Speed drawing

So I have been trying to do everything faster: typing, reading, writing.  I have to write content to ensure that I have an income as I also work on my graphic novel.  I have commented before on trying to learn how to draw faster.  Well, I did a little research of my own and found this cool video on Youtube that shows a comic artist creating a page by hand in four hours.  I thought that this was pretty interesting.  I always wonder how many pages I should be finishing a week.  Right now I am on hiatus from page creation due to the fact that I will be moving over the New Year's holiday but I know that when we are in 2013 I will have to get back on the horse and krank out some mean graphics.

I use Comic Life software so I don't have to draw panels from scratch or speech bubbles.  The Youtube video just shows penciling and inking not coloring.  I wonder how long this person takes to color their pages.    I think I want to create a page a day (workday that is) come January.  I know that I will have to work eight hour days doing something else but I think that I really could manage maybe five pages a week.  What do you think?  I think coloring is going to have the final say in the matter.  Here is the link to the video I found:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJvewrWJcac

Tips on Comic Writing Jobs

So I was browsing the web and I found something kind of interesting about comic writers and breaking into the industry.  So far the advice is that there is no such thing as a writer job in the comic industry.  It has been explained as one big catch-22.  You need publishing credits to get a job but you can't get a job without publishing credits.  Obviously, this means that work in the beginning will be done on speculation, which is technically what I've done so far.  I haven't submitted to any publishers yet (I don't know if I will).  However, my source names a couple of independent comic publishers who may take on beginning comic writers who are paired with good artists.  The link below gives some industry rates.  These are just estimates.  Most writers keep their pay confidential.  I hope this is  a helpful source for any other aspiring comic writers who visit my blog: http://www.scriptsandscribes.com/comic-writer-faq/

Exactly how to pair with a good artist who will work on spec with you is whole other story.  I haven't ventured in that far.  I've done all of my own art work so far.  Some things that I have read online seem to suggest that there is a lot of conflict and tension between writers and artists.  It seems that getting better at drawing is the best and most reliable way that I can complete my project.  Does anyone have anything else to offer on that note?

A Comment on Coloring

So while I've been going crazy with content writing and other things I took some time to research methods of coloring comics.  Obviously, this can be done by hand.  That is how most comics were created back in the day.  Penciling, inking, and coloring by hand is also the simplest way for amateur comic makers to get their project off the ground without having to pay for expensive comic making software.  However, I found this tutorial that shows how to ink and color a comic with Gimp paint.  Gimp is a program kind of like Photoshop but with less features.  You've probably heard of it.  While a Photoshop licence can cost six hundred dollars Gimp programs can be downloaded for free (also download the help guide).  

Finding this tutorial made me very happy.  I have been able to create comic pages which you all have seen and I have come a long way from where I was a few weeks ago, but I am always looking for ways to improve my art work for the sake of my graphic novel fans (when I get some that is).  What makes me so excited about this find is that now maybe I can have more control over coloring my comics.  One thing that really bugs me about the sample pages that I worked so hard on is the variability of the coloring.  I tried to get it the best that I could.  Now with this tutorial from David Revoy I can hopefully make my panels look so much better.  Yay!

If you are interested to learn how to color a comic with Gimp then please visit this page at David Revoy's website: http://www.davidrevoy.com/article32/comics-inking-and-coloring-with-gimp-painter
I hope that this tutorial will be helpful to all us.  Have a great day! =P

Going Crazy Here

I'm driving myself nuts trying to focus on writing content.  I find that I am so distracted because all I want to do is work on my graphic novel.  I feel so restless.  It has been four days since I put up my campaign page.  I have only had time to promote it a little but there is still much to do.  It would be great to have a successful campaign so that I could give my full attention to Penn State Massacre.  Could you guys donate?  The minimum donation is only $1 and if you donate $3 or more you get awesome rewards and maybe even some extra perks depending on the result of the campaign.  All the money will go toward completing Penn State Massacre and the rewards for my loyal backers.  See my Gogetfunding.com page to find out how you can help bring Penn State Massacre into existence.


