Tools of the Trade
One of the fun aspects of being an artist is using the tools and shaping your new creation, bringing it to life. Going into an art store was one of my favorite places in thew world, walking down the isles looking for the fine brushes, testing ink or shopping for the perfect paper. I could lose myself or hours looking for the right accouterments.
When we were producing Wanted Hero bi-monthly, a series of podcasts were created to help kids understand what they needed to created their own eComics (or other art project they were working on). I was out of town at the time and the Gnomes from Clockworks City were kind enough to fill in when we discussed the ‘Tools of the Trade’.
A heads up: digital information deteriorates over time when it’s not saved regularly. After 2-3 years the quality begins to falter. The actual podcast is old, pulled from our ‘vintage vault’, but the information is still good. Also keep in mind that computer information advances every 6 months…so some of the information in this podcast is good, but better is available, such as the graphics card and WHRN switched to use BLUEHOST Servers (far superior and better service than Ferdiworks.com).
Hope you enjoy and feedback is always appreciated.
Read MoreDo you have an idea for your eComic?
This may sound like a simple matter, but trust me when I say it deserves a measure of time for your consideration.
Do you have an idea for your eComic?
Sure, Brit-Boy is a Superhero from the UK, who has the phenomenal power of mind-over-cheese. He can also flip nunchakus of Leafield at deadly speeds, and slide under doors by transforming into liquid Lincolnshire Poacher…but will that be enough?
‘Enough?’ you ask, flinging your body over your sketches of Cheese-boy, like a protective parent.
What I mean is: ‘Will your storyline hold the interest of your readers?’
Yes Melanie, this even applies to your project, because anyone who draws a cartoon to entertain or convey an idea needs to consider what needs to be conveyed. From a simple one frame comic to a full blown comic book, will it be of interest to your readers. Now that you’ve decided to plug into the electronic center of the Universe (the web), what is it about your story that will set it apart? What have you created which will grab a readers attention…and KEEP it?
This is not a subject to take lightly. This question can actually help make or break your success. Simply being able to draw dynamic heroes, who can shatter meteors in a single blow, will only get you so far. Ok, you can also draw the bodacious babes wearing liquid clothes, but that won’t solve your problem, either.
Wendell soon learns no everyone is interested in "peaceful" negotiations.
In WANTED:HERO, many of the characters were developed over a period of nine years, some even longer. Now, you certainly don’t need that much time…but how well do you know your characters? How detailed is their background? Could you do genealogy on the people in your story? Yes, your Hero can rip apart the world with his bare hands…but what would he say in a normal conversation? Or, how would he react when he finds out his widowed mother, now has cancer and can’t taker care of herself??
In your case Melanie, what is the story about? Do you want people to laugh, cry, or send the author hate mail? Is there a main character that can be used as the center of attention with supporting characters as the ‘landscape’?
That might sound silly to you—but knowing the past of your characters, help you shape a believable future.
Another point to consider–is creating a storyline people can relate to.
Wendell P. Dipmier, the lead character in WANTED:HERO is just an average kid, fresh out of high school, who finds himself mistaken as the last in a royal line of heroes. Many readers write to me and tell me they actually relate to the simple guy who used to live with his mom and was a complete outcast of ‘normal’ social structures (read Wendell’s journal to get an insight into the character). The guy who had an opinion, but was never in a set of circumstances which allowed him to share those views. The guy who loves the band Keane…just like millions of other youth in the US and UK. They watch Wendell’s development through each issue (or reading his personal blog) and see how becoming a ‘hero’ may actually be possible for people like us, after all.
…and yet, all I was doing was telling the tale of my buddy, Wendell.
Asking this question may be a simple matter….but it’s an essential one.
Do you have an idea for your eComic?
Read MoreWhat is an eComic?
Cover #8 of Wanted Hero eComic.
“eComic” stands for ‘electronic comic’ (or comic book), and usually refers to the internet. However, eComics can be placed into two general categories, even though technology and innovation continue to progress:
The first is a purely electronic experience, which means the comic is viewed and enjoyed exclusively on the computer screen. Most are made to fit the parameters of the screen itself (the various resolutions) and are viewed page by page. Depending upon the company and comic, ‘creative’ navigation features are included—one of the most complicated (and fun) is used by Marvel—which lets you read not only page by page, but by each single frame.
This class of eComic can be viewed online, some may be downloaded from online…and a few are even available on disc or DVD, which you can purchase. Regardless, this class of eComic is based upon “on screen viewing”.
The second category of eComics combines both worlds of the growing comic field: digital AND print, of which WANTED:HERO is an example.
The latest title logo used by Wanted Hero.
WANTED:HERO is a traditional comic book in every sense of the word…written, drawn by hand with pencil/pen and ink, and then it was simply scanned into a computer, formatted for print, and then a copy was placed online for purchase. What made WANTED:HERO unique, is that the reader could purchase the eComic, download it immediately to their computer and then print out a high quality copy to hold, sit back, read and share with others.
