New Years Eve 2016

Happy New Year, world!

Movies and Books that Inspired my Writing

Hello all Black Thursday/Friday survivors!

I'm back on the blogging horse to answer one of the most simple writing questions...What inspired my comics?

Considering how I wrote my "first" piece of fiction off the top of my head, I've no idea. In the years of writing my comics I came to realize some aspects came from books, movies and comics. Here are the following.



1) The Howling (1981)

2) Blood & Chocolate

3) Darkman (1990)

4) The Mercy Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs




















5) The Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris

And there you have it. My top inspirations for fiction friends.

Source for Creating Characters: Yourself.

Your first, best source for characters is your own personality.

Writing For Comics & Graphic Novels with Peter David, page 46

When creating characters for your stories the greatest challenge is making them "real". Personality traits. Flaws. Character tics. Take your pick. But did you know you can add something really cool to your characters...Yourself.

Well, not all of yourself into them. Just bits and pieces. Your past to your experiences as a high school teacher. We writers invest aspects of ourselves to create identifiable characters in a manner of ways. For instance, Diana Rowland has poured in all her years in law enforcement for her Kara Gillian series, giving it the realism not all crime solving/urban fantasy books have. Comics icon Stan Lee would tell you about the "origin" of Spider-Man from his teenage years when he was, to a degree, a lonely kid desperate for acceptance.

When writing my own stories, I've plucked a few things from my own personality to add to my characters, and some were without even knowing it. I named a character Andre McDyess ("Andre" short for my name; McDyess after former NBA player Antonio McDyess). Plus, I gave him five percent of my sense of humor. My superheroine in a comic book series was crafted from my experiences in a US History course at a community college, and I equipped her with some of my own quirks, like coffee and Pop Tarts for breakfast when on the go. Sorry, no super powered mayhem involved. One of my most flawed aspects I'm not proud of is being a smart ass. That's what I share with another one of my characters because let's face it, we all have that one friend or relative who'll shoot his/her mouth off.

The more honest you are about yourself, the more you can give readers something to identify with in terms of characterization.

Importance of Preparation.

There's nothing important than being prepared for what's ahead. Job interview. A first date. You name it, preparation is key. I thought about all this when I decided to pitch my graphic novel later this year.

(You heard right. I'm pitching my very first graphic novel in two months.)

Back on preparation, you have to be ready for the moment you've been looking forward to for a long time. Plus, you got to have the following requirements: Research. Support system. Patience. Professionalism.

I bring these factors to center stage because they play their own role in preparing for pitching your story to an agent or comic book publisher.

Research-This is very vital in getting published here, cats. You have to do your homework on your target publisher or an agent you've heard about. Ask yourself questions like what genres are they looking for or is the agent good or bad. Take a moment think about it while you dig for information on those working in the field.

Support system-We all need a group of people to help with a project. Beta-readers, writing groups (in person or online), a trusted friend. It makes all the difference on which route you take. I've come across good people in my writing groups who gave out their two cents worth on my projects.

Patience-The key factor is patience. Why? It's a long process. Drafts, revisions, and rewrites. It takes a long time to get it all down. For the past few years I learned that being patient is all part of the process. On the draft aspect of writing, it's taught me that no project is perfect from the beginning. It's the first step to making the book the way I want it to be through revisions and rewrites.

Professionalism-Like any business you're getting into you have to brush up on professional etiquette; you're dealing with professionals. Reading various sources on how to navigate the comics industry, I had to be honest with myself about my own professionalism and see about how I can improve them.  

With these factors you're all set to make your publishing debut. It's important to have these because publishing professionals will know you came ready to work with them and they'll be ready to work with you. I know I'll be ready to be a professional comics writer when I pitch my graphic novel or comic series.

Be Honest, be truthful, and be yourself.

When I was writing a blog during #FebWritingChallenge on Twitter I showed my writing group the second and third drafts, and they said "Looks good. But what are your thoughts on your topic" to "Are you writing for a grade?" I wondered what was I doing wrong with my article because 1) I was getting my thoughts out; and 2) It wasn't college related. Then it all hit me that I was coming at my blog like an academic rather than from my own angle.

Sharing the realization with my peers, one of them said:

Be honest, be truthful, and be yourself.

Thinking about it now, it's the best advice I'd ever gotten. Why? Because what you create in a song, painting, or a book comes from your own honesty. And that's what people want.

