I'm losing track of what the week is so I'm just gonna give up calling it that! :P
This week, well I've been reading a book. It's called Retribution Falls by Chris Wooding and if anything it's gotten me into such a retro-future state of mind that if I'm not careful Jack and Eliza may well find themselves in my notebook on a sky ship. 0_o
I finished volume 3 a few weeks ago and I'm attempting to begin volume 4. :) Like I've mentioned before it's the last one in the series so this is going to feel a bit weird I think. I've been working on this project for over a year and I've finally learnt a good way of writing it.
Although I may know a format that works for me I actually haven't got the foggiest what to do next. So, my next plan in experimentation! is to write out a plan, scene by scene and see what happens. I'm hoping that if I start planning it I may be able to write it more quickly.
I have a deadline (well personal I know!) of next year, which works well because it gives Kathryn a lot of time to experiment and work out the way she wants to draw it. But I suspect the actual writing of it will be finished this summer, then I can edit it all for a few months.
That's my plan anyway. It'll probably change all over again once life starts getting busy again! But I'm happy with it for now!
I'm hoping we'll get a few more little comics done as well, they're very fun to produce!
Friday 29 January 2010
Monday 25 January 2010
My personal fav graphic novels:
I won't lie, I haven't read many. And some part of me finds this very shocking considering I'm writing one. So I haven't looked at the big ones like Watchmen or Bat Man or Spider man or any of those other comic series.
But I've read the following webcomics/graphic novels:
Tamara Drewe and Gemma Bovery by Posy Simmonds. Both of them are different from the usual graphic novel format because they're written for a newspaper. At least Tamara Drewe was anyway, they both have written narratives along the page and comics. It's a different way to tell stories and I loved them both. They're not science fiction or fantasy or super hero comics like most of the ones I've encountered are, they're just plain and simple day to day dramas about people and life.
I love them.
Y The Last Man series:
I do love this series. Kathryn was the one who introduced these to me and I've been addicted ever since. I haven't read them all, but I've read some and it's certainly one of the best. The art is brilliant the story is just really gripping and dramamtic and well very sad.
Much as sometimes men can be pains, I'd hate for them all to die! I love them far too much for that.
2000 AD:
I've only seen a couple of issues of this. But I like it. The little stories inside it were really interesting, funny and gripping all in one go. :) I liked it, and want to see more! No doubt I'll hear all about 2000 AD once I get to uni! :P
Biston:
This is a strange one! :P I was reading it last week and wondered what on earth it was part of, that being said, I did like it. :) The story was interesting and flowed well, set in the future where people can live in an alternate reality. :
Very sci fi. And if it's sci fi, I'll enjoy it. :)
I just don't think it'd be something I'd write myself... not really into guns. :P
Webcomics:
The Pheonix Requiem by Sarah Ellerton.
This has got to be my absolute favourite out of the whole lot of them. It's the first ever webcomic I read (so maybe there I'm also slightly biased. :P) and I do literally go back every week to see the updates.
*loves the story, loves the art and most of all I love Jonas*
I've also read Inverloch, which is just as brilliant. :D I do blame these two for my lack of makign Heartstones a short webcomic. I think I say PR and thought "ahh...it has to be over 100 pages each!!!!!!*
Course, it goes with the flow of the story, it's just a very tense kind of webcomic.
Oh yeah possible readers who are looking at this, you're in for a tense and dramatic ride. :P
And the little random blog is over, I feel a bit more chirpy. I was a bit emotional when I left college today, but I won't bore you all of that! :P Nothing important, but in case some of you who are possibly reading this did actually notice that (I was very paranoid! :P) I'm fine now. :)
Can't wait to see Kathryns heartstones fanfiction either, I think that might just put me in a good mood again.
Odd and unusual extra ramble over!
But I've read the following webcomics/graphic novels:
Tamara Drewe and Gemma Bovery by Posy Simmonds. Both of them are different from the usual graphic novel format because they're written for a newspaper. At least Tamara Drewe was anyway, they both have written narratives along the page and comics. It's a different way to tell stories and I loved them both. They're not science fiction or fantasy or super hero comics like most of the ones I've encountered are, they're just plain and simple day to day dramas about people and life.
I love them.
Y The Last Man series:
I do love this series. Kathryn was the one who introduced these to me and I've been addicted ever since. I haven't read them all, but I've read some and it's certainly one of the best. The art is brilliant the story is just really gripping and dramamtic and well very sad.
Much as sometimes men can be pains, I'd hate for them all to die! I love them far too much for that.
