! I think about, uh, a month or two? Maybe? I am very bad at keeping track of time, lol
Within the Brume; what a cool name! What does it mean? I totally get not being able to concisely explain stories. And I’d love to see some concept doodles!!! I haven’t read a lot of graphic novels; it’s hard to find quality ones, but I really, really enjoy Tintin. When you get a good graphic novel, they are awesome. If you ever publish one, I’d love to read it (bc it seems you’re intent on making it awesome)! What stories are you passionate about? I like mystery, fantasy, action, historical fiction, fiction, history…. ok, I like most stuff as long as it’s good. 😛 Btw, I’m reading The Westing Game right now. Have you read it? It’s great! If you want some character drawing practice, draw those characters, ha ha. 😀
I do find it very hard to draw people in poses I’ve not practiced… Unfamiliar poses are super hard. But that’s why practicing (with reference pictures!!) Is super important. :D!! It gets significantly easier once you learn to break down the human form into recognizable shapes.
That is great advice! Thank you! I’ll keep it in mind 😉
I light the arrow, pull the bow,
Shoot that fire right through my soul.@deeprun I believe the most concise and short way to explain what kind of stories usually resonate with me, are the stories that juggle and explore the relationship between joy and beauty, and pain and grief. –I know more emotional stories aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I guess they’re mine, haha. That being said, there is the element of the storyteller’s skill. A story can technically be emotional without achieving the level of nuance that makes it feel authentic? You feel me?? That’s the most important element to me, then. Is that a story has heart.
The fact that I believe what the Bible says about the human condition does complicate all that though, just a bit. (In a good way though, haha.) Stories that promote anti-gospel themes or messages tend to resonate significantly less– because I’m too distracted and disheartened by the false truth being pushed into the world.
So– if a story has heart, and is somehow reflective of truth, and is delivered/crafted skillfully, there is little more I could ask for, haha. There’s an Andrew Peterson quote tickling my brain, but I can’t quite formulate it. It’s something to the effect of, “I want to tell the truth, in the most beautiful way possible.” And though the words didn’t stick, the sentiment there certainly did. Stories that attempt that, are stories I vibe with. ;))
Obviously there are certain tropes and genres that are more fun to me, but all that is secondary to that more important distinction.(Will be back to reply to your comments in a bit!)
"Though I'm not yet who I will be, I'm no longer who I was."
@deeprun I have never read captain underpants, and stubbornly refuse to discredit it (and stories similar) as being an invalid form of art/story, but I’m right there with you in feeling discontent with the existence of such stories. (Mehaps that’s contradictory of me, but that’s where I find myself. XD)
I wonder if that circles back to the idea that comics (specifically comics for children/I guess children’s books in general) are frequently viewed as being a lesser form of storytelling, just because the status quo has set the bar a bit lower than it ought to be. Because children’s books can potentially be beautiful, heartfelt, works of art. But they often lack something of what makes a story resonate with me. (My opinion on what makes something resonate is valid, but not universal, so really all of this is subjective, haha.)
I am a poor communicator, so I don’t have much more to say about that. XD
Man, there’s so much we could bounce back and forth on though, haha. (Should you ever feel the itch to take someone on the dangerous train of abstraction vs realism and the meaning of art, you have my full permission to take me XD)I shall dig up some art, and would love to see some of yours! I’ve only just realized you are also an artist! 👀 (Did you make your profile picture?)
I actually don’t know very much about how to draw in a traditional comic style. It’s a very impressive look though!
@wingiby-iggiby unfortunately, the better at art you get, the better you are at seeing how much you still have to learn. X’] Wow you made a lot of progress for only having worked on it for such a short amount of time! I’ve been working on mine off and on most of the year and I’m still in the concept art and outlining phase.The word brume is just a fancy word for a fog or mist. In my story, The Brume is a place, to which my protagonist ventures. (It’s not a very nice place, haha.)
I have never read The Westing Game, what is it about? You can see my conversation with Deeprun for a more in-depth answer to your question, but in short, I tend to like more heartfelt stories, and bonus if they’re fantasy, heh.
"Though I'm not yet who I will be, I'm no longer who I was."
These are three of my MCS :DD The girl in the middle is Cerise, and she’s the primary protagonist. Well, sort of. It’s a bit complicated, haha. The guys on her sides are Basil (left) and Orwell (right). There are two other secondary characters, but I’m trying to keep my cast on the smaller side.."Though I'm not yet who I will be, I'm no longer who I was."
NaNo has been going pretty well considering what an awful procrastinator I am. 😬😂 I’m having a hard time really figuring out the tone of the story, so that’s a bit of a struggle, but overall it’s going really well!