The characters in my stories have jobs like a barista, mechanic, or an accountant. However, I don't have any experience with their job descriptions. What I do know is how working a "normal" job can be stressful. You like it. You love it. You hate it. You don't wanna do it but you have to. The emotions of working is all there.

When you're writing with the earnest honesty you're coming in clear to readers, regardless of what kind of world you create from your own sweat and tears. They will identify with the "real" elements of your creation. Ice Cube once said this,

Our art is a reflection of our reality.

Bottom line: Write with honesty and truth. And above all, be yourself.

Interesting Characters, Part 3: Sister Grimm

We now return to the third edition of my Interesting Characters series. And today's interesting character is Nico Minoru AKA Sister Grimm from Marvel's Runaways. She first appeared in Runaways #1, created by Brian K. Vaughn and Adrian Alphona in 2003.

Like all members of the team, she's the daughter of super powered criminals called "the Pride"; in the case of Nico, her parents are dark wizards. Finding out their parent's secret, she ran away with her fellow teens but discovered her parent's aptitude for dark magic. Whenever Nico bleeds, she summons a powerful staff from her chest allowing her to bend magic. Seeing the damage the Pride has done to Los Angeles, the kids set out to use all their special talents to make up for the sins of their parent's crimes.

The first time I read Runaways I was, rather, curious about the idea of this group of young cats and how they play in the Marvel Universe. After Vol. 1 of the complete series, it had me wanting to see more of them. In particular to Nico, she's unlike any character in comics I read in years. A Japanese American heroine wearing Gothic attire, wielding dark magic was not the one thing that made her cool in my book, but how she's very human. Being a very emotional person who seeks comfort in people after times of stress or highly emotional periods. However, regardless of this weakness, she's very open when trying to express her feelings and has been able to connect with her team mates on an emotional level.

And that's what makes Sister Grimm an entirely interesting character to me.     

What's his name again?

What's in a name? that we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet

Sound familiar?

William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet

Today I share a daunting experience in writing that, like most of my peers, have endured during the process. Character names. When I started writing my graphic novel, I didn't have a clue as to how to pitch my project to a comics publisher and which writing group can look at my work. Hell, I didn't know where I get my character names from.

I stumbled upon up to several naming websites and found behindthename.com which has information on every name across the planet. What blew my mind was how my protagonist, Rhea Ortiz, has a unique meaning behind her name. According to the website Rhea's a latinized form of Greek. In Greek mythology she was a titan, the wife of Cronus, and the mother of Zeus, Hera, Hades, Demeter and Hestia. Also, in Roman mythology Rhea Silvia was the mother of Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome.

And with that I chose Behind the Name as my source for naming characters.

Where do you go for naming your "children"?

Interesting Characters, Part 2-Talon

And we're back with another edition of my Interesting Characters series. Today I discuss another character I came across in recent years...Calvin Rose-Talon.

Calvin Rose made his comics debut in Talon #0, created by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV and Guillem March in 2012. Not possessing any superhuman powers (accelerated healing at the time of his resurrection in Talon #8), Rose is a gifted escapologist trained as an assassin by the Court of Owls. Like all Talons before him, Calvin was recruited from Haly's Circus as a child. 

Rose was eight years old when his father locked him in a dog kennel on a stormy night, literally throwing away the key. He kept hitting the chain at the gate for three night with no progress. On the third night he found the chain's weak spot and hit it with all his strength and ran as far away from the house. He soon discovered an old man who performed at Haly's Circus, who took him in and trained him in escapology until his death. At thirteen, Calvin was set to become a star at the Gotham Spectacular. However, Mr. Haly took him to a private performance for the secret cabal the Court of Owls. After performing his usual act, the Owls had found their new Talon.

Years after training to become a new Talon, Rose was sent on a mission for the Court to kill his target but he saw that it was an innocent family which opened his eyes to the truth. After his disobedience he fled the Court who want him back...dead or alive.

What makes Calvin Rose an interesting character is that he's relatable in a fashion. A loner by nature but he's willing to do good after the what he's been through with his former masters. Being an escapist has come in handy in the most dangerous situations for him when he's facing the Court of Owls. For me on another level is how he's able to think ahead and improvise on the situation. That's what makes him a likable character.

Interesting Characters Part 1-Gorilla Grodd

Today I will be blogging a series of posts on characters I've come across who are interesting in my opinion. And I start with The Flash villain, Gorilla Grodd.