2000 AD:
I've only seen a couple of issues of this. But I like it. The little stories inside it were really interesting, funny and gripping all in one go. :) I liked it, and want to see more! No doubt I'll hear all about 2000 AD once I get to uni! :P
Biston:
This is a strange one! :P I was reading it last week and wondered what on earth it was part of, that being said, I did like it. :) The story was interesting and flowed well, set in the future where people can live in an alternate reality. :
Very sci fi. And if it's sci fi, I'll enjoy it. :)
I just don't think it'd be something I'd write myself... not really into guns. :P
Webcomics:
The Pheonix Requiem by Sarah Ellerton.
This has got to be my absolute favourite out of the whole lot of them. It's the first ever webcomic I read (so maybe there I'm also slightly biased. :P) and I do literally go back every week to see the updates.
*loves the story, loves the art and most of all I love Jonas*
I've also read Inverloch, which is just as brilliant. :D I do blame these two for my lack of makign Heartstones a short webcomic. I think I say PR and thought "ahh...it has to be over 100 pages each!!!!!!*
Course, it goes with the flow of the story, it's just a very tense kind of webcomic.
Oh yeah possible readers who are looking at this, you're in for a tense and dramatic ride. :P
And the little random blog is over, I feel a bit more chirpy. I was a bit emotional when I left college today, but I won't bore you all of that! :P Nothing important, but in case some of you who are possibly reading this did actually notice that (I was very paranoid! :P) I'm fine now. :)
Can't wait to see Kathryns heartstones fanfiction either, I think that might just put me in a good mood again.
Odd and unusual extra ramble over!
Saturday 23 January 2010
Eliza does a double take
Because I don't have photoshop and are pretty bad at putting comic images together (good job Kathryns the artist eh?) and for some reason the image size is far too big to fit on smackjeeves. If I had photoshop I'd probably be able to fix it, but as I don't, here's the comic I promised earlier:
AN: I wondered whether it should be a follow up from the last little comic we did. But how on earth Jack would have gotten his shirt off I have no idea. 0_o Well I know why he does when Kathryn drew the scene, but with what's happening in the scene I can't quite think of anything. Hence why Eliza does a double take! :P
I may make Kathryn draw more of this comedic scene! :)
As ever, these pages aren't official and don't fit into the story as such. They're just stand alone little pieces of work we do. :)
Drawings by Kathryn *loves them* words/story by me. *is still wondering whether I do or don't like it*
AN: I wondered whether it should be a follow up from the last little comic we did. But how on earth Jack would have gotten his shirt off I have no idea. 0_o Well I know why he does when Kathryn drew the scene, but with what's happening in the scene I can't quite think of anything. Hence why Eliza does a double take! :P
I may make Kathryn draw more of this comedic scene! :)
As ever, these pages aren't official and don't fit into the story as such. They're just stand alone little pieces of work we do. :)
Drawings by Kathryn *loves them* words/story by me. *is still wondering whether I do or don't like it*
Week Seven
This week I haven't written much again, much to my dismay. But that's what happens when you wind up doing work for a college course. Heartstones has to take a side step for a few days, which is quite unfortunate cos I do love it.
I sent a part of the script off to a university the other day, it had to be marked (well according to the uni! :P) which was quite odd. But the feedback I got was really useful so when I do go back and write again I think there's going to be a few changes to the script! :P I was just sitting there nervously awaiting to see what they'd say. :P It always puts you on the spot those kind of things because if something bad is said, well it shatters you a little bit doesn't it?
I don't know what I'll be like in uni....
I've given myself the personal deadline (now this is going to seem a long way away!) of having the script finished and edited by this time next year. Of course it might not take that long, or it could take that long. I'm just seeing how things go. When I first started this project I didn't actually think it'd take me a year to get to this point, I naively just assumed it'd be done in a matter of months.
of course it wasn't. :P And the development carried on, and on and on and well Heartstones is how it is now. But the problem is all of you who may be reading this (unless your Kathryn! :P) won't have any idea just how developed the story and world actually is. Because when I say developed, I mean developed. It has places and gods, religions, traditions... just everything that a world should have I suppose.
It's just hard trying to not give away a massive plot element, which is why there's various parts of the website that's not finished yet. I haven't filled in all of the story world because I want it wait until the story is actually up and going.
Where's the fun in reading it to find things out if there's a massive spoiler on the website?
I think it'd just ruin the whole thing, so I'm going to refrain from adding any "spoilers" until the actual story is up and going and only adding them when its appropriate. :D
There's no proper rules to doing a webcomic (I may have said this last week! I don't remember! :P) not that I've found anyway, so until those rules actually throw them onto to me, I'll just carry on like I'm doing and add the special features.
