I've decided to move the Heartstone Odyssey over to word press!
Don't panic! The making of Heartstone Odyssey blog shall continue and this shall still be accessible to read! :D
For the new updates, news and my random explanations of everything Heartstones, come and see us below:
http://heartstoneodyssey.wordpress.com/
Friday, 17 September 2010
Friday, 3 September 2010
Script update
This week has consisted of the usual script writing for me. I've gotten quite a long way into it now so I'm much happier with the progress of it all. It doesn't seem as troublesome as it was beforehand because I know where we're going.
I've also worked out another ending for this comic. I pitched it to Kathryn when we met up and she also loved it. The idea sprang to me, once again after indulging myself into the many chapters of The Writers Journey and got me thinking about ways I could possibly incorporate the theory into Heartstones. But we'll see what happens. One thing I have noticed about this project is that although I know exactly what it is that's going to happen.
After I've written this blog (which was yesterday to those people who are reading this :P) I'm whizzing myself straight back into the script and hopefully getting a lot further into it. I'm about 20-something pages now. I know it doesn't seem like a lot, I suppose it's more like a standard issue of a comic in a shop. But it's a lot of story. The story in V2 especially is very fast paced and moves a lot between different characters.
And that makes it really interesting, frustrating, hard and brilliant all at the same time for me. You get used to one character/storyline and you move on faster than you blink. Then when you stop writing, all I seem to think about is what's going to happen next.
As you'll probably have read, you'll know full well that I've planned ahead. Just not detailed planning (in which I mean where you know what the character is going to say or do!). The way I do it is plot points, so when I get down to writing it I sometimes have to think about how to stage the scene, what to make the characters say, where they should be, or even what time of the day it is.
It's all essential for the artist. If I don't write what the time of day it is, how does the artist know how to colour the sky blue if it's in the day? How would Kathryn know that there has to be snow on the floor and that this story is set in the middle of winter if I don't put it onto the script?
So when it comes down to writing the scenes within this comic. It sometimes stalls me because I have to think about these extra details to put there. Now, don't think I don't enjoy that. Because truth is I love it. But I also think that it's because of this that it stalls me sometimes when writing, because I have to think about how to stage it.
And then the ideas come. My mind gets a picture in it's head (usually of a comic page for this project :P) and I write it down onto the computer, and throw myself further into the story. Then I send it to Kathryn, who reads it and says whether she thinks it's any good or not. So far, she's always said yes. :)
This is how I write. And I will continue to write as much as I can until I have this volume finished. So when I come back and start up this blog again in a few weeks time (because lets face it, we're not going away for that long really are we? :P) I will most likely have quite a few more tales to tell of writing this project!
Until then!
Adiós!
Ps, I had Tapas last night and have Spanish things in my head. :P
I've also worked out another ending for this comic. I pitched it to Kathryn when we met up and she also loved it. The idea sprang to me, once again after indulging myself into the many chapters of The Writers Journey and got me thinking about ways I could possibly incorporate the theory into Heartstones. But we'll see what happens. One thing I have noticed about this project is that although I know exactly what it is that's going to happen.
After I've written this blog (which was yesterday to those people who are reading this :P) I'm whizzing myself straight back into the script and hopefully getting a lot further into it. I'm about 20-something pages now. I know it doesn't seem like a lot, I suppose it's more like a standard issue of a comic in a shop. But it's a lot of story. The story in V2 especially is very fast paced and moves a lot between different characters.
And that makes it really interesting, frustrating, hard and brilliant all at the same time for me. You get used to one character/storyline and you move on faster than you blink. Then when you stop writing, all I seem to think about is what's going to happen next.
As you'll probably have read, you'll know full well that I've planned ahead. Just not detailed planning (in which I mean where you know what the character is going to say or do!). The way I do it is plot points, so when I get down to writing it I sometimes have to think about how to stage the scene, what to make the characters say, where they should be, or even what time of the day it is.
It's all essential for the artist. If I don't write what the time of day it is, how does the artist know how to colour the sky blue if it's in the day? How would Kathryn know that there has to be snow on the floor and that this story is set in the middle of winter if I don't put it onto the script?
