Quick Thought: Getting boggled down by Mythology

Who here is a fan of anime, manga, and Japanese videogames?

I've been a fan of all good things Japanese since the late 80s. I've watched a lot of anime and read a lot of manga. I have also read a lot of books about mythology. One thing that had always interested me about Japanese entertainment media is that they dip into mythology without drowning in the ideology. White Wolf's first story arc will be dealing with Norse myth. The story itself is set in c.1000 and features a decent amount of history and fantasy.

Now, I am fairly knowledgable about Norse life, Norse mythology, and literature around that time period. When I first sat down to flesh out my story I found myself drowning in information. Unfortunately, I get writer/artist's block when I'm overwhelmed. Jotting down what I wanted to do, I went to another activity to let my brain cool down...

Typically that means a reading session or gaming session, but at this time I picked up my copy of Ah! My Goddess. Those who aren't familiar with Ah! My Goddess should know that the author incorporated Norse mythology into a romance/comedy manga about motorcycles (and it's as cool as it sounds). After reading for a bit I began to think about this... There was the basic ideas, some delving into mythological information, then stretching of the concept to fit the storyline. Y'know what, it totally worked! Then it got me thinking about some of the video games I've playing in the past... Secret of Mana touched upon Mayan mythology and the Tales of... series also used Norse mythology as a base. With this in mind, my goals seemed clearer and I got back to writing. (Now if dialoge were as easy, it wouldn't be so stressful... but that's a story for another time!)

Just a note before I go: By all means, if you want to incorporate more mythology in the story, go right ahead. This though process is what helped me write White Wolf, but there's a chance it might change for another story.

Any questions, comments, suggestions?  Just write below in the comments.

Comic Creation Tips: Script Writing

I was thinking about a few things to start off with… Concept and character design are important parts of the comic creation process, but I didn’t want to ruin some of the surprise. Instead, I will focus on some tips for Script Writing.

First, think of your duties when working on your comic project. Are you the writer, the artist, or possibly both? Next, what kind of project are you working on? Is it a webcomic, a print-comic, a graphic novel, or some other form of sequential art? How big will your project be?

You can be as complex or as simple as you want it to be while writing. If you are the writer, then you should be descriptive enough to share your vision with your artist. (Communication is the key to being a good comic writer, at least from an artist’s standpoint!) If you have dual duties, I would recommend thinking about how big your project is. No use scratching your head while you wonder what your vague description meant when you finally get around to doing the pencils! Always remember: Going at a project haphazardly without a plan will lead to headaches later on.

For White Wolf and the Shieldmaiden, I have most of the script completed. My story will be approximately 40-50 pages, depending on changes I make later on. Since I am the writer and the artist, I can be very fluid or flexible with my script. That’s a decent size for a webcomic, but about a quarter to half of a graphic novel. I am also taking into consideration that this is my first project over 10 pages. I tend to be very descriptive, because it helps me visualize how I am going to draw the comic. Certain programs allow you to add notes and pictures to the comic (which I will go into in a moment).

My typical description per panel will be once to two sentences. This was an example from an early version of the script:

 

So you may be thinking, what was that? That, my friend, is the typical comic format. Be forewarned that different writers may use different formats. Also, some companies require certain formats (i.e. Marvel Comics’ required format for writers is different than Dark Horse Comics’ format).

I format my comics this way: Page (number of panels), panel (panel number), caption, balloons, and repeat next panel/caption/balloon until end of page. Each section should be tabbed for easy viewing.

When I had worked on Undead Norm, I received my scripts via Google Drive. Google Drive is awesome because you can share documents, pictures, pdfs, etc. and it is linked with my Google account. It is very easy to use; I can view and edit my work via Documents to Go on my cell phone and tablet. There are other programs available, but watch out for phone and tablet compatibility when purchasing the apps. I always recommend trying out the free version before committing (or signing up for the Amazon AppStore’s "Free App of the Day" e-mail notifications).

The script for White Wolf is being written in Celtx. It is a script writing program that automatically backs up your work on the Celtx cloud. Like Google Drive, the program itself is free to use and has web/cell phone/tablet versions available. Unlike Google Drive, the program auto-formats for industry standard script formats. Some writers are not fond of the lack of control, but having to write the script and draw the art, I’ll cut any corners I need to. There are also options at the bottom of the screen that format your script into index cards or a PDF. Work smarter, not harder!

A fair warning for those who already have a script and would like to write in Celtx: you cannot copy/paste into the program and have to re-write it. It is because of Celtx’s native format that makes it difficult.

Hopefully I have been a help to you. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, leave me a note in the comments. Once my day job is out of the busy season, I will be updating with art!

What is the White Wolf comic?

"The man in black fled across the desert and the gunslinger followed."
I couldn't think of something witty to draw you in, so I borrowed the best opening line ever.

Howdy. My name is Michael Link and I am an artist.

The past year I have been getting more serious about art and illustration. I completed a degree in Video Game Design last year and I've been slowly chipping away at a bachelor's degree (as well as my savings account) since then. The video game industry changed and studios have shut down. The hiring pool is saturated with people with work experience, something that is now required to work in most studios. Those fresh out of college like myself are left with a useless degree and a go-nowhere day job. Which brings me back to square one, I'm getting more serious about my art.

I have been supplementing my income for a while now working freelance. I've done art and graphic design with local bands and charities, as well as sold my work at conventions. For the past year I have been working with my collaborator, Christine Brunson of www.UndeadNorm.com, doing fill-ins on her webcomic, illustrations, and side-projects. (The two of us have a huge project we are working on, but its something we're keeping hush-hush until its ready.)

A few months ago I discovered some blogs created by artists to push themselves learn by doing. Personally, I thought it was a damn fine idea so I jumped in with a few to help them grow and learn. I enjoy showing others the ins and outs of art, as well as learning new techniques from the other users.  This was before I had several comic scripts and plots written. I was just sitting on them, just waiting for that 'drive'.

I decided to take a crack at my favorite script and create this blog.  I'm giving myself until 2014 to have the complete first arc of the story completed, which consists of 40-50 pages (depending on changes later on). Those interested will get a glimpse into the creative process from inking to coloring to lettering. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to comment below!

Posts will be made once or twice a week starting in February.  I have the story fleshed out and the character designs nearly finished. Hopefully I will entice some of you to keep reading (free cookies!) and you will help me learn by doing!

Take care and see you soon.