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 | 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 | 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...
by jdsmeaton | Mar 2, 2022 | How To, Storytelling, Writing
So you want to know the secret to writing a best-selling middle-grade graphic novel. I’ll tell you now, the answer is not satisfying. It’s like the question, “how do you make a viral video?” This is the formula for a viral video. Make video Release video Tap into...