So when it comes down to writing the scenes within this comic. It sometimes stalls me because I have to think about these extra details to put there. Now, don't think I don't enjoy that. Because truth is I love it. But I also think that it's because of this that it stalls me sometimes when writing, because I have to think about how to stage it.
And then the ideas come. My mind gets a picture in it's head (usually of a comic page for this project :P) and I write it down onto the computer, and throw myself further into the story. Then I send it to Kathryn, who reads it and says whether she thinks it's any good or not. So far, she's always said yes. :)
This is how I write. And I will continue to write as much as I can until I have this volume finished. So when I come back and start up this blog again in a few weeks time (because lets face it, we're not going away for that long really are we? :P) I will most likely have quite a few more tales to tell of writing this project!
Until then!
Adiós!
Ps, I had Tapas last night and have Spanish things in my head. :P
Friday, 27 August 2010
Jacks prologue story
This week I've made a lot of progress with the writing. :) I've gotten a lot further and actually worked out a few things within the script. So I'm over the moon about that! And there's not too much else to say other than that really.
Kathryn and I are going out (haven't seen each other in about two-three weeks so it'll be lovely to!) and will probably get writing, drawing and doing even more things when it comes to Heartstones. We're both moving to university in the next two weeks (I KNOW!) so it'd be nice to do that one last time before we go. Although I think that may come next week rather than today, hopefully!
Over the last few weeks you may have noticed me mentioning that I was doing a little prologue story for Jack (and soon it's other characters as well.) Well, I've finally finished it. I don't like it at all, too sentimental if you ask me, but here it is!
*****
The market place thrived at this time of the morning. Maids rushed to and from the stalls on errands while house keepers pottered, looking through the vegetables with deep inspection. Mothers pushed prams and guided they're noisy playful children along the pathways. Stall keepers would be calling out the latest produce and it's best prices. And amongst it all, Henry was standing at the fruit stall. His hands grazing over the mornings fruits.
On an ordinary day he'd have stayed and browsed through the market all day. Yet this morning he felt a small tap on his shoulder. And when he turned he met the dark, deep blue eyes of a constable.
He had the classical handsome look of a man in uniform. The costume he wore daily worked well with this mans blonde hair and handsome “rugged” look. Henry briefly wondered whether his hair was a mess underneath the hat he was wearing.
Messy things was never something that Henry wanted to deal with. Yet Henry felt his mornings happy mood filtering away and a nervous, sickening clench taking hold of his stomach.
“I'm here to take you to the station, Jack has gotten himself into a lot of trouble.”
“Again?”
Henry sighed.
*****
The moment the cell doors creaked opened and Henry walked inside, his nostrils were intoxicated by the smell of alcohol. Until recently, Henry had managed to keep Jack away from the pubs and supposedly bad “influences”. Drinking and drugs was a popular entertainment amongst the rich, and Henry had been relieved when Jack had shown no attempt to go and join the ruthless part of their society.
But then Jack had become withdrawn and silent. He talked, but there was no emotion in his voice, nor anything else reflected on his face. He'd locked himself away for hours in his room.
As a child Jack had always been quiet. At first he'd been shy and again he'd hidden away from anyone. As a teenager he'd been moody and not interested in anything about the quest they were forced to endure. And then one day he'd felt better, he'd appeared with a happy youthful spring to his walk. But this lead to Jack becoming acquainted with some of the more troubled youths and Jack would happily disappear into the pubs and brothels with them.
The floor was cold against him when he sat down. But he didn't care for being cold. He was far too concerned about the boy beside him. Jack was nineteen years old, and in this society considered a full adult.
A streak of light from a hole in the cell illuminated Jacks eyes, and Henry met them. His heart sank when he saw how lost Jack looked. And it was only when Jack leant his head on his shoulder that he realised how young and fragile he was. And in non audible comfort Henry wrapped his arms around him.
Henry knew actions spoke far larger than words ever could.
The End
Kathryn and I are going out (haven't seen each other in about two-three weeks so it'll be lovely to!) and will probably get writing, drawing and doing even more things when it comes to Heartstones. We're both moving to university in the next two weeks (I KNOW!) so it'd be nice to do that one last time before we go. Although I think that may come next week rather than today, hopefully!
Over the last few weeks you may have noticed me mentioning that I was doing a little prologue story for Jack (and soon it's other characters as well.) Well, I've finally finished it. I don't like it at all, too sentimental if you ask me, but here it is!
