April 3, 2011 | Book One,Creative Soulery,DA Series: The Graphic Novel,Draven Atreides,Draven Atreides, Teenage Informant Series,Life in General,The 4-1-1 on Me,Writer Moment,Writing Movements

Session #1 – Mar 17th

Session #2 – Mar 31st

This time, I did a lot better. I took a page from the script section in the IDIOT’S GUIDE TO CREATING A GRAPHIC NOVEL and copied the format of that script. Very, very helpful.

I stopped over-describing things, but still described things. If that makes sense. And Bry still suggests that I should cut down on the dialogue. CLICK ON LINK FOR FULL-SIZE VIEW

When I sent him these next 5 pages, I said this in my email:

• I revamped it a little after we talked. I liked your idea about the full page of the spa and police cars with flashing lights in the parking lot. I also liked your idea about the initial meeting between Draven and the agents. That was pretty much the whole first chapter.

• I know what you’re going to say about some of the dialogue (too much), but it’s going to be a graphic novel, not a comic book. And I liked the way Richard Sala did it in CAT BURGLAR BLACK.

• At one point, I had decided to model my novel after CBB: 126 pages, roughly 16 pages per chapter. The first chapter actually had 40 pages. And it’s only got 5 chapters! But I like the prose-with-picture theme that Hannah proposed, which made me think of a diary format (Kinda like “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”. I’ll bring a copy tomorrow so you can see what I’m talking about. And no, the copy isn’t mine. I borrowed it from a co-worker who’s got a kid). LOL): where it’s like Draven’s telling the story (pictures) and will occasionally “interrupt” and provide a little commentary. You’ll see what I mean when I use the different font.

In regards to that last bullet point I would like to add that this is Book One. I feel that this first time, there needs to be a bit of explanation as to Y.I.D.’s purpose and a little background on Draven’s target. I may cut it a little bit, but for now, I think the wordiness needs to stay. Of course, that may change once the illustrator gets his/her hands on it. Since I’ve decided to go the picture-and-prose route, that per chapter page length might not work (although I’d like to keep the 126 total page length). I think it would really depend on how I do the prose. But an idea Bry came up with regarding the cover got me a little fired up about how this GN will look when it’s printed.

Without giving away too much, the cover is going to look like a file folder and the concept was that Draven would be telling the story like a diary (with pictures), so the pages would look like lined paper (i.e. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID series). But if it’s going to look like a folder on the outside, it should look like one on the inside, too, right? Not like a diary, wouldn’t you say? Yeah, that’s kinda what I was thinking. And the contents of a folder generally have a lot of notes in the margins, sticky notes, pages of actual notes, etc. Draven does a lot of internal thinking and she also keeps journal-style notes of her activities and findings.

Bry came up with a fabriffic idea that during these points in the book, I should use an actual image of a Post-It note with writing on it…or an actual blank page with typed up notes…or a note in the margin that’s one of her internal thoughts.

How. Freakin’. Cool. Is. That?

I never would of thought to do something like that. Bry continually opens my eyes and shows me how much you can do in a GN and how it’s all about The Visual.

“So, how did it feel this time? Was it more difficult?” he asked.

“The script format is easier. The re-writing is a little difficult, still. I’m starting to realize that I’m cutting out whole chapters,” I told him.

He shook his head and said, “No. Don’t think of it as cutting out, but just writing it in a different way. If you think of it like that, it should get easier.”

Which totally makes sense. I’m used to describing EVERYTHING and a lot of the things I’m describing can now be images. So really, all that’s left is dialogue and Draven’s inner thoughts.

During these past two sessions with Bry, I’ve had so many Lightbulb Moments it’s ridiculous. That one however, felt less like a lightbulb and more like a spotlight. LOL.

And now you see why I love working with him.

Lessons Learned:

~ Start looking for an illustrator now – It took Bry 7 months to find his. I was thinking that I needed to wait until the story was done, but I already have the story. Duh.

~ In selecting an illustrator, be well, selective – Don’t send the whole script, just a few pages to see how they perceive your characters. Website is preferred (so you can at least see a portfolio), if not, have them send samples. If you can’t pay the artist (which is preferable for me, but let’s get real here…), then work out a talent+trusting relationship+belief in the project=the-money-will-come-and-we’ll-split-it-50/50 situation.

