Sooo… I love some good urban fantasy. I think I've always had, even before I knew what I liked was called that. The idea that a world full of magic exists behind a thin veil of concealment, the idea that wizards or elves or fairies could walk among us ...

The Problem With Urban Fantasy
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, May 8, 2021Bookending your start - The prologue
Emma_Clare at 12:00AM, May 7, 2021
If you’re looking to open your comic by establishing the scene, theme and/or tone of the rest of the narrative then you might consider using “the prologue”. Derived from the Greek term, prologos, meaning, “before word”, the prologue serves as a mini story that is set before the ...
Archetypes Through a Psych Lens: Bringing it all together
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, April 24, 2021
It's finally done! We've gone through the basics of each psychology school of thought when it comes to personality theories. Each theory brings its own aspects of what makes human beings be the way they are. It could be described like each theory describes one facet of a ...
Archetypes Through a Psych Lens: Humanistic (still)
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, April 17, 2021
Sooo…. we have already covered the illustrious Maslow and his pyramid of needs. Now comes Carl Rogers to complete what I consider the complete package of the Humanistic school of thought when it comes to personality theories. (well it's not just me, it's a lot of eh, colleagues ...
Archetypes Through a Psych Lens: Humanistic
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, April 10, 2021
The last of the “big four” personality theories is that of the Humanistic school of thought.
I usually only pick one of the big contributors in each of the major schools of thought to give you the gist of the approach, but for this one I want to include two ...
Building the stakes
Emma_Clare at 12:00AM, April 2, 2021
Not long ago, I wrote about utilising cliffhangers. This week it’s all about them stakes. When it comes to creating a comic, it is important to give a reason for the reader to care about it. Stakes are a pivotal part of that. Cutscene University explains what stakes are ...
Archetypes Through a Psych Lens: Behaviorism
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, March 27, 2021
The father of behaviorism is B. F. Skinner. Yet another founding father of Psychology that one cannot bypass when talking about theories of personality.
The man himself, known for having said “give me a child, and I'll shape him into anything”
Skinner's theory was radical and groundbreaking in ...
Unlikely Mentors
Banes at 12:00AM, March 25, 2021
the cruel tutor himself, Pai Mei
One of my favorite character types is the gruff/grizzled old mentor. Tough as nails, mean or cranky on the outside but with great knowledge or support to offer when you know them, or when they know - and trust - you.
I've talked about ...
Archetypes Through a Psych Lens: Psychodynamics
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, March 20, 2021
When talking about personality, one must mention Freud.
pictured here with a small cigar.
Yes, even me. (Anyone who knows me knows I'm not a fan)
Despite my personal thoughts about his theory, mad props and respect has to be given to Sigmund Freud for being one of the ...
Flaws Every Day
Banes at 12:00AM, Feb. 25, 2021
We're always advising people to give their characters flaws. But why? Is it just so they'll be relatable and not perfect/boring?
That is a good reason, for sure.
Is it so you'll know how they're supposed to react in certain situations?
“I wrote in my ...