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...
by jdsmeaton | Jun 1, 2022 | Behind the Scenes, News
Can you be happy as a creator? This post is different than my typical entries that focus on some educational aspect of craft or how-to instructional. Today though, I’m going to talk about happiness as a creator. Figuring out how to be present. Finding happiness in the...
by jdsmeaton | May 4, 2022 | How To, Storytelling, Writing
In television writers’ rooms, there is a practice called “beat the joke.” The idea is that there’s a joke written for a scene but can it be better? So the writers will all pitch variations or new jokes. Sometimes the original joke ends up staying but more often than...