*****
The market place thrived at this time of the morning. Maids rushed to and from the stalls on errands while house keepers pottered, looking through the vegetables with deep inspection. Mothers pushed prams and guided they're noisy playful children along the pathways. Stall keepers would be calling out the latest produce and it's best prices. And amongst it all, Henry was standing at the fruit stall. His hands grazing over the mornings fruits.
On an ordinary day he'd have stayed and browsed through the market all day. Yet this morning he felt a small tap on his shoulder. And when he turned he met the dark, deep blue eyes of a constable.
He had the classical handsome look of a man in uniform. The costume he wore daily worked well with this mans blonde hair and handsome “rugged” look. Henry briefly wondered whether his hair was a mess underneath the hat he was wearing.
Messy things was never something that Henry wanted to deal with. Yet Henry felt his mornings happy mood filtering away and a nervous, sickening clench taking hold of his stomach.
“I'm here to take you to the station, Jack has gotten himself into a lot of trouble.”
“Again?”
Henry sighed.
*****
The moment the cell doors creaked opened and Henry walked inside, his nostrils were intoxicated by the smell of alcohol. Until recently, Henry had managed to keep Jack away from the pubs and supposedly bad “influences”. Drinking and drugs was a popular entertainment amongst the rich, and Henry had been relieved when Jack had shown no attempt to go and join the ruthless part of their society.
But then Jack had become withdrawn and silent. He talked, but there was no emotion in his voice, nor anything else reflected on his face. He'd locked himself away for hours in his room.
As a child Jack had always been quiet. At first he'd been shy and again he'd hidden away from anyone. As a teenager he'd been moody and not interested in anything about the quest they were forced to endure. And then one day he'd felt better, he'd appeared with a happy youthful spring to his walk. But this lead to Jack becoming acquainted with some of the more troubled youths and Jack would happily disappear into the pubs and brothels with them.
The floor was cold against him when he sat down. But he didn't care for being cold. He was far too concerned about the boy beside him. Jack was nineteen years old, and in this society considered a full adult.
A streak of light from a hole in the cell illuminated Jacks eyes, and Henry met them. His heart sank when he saw how lost Jack looked. And it was only when Jack leant his head on his shoulder that he realised how young and fragile he was. And in non audible comfort Henry wrapped his arms around him.
Henry knew actions spoke far larger than words ever could.
The End
Saturday, 21 August 2010
Thoughts and Stories
It's odd how when I'm not writing Heartstones (or another project for that matter) I find myself thinking about writing it all the time. I've been to London again this week, and I was very busy with my family over the last weekend so I found myself not getting much of the script written over the last week.
But no matter how busy I've been, I always think about it. And when I really get desperate there's usually some kind of scene within my notebook. Which for last week seems like hundreds of them.
I had a good time away and really enjoyed it. But it's nice to be back and be able to write the script again.
At the moment one of the many books that I'm reading at the moment is one called The Writers Journey. It talks about the structures of stories and gives lots of different ideas about the kinds of stories that are told. Very interesting! And during one of the chapters, it talks about how characters change and why it's important to see that.
Of course, this sent me into wondering about whether the characters do actually change during Heartstones. But that was good, because during the midst of my thoughts I wound up printing off a character development sheet and filling the majority (parts of it I'm still thinking about) of it out for Jack.
Then I'll continue on with Eliza, Henry, Alera and Kandower ect.
It helps to know your characters I think.
It wasn't very long ago that Kathryn and I decided that we wanted to do some background stories for Heartstones. It's not only something that we both really want to do, it's something that I think will be quite good for me as a writer. Like I've mentioned before I was “worrying” about character development, but by doing these little stories for me it deepens the characters and makes them much more real in my head. :)
I suspect that the story I've written would give out quite a few spoilers and isn't quite finished yet which is why I'm not really posting it here just yet. I want to go and finish it in a moment though. :)
Until next week!
DWW out!
But no matter how busy I've been, I always think about it. And when I really get desperate there's usually some kind of scene within my notebook. Which for last week seems like hundreds of them.
I had a good time away and really enjoyed it. But it's nice to be back and be able to write the script again.