Grodd made his comics debut in The Flash #106, created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino in 1959. For those not familiar with the character's powers, he possesses abnormal intellect, super strength and telekinetic powers such as mind control telepathy. Grodd was a normal ape until an alien being crashed landed in his home in Africa. Later, he and the rest of his troupe were imbued with great intelligence and psionic abilities, created an advanced civilization called Gorilla City. When a group of explorers discovered their existence, Grodd took control of one them and killed their leader. Then replaced him with plans to conquer the entire world. That put him on a collision course with Barry Allen-The Flash.

What makes Grodd interesting? In an interesting and terrifying way, he can be classy and menacing. With his intellect he can make his own inventions and combat that of his foe, The Flash. In a more scary fashion, his telepathic powers make him dangerous when he's transferring in his consciousness into his victims.

And that's what makes Grodd an interesting character to me.

Casting Call-If my books became Movies.

Like all writers, I've pictured which actors/actresses would play the part of the characters in our stories. I often look at who would be who in my stories but it's the main characters that come to mind. With that being said, here's my idea for who I'd picture as my heroes/heroines.

Lindsey Morgan-I love her work on The CW show The 100. Her character Raven has that toughness and vulnerability which she wears so well. It's something I see in my "first" protagonist, werewolf Rhea Ortiz.
















Ryan Reynolds-In my humble opinion, he can be serious and funny when he pulls it out. His role on Blade: Trinity was a slight influence on my male protagonist. I think Reynolds can do the cop role when it calls for it.

Ciara Renee-For the role of college coed/superheroine, I think of Ciara Renee. Her portrayal of Hawkgirl in The Flash, Arrow, and DC's Legends of Tomorrow is good. The whole "coming-into-your-own" character is the central concept for my superhero comic I have in mind for everyone including young girls and Renee pulls it off.

And that's my dream casting for my characters coming to life on TV or movies. 

How "Consider" opened me up to YA fiction.

Tonight's blog is part book review, part personal account.

I've made it a personal goal to read ten authors this year and on the list is my Writing Challenge tweep Kristy Acevedo and her debut novel Consider (Holo series #1). Recalling my humble opinion how reading makes you curious, I pre-ordered the book on that account. Truth be told it's been a long time since I read a book rated T for teens.

My thoughts on Consider? It won me over. Acevedo created something that's thought provoking with heart about the idea of Holographic messages forewarning the end of the world and facing a critical choice to stay or leave.

For the heart aspect of the book is how the main character is facing a unnatural event as well her own anxiety disorder which touches the humanity of the book, and how it resonates with anyone with mental issues. It's the kind of turmoil delves deeper into the concept Acevedo's debut.

From a reader's standpoint, I didn't just enjoy Consider but I'm touched by how human the story is. This is on par with the earnest honesty that S.E. Hinton addressed in her novel The Outsiders. With that being said, this book has opened me up to the YA genre for the first time in years.


    My overall impression on my writing compatriot's novel is very good debut for teens, adults who read YA fiction, or better yet, all ages.

Now's a good time to "consider" a good read.

#MayWritingChallenge Final Report.

And we're back for the final report of the May edition of Twitter's Monthly Writing Challenge!

I officially wrapped up the month with writing 3 comic book scripts and ready to roll on to #JuneWritingChallenge with a new hashtag leader (check out the website for more). But I made an unexpected turn in my writing. When I was finishing the third (and supposedly the final chapter) of my comic mini-series, it was turning into a four issue story. As mentioned earlier this month, I broke my story down and reworked it from scratch because of it not being what I expected thanks to the input from my writing group. So for next month I'm going to write the conclusion.

And now for the Week 4 results:

Day 22-Finished the second part of the story with the final word count of 3,628.

Day 23-No writing. I had to take the day off so I can come back to the story with a fresh mind.

Day 24-Started strong with 521 words. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Day 25-Written 776 words in fifteen minutes. Slow start but I won't argue with myself on that number.

Day 26-Pushed it with only an hour and thirty minutes (90 minutes) on the keyboard.

Day 27-1 hour of writing.

Day 28-Wrapped up the writing session with 1,537 words after a 30 minute sprint.

Day 29-Another 90 minute session.

Day 30-The finish line at 2,476 words for comic book #3! Boo-yah, baby!