More Stories anyone?
We have a lot! :P
I sent a part of the script off to a university the other day, it had to be marked (well according to the uni! :P) which was quite odd. But the feedback I got was really useful so when I do go back and write again I think there's going to be a few changes to the script! :P I was just sitting there nervously awaiting to see what they'd say. :P It always puts you on the spot those kind of things because if something bad is said, well it shatters you a little bit doesn't it?
I don't know what I'll be like in uni....
I've given myself the personal deadline (now this is going to seem a long way away!) of having the script finished and edited by this time next year. Of course it might not take that long, or it could take that long. I'm just seeing how things go. When I first started this project I didn't actually think it'd take me a year to get to this point, I naively just assumed it'd be done in a matter of months.
of course it wasn't. :P And the development carried on, and on and on and well Heartstones is how it is now. But the problem is all of you who may be reading this (unless your Kathryn! :P) won't have any idea just how developed the story and world actually is. Because when I say developed, I mean developed. It has places and gods, religions, traditions... just everything that a world should have I suppose.
It's just hard trying to not give away a massive plot element, which is why there's various parts of the website that's not finished yet. I haven't filled in all of the story world because I want it wait until the story is actually up and going.
Where's the fun in reading it to find things out if there's a massive spoiler on the website?
I think it'd just ruin the whole thing, so I'm going to refrain from adding any "spoilers" until the actual story is up and going and only adding them when its appropriate. :D
There's no proper rules to doing a webcomic (I may have said this last week! I don't remember! :P) not that I've found anyway, so until those rules actually throw them onto to me, I'll just carry on like I'm doing and add the special features.
More Stories anyone?
We have a lot! :P
Friday 15 January 2010
Week six
Last weekend marked the beginning (of the writing stage anyway) of the final and forth volume of Heartstone Odyssey. I can't say how utterly unbelieveable that feeling was, I found myself sitting in front of my computer and typing the first scenes of the last volume.
It was a very odd feeling, so when it's all finished I don't know how I'm going to feel.
I suppose I'll move onto another writing project, but the thing is, although I know the ending of the writing on this comic is nearing it's end (probably within the next six months or so depending on how busy I get with college) the actual comic and drawing of it all isn't, and although I may have finished it, it means that Kathryns work is going to begin.
And that is very exciting for me.
I love this comic, I love it's characters and storylines. I love Kathryn for drawing it so well and in a way I love my brain for nagging me constantly with these little stories.
It's a great project. :)
I wouldn't want it any other way.
The other thing that I think needs to said is that this comic isn't going to be like the other webcomics just yet. If you're reading this and thinking "Oh well this is a waste of time! They're not even putting anything up!" then fine, you can go away. But do return if you're curious, because I have every confidence in Kathryn and I know she'll bring to life a fantastic story.
It'll be worth the wait believe me!
It's only meant to be for fun after all! :) Which is exactly why we're doing it this way, by uploading the stories and pictures and character profiles and little random comics. :)
We've put a year of work into this, I think it deserves a home.
So we made one for it. :)
It was a very odd feeling, so when it's all finished I don't know how I'm going to feel.
I suppose I'll move onto another writing project, but the thing is, although I know the ending of the writing on this comic is nearing it's end (probably within the next six months or so depending on how busy I get with college) the actual comic and drawing of it all isn't, and although I may have finished it, it means that Kathryns work is going to begin.
And that is very exciting for me.
I love this comic, I love it's characters and storylines. I love Kathryn for drawing it so well and in a way I love my brain for nagging me constantly with these little stories.
It's a great project. :)
I wouldn't want it any other way.
The other thing that I think needs to said is that this comic isn't going to be like the other webcomics just yet. If you're reading this and thinking "Oh well this is a waste of time! They're not even putting anything up!" then fine, you can go away. But do return if you're curious, because I have every confidence in Kathryn and I know she'll bring to life a fantastic story.
It'll be worth the wait believe me!
It's only meant to be for fun after all! :) Which is exactly why we're doing it this way, by uploading the stories and pictures and character profiles and little random comics. :)
We've put a year of work into this, I think it deserves a home.
So we made one for it. :)
Friday 8 January 2010
Week Five
Now christmas and new year are over, we're back on track with the "weeks" I'm determined to call them. :P
Today it's Kathryn (the artist of this webcomics) birthday, so I wish her (like I've/will say/said many times today!) a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :P
I finished volume three this week. We've had snow all across england and our college was shut down, meaning I had a little bit of extra time to work on the script. This also means that I'm onto the final volume of Heartstone Odyssey.
