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.