 The whole month has been fun and unexpected. I made a crucial decision for my story and faced a turnout that came out of the blue. What rewriting the whole book has taught me is that you'll be making tough calls for the sake of art, and to not be afraid to change it to something different if it's not working. As a whole, we artists had to tear down a project to make it work after a number of times it feels like it's not working or it needs something different to put it on the right track. That's a given notion.

All right, I got some plotting and words to write. Check out the Twitter Monthly Writing Challenge for details on how to join on their website. It'll be a fun experience, I'll tell ya what.

1 Love!

#MayWritingChallenge Weekly Report #3

Good morning and we're back with more #MayWritingChallenge progress by none other than, moi.

 Can you believe the month's almost over?

I can honestly say it's been rather a slow progression for me when I came back to Twitter's Monthly Writing Challenge after four in a half months of college courses. But that's the beauty of it. Progression is what you make of it in the work you do, friends.

All right, now. Let's take a look at my Week 3 results.

Day 15-1,336 words in 35 minutes. I wasted five minutes being distracted by social media and made up for it. Slow but I can't argue with what I put down.

Day 16-Took another 30 minute sprint for improvement. The result was 1,543 words.

Day 17-1,788 in 30 minutes.

Day 18-90 minutes of writing Wednesday night.

Day 19-1 hour & 16 minutes of writing.

Day 20-15 minute sprint. A little slow but I plowed through and finished with 2,447 words a little before midnight.

Day 21-2 hours of writing. I can see the finish line for the second issue of my WIP.

What's the takeaway from the past week? Keep trying those writing sprints. I know I can be a slow writer most of the time, but it's important to keep on to not only carve out a word count, but to improve your speed on the keyboard. Distractions are a given, yes. You just have to push through them with whatever the time you take for writing. For this week I'll take another shot at writing 30 minutes to improve my words per minute and move on to the next comic book script.

That's a wrap for my weekly writing challenge report. I'll catch ya'll cats at the end of the month!

Urban Fantasy 101.

Hello, aspiring writers!

    So you're looking to try your hand at creative fiction. Awesomeness! If you're looking to try out urban fantasy, let's get your feet wet. Urban fantasy is a sub-genre of fantasy that takes place in contemporary times with supernatural elements. But it can take place in the historical, modern, or futuristic periods. The characteristics of the genre are set in a city and may involve alien races, mythological creatures, co-existence between paranormal beings and humans, etc. Bewarned, true believers. These stories may be set in contemporary times but it's not necessary for this characteristic to be labeled urban fantasy as it takes place in the historic period or in the future, real or imagined. Another characteristic to point out is that characters of urban fantasy have A) self-esteem issues or B) tragic pasts.

    As you may know, there's urban fantasy for grown-ups and teens. The grown-up side of urban fantasy is aimed at an adult audience and is told in first-person narrative to third-person narrative, features mystic beings, and female protagonists who operate in the parameters of vigilantism or law enforcement. Seanan McGuire's October Daye novels follows the adventures of a changeling that's born to a human father and a faerie mother moonlighting as a private investigator and knight errant to San Francisco's faerie. The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher explores a wizard working as an investigator and blends aspects of fantasy with noir themes. Last, but not least, the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs focuses on a shapeshifter working as a VW mechanic and the paranormals living in the Tri-Cities.

Death's Mistress by Karen Chance

     Now we're covering urban fantasy for teens. Teen urban fantasy explores protagonists that are accidentally drawn into the unknown. They find romance, gain allies, and develop or discover preternatural abilities of their own. An example of this subject is the House of Night series by P.C. and Kristen Cast that follows a school for future vampires. Another example is Alyson Noel's The Immortals series which tells the stories of a girl who gains special abilities after an accident and follows a mysterious new boy at school. In addition, love triangles play a prominent part in these and other UF stories.

*Author Jeanine Holmes pointed out the distinction between urban fantasy and paranormal romance in an online commentary saying:

The two share 90% of their genre DNA. However, the main differences are this: Urban fantasy focuses on an issue outside of a romantic relationship between two characters. Paranormal romance focuses on a romantic relationship between two characters and how outside forces affect that relationship. The best litmus test to determine if a story is urban fantasy or paranormal romance is to ask the following question: 'If the romance between Character A and Character B were removed, would the plot still stand as a viable storyline?' If the answer is 'yes,' chances are good it's urban fantasy. If the answer is 'no,' it's most likely paranormal romance.