At the moment one of the many books that I'm reading at the moment is one called The Writers Journey. It talks about the structures of stories and gives lots of different ideas about the kinds of stories that are told. Very interesting! And during one of the chapters, it talks about how characters change and why it's important to see that.
Of course, this sent me into wondering about whether the characters do actually change during Heartstones. But that was good, because during the midst of my thoughts I wound up printing off a character development sheet and filling the majority (parts of it I'm still thinking about) of it out for Jack.
Then I'll continue on with Eliza, Henry, Alera and Kandower ect.
It helps to know your characters I think.
It wasn't very long ago that Kathryn and I decided that we wanted to do some background stories for Heartstones. It's not only something that we both really want to do, it's something that I think will be quite good for me as a writer. Like I've mentioned before I was “worrying” about character development, but by doing these little stories for me it deepens the characters and makes them much more real in my head. :)
I suspect that the story I've written would give out quite a few spoilers and isn't quite finished yet which is why I'm not really posting it here just yet. I want to go and finish it in a moment though. :)
Until next week!
DWW out!
Thursday, 12 August 2010
Debates and character deigns
This week the ongoing script is getting written. I haven't gotten as much done as I'd liked to though which I'm a bit narked about. But as with last week it's getting there, very, very slowly and I do think that it's making better progress than it was a few weeks ago. :)
Kathryn and I went out yesterday for our usual cafe/town ritual and talked all afternoon and night until my Mum picked me up to go home. But we always went back to talking about Heartstones and discussing the storyline and character designs further than we have done.
We've focussed a lot on the storyline before (hence the constant rewrites of V2) but then Kathryn announced that we needed to finalise the character designs. Although we've discussed outfits and the way the characters look many times before when she said that it did occur to me that we didn't have a picture where we could say “that's the final design!” because, as with the story, the designs just kept changing all the time.
Eliza and Jack seem to be the characters that were (and usually are for that matter) talked about the most. And I realised (partly because it never occurred to me) that they're also the ones with the most costume changes through out the comic. I thought it was quite interesting deciding where they'd change their clothes and what exactly they're clothes were through out.
I don't want to say what they are because I may well just spoil it all. I know it's nothing crucial to the storyline or anything but it's always a lot more interesting when you don't anything about a comic I think! So I'll keep my mouth shut on that one.
We also debated about a certain pair within the comic (course I'm not saying who! You can wait an see or guess! :P) and what their relationship is. It's one topic that Kathryn and I right from the very beginning of this comic always seem to debate about. I think we reached a decision about what would happen a long time ago, but we always go back to it because we clearly want something to happen between them.
The question is whether it's right for the story. And after some rather amusing sought out guidance from someone we know, we managed to make a decision on what should happen. But even after that decision was made, we still went back to it. It's like a little default that we resort back to! 0_o
We just have a lot of fun in the process!
And when I think on it. No matter how much stress or aggravation there may be sometimes with this project (and every other project it is we do!) it's always fun. Every time Kathryn and I have sat down together or sent an email with a document or picture attached we have fun.
And that's all that matters. :)
Isn't it?
Kathryn and I went out yesterday for our usual cafe/town ritual and talked all afternoon and night until my Mum picked me up to go home. But we always went back to talking about Heartstones and discussing the storyline and character designs further than we have done.
We've focussed a lot on the storyline before (hence the constant rewrites of V2) but then Kathryn announced that we needed to finalise the character designs. Although we've discussed outfits and the way the characters look many times before when she said that it did occur to me that we didn't have a picture where we could say “that's the final design!” because, as with the story, the designs just kept changing all the time.
Eliza and Jack seem to be the characters that were (and usually are for that matter) talked about the most. And I realised (partly because it never occurred to me) that they're also the ones with the most costume changes through out the comic. I thought it was quite interesting deciding where they'd change their clothes and what exactly they're clothes were through out.
I don't want to say what they are because I may well just spoil it all. I know it's nothing crucial to the storyline or anything but it's always a lot more interesting when you don't anything about a comic I think! So I'll keep my mouth shut on that one.
We also debated about a certain pair within the comic (course I'm not saying who! You can wait an see or guess! :P) and what their relationship is. It's one topic that Kathryn and I right from the very beginning of this comic always seem to debate about. I think we reached a decision about what would happen a long time ago, but we always go back to it because we clearly want something to happen between them.