XOXO,
Gossip Girl
(I'm just kidding...but I did say I was going crazy didn't I? =) )

Apologies

Again I find that I should apologize. I haven't posted for the past several days. I was in a bubble both having to deal with my campaign and mother nature's monthly visitor. But Happy Late Thanksgiving! I was really wigging out for the past two days. I've been having hormonal mood swings. I swear all could do was watch the Twilight Saga, eat chocolate and junk food, and drink wine. It was a really weird two days. I guess I needed an overall break since I have been working non-stop on this project for almost a month now. Thankfully I returned to my normal self. I will have those sample pages up for you guys in no time. They have been done for almost a week now. =P

Sorry You Guys

Hey, I'm sorry I haven't posted in the last few days. During this time I am working on five sample pages that I can use for a fundraising campaign. It's been driving me mad for the past two or three days. It was hard to get started because I ate something very wrong for my body and was kind of sick too. But so far I have two pages done and they look great for someone at my level of skill. That doesn't mean that my panels won't ever change in the future though. Remember I am going to make this graphic novel the best that I can. I will probably post the comic pages when I am done. So look for those in the future (hopefully by the end of next week).

You Have No Idea

You have no idea how much sexual harassment I endured taking the bus yesterday just to get a printer and some art supplies to continue my graphic novel.  I'm glad I did it, but man I wish there were less pervs in the world.  Here is another cover for Penn State Massacre.

Chapter 1 First Panels

So I was able to put up the first four panels for Chapter 1: The Curse.  It took a while but it wasn't so bad to work on.  Working on these first four panels made me realize that I have another problem facing me.  I don't think I can continue on without a printer and mine is miles away.  I think I will try to go into Salisbury within the next day or two to get some supplies there.  Also I tried to create another cover page but again I found myself limited with my tools.  I couldn't make a better cover page than what I already have.  I guess I will have to wait.  But at least you all can enjoy these four panels until I create more.  Let me know what you think.  ;)  

P.S. The four panels are located under Chapter 1 which is under the two prologues on my Art and Script Work page.  I will be posting work in chronological order this way.

Synopsis for Penn State Massacre

So I was able to come up with a tentative synopsis.  It may change in the future but for now I am satisfied with it.  Here it is.  I hope you like it.

Synopsis for Penn State Massacre: The Graphic Novel

In the wake of a sex scandal that hit the Penn State community a curse is set loose.  The Curse of the Wambi is an ancient evil that can only be released by raging vengeance.  Penn State student Tyler Wakefield and his friends Hodge, Alice, and Paul suspect something is awry when spiders, snakes, demons, and zombies turn up in State College, Pennsylvania--home of Penn State University.  They must work as a team to defeat the power of the curse.  The biggest threats are The Three--a trio of warrior vampires, The Master--a horned demon as fierce as Satan himself, and The Anointed One--a human of this world, a wrong-doer, evil enough to be turned into a raging monster by the curse.  The Anointed One is one anointed with evil and is preordained to cause death, destruction, and ultimate carnage where ever the curse is set loose.  Tyler and his friends are Penn State's last hope.

Recap and Stuff

So yesterday was a heavy work day.  I did a first cover page and the two prologues for Penn State Massacre: The Graphic Novel.  Today I had to take a long walk on the beach (like an hour and a half) due to being inside all day yesterday.  I got to keep sane somehow you know.  But thankfully I also finished my tentative outline for Penn State Massacre yesterday night as well.  This means that I will be able to put up a first synopsis for you all soon.  Honestly it looks like the graphic novel will be around eight chapters long.  I am so glad I got this much done already!  Oh, and happy Veteran's Day! =)

Prologues

So prologues 1 and 2 are up on my art and script work page.  I might change one or two panels because I am iffy on the color but for the most part I am satisfied with my story so far.  Let me know what you think of the prologues.  =P

Graphic Novel Title

Finally, after all that messing around I will be giving a title to my 'supposed' graphic novel.  I jumped through a lot of hoops today in order to give you all this pleasure.  I set out today to present you my title and also a cover page.  Given my lack of tools and know-how this was harder to create than I would have thought.  But I have triumphed.  The cover didn't turn out anything like I thought it would, but never mind.  I am quite proud of my hard work today even though I got tired and had to settle for what I could get done.  Enjoy!