And that's urban fantasy, friends. So...who's ready to write some UF action?

*Wikipedia-Urban fantasy  

#MayWritingChallenge Weekly Report #2!

Good morning all!

We are back with Week two progress for #MayWritingChallenge! All my peeps are getting it in with their own thing and they are blazin'!

Alright, here is my progress for the week!

Day 8- 1 hour.

Day 9- 90 minutes.

Day 10- Finished my first comic book issue with the final word count of 2,322!

Day 11- 1 hour & 35 minutes on comic book #2.

Day 12- I did my first 30 minute sprint for the first time in weeks. I was kinda slow but I carved out 739 words.

Day 13- No writing.

Day 14- Another 90 minute session.

I can really feel myself getting back in the groove this month. But I'm not rushing it one bit. The key factor in writing, in my opinion, is patience. Right now, I'm just taking my time with my work as I make my way back to my comics.

That's a wrap for week 2 of #MayWritingChallenge! Keep it locked for next week!

#MayWritingChallenge Weekly Report

I'm baaaack!

Yes, after a busy eight weeks on the community college campus with some writing in the books, I'm getting back in the game during #MayWritingChallenge. But instead of carving the 90 minutes grind like usual I had to take it slow with only writing for an hour because I'm a little rusty. Also I took one of my comic books in progress and did the unthinkable...obliterate it and work from scratch!

Why? I saw what didn't work for my story and I wanted one of the secondary characters to have some more action.

Here's my progress for the first week:

Day 1- 1 hour of editing.

Day 2- 1 hour of editing. After reading the critiques from my writing group I saw that I had to smash it to pieces and write it all over again thanks to Chuck Wendig's "25 ways to Unfuck your Story." Sometimes if it doesn't work...you just have to erase everything and start over.

Day 3- I got back into the writing groove with only 1 hour & 30 minutes which is just the beginning for me honestly. I wasn't in a rush to get it done so I'll just settled for it until next time.

Day 4 & 5- 1 hour of writing.

Day 6- No writing. I earned a day off to check out Captain America: Civil War! Believe me when I say you're in for a treat!

 Day 7- 1 hour & 20 minutes.

And that's my week 1 report for # MayWritingChallenge. Be here next week as I punch in 500 words or more!

When was the last you read a good Book?

I've read my fair share of books growing up. Anything in the school library to (you guessed it) comic books. As you may know, I've read comics by the dozen which played a role in my individual growth but I had to "grow up" and sell my comic book collection. Some time later, my dad begged the question: "When was the last time you've read a good book?"

For starters I read the likes of R.L. Stine to Edgar Allen Poe.*

Being fresh out of high school and retired from comics, I was curious about any authors that are very good. Reading makes you curious in my opinion. Seeing everything in an old Waldenbooks store at the ol' Crossroads Mall I found some books in the genre I'm mostly familiar with which is fantasy and horror, and I've discovered authors that piqued my interest.

Greywalker by Kat Richardson- Of all reasons for picking up this book was the concept and title of Richardson's book. A small-time PI beaten and left for dead for only a couple of minutes and comes back as a gap between our world and the next. Also I'm a fan of gumshoe stories thanks to TV shows like CSI: Miami and Law & Order.

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs-I researched Briggs' writing credentials in 2006 and saw this one. Being curious about how good she is I decided to check it out and the book that followed which is Blood Bound. They both were good and the main character became one of my favorites in the contemporary fantasy genre. I liked the characters and the idea of the series since then.





Nightlife by Rob Thurman-Now when I came across the title, my first impression was a male protagonist that's some kind of otherworldly being dealing with New York's "other" residents. Thurman delivered a superb tale of action with two brothers that's in the spirit of Supernatural. The plot, Cal's voice and his supporting cast kept me all the way to the end. Definitely worth picking up!










Well, that's all the good books I enjoyed. I could go on...but my library's stacked to high heaven with authors I'm waiting to explore.

So friends, when was the last time you read a book that was really good?

*Disclaimer: I didn't know about Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" until I watched The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror when I was a kid. The poem was narrated by none other than James Earl Jones. At thirteen I found Poe's collection of poetry and short fiction at the library in middle school.

Why I write for Comics?

