There is a gripe that I have when it comes to romance. It might be the reason I don't really like reading romance as a genre, and while I am aware that not all works in the romance genre are like this, there are too many for me to ...

Giftwrapped Toxicity
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Jan. 16, 2021Grounding your comic with theme
Emma_Clare at 12:00AM, July 3, 2020
A narrative theme can be described as the core meaning or message behind your story. It serves to tell your audience what your story is about as well laying groundwork for its context. Establishing the core theme early can help you keep your comic grounded and focused as you begin ...
Dusting off the Past
kawaiidaigakusei at 12:00AM, June 29, 2020
There used to be an unbreakable connection between myself and my desktop computer during my college days. My computer was an extension of me, a mech of sorts and as I started getting better at creating and using programs like Photoshop, SketchUp, AutoCAD, and Revit, I needed to constantly upgrade ...
Stay connected
Emma_Clare at 12:00AM, April 3, 2020
I got a call today from my workers union, checking in to see how I was doing and if I was getting proper support. As we got talking, the representative admitted that the extended periods of isolation had left her feeling in desperate need to talk to people, hence why ...
Breaking points
Emma_Clare at 12:00AM, March 6, 2020
A breaking point for a character is when they hit their lowest point in the story. It’s purpose is to upset the reader, either making them angry and/or devastated the main character or they’ll be angry/devastated at the main character. Every story, in every genre has ...
The Double Edged Sword of Stereotyping
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Nov. 24, 2018
Stereotypes permeate our every day lives. Whether we like it or not, our brains are wired for making quick estimations and judgments based on patterns and pattern recognition.
This very pattern we're looking for to identify at a glance is what a stereotype is. And it's very useful ...
Politics in Fiction
Banes at 12:00AM, July 19, 2018There was recently a Provincial Election in the part of Canada where I live, and there's a Federal Election coming up in about a year.
With the brouhaha going on in the world these days about politics and the divisions between many people that are resulting from it, I ...
What's in a theme
Emma_Clare at 12:00AM, July 6, 2018
A narrative theme is, in essence, the meaning behind your story. It also serves to tell your audience what your story is about. Establishing it’s core early on enables you to keep it grounded and focused as you begin to unfold your characters and plots.
Despite a longer piece ...
The Fears We Explore
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Dec. 10, 2016
Everyone has their own set of concerns, worries, fears about themselves and their environment, past, present and future. Creators are no different.
So it is only natural that at least some elements of those fears and concerns and worries we have are explored one way or another in the works ...
When the Best-Laid Plans Go Awry
kawaiidaigakusei at 12:00AM, May 23, 2016
-conceptual bridge design by kawaiidaigakusei
"Tell me why all the best laid plans fall apart in your hands. And my good intentions never end, the way I meant.“ -James Blunt ”Best Laid Plans“
My desktop computer has a lot of saved files that have accumulated over the years. Every once ...