Start... Uh... Where?

HyenaHell at 1:02AM, Feb. 10, 2017



Huh. You're still here? I'll be damned.

Well then. Let's just go ahead and pick up where we left off last week, which if I recollect, was the beginning. Or at least, that's where you stepped into my world. Now, how you think about beginnings has ...



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Writing a Scene and the Hobbling of IMDB

Banes at 12:00AM, Feb. 9, 2017



I was actually asked some writing questions the other day. Who the deuce would ask ME for advice? But I happened to have a little.


Here are some thoughts on writing that smallest unit of a story: the scene (reprise):


First off, what is a scene? What defines it?

It ...









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Playing with Time

Banes at 12:00AM, Feb. 2, 2017



Time doesn't really exist in comics. Someone can blast through multiple pages in seconds, or linger on one panel for years. Well, that would be rare. But you see what I'm saying.

What if you want to make your readers slow down? To give your pages the pace ...



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The Hated - Part Two

Banes at 12:00AM, Jan. 26, 2017




The Hated, part two: Heroes we hate

Last week I blathered on a bit about villain Protagonists. These are evil, or “bad” characters who get to be Protagonists!

But what about more traditional heroes, or supporting characters are written to be the “moral compass” or “voice of reason”, or just ...






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Inside Jokes

Banes at 12:00AM, Jan. 5, 2017



Webcomics don't need to follow rules.

They are often created by one person and don't need to answer to editors, publishers or money-type-people. They can be made by just you, and can be made for an audience of just a couple friends or relatives…or just for yourself ...



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Diminishing Returns

Banes at 12:00AM, Dec. 15, 2016



Emotional Charges and Diminishing Returns

Many writing methodologies suggest mapping out the emotional change of each scene. The scene either starts positive, and goes to either negative or “extra positive”, or starts negative and goes to positive or “extra negative” by the end of the scene.

So if a lovelorn ...





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No Hugging, No Learning

HippieVan at 12:00AM, Nov. 18, 2016



Recently I wrote a throwaway character for my comic based on a real-life friend of mine. In short, he’s a loveable misanthrope. And because he’s based on a real human being, I felt like I owed the character something: he won’t grow, or change, or become a ...

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Consistency and Continuity

HippieVan at 12:00AM, Nov. 14, 2016



I recently posted the above image (click through to see the whole thing) as an extra in my comic. I drew it for myself after I realized something: I kept forgetting the details.

The positioning and style of furniture are trickiest for me. There were a few scenarios where I ...



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Surprise and Suspense courtesy of the Master

Banes at 12:00AM, Sept. 29, 2016


Sorry for the lack of picture! Computer is not cooperating. I'll add one today if I can!



You may already know of Alfred Hitchcock's take on surprise and suspense. Here it is:

“There is a distinct difference between “suspense” and “surprise,” and yet many pictures continually confuse the ...







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Stakes

Banes at 12:00AM, Sept. 22, 2016



In a story, a Protagonist wants something, and some kind of obstacle is in the way. When the Protagonist makes a choice, good or bad, to take them to that goal, we're off and running!

But what happens if they don't get what they want? What happens if ...



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