Can WANTED:HERO be viewed on your computer? Sure. In fact, there were also live ‘links’ in issues, which allowed the reader further opportunities to expand on the storyline experience, by visiting sites connected to the storyline (sites which unfortunately no longer exist—which is a risk you run when working with others). Because the printing cost is non-existent (being electronic), WANTED:HERO was able to keep the price of each individual comic to .99 cents or less—even AFTER PayPal took a major chunk! The price eventually settled at $.97 an issue, and with Paypal’s cut, the house got $.63 each, the whole process once uploaded became automated.
What set WANTED:HERO apart from other eComics in the same category at the time? Once a comic was purchased, there was no limit to the copies which could be made and the publisher actually encouraged the readers to share copies with others! In fact, i even told people to steal them from me!! As long as you did not change the content in any way, or attempt to sell the eComic, your copy could be freely shared with others.
Another aspect which made WANTED:HERO fun and unique was it’s involvement of real-life people in the storyline. People of deep and noble character, which brought aspects of the story to life, as well as making further research a joy to do. The ‘Universe’ of the storyline ended up expanding into other aspects of life and to other sites not normally associated with comics, giving the backgrounds real ‘flair’.
Read MoreYou Can Thank Melanie Langford.
Before I get back to the Rights of a Child and the serious matters of life, I have a personal need to discuss some lighter issues. Turn my brain to some fun with smiles and laughter to let off my bow string. I’ll throw in the serious crumb…but for the next little while, I’d like to turn to the youth.
Some of you know I write books, have been a cartoonist for 25+ years and still work on the Wanted Hero story. There’s some interesting and fun background stories, such as earning the money to start the company by a single pull of a slot-machine in Nevada and having such a clear vision of aspects of the story that people who entered the room with me writing actually heard the characters talking (hmmm, not sure I want to get into that one). The focus was always kids. Make them laugh, show them hope, tell them the truth and most of all, entertain them. That included teaching them how to make their own dreams of creation come true.
Writersoup's Lafe Langford
I had a very delightful talk with a lovely young lady, a daughter of a friend of mine: Lafe Langford. He lives in Mexico and is an extremely talented writer (I recommend you stop by and check out his blog, especially “The Abyss”). His daughter, Melanie is an artist.
Oh, she says it’s just a hobby, but she’s got talent. That’s right Melanie, cats out of the bag. Self taught. Does it for fun. IMO, the best motivations out there. Melanie is one of my favorite types of people: she asked for pointers. (goody-goody I get to help somebody!!)
Well back in the day, WantedHero.com had a message board with 29,000+ registered users and over 12,000 of those kids got lessons from me each week on “eComics”. It got hacked by the evil pornosquad (may you all burn in the hottest hell), so I deleted 2 years of work and progression rather than letting kids see that crap (I didn’t know how to fix it–and I was the only techy).
I would like to post some lessons I shared back then (dug them up for Melanie) and give them to anyone interested, updated with new insights and comments. If you have something to say, please leave a comment for all to learn from and I will respond promptly during the week.
So, you can all thank Melanie Langford for the following posts…
Read MoreRights of a Child: Unconditional Love
I have been talking about love as a right a child should expect from a parent. In the previous article, principle based love was mentioned, to which a reader connected to ‘unconditional love’.
I agree.
What conflicts in my mind however (and this is only my opinion here, BTW) is the misunderstood application of ‘unconditional love’. Where parents all too often believe that turning the other cheek or ignoring the behavior of a child, regardless of what they do, is in fact unconditional love. Unconditional love is a separation of the sin from the sinner so to speak.
Principle based love is, I believe, a step further in combining accountability with mercy and understanding and instruction.
- Children can be taught at a very early age, the principles and concepts of accountability. Simon is a good example.
When Simon (age 3) writes on my white bedroom walls with a marker, I don’t stop loving him. Nothing can change that. However, I do hold him accountable and show him that his actions require him to make amends if possible. In this case, I show him how to clean the marks with a rag and soapy water, making the motions with him and then watch over him until he has cleaned the mark (within his ability to do so).
I expressed my disappointment, linking it to his action, but then I always increase my display of love as he is willing to follow my directions and make amends. Another good example with Simon is when I call him. Even when he has done something wrong and he knows he might be punished, he comes when called. Why? Because that is what’s expected. It is a consistent pattern reinforced over time through repetition. He knows that I will always talk with him first. We walk through the situation on his level of understanding and what he might have done wrong, explaining why it was wrong. I ask him questions to engage his mind and force his brain to come up with solutions, while recognizing his participation in the events. I give him that respect even as a child, to build his self-awareness, but also hold him accountable for what he’s done.
Again, afterward I pour my love out to him so he knows I adore him,and that I want him to make better choices in the future.
Principle based love is consistent and just.
Read MoreMy Latest Book
