Graham Kahler ([info]grahamtastic) wrote,
@ 2007-05-10 21:03:00
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Current music:Joy Division-Disorder

Down the backstairs its a no-man's land.
I've been making up stories all my life, but it never seems to get any easier. So once again, I'm feeling them writerly pains. I've got three separate ideas for graphic novels now, and the one I'm most interested in producing first is being rather belligerent at the moment. It's like I know how to build an apartment complex, but have no idea how to fill it with people. The framework is all there, but the plot itself remains slightly out of reach. Anybody have any writing advice for novel-sized fiction? I've been mostly a short-story man up to this point.

In other news, here's the (still nameless) finished five page dream comic, all handily collected under the cut.


Page the First
Page the Second
Page the Third
Page the Fourth
Page the Fifth


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[info]ziel
2007-05-11 03:42 am UTC (link)
my suggestion, if you have the framework, would be to write down a brief description [just an indication for yourself] of each scene on a single note card. then lay all the note cards out so you can see how the story flows. Even if you don't have all the scenes, start with note cards and it will help you figure out where new scenes need to go. Think of it in chunks, like scenes or chapters or whatever. That way it doesn't become overwhelming.

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[info]ziel
2007-05-11 03:43 am UTC (link)
also, if it's a character driven thing... i like to write down what the decisions each character makes in each scene. from there you can see how the actions inform the characters. and of course each action should move the story forward [which will help you arrange the scenes]

... does this even make sense? i don't know?

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[info]grahamtastic
2007-05-11 08:31 pm UTC (link)
Actually, yes. All that made quite a bit of sense. And you're right. I need to stop staring at it as one big picture and start to break it down into its component parts. The character decisions thing is particularly inspired, and did a good job of reminding me that I'm not nearly as far along with this thing as I think I am. Ah impatience, my dear old friend! If I'm always going to be rushing toward an ending, I picked the wrong passion to fall into.

Your comments are greatly (I don't know how to underline that, but I assure you it's meant to be) appreciated, sir. Thanks!

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[info]icallmeat
2007-05-11 07:23 am UTC (link)
Hemingway says we need a shock-proof shit detector. (Home Depot. hahahahahaha! very expensive, liable to break-downs, foreign parts, hahahaha!)

Write me back something casual, soon. I wait to hear from you.


Jeremy

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[info]grahamtastic
2007-05-11 08:35 pm UTC (link)
It's easy for Papa Hemingway to say things like that. He had Pound and Fitzgerald and Shakespeare & Co. to remind him of when he was full of it. Doesn't make it any less true, though...

Casual missives are slouching your way in short order.

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[info]darkwaterfrey
2007-05-16 03:45 am UTC (link)
fantastic five pager!! Dreams are more powerful than life at times.......

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[info]grahamtastic
2007-05-16 08:53 pm UTC (link)
They sure are. Many thanks for the compliment!

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[info]ultrakurtzwelle
2007-06-01 01:52 am UTC (link)
hello with pomp.
really nice characters.

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[info]grahamtastic
2007-06-01 09:21 pm UTC (link)
Why thank you! Hello yourself.

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[info]glassmountains
2007-12-11 11:44 am UTC (link)
man, this is amazing. it stays surreal and dream-like. even the last scene, although stark, would only ever be in black and white. there's so many ways you can interpret this...

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