by jdsmeaton | Apr 20, 2023 | How To, Recommendations
OK that is a dumb clickbaity headline. I’ll explain in a minute. I am drawing a 200 page graphic novel and it is a looong process. It can be a little overwhelming. I’m also not particularly fast with drawing. No “World’s Fastest Cartoonist” title coming my way. I’m...
by jdsmeaton | Mar 1, 2023 | Storytelling
Lettering! The part of comics (almost) nobody cares about but is sooo important. The problem with lettering is that the reader doesn’t notice it when it’s done well. It’s like sound in a movie, it’s taken for granted but if you’ve ever watched an old film where...
by jdsmeaton | Feb 1, 2023 | How To, News, Storytelling
When it comes to being a commercially successful creator, there is something more important than talent, or skill, it’s the ability to delight. Have you ever seen or read something that immediately just spoke to you? You thought, “I love this!” Have you had the...
by jdsmeaton | Jan 4, 2023 | Recommendations
Favorite kid’s graphic novels 2022 I read a fair amount of kid comics this year. Most of the books on my list were released in 2022 but a few were not. I included them anyway because if I found it worth recommending, who cares what year it was published? These were my...
by jdsmeaton | Dec 26, 2022 | How To, Storytelling, Writing
I was browsing in a bookstore when a cover caught my attention. I picked the book up and read the back cover. There were no blurbs from famous authors spouting pithy praise. No lines taken from glowing reviews. There wasn’t even a description of the story. What it did...
by jdsmeaton | Nov 2, 2022 | Uncategorized
Let’s talk antagonists and how to make them relevant to your protagonist and not just something to move the plot along. If you’re writing slice-of-life kid’s literature, protagonist and antagonist might be a better way to think about your characters rather than hero...
by jdsmeaton | Oct 4, 2022 | How To, Storytelling, Writing
Do your characters want something? They sure do on the FX show The Bear. I’m guessing your main character wants something but what about the rest of your characters? How about that no-name side character? The Bear is about Carmy, a chef trying to fix his dead...
by jdsmeaton | Sep 7, 2022 | Storytelling, Writing
I was obsessed with Gi Joe toys when I was a kid. One of the things I loved was the file cards on the back of the toy packaging. Each character had a bio with basic information, code name, real name, birthplace, military rank, and specialty. It would also include a...
by jdsmeaton | Aug 2, 2022 | How To, Storytelling, Writing
Publishing graphic novels at the middle-grade level has grown dramatically over the last ten years, and editors are looking for quality stories. Most are looking for new and unique voices but here’s the rub, if you are new and unique they don’t really know...
by jdsmeaton | Jun 27, 2022 | Uncategorized
I think it was the Scriptnotes podcast I heard this on. They were talking about the importance of character over plot. The example they used was the audience does not care about archeology, they care about Indiana Jones. They were saying the characters should dictate...