The question is whether it's right for the story. And after some rather amusing sought out guidance from someone we know, we managed to make a decision on what should happen. But even after that decision was made, we still went back to it. It's like a little default that we resort back to! 0_o
We just have a lot of fun in the process!
And when I think on it. No matter how much stress or aggravation there may be sometimes with this project (and every other project it is we do!) it's always fun. Every time Kathryn and I have sat down together or sent an email with a document or picture attached we have fun.
And that's all that matters. :)
Isn't it?
Friday, 6 August 2010
Plans
This week I've been ill, the cold that was creeping up on me last week got me down for the entire weekend and I didn't quite recover properly until monday. Then I went out and got a hang over, which mixed with the after effects of a cold do not go very well together. So my plans for writing a lot more of Heartstones went out the window whilst I lived off strepsils this week.
'Course it's just about gone now and I spent quite a lot of time yesterday getting the first scenes right for V2. It's a slow progress this one, but it's getting there and Kathryn seems to think it's a lot better whenever she reads it, so that at least gives me a little bit of confidence.
If there's one thing I've worked out when it comes to making web comics, it's that planning is helpful. It doesn't need to be a plan that's set in stone because you can change it round whenever you get a new idea. But if you write what you want to happen down, I find it fixes the plot in your head a bit more solidly and I think at this moment in time, it's better with the plan, just because I know exactly where everything's going.
Writing should be the easy part now.
Other than all of this, there's not that much else to say I'm afraid.
Until next week!
'Course it's just about gone now and I spent quite a lot of time yesterday getting the first scenes right for V2. It's a slow progress this one, but it's getting there and Kathryn seems to think it's a lot better whenever she reads it, so that at least gives me a little bit of confidence.
If there's one thing I've worked out when it comes to making web comics, it's that planning is helpful. It doesn't need to be a plan that's set in stone because you can change it round whenever you get a new idea. But if you write what you want to happen down, I find it fixes the plot in your head a bit more solidly and I think at this moment in time, it's better with the plan, just because I know exactly where everything's going.
Writing should be the easy part now.
Other than all of this, there's not that much else to say I'm afraid.
Until next week!
Friday, 30 July 2010
The Big Experiment of Life
Number 22 Appletree Crescent was a busy household on a Saturday morning. Imogens smaller brother would be in the back garden, playing around with his toy swords or guns as he acted out some kind of science fiction battle scene.
Her mother would be on the landing, running round after the tempermental four year old that did not want to get dressed.
Her father would be in the kitchen, supposedly trying to give his wife a day off from making breakfast. But the ingredients lay un touched on the chopping board and he sat at the table, his phone in hand as he talked to yet another business client.
And Imogen, she'd be in her bedroom, sitting at her computer desk. The laptop was open, it's keyboard calling out to be typed on. Yet Imogen just sat there, staring at the blank word document that was waiting to be filled with words and tell another story.
But Imogens mind was blank when it came to words. She could visualise the scene, hear the characters voices in her head. Yet the moment her fingers tapped against the smooth keyboard, the words didn't work together.
Imogen didn't know how to fix it.
So she emailed her friend, complaining of the frustration she was feeling and hoping that they'd have some suggestion for the writers block she was in.
Yet the response held little of the comfort she craved. So Imogen looked at the notebook she'd planned out the story in. Her eyes scanned the lined paper, reminding herself of the story and situations she knew by heart anyway. She mouth curved in small smile as she lost herself in the thoughts, excitement flew through her. It was going to be dramatic today, and she always loved writing dramatic scenes.
But all this waiting had left Imogen feeling anxious and when she sat herself up in the chair, placed her wrists on the body of the laptop, her stomach clenched tightly.
Nerves were getting the better of her.
Usually she'd try and coax herself out of it by reading a favourite book. But the way the words flowed so naturally when she sought the book out merely depressed her more.
Days passed and the situation didn't get any better.
Imogen found herself sitting in one of the cities many cafes with her friend a few days later. Although she'd cheered up considerably at the sight of her friend, she was still pained over not being able to write.
And Imogen didn't waste any time what so ever in explaining the misery she felt to her friend.
“Maybe you just need to experiment a little.”
