Dear reader,
Do we still indent at the beginning of paragraphs?
Since high school, it has been a goal of mine to write a novel. I went to college and proudly declared myself a creative writing major! I don’t know if it was writing the endless essays on Emily Dickinson that broke me, but I ended up transferring schools and changing my major to studio art.
Reading the book, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers, reignited my interest in writing that great novel! I too could write an unforgettable memoir that moves readers to laughter and tears, sometimes in the same chapter!!
I read Kurt Vonnegut’s Breakfast of Champions, and an idea sprang to life. I could combine writing and art together! You are probably thinking, “does this person live under a rock? This is absolutely not a new concept.” Then I discovered Knuffle Bunny, by Mo Willems and my mind went spinning out of control. Photography and drawing, together??
FYI, I blame my obsessively college prep classical high school for keeping our noses in Dostoyevsky and out of comic book stores.
But, it turns out that writing the great american graphic novel requires you to actually write…. I mean come on, I have a great education, I know all the SAT words, I have read hundreds of books, I have written multiple five paragraph essays on Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman, what is the problem?
Step 1: Decide on Your Idea. Like every other work of fiction, a graphic novel starts with a story idea.
No wonder I haven’t made any progress. How the heck do you come up with an idea?
Sincerely, Laura
Elizabeth Gilbert in Big Magic argues that we don’t find ideas, they find us. And if we don’t use them, they find someone else. I have only felt small examples of this like an occasional inspired idea for an ICAD prompt. Does that character you drew with the telescope have a story to tell? They look so very charming!