What a Rip Off!

This post comes from two things. First, the experiences of other writers who been accused of biting other writers. Second, serious thinking on embarking the writer's path.

Reason for this is because it happens to best of the brightest minds in fiction who had an idea for a story and someone called them on plagiarizing another one's work. Nothing says it than the old-fashioned "What a rip-off" from a fan with an eye for being critical. So if you have any interest in being a writer, you'll have to face plagiarism accusations at one point or another.

In fact, it happened to me once. When I joined an online writing group, I had a novel-in-progress receiving critiques, then one of them came down on me for ripping off the likes of an established author and a little mean comment came after that. I told the person that it's akin to what he knows so well, and he apologized. *Recalling what Peter David mentioned about the topic, he said it happens to him all the time. When he was writing Supergirl, fans called him on ripping off Joss Whedon's Buffy The Vampire Slayer. A character he created was revised to be a mirror of Whedon's Spike, especially when the character harbored feelings for the titular heroine. The character's creation predated Spike's creation by a year, and his being enamored of the book's blonde heroine predated by three years. Despite David coming up with his own ideas, no came after Whedon for biting off him.

Everything has been done before. In comics, movies, and books. Most likely what the other person came up with before will be an inspiration for the next project. But it's what they do with the inspiration that makes it their own. Translation: Ain't nothing new under the sun. Let's consider the following examples:

• Green Arrow-blended mixture of Batman and Robin Hood, with trick arrows instead of a utility belt.
• Swamp Thing-DC Comics' answer to Marvel Comics' Man-Thing.
• The Atom-Inspired by Richard Matheson's The Incredible Shrinking Man. 
• Wonder Woman-Greek myths meets flag waving patriotism and the Lasso of Truth (That's the creator's idea. Don't ask.)

   Is that to say that R.L. Stine, Brian K. Vaughn, and Andrew W. Marlowe are plagiarists? Hell no. To repeat what's said: It's not the ideas one comes up with, it's what they do with them. When you look at Vaughn's Y: The Last Man, it shares the common theme of the last man on Earth with I Am Legend and Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth.

In my humble opinion, the line between inspiration and plagiarism is blurred every once in a while. It's important to separate the two things so everything doesn't get all out of order. On the one hand, it all comes with the territory.

*Source: Writing for Comics & Graphic Novels with Peter David, pg. 172.

My Influences as a Writer

When I chose literature for a career, I thought of my influences and comic book writer Kurt Busiek came to mind. Kurt Busiek is one of the reason I chose my career path as a writer. As a teenager, I bought a copy of the comic book Thunderbolts which was written by Busiek and illustrated by Mark Bagley. After reading the book, I was overly impressed with the style of his writing. Originally, I was wondering what Hawkeye was doing with this particular group. After buying a few more issues of Thunderbolts, I was really into the title as well as my other favorites characters like Spider-Man, Captain America and Batman. Moreover, Busiek's style of writing amazed me along with other comic book writers and science fiction novelists.

I read up on his other works like Untold Tales of Spider-Man, Avengers, and Iron Man and I loved his work on those titles which were a treat. I didn't know much about Kurt, but I would spend my money on comics that were written by him and other names like Fabian Nicieza, John Byne, and etc. The other guys were good, but Kurt Busiek's ideas were what appealed to me as a reader and a writer. The comics books I collected were Marvel Comics dating back to the 1990s and 2000s. For science fiction and fantasy, my influences were Patricia Briggs, Kat Richardson, Jim Butcher, and Kelley Armstrong. They've appealed to me as well with what they've written for urban fantasy as of today.

Their stories were entertaining and I love them. On the matter of Kurt Busiek, his work on Thunderbolts was one of his best ideas to date having super villains pose as super heroes and now wanting to atone for their criminal lives made me add the title as my favorites even when Fabian Nicieza took over the reins of the comic book. Busiek became the reason I decided to be a writer. Among the writers that have inspired my career choice, Kurt Busiek is one of them.

(This was originally posted in 2013 at the Critique Circle website.)

Writing Habits: The 90 minute Session.

Since I jumped aboard the #writingchallenge group in June, I've developed some writing habits that have become helpful while jumping back on the saddle.

I know some people can't spare the time due to not "having the time" to sit down and write because of various reasons like day job demands or wishing they have time to write.