I know the ending, as does Kathryn now, but part of me is really excited to see what it'll be like to write those final scenes of the webcomic. I wonder what it'll feel like?
There's not been a lot of development this week due to the fact I've been writing the actual comic. And I can't possibly say how that goes until you all see it! :P
But it was fun to write, hard (because the type of scene it is was actually one of the harder kind of scenes for me!) but good and fun, and well it left me feeling so excited.
I'm very pleased.
That's it for today! I'm off to meet Kathryn in a moment, we're going out for a celebratory drink at starbucks!
Today it's Kathryn (the artist of this webcomics) birthday, so I wish her (like I've/will say/said many times today!) a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :P
I finished volume three this week. We've had snow all across england and our college was shut down, meaning I had a little bit of extra time to work on the script. This also means that I'm onto the final volume of Heartstone Odyssey.
I know the ending, as does Kathryn now, but part of me is really excited to see what it'll be like to write those final scenes of the webcomic. I wonder what it'll feel like?
There's not been a lot of development this week due to the fact I've been writing the actual comic. And I can't possibly say how that goes until you all see it! :P
But it was fun to write, hard (because the type of scene it is was actually one of the harder kind of scenes for me!) but good and fun, and well it left me feeling so excited.
I'm very pleased.
That's it for today! I'm off to meet Kathryn in a moment, we're going out for a celebratory drink at starbucks!
Jack: The Hero
The smoke was entering into her system. , forcing her lungs to feel tighter and tighter by the minute. The flames were starting to burn at her toes and she wriggled attempting to free herself from the ropes binds.
“Anyone who should disobey the rules will suffer the same consequences! Let this woman, this traitor be an example of what is forbidden in Elderlake!!!”
Kandower’s silhouette weaved himself in and out of the red and orange flames surrounding Eliza. He looked at her, just for a moment, no longer and no more than a second. But Eliza knew what was coming; she understood the merciless look he’d given her.
Her last thoughts were of smoke and pain inside her feet, gradually moving up her legs towards her calves. And it was only then that the darkness took hold of her…
*****
“We can’t leave her down there!” Jack shouted running across the empty room. “I’m saving her!”
“Jack…”
Jack was already grabbing the rope from the windowsill when Riley spoke, ready to swing down and attempt to save Eliza.
Jack turned his head, glaring intently at Riley. His hands were grasping onto the rope, almost burning into his skin but Jack didn’t care.
“Don’t try and stop me Riley. I think you‘ve done enough damage.”
The window was pushed open more and Jack laid his feet onto the side of the window ledge. He could see the people gathering in the court yard below, each and every one of them intent on watching another violent and un-necessary execution.
He panicked slightly as he saw Eliza slump against the stump below and he held onto the rope tighter, closed his eyes and swung.
He didn’t care for the gasps or screams as he swung down from the ledge. His legs outstretched he kicked Kandower down and grabbed a bucket of water and splashed the water over the fire on Eliza. He was mobile, and quick, so managed this task before Kandower had even lifted his head up.
A guard grabbed his arm but Jack was quick again and elbowed him before he could grasp his clothes properly. The fire on the post was out but the hay still warm as Jack walked onto the stack. But he didn’t worry; he undid the binds behind her hands and hauled her over his shoulders.
Kandower closing in around him with his guards, an evil smile on his face, Jack retreated back into a corner, his eyes desperately searching for a way out.
Riley flew down through the air, his legs out stretched much like Jack had been minutes previously and they hit Kandowers head knocking him to the floor a second time.
Riley stood there, his sword at the ready for the next fight. He glanced over his shoulder looking straight at Jack and shouting his final command.
“GET OUT HERE!”
Jack didn’t hesitate and ran from the stand, he held onto Eliza as he waded his way through the panicked crowds and into the palace. He skidded to a halt as he saw more guards running through the halls next to him and he hid away in the shadows, making a lot of effort not to be seen.
The moment the guards had disappeared he ran down the hallway and found the wall with the magic door. Like Alera had shown him he opened it up and snuck inside. He ran up the staircase and looked down at Eliza’s legs, wincing internally when he saw the burns gorged into her skin.
He placed her on the bed in the silent room and stepped back, watching her silently. The room was empty, still, everything that had been here before of theirs were gone.
Jack stayed quiet, collapsing next to the bed. He hadn’t noticed until now that the emptiness of the room was mirrored by Eliza’s still chest. No gentle breathing came to her as it normally would.
