In stories there are always protagonists and antagonists. And sometimes it’s the protagonists that are more interesting while others it’s the antagonists that steal the scene. Very rarely, it is both.
In all the wide versatility and range between characters, what is the common feature of interesting, memorable ...
Active vs. Reactive Characters
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Oct. 14, 2017How the Dominoes Fall - Tragedy
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Oct. 7, 2017
I have made comics’ storylines both ways- flying by the seat of my pants and meticulously scripting everything. So I feel I’m in a position to say that while both methods are valid and extremely fun, the latter one has one advantage over the former: it can make the ...
That Damn Amnesia
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Sept. 30, 2017
Amnesia is a very frequently used plot device in narrative works, especially in genres like romance or mystery or melodrama. It’s a perfect way to achieve either of the following (or all):
(a) Draw out a story that should have wrapped up already
(b) Reuse a character’s ‘naïve ...
Diminishing Returns
Banes at 12:00AM, Sept. 28, 2017
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 ...
The Power of Comments
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Sept. 23, 2017
Feedback from your audience has always been important- from the renaissance palace parlors to enlightenment salons to the modern art galleries, how much the audience is pleased by what the creator procures is central.
But in the age of the internet and webcomics, where comics are updated page by page ...
QUACKCAST 337 - Interview with AmeliaP of Kings Club
Ozoneocean at 12:00AM, Aug. 29, 2017 LISTEN!
This week we interview the artist and creator of the comic Kings Club, AmeliaP! Her comic was featured and Gunwallace also gave it a theme tune that was featured in Quackcast 335. AmeliaP is a talented professional comic creator and game designer. We couldn't interview her directly because ...
Romance As a Side Dish
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Aug. 19, 2017
The other day I read a very interesting post by our very own Vickie of Used Books where she was talking about Romance. And what caught my eye the most was her description of the driving force behind romance stories as “relationship-driven conflict”- a very succinct way to put it ...
How Much is Just Right when it Comes to Shock Value?
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Aug. 12, 2017
Having decided that shock value is needed in your comic and you must scare, disgust or generally traumatize your audience in some way in order to get the emotional reaction to serve your theme and your subject matter, how do you decide when and where to draw the line? (note ...
Grit --> Gore --> Gorn : When is it true to subject matter and when is it porn?
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Aug. 5, 2017
We’ve heard it and experienced it many times: For a creator to make an impact, to truly etch his/her message in the brains of his/her audience when it comes to art, from novels to films to comics, imagery with a high shock value is employed or simulations ...
WRITING A SCENE
Banes at 12:00AM, Aug. 3, 2017WRITING A SCENE
Here are some thoughts on writing that smallest unit of a story: the scene.
First off, what is a scene? What defines that little mug?
It's Change.
Something changes between the beginning and end of a scene.
Here's a way to write one if you ...