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I read a ton of comics for research and a ton for pleasure. My reading pile is deep and sometimes, like yesterday, I'll go on binge reads to catch up on a bunch of books.
I learn a lot from reading great comics, but I think I learn more (what not to do) from the terrible ones.
I learn a lot from reading great comics, but I think I learn more (what not to do) from the terrible ones.
When I finish an issue and I'm offended at paying $4+ for that experience, it reminds me that every issue I write needs to be worth someone's time and money.
Reading a run straight through and knowing the process, I can feel when things are focused and the team has a solid destination in mind and when the wheels are spinning and pages are getting wasted just to get to the end of an issue.
I'm not here to dunk on specific books. I'm a writer, not a critic.
Which is to say that I'm highly critical but in an internal way, to improve my own skills not to publicly tear down the work of others.
Which is to say that I'm highly critical but in an internal way, to improve my own skills not to publicly tear down the work of others.
Once you decide that you want to make stories for a living, you need to stop being passive about the stories you engage - every book, movie, TV show, anecdote or game can be a learning experience:
When did this engage me?
Why am I emotionally invested?
How did they do that?
When did this engage me?
Why am I emotionally invested?
How did they do that?
Equally, if something isn't working, pushing through and answering those other questions can teach you a lot:
When did this lose me?
Why am I frustrated by it?
What can I learn here so I don't make these same mistakes?
When did this lose me?
Why am I frustrated by it?
What can I learn here so I don't make these same mistakes?