A blog from a Writing Challenge compadre gave out a clear definite reason why she writes the genre she loves had got me to thinking about the reasons I'm writing for comics. I've asked myself why for a while and let me tell you there's no easy answer. I felt that everybody's got a reason for writing for the genres they represent as I struggled to find mine. Then I realized they've been a part of me from the very beginning.

I didn't choose comics; comics chose me.

 Comics & graphic novels were an instrumental part of my growth as a person. They showed me the fantastical world of fantasy like any book I've read growing up. Granted it was the artwork of some best names out in the industry like Mark Bagley or Ming Doyle. Recalling The Death of Superman being my "first" comic, I was mostly excited because of the art by Dan Jurgens. Not only that my mom would read it to me whenever I asked her to.

As a boy I even tried to draw like the artists in the comics.

Going into my early teens, I had Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives collected as a TPB (trade paperback) and Spider-Man/Kingpin: To the Death before going my lone quest to find any comics store in my area. From middle school to almost throughout high school I collect what came out at the time and back issues until my retirement at 19.

 Sometime in my twenties, I decided to expand my writing to novels and that didn't work out so great because I don't have a handle on prose despite how much I've read it. Basically I didn't have the patience to write 300 pages worth of words to save my life. Once I wrote a graphic novel just out of nowhere, I saw where I can expand myself creatively by writing for comics. Of course it was hard. But nonetheless I had fun creating something of my own imaginative mind. It's all clear that comic books have never left me at all.

Comics are my definition of who I am.








 

Working with Established Characters. | Critique Circle

Working with Established Characters. | Critique Circle: Alrighty, boys and girls! Are you looking to put in your writing into comic books? If you are, here's a little heads up: When you're writing for comics and graphic novels, you'll be appointed with established characters at one point or ano...

The Final Countdown!

With five weeks remaining in the spring semester, I'm counting the days, the hours, and the minutes as I do plow through all my homework. Which is fitting for Europe's "Final Countdown" because the clock is ticking.

Right now I'm working on a psychology project which applies to my life that I hold dear to my heart. Bullying. Like any person around I know how it can affect people in the long run. I've been on the receiving end of the things bullies do. Name calling, harassment, the ridicule. Everything.

I think about the last time I was bullied everyday and the one moment my peers stepped in and said that's enough. To this day, I'm still very grateful for the intervention.

What's heartbreaking about the subject is how kids are taking their own lives because of school bullying and how it's spread to the world wide web. Bullies have become faceless and it's almost impossible to stop them.

These recent stats show how much the bullying epidemic has grown. Terrible, right? You never know who's child is being tormented at school or the poor joe who's new to the job that's getting horrendous emails, or better yet, someone who carries the scars from the experience.

If there's anything my bullying experience taught me is that someone out there cares. No one should suffer alone. Period.






 

Comics as a part of Literature

As a comic book fan, I enjoy the visual art work of the comic when I was a boy. That I owe to my mother when she bought me a copy of The Death of Superman and the magic of reading comics had stuck with me ever since.

I grew up not realizing their literary merits as I collected them throughout my youth. On the other hand, my vocabulary had increased as I read them by the dozen. Through them I learned about various real life elements such as AIDS, addiction, and racism. In my opinion, comics are a part of literature because they teach reading and expand the minds of readers.

Another aspect I wanted to touch on are the myths surrounding comics and one of them being "just for boys." For me comics can be for girls as well and they can share the magic of reading them with boys and they can bring together people of all races.  

*In a research poll I conducted, one person said that comics have become an ever evolving medium the last fifty years, moving towards stories about the complex relationships and conflicts rather than the "powers" the characters have. Another statement pointed out it depends on the comic. Prolific titles and some comic books that pander cliches and tropes to intended audiences. Poll results are 92 percent agree with comics being a part of literature to 8 percent of those who disagree. 

*Also recognition from respectable outlets as the National Book Foundation, Time Magazine, Booklist and Publishers Weekly have proven the merit of comics and graphics novels as a literary form. In 1982, Watchmen by Alan Moore and David Gibbons won the Hugo Award (Other forms category). Next in line was Art Spiegelman winning the Pulitzer Prize for Maus in 1992 and mainstream acceptance comics and graphic novels has grown. 

