In my newspost last week about the “No Hugging, No Learning” mantra, I mentioned that I was basing a throwaway character – a loveable misanthrope – on a real-life friend of mine. It’s something I’m tempted to do fairly frequently; I spend most of my time in an academic environment ...

Characters based on Human Beings
HippieVan at 12:00AM, Nov. 25, 2016Quackcast 298 - When death comes
Ozoneocean at 12:00AM, Nov. 22, 2016 LISTEN!
Art by Ozoneocean
This Quackcast was based on Tantz Aerine's newspost from two Saturday's ago: Death in comics.
We lightly expand t to death in all pop culture in the Quackcast. It's an interesting topic! Not the one we were originally going to do though… We ...
The Journey Home
kawaiidaigakusei at 12:00AM, Nov. 21, 2016
I found myself at a crossroads two weeks ago where I felt that my mind and my heart were in two separate places. I would carry on the same routine for months, following the motions of getting to work, performing a mundane task, and then driving home with heavy eyelids ...
Constructing Suspense
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Nov. 19, 2016
Everyone loves a good thriller, a titillating mystery, a tale full of twists and turns (that make sense), something that challenges you to find the answer before you’re given it at the final act.
I’m not sure how many like sitting down to construct them.
Don’t get ...
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 ...
Stuck In The Middle
Banes at 12:00AM, Nov. 17, 2016
Stuck in the Middle - Midpoints
I've often found the Midpoint of a story difficult to find and difficult to write.
It's one of the big three pillars in story structure, and it's the
most subtle.
The Midpoint doesn't have the “dragged into a new world” of ...
When Death Comes…
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Nov. 12, 2016
No matter what the genre, plot and general tone of your comic, death always is absolute.
Or alternatively, death is used as a very efficient comedy device (if anyone remembers the numerous ways Dirk dies in Dragon’s Layer). Unsurprisingly so, I think, since real comedy is based on tragedy ...
Merging, Lane Changes, and Unprotected Turns
kawaiidaigakusei at 12:00AM, Nov. 7, 2016
During the October season, I wanted to write a horror article about the things that really scare me, but I was sidetracked with deadlines, longer work hours, and lack of sleep. Halloween is now one week behind us and the Winter cold has drawn us closer into his tight embrace ...