How do I handle such diversions outside the craft? Take at least an hour & thirty minutes (90 minutes) a day to write. Did I hear somebody in the third row say "90 minutes? But I can't spare that kind of time to write my paranormal romance novel in a month with just 90 minutes a day." Yes you can.

If there's anything I learned from my writing challenge compatriots is that it's not about the numbers, it about the daily commitment. During my writing sessions I carved out a word count of 2k and the results are amazing.

When writing for just 90 minutes, you're developing good writing habits on days you just want to lay off and binge through Netflix, or in my case, a comic book collection.

Now for what the experience has taught me, it's the following essentials every writer needs:

1. Commitment. That's what the challenge is about. You're not only putting down the words per page, you're building a sense of commitment to your project as you take an hour & thirty minutes of your time to write.
2. Accountability. Like any writer, I try to set a personal goal to hit high word count. But at times when I don't, I take a look at my shortcoming(s) and take it as a lesson for when I get back to the next session.
3. Have Fun with It. Yes. That's what I do when doing my writing sessions: have fun. Writing is a solitary endeavor, but the basic essential here is to enjoy every minute of telling the story you want to tell, friend.

Now before you say you'd love to take 90 minutes to write that novel or what-have-you, but can't spare the time, make the time. See what the results come from it. Let your writing discipline build as well your word count.

Happy Creations!  

Lack of "Super" Girl Power?

Captain Marvel

The year was 2011. I was a member of an online writing group called WeBook at the time. Another member told me that I make up for the lack of super heroines in a WIP I was working on. That while pointing out how I justify the whole stupidity factor on female super heroes and thanking me for making them badass.

Vixen

I can't help but recall what the person said and had to point out the heroines that go hard in their own right. Sure, there are ones we know and love like Storm to Wonder Woman and Black Canary, just to name a few. Half of the world says those are stupid names for a strong female in a man's world as the other half says "Wow, she goes hard as hell. I dig what she's doing."

Supergirl

As long as I've been reading the sci-fi/fantasy genre, I've taken notice of women who've taken their place among the strong, yet vulnerable role with whatever abilities they have. When I say "strong, yet vulnerable", they are strong but have weaknesses like their male counterparts. As funny as it may seems, we can relate to them. The heroines I've come across that go H.A.M these days are similar to those that I've always known. Possessing a certain ability that humans dream of while living like one. So there's balance between our supermen and superwomen.
On top of that, they wear the spirit of "Girl Power" on their sleeve.




So who believes that I'm making up for the lack of strong female characters? I don't believe it. They've been around for a long time and I don't think they've slowed down one bit. You just have to be on the look out for what comes out from writers of today and yesterday. Check them out and express your thoughts while being entertained.

Batgirl

Why Comic Book Writing Should Be Critiqued.

Hello, my name's Andrew McQueen.

I'm a member of the Critique Circle online writing group and I write comics. Since joining the Circle out of seriousness of being a writer, I presented them with some amateur prose from a novel-in-progress. Then I remember a graphic novel that I've written a few years ago by the seat of my pants (pantser) to polish it up for publication and I've gotten up to a few critiques or less from members that have never seen a comic book script. And that's okay, I can't argue with the results that are given to me.

Since I'm writing for comics & graphic novels and writing groups are not familiar with the craft, I wanted to say why comic book writing should be considered to be critiqued in writing groups and beta-readers.

1. They deserve a chance because like any form of writing. It takes more than one person to make a story when someone's writing a novel. Plus, we can learn from them like how a member of a critique group can learn from the critiques they receive for his/her WIP. 
2. Comic scripts have similarities to screenplays. When studied closely, you can see how they're different and the same. However, they are two different ways to write a comic book script. The full script and the Plot (Marvel) script.
3. Comic writers want to tell the best story they want to tell the world, like their compatriots who write novels, short stories, screenplays and stage plays. They're built from the imagination of the hands that bring the words together, building a world which can thrill us, touch us, and inspire us.

Critiquing comic book and graphic novel scripts are out of everyone's expertise and that's fine. But let's not forget to open up to someone who's trying their hand at writing for comics and they need either a writing group or beta-readers to give them a hand with their story. You don't have to be an expert on the medium. You just have to tell them "I'll do my best with your story."