Aw, yeah, I get it. Ever since the pandemic started, time has lost a lot of it’s meaning, if you know what I mean. 🤷 Things are fast and slow, and neither…some days I think it’s next week and other days I’m still living in 2016. It’s weird. 🙄😩😆 Really? That’s so cool! I always thought I’d like to work in a daycare. Kids can be annoying and exhausting but I love them. 😊
Yeeeeaaaah.
I’m pretty much 110% done with covid.
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and can I just say that I LOVE your style and your characters look like the absolute cutest and it’s just AAAaahhhhhh, they are beautiful. ❤️❤️❤️
"But how could you live and have no story to tell?" - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
This is how I know you’re sincere. If you’re offering to hear a rant on a book a writer’s working on, you’re truly amazing.
Umm, if I’m honest, these words can sum up my WIP the best: It’s everywhere. I’m still figuring out some world building, plot structure type-stuff, and developing characters. I’ll be honest though: Every morning, whether I’m eating breakfast or lying in bed, wishing that there was still 5 hours left to the night, I write a part of it. In my head. Of course, I don’t remember it enough to copy it back down on my computer, but that’s how I do most of the plot planning. I write the next step in my head, then I’m like, “This should happen next!” Pretty stupid, I know.
HBU??? I’m more than willing to hear a rant on your WIP if you ever want to. *leans forwards, props chin on elbows, then stares at you expectantly*
Same. Publishing is like this thought to me: “If I ever finish, I’m gonna publish it.” But of course, I never take myself seriously. I’m determined to finish it, but…. seems like a long time in the future.
Lol, tell me about it…
I know you’ve already experienced a lot of stalking in this thread, but.. *clears throat* All I’m trying to say, is that your characters are amazing. So much character is loaded in simply their posture! And then you combine it with the rest.. It’s awesome.
"I threw stones at the stars, but the whole sky fell."
@eden-anderson
Ooohh, yeah, tone can be tricky. I always have to fight with my stories a bit to make the tone feel lighter because if I’m not intentional about it they can get pretty heavy. What genre are you writing?? Do you feel like your story is teaching or stretching you in new ways?Kids can definitely be annoying and exhausting. XD Hhhhhh I’m so attached to them tho, low-key really missing out on their hugs and cuddles rn. I didn’t really grow up around babies or children significantly smaller than me, so it’s been kinda weird, like, idk, kids really make you think about stuff and it can get a little existential sometimes.
😂 Ahah, maybe that’s just me though.Aww, thank youuu! :’]
"Though I'm not yet who I will be, I'm no longer who I was."
@mischievous-thwapling
Your wip?? Is?? EvERYwheRE??? NO WAY MINE TOO. *eyes sparkle* lol we have so much in common. B’)Your method is not stupid, haha, it’s completely valid. >:o!! I have a friend who likes to just sit and think about her stories and let them play like movies in her head to figure them out. Sounds like a pretty awesome superpower imo, but I tend to figure things out in a much more fragmented and drawn-out process.
Thank you for calling my brainchildren amazing. 🥺🥺🥺 I’d love to tell you about my story! BUT I’M ACTUALLY RLY BAD AT DOING THAT :’D
Lol I never rly know how to tell people about my stories– especially/mostly the ones I’m actively working on… which seems kinda backwards <.> but o w e l l
if you have any questions about it I can answer them?? But??? That might be the best I can do XD"Though I'm not yet who I will be, I'm no longer who I was."
Heyyyyyy looks like I’m a little late to the party haha. But anyways, welcome back to SE!
Also, just from seeing your profile picture, and the drawing you put on this thread, WOW. I sketch on paper all the time but digital? I’ve tried but it kinda ends up looking like what my 2nd grade cousin would draw. I’ll stick to paper and pencil for now. 😉
Do you mostly do digital art? Or some traditional as well?
@lonathecat Hello! Thank you! :D< I noticed you have an introduction thread floating around too, so I shall hold onto my questions until I can go to your thread and ask them there! (It’s great to meet you though!)
Digital art definitely has a learning curve, but once I got the hang of it I slowly transitioned from doing mostly traditional to mostly digital art. I still sketch in a traditional sketchbook, but aside from the rare occasion I feel like playing with paints, I’m mostly just a digital artist, haha. The option to undo is a big factor in the why. 😅 (Though as an aspiring graphic novelist, eliminating any steps involving scanning traditional artwork w/ a scanner to be printed or posted online is also a very practical perk. Heh.) Also just being able to move stuff around to change the composition is helpful :O!! —I suppose there are many contributing factors. XD
Do you post your artwork online anywhere? I would love to see some of your sketches sometime if that’s something you’re comfortable showing. :o<
"Though I'm not yet who I will be, I'm no longer who I was."
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