I am getting the hang of it.

I am getting the hang of the tools that I have decided to use for my graphic novel. I don't have my printer with me which I desperately need to make my work look better. However, I am using some programs to make up for that. I am getting the hang of it!

Now all I have to do is get back to outlining and script formatting =P.

Experimenting

So I have been experimenting with some things. I am trying to decide which tool would be best for what I am trying to do. It is interesting stuff to mess around with. Kudos =P.

My Artist Delema

So I am not the fastest drawer.  I need an artist to partner with.  At this point all I can do are rough sketches for the graphic novel.  To speed things along I think that I will use comic book software to create the first version of my graphic novel.  There are a lot of people who use comic book software to make their own comics.  What do you think?

Happy Election Day!

Hey all, happy Election Day!  Don't forget to vote.  I voted almost a week ago with an absentee ballot.

Script Format Info for Graphic Novels

So I learned some other things about formatting a script for a graphic novel.  When writing a script for a graphic novel you write by panels.  That makes things a lot easier to organize for me.  Before I was going to write a movie script but I need a script that takes into account the artwork.  After all the artwork is what makes a graphic novel interesting and conveys the story.  Here is a how to guide on creating a panel script,  http://www.scriptfrenzy.org/howtovformatcomicbooks ; and here is a very funny example of a couple of pages of another author's graphic novel script, http://aaronblogmonster.wordpress.com/2010/11/05/graphic-novel-manuscript-format/ .

Intro to Graphic Novels

So yesterday I was driving myself mad by trying to work on content instead of my graphic novel.  Eventually I ended up researching on Google and I came to this cool page that gives tips on creating graphic novels.  It explains what a 'splash page' is and gives some good advice for the first time graphic novelists.  You can check it out here: http://www.scriptfrenzy.org/introtocomicbooks

Someone else's beer is in my fridge

So when I got here in Ocean City and looked in the fridge, someone else's beer was already in there.  Who's beer is in my fridge?  I guess the previous tenant's?  Or maybe the owner's?  I have no idea who's beer is in my fridge.  I haven't touched it...yet.

Screenplay format

I decided to use http://www.screenwriting.info to help me format my script.  First I have to finish my script before I start my art work.  Well, I don't know I might start the art work early.  Sometimes I'm not that patient.  If anyone has any info on free screenplay writing software that would be great!

So far I have four/five scenes for my story.  I have to balance script writing with content writing (that's how I make my money).  I haven't worked on the story much today.  I had to get my internet set up with Xfinity and that took longer than expected.  However, I did manage to upload some content on Constant Content.  So today  hasn't been a total waste.

Here are some pics of my condo and of the boardwalk in Ocean City, Md.  It was quite cold out today so I didn't stay long.  Fortunately, I came here when Hurricane Sandy was over.

First step: Getting away

Just last month while I was finishing a contract job I decided to create a graphic novel.  At first I just wanted to write the screenplay and try to pitch it as a movie.  I figured I was going to do all the work to create a story board and possibly a mood board so why not use those materials to create a graphic novel?  Putting out a graphic novel would help me determine if my story is good enough to capture an audience's attention anyway.

I am really excited.  I used my savings to rent a condo in Ocean City, Maryland for a couple of months in the off season to work on my graphic novel.  I just finished traveling down here last Thursday.  I like how quiet Ocean City is right now.  I like my condo as well.  It's furnished and quite comfortable.  I've only been here for two days but I think it's cool.  I got a chance to walk down to the boardwalk today and snapped some pics.