I’ve been writing book 2 of this series in some form or fashion, with intensity and purpose for… about 9 months. \u00a0I began it right after I finished work on book 1 and it became a huge struggle because I decided ultimately that I wanted to trim what could have been an ongoing series into 3 books. \u00a03 books felt like all of the time I needed to wrap this all up and do it well. \u00a0But there was a lot of ground to cover and making it all work and not be rushed or convoluted has been a real challenge. \u00a0Especially with book 2.<\/p>\n
This book has been a hard hard lesson in rewrites. \u00a0It gets better with every adaptation but the struggle of it is just grueling. \u00a0It’s hard to look at a body of work, be ready to step into production and then reset your brain because the story isn’t there yet.<\/p>\n
It’s sort of interesting working on comics, because the writing process with them often seems like it’s a pretty loose thing with most of my peers. \u00a0We tend to throw together a workable draft and then move forward without much refinement. \u00a0Which I understand because the process of making the comic is so time consuming you can begin to feel like you’re not getting anywhere if you stay in the writing phase. \u00a0But I think it’s worth it to really have your script as solid as it can be before you start drawing pages.<\/p>\n
I really don’t want to just make another book, and also don’t want to spend years of my life and money making something I know could be better with a bit more effort. \u00a0So when I get feedback, and it’s earnest helpful feedback, I take it to heart. \u00a0It’s important to remember that the people reading your script, if you write that way, are a taste of your audience. \u00a0And you want to rock that audience and have them be with you the whole way. \u00a0So be open and attentive to what their thoughts are.<\/p>\n
One of my favorite thoughts on writing for graphic novels comes again from Kazu Kibuishi. \u00a0He and Jason Caffoe talk a lot about how brief the reading experience is with a graphic novel. \u00a0The amount of time someone spends reading your book may only be thirty minutes. \u00a0So in the end you want to give them something that sits with them a long time and you don’t need it to be long to do that. \u00a0 So as I am working through this book I am always working back through if this experience will be something people will really enjoy and cherish. \u00a0It’s anyone’s guess and that’s what makes the whole experience difficult. \u00a0All you can do is work your hardest and then get some feedback and then press forward.<\/p>\n
But I have a few quick tips I’ve picked up and work through every time I write a script and rewrite it. \u00a0I hope they’re helpful.<\/p>\n
– It’s hard, just accept it and keep going.<\/em> \u00a0Writing is in the rewriting, they say, so just understand that this process is at times very long and frustrating. \u00a0You can do it though!<\/p>\n –Try and keep the ideas expressed in the book simple and clear.\u00a0<\/em>I have very little interest in creating an ambiguous piece of literature. \u00a0In the end I want everyone to understand the story and hopefully the themes I am presenting. \u00a0An audience will process it all their own way, but I can do some work to control that. \u00a0If it’s unclear what a character’s motivation is, then you probably need to re-address it. \u00a0Often people say they do these things to show the complexity of a character. \u00a0More often than not though it’s just bad writing.<\/p>\n –Trust your instincts more.\u00a0<\/em>In a recent feedback session with my friend Stephen McCranie he was getting really excited about certain ideas and directions I could have or should have taken my story. \u00a0The funny thing is, almost everyone of them was in my idea book already. \u00a0I just discarded them in favor of other paths. \u00a0Those other paths though often muddied the waters on clarity in the story. \u00a0So try going with your gut more. \u00a0We’re all consumers of media and stories and we know a good story when we see it. \u00a0Use that experience to guide you. \u00a0I know I should more.<\/p>\n