She wasn’t sleeping.
“Eliza…” he whispered and closed his eyes in despair. He held onto her hand and laid his head against the bed next to it.
“Not you…"
“Anyone who should disobey the rules will suffer the same consequences! Let this woman, this traitor be an example of what is forbidden in Elderlake!!!”
Kandower’s silhouette weaved himself in and out of the red and orange flames surrounding Eliza. He looked at her, just for a moment, no longer and no more than a second. But Eliza knew what was coming; she understood the merciless look he’d given her.
Her last thoughts were of smoke and pain inside her feet, gradually moving up her legs towards her calves. And it was only then that the darkness took hold of her…
“We can’t leave her down there!” Jack shouted running across the empty room. “I’m saving her!”
“Jack…”
Jack was already grabbing the rope from the windowsill when Riley spoke, ready to swing down and attempt to save Eliza.
Jack turned his head, glaring intently at Riley. His hands were grasping onto the rope, almost burning into his skin but Jack didn’t care.
“Don’t try and stop me Riley. I think you‘ve done enough damage.”
The window was pushed open more and Jack laid his feet onto the side of the window ledge. He could see the people gathering in the court yard below, each and every one of them intent on watching another violent and un-necessary execution.
He panicked slightly as he saw Eliza slump against the stump below and he held onto the rope tighter, closed his eyes and swung.
He didn’t care for the gasps or screams as he swung down from the ledge. His legs outstretched he kicked Kandower down and grabbed a bucket of water and splashed the water over the fire on Eliza. He was mobile, and quick, so managed this task before Kandower had even lifted his head up.
A guard grabbed his arm but Jack was quick again and elbowed him before he could grasp his clothes properly. The fire on the post was out but the hay still warm as Jack walked onto the stack. But he didn’t worry; he undid the binds behind her hands and hauled her over his shoulders.
Kandower closing in around him with his guards, an evil smile on his face, Jack retreated back into a corner, his eyes desperately searching for a way out.
Riley flew down through the air, his legs out stretched much like Jack had been minutes previously and they hit Kandowers head knocking him to the floor a second time.
Riley stood there, his sword at the ready for the next fight. He glanced over his shoulder looking straight at Jack and shouting his final command.
“GET OUT HERE!”
Jack didn’t hesitate and ran from the stand, he held onto Eliza as he waded his way through the panicked crowds and into the palace. He skidded to a halt as he saw more guards running through the halls next to him and he hid away in the shadows, making a lot of effort not to be seen.
The moment the guards had disappeared he ran down the hallway and found the wall with the magic door. Like Alera had shown him he opened it up and snuck inside. He ran up the staircase and looked down at Eliza’s legs, wincing internally when he saw the burns gorged into her skin.
He placed her on the bed in the silent room and stepped back, watching her silently. The room was empty, still, everything that had been here before of theirs were gone.
Jack stayed quiet, collapsing next to the bed. He hadn’t noticed until now that the emptiness of the room was mirrored by Eliza’s still chest. No gentle breathing came to her as it normally would.
She wasn’t sleeping.
“Eliza…” he whispered and closed his eyes in despair. He held onto her hand and laid his head against the bed next to it.
“Not you…"
Friday 1 January 2010
Christmas-New Year
This week has been full of me writing the script and planning things that will happen.
I was showing my Dad everything when he said something and everything just clicked.
I think I said a few weeks ago that I was so tired I was having a bad bout of writers block, well it's changed slightly now. I know what's going to happen. And to be honest it's better than anything I've ever dreamed of for this webcomic.
The ending is perfect, because it sums everything up that's meant to be. Nothing will be left unforgotten (I hope!) and so the end of this comic as it stands now is going to be just what I want it to be.
And perhaps slightly shocking...
But you'll have to wait and see what it is! You've got a whole journey of shadow kicking Heartstoneness before you get to where I am in my head. :)
And do you know what?
I really think it's gonna be a fantastic ride.
I was showing my Dad everything when he said something and everything just clicked.
I think I said a few weeks ago that I was so tired I was having a bad bout of writers block, well it's changed slightly now. I know what's going to happen. And to be honest it's better than anything I've ever dreamed of for this webcomic.
The ending is perfect, because it sums everything up that's meant to be. Nothing will be left unforgotten (I hope!) and so the end of this comic as it stands now is going to be just what I want it to be.
And perhaps slightly shocking...
But you'll have to wait and see what it is! You've got a whole journey of shadow kicking Heartstoneness before you get to where I am in my head. :)
And do you know what?
I really think it's gonna be a fantastic ride.
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