*According to an article by Christopher Murray, they have achieved a hard-fought for degree of critical respectability since the "graphic novel" boom of the mid-1980's. Maus, Fun House, and Palestine have been recognized as works of art and literature, and in recent years they have crept into university reading lists worldwide, and across a range of disciplines, from literature courses to history and media studies. Dundee University's master programme in comics studies combines the academic study of comics with practical assessments, allowing students to create comics as well as research them. Claims such as universities are "dumbing down" in order to recruit more widely and comics being "just for kids" stand in the way. 

The value in comics have been undervalued for so long, it's easy to write them off as "just for kids." But let's not forget the bright minds in comics like Will Eisner and Dwayne McDuffie who have made their stamp in the field telling stories about the world around us through visual story telling that touched the lives of anyone who picked up a comic book. For me, it's not just a book with cool art work it's one of the greatest works of literary art in history.

*Online research

*www.halloweencomicfest.com

*Christopher Murray “Comics studies has been undervalued for too long: We’re fighting to Change that.” The Guardian.com Feb. 2015

  

  

How college influenced my Writing.

As a college student, I've learned a lot of things and having fun with the experience. Plus in more ways than one, it has influenced my writing. College is one of themes for one of my comic book series in progress and the subject of history (US, World, European, etc). Those two gave me an idea for a superhero that's reminiscent of Peter Parker, but instead of being a science geek, the main character is a history geek.

While sitting in a US History course back in 2012, I put myself in the shoes of my super heroine/college student/history buff, taking in all things about the American Civil War to World War II. I thought of all the possibilities for a heroine to be mixed up in super hero fantasy as well as facing the highs and lows of higher education which is the theme for her story.

If I wanted to write a superhero fantasy adventure, I have to go beyond the slam-bang fist fights. I have to give my story a deeper meaning.

Another aspect of going to a community college is the interaction with a wide variety of students on an international scale. But I wanted to go outside my comfort zone for my story. Thus I took my sweet time researching all things Seattle for the setting of the comic. I don't know the city in all four directions but I sincerely want to do it justice as I write my character's adventures.

Moreover on college influencing my writing is that I wanted tell a story as I explore the realm of higher learning and give readers a character that they can not only root for, but can identify with as a "real" person who lives a world mirroring the real one. 

    

My Very Personal Work.

As I'm taking part of the #WIPJoy hashtag on Twitter, I shared bits and pieces of my graphic-novel-in-progress. Then I started thinking about how I wrote it in 2009 with no idea of how to write comics & graphic novels and how I was just writing the whole thing from nowhere which is called "pantsering" (write by the seat of your pants).

Now that I think about it, my GN is very personal to me because it's a reflection of how James O'Barr created The Crow from his worst pain.

That's where it all came from. My worst pain.

When I was in my 20's I was in so much emotional pain from the turbulence of life. The loss of a friend. A relative being in prison. Where I was in life and my desperation to make something of myself after failing as an adult. I needed to do something with that pain.

So I sat down and wrote some lyrics and poems that reflected my state of mind, and later, my graphic novel. I spent days and nights working on it. Not stopping for anything; I just wanted to finish it.

And I did.

Six years and four drafts later...and it's still a work in progress. I haven't found an artist for my work and I'm putting it through every run through to get it polished up for the day my story would be told to the world.

My protagonist's fears and pain are a mirror of how I suffered those years ago. We've come a long way and I believe her story will resonate with anyone who has been through a degree of hurt from the world, and people would say "Man, I feel for this character. She's hurting in ways I can't imagine."

For me to write something to cope with personal dealings was quite a ride as it was therapy. Years from now I would look at my story as one the most personal things I've ever done because I can never forget where it all came from in the beginning. My worst pain.

What I'm trying to say.

"The theme should be the consistent driving force of the plot."

-Writing for Comics & Graphic Novels with Peter David, pg. 64.

When I started writing for comics, I thought had everything in order with the usual essentials. Plot. Setting. Characters. Story structures. Everything. But in recent years, I came across something else that plays a central part of storytelling and it's theme. There have been many discussions about how it works in fiction and the role it plays. Most of the time it's the "moral of the story" but it's not always the case.

When you look at Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, you think Sarah Michelle Gellar fighting the scum of Sunnydale's nightlife. That's just only the surface of the series. What the series is truly "about" is the highs and lows of high school from teen issues, desperation for acceptance, and what happens when you sleep with that "nice" boy. Basically it appealed to anyone who thought high school was hell.

  Everyone including the the show's leading lady was dealing with their own end of teen angst while fighting vampires, ghouls, and beasties.