~ Assign a color to each main character to indicate who’s talking – Especially if the dialogue takes place off-panel.

~ is WAY more helpful to me than . Sorry Scott.

~ Just like writing a novel, there’s no right or wrong way to write a GN. REALLY. – It’s whatever works and feels comfortable to you and your illustrator. This is actually something Bry has to keep reminding me about, but sadly, it’s going to take a little longer to absorb. LOL.

Technorati Tags: IDIOT’S GUIDE TO CREATING A GRAPHIC NOVEL, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, Post-It

March 30, 2011 | Road Trip Wednesday

Road Trip Wednesday is a “Blog Carnival”, where YA Highway‘s contributors post a weekly writing or reading-related question and answer it in on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

You’re more than welcome to participate! Just answer the question on your own blog, and leave a link to it in their comments.

Topic #60: What books were you obsessed with as a kid?

I’ve been reading forever and don’t really remember all of them, but I distinctly remember loving to read about the precocious Ramona Quimby. LOL.

In my search on BN.com for a book cover, I discovered that Beverly Cleary is still writing about Ramona. I read about Ramona when she was very young, but a book was released in 2009 with Ramona in the 4th grade! Can you imagine this girl in high school? I would so read that. LOL

Technorati Tags: Ramona Quimby, BN.com, Beverly Cleary

March 26, 2011 | Life in General,The 4-1-1 on Me

Within the past year, I’ve become a member of a couple of local nonprofit organizations. I figure since my career is going to be in the nonprofit sector, then I’d better get busy and get in it. Lately, I’ve been attending nonprofit workshops, seminars and forums and–along with school–it’s gotten me fired up about starting my own NP. All this information I’ve been soaking up needs to be released, so I created another blog to let it all out.

The Write Zone is going to be the name of my nonprofit (don’t know if it’s available. Guess I should check on that, huh?) and I’ve decided to chronicle my journey to its grand opening (whenever that happens) on that blog. I’ve been learning so much and want to talk about it more, but feel it’s not right for this blog. This is my author site and I’ve gotten away from talking about writing for YA–until recently, that is–and I don’t want to clutter it up anymore with talk of school and nonprofit stuff. I’m going to school so I’ll know how to run a nonprofit. And while it’s going to involve writing, it’s not going to be centered on YA.

Which is where The Write Zone comes in.

I think I tried this same thing when I first started school back in 2009 and it didn’t work. Probably because I wasn’t seeing the forest for the trees.

But now I’m in the forest.

And I want to talk about what I’m seeing and doing and discovering.

So, if you’re interested in that part of my life, feel free to click on the link above and Friend me over there.

March 24, 2011 | Life in General,Random Thoughts

I got this email from my Mom today, who got it from her sister. Something to think about the next time you go to the dentist and have x-rays done or get a mammogram.

A Useful Warning

On Wednesday, Dr. Oz had a show on the fastest growing cancer in women, thyroid cancer. It was a very interesting program and he mentioned that the increase could possibly be related to the use of dental x-rays and mammograms. He demonstrated that on the apron the dentist puts on you for your dental x-rays there is a little flap that can be lifted up and wrapped around your neck. Many dentists don’t bother to use it. Also, there is something called a “thyroid guard” for use during mammograms. By coincidence, I had my yearly mammogram yesterday. I felt a little silly, but I asked about the guard and sure enough, the technician had one in a drawer. I asked why it wasn’t routinely used. Answer: “I don’t know. You have to ask for it.” Well, if I hadn’t seen the show, how would I have known to ask?
Someone was nice enough to forward this to me.

March 23, 2011 | Road Trip Wednesday

Road Trip Wednesday is a “Blog Carnival”, where YA Highway‘s contributors post a weekly writing or reading-related question and answer it in on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

You’re more than welcome to participate! Just answer the question on your own blog, and leave a link to it in their comments.

Topic #59: Which book character would you like most as a next door neighbor?

To be honest, I would love to have Tykota Black Hawk, Draven’s handler/guardian, as a next door neighbor. Not only is he drop-dead gorgeous, but he protects children for a living. Wouldn’t you want a hunky, ex-Navy SEAL who protects children living next door to you? If anything bad happened, he would be the go-to guy and you know you’d be safe.