As I think about my own stories, I wonder what themes did I put in without even knowing it. The first thing in my graphic novel I found was redemption. A member of my book's supporting cast was inspired by a relative who was sent to prison for a few years, and he decided to keep his nose clean when he got out. Seeking redemption is a relative thing for all of us when wrongdoings of the past are hanging over us. What makes my secondary character "real" in that regard is how he's looking to build on a second chance despite the fact what he's done will never be erased.

The theme of the story should be as solid as the story's plot. If it's not as strong as your plot, then your story can't sustain itself. What you should do is think about what you're going to "say" in your story while planning the story in your mind. For me, nothing's important as what you're "saying" in your fiction.    

Reconnecting with Myself.

At times like this, I can't help but think I let writing become a sole purpose in my life while forgetting other aspects of myself. Don't get me wrong I enjoy creating fictional worlds for comics but I do other things to maintain my sanity as well as the next person on Earth. For this week I'm going to touch base with what makes me a unique individual.

Here's what I enjoy doing.

Sketching. As long as I can remember I've had a soft spot for art especially since childhood. I can't exactly recall my first drawing but comic books had a great effect on me when I read The Death of Superman at the age of six. Recently, I did a random sketch as therapy over college studies and missing #FebWritingChallenege.

Cooking. Like any self respecting person I can make a really good dish in the kitchen like a Philly cheese steak sandwhich and shrimp lo mein. 

Reading. Comics. Novels. I read 'em all! Don't get me started on what book I consider really good.

And that's what makes up the man here. When you're a writer of any genre, you have to keep in touch with yourself or the hobby will consume you completely and you're at a loss on who you are an individual. 

Keep in touch with yourself, friends.

The Misadventures of a Working Adult/College Student!

The following is a non-writing related blog.

When I started going to Oklahoma City Community College a few years ago, it was to not just earn a degree or to earn a degree so I can get a better paying job, it was to make myself a better and informed person. The idea hit me when I had a professor for American Federal Government lecture about what makes college an important aspect of human growth.

In some regard I felt that I hadn't taken the time grow myself as an individual. That's one of the things in life I regret today. Now for what's happening right now, I'm currently taking a couple of courses in Psychology and Federal Government. They both are turning out interesting for it makes me think about how they affect our everyday lives.

American Federal Government opened my eyes as to how I'm not political, by any means, but there are issues that I feel compassionate about like gun control, immigration, and health care. I know a thing or two about Congress and the House of Representatives but it goes beyond what I knew before.

 Psychology is another matter. It sheds light on what little did I know about human behavior to the foundation of the science of the human mind. Anything in the subject is just interesting and it's not just about "bearing your soul" to a professional as it's typically put. If there's something to take away from psychology is that not only does it help the mentally distressed but explores the workings of mind.

My overall experience in a community college has been a very good one. I got to know other bright, unique individuals who are after the same thing I am. To grow as an individual and contribute to society for generations to come.

#JanWritingChallenge Recap!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Anybody have a good time? Good. Fantastic. Me too.

Me? I am undertaking a very humbling task this month: #JanWritingChallenge leader! That's right. All this month I'll be handing out props to my Writing Challenge tweeps for hitting their daily word count of 500k or more. How does it look? It's goes like this:

Celebrate Good Times, Come On! #JanWritingChallenge @LauraElleV @harmony_writes @LKid @AmalieCantor @MiaSiegert @JohnHaas11

— Andrew McQueen (@jussdru) January 1, 2016

And that's just the first day of being a Writing Challenge leader, friends. This what my second day looked like:

The following word slayers please stand up! @LauraElleV @AmalieCantor @AuraEadon @GuildofFeathers! #JanWritingChallenge

— Andrew McQueen (@jussdru) January 3, 2016

More challengers standing up tonight! @ElizaNolanPants @HeatherJacksonW @HesterBFox @kristyace! #JanWritingChallenge

— Andrew McQueen (@jussdru) January 3, 2016

The first two days have been fun cheering on everyone in my group. In fact, being part of this great group is one helluva ride, because every one of them has given a great deal of support and encouragement when my motivation dwindled for a time. I'm greatly thankful for Kristy Acevedo (@kristyace) and the whole Writing Challenge team for having me on board as their leader of January and welcoming me during #JuneWritingChallenge 2015. Much love to all them. If you'll excuse me, I have to find more challengers.