Her friends suggestion threw Imogen off guard but she didn't voice it. Instead she watched as her friend unzipped her bag and rummaged around inside it. She pulled out a comic, and flipped to the back.
On the page was a comic script.
“Why don't you try writing a comic? I could draw it for you if you like.”
Imogen hadn't been into comics very much. She'd heard of them, and read a few of the usual Beano or Dandy comic strips over the years. But she wasn't repulsed by them.
So she tried it.
And grew to love it beyond any kind of prose story she'd been attempting to write beforehand.
Of course Imogen found herself looking at the comic she'd been dedicatedly writing in different ways as time went by. She couldn't help but imagine seeing it on book shop shelf.
Sometimes this bugged her. She hated making dreams for things that may not happen for fear of the disappointmentt, and Imogen found herself going through a similar bout of nerves that sheexperiencedd with the writers block.
But she soon got over it.
The excitement of making a comic had took over any doubts she may have had. Of course she had no idea what she was doing, but she was learnt over the years and found herself making the comic a lot better than she'd ever imagined it being to start with.
A considerably long time into the making of the comic (but also certainly no where near the end of it) the friends were on another coffee shop trip. They'd spent many more hours discussing through things that afternoon, and it was then that they concluded the comic was, very much a big experiment for them both.
Perhaps even “The big experiment of life.”
Her mother would be on the landing, running round after the tempermental four year old that did not want to get dressed.
Her father would be in the kitchen, supposedly trying to give his wife a day off from making breakfast. But the ingredients lay un touched on the chopping board and he sat at the table, his phone in hand as he talked to yet another business client.
And Imogen, she'd be in her bedroom, sitting at her computer desk. The laptop was open, it's keyboard calling out to be typed on. Yet Imogen just sat there, staring at the blank word document that was waiting to be filled with words and tell another story.
But Imogens mind was blank when it came to words. She could visualise the scene, hear the characters voices in her head. Yet the moment her fingers tapped against the smooth keyboard, the words didn't work together.
Imogen didn't know how to fix it.
So she emailed her friend, complaining of the frustration she was feeling and hoping that they'd have some suggestion for the writers block she was in.
Yet the response held little of the comfort she craved. So Imogen looked at the notebook she'd planned out the story in. Her eyes scanned the lined paper, reminding herself of the story and situations she knew by heart anyway. She mouth curved in small smile as she lost herself in the thoughts, excitement flew through her. It was going to be dramatic today, and she always loved writing dramatic scenes.
But all this waiting had left Imogen feeling anxious and when she sat herself up in the chair, placed her wrists on the body of the laptop, her stomach clenched tightly.
Nerves were getting the better of her.
Usually she'd try and coax herself out of it by reading a favourite book. But the way the words flowed so naturally when she sought the book out merely depressed her more.
Days passed and the situation didn't get any better.
Imogen found herself sitting in one of the cities many cafes with her friend a few days later. Although she'd cheered up considerably at the sight of her friend, she was still pained over not being able to write.
And Imogen didn't waste any time what so ever in explaining the misery she felt to her friend.
“Maybe you just need to experiment a little.”
Her friends suggestion threw Imogen off guard but she didn't voice it. Instead she watched as her friend unzipped her bag and rummaged around inside it. She pulled out a comic, and flipped to the back.
On the page was a comic script.
“Why don't you try writing a comic? I could draw it for you if you like.”
Imogen hadn't been into comics very much. She'd heard of them, and read a few of the usual Beano or Dandy comic strips over the years. But she wasn't repulsed by them.
So she tried it.
And grew to love it beyond any kind of prose story she'd been attempting to write beforehand.
Of course Imogen found herself looking at the comic she'd been dedicatedly writing in different ways as time went by. She couldn't help but imagine seeing it on book shop shelf.
Sometimes this bugged her. She hated making dreams for things that may not happen for fear of the disappointmentt, and Imogen found herself going through a similar bout of nerves that sheexperiencedd with the writers block.
But she soon got over it.
The excitement of making a comic had took over any doubts she may have had. Of course she had no idea what she was doing, but she was learnt over the years and found herself making the comic a lot better than she'd ever imagined it being to start with.
A considerably long time into the making of the comic (but also certainly no where near the end of it) the friends were on another coffee shop trip. They'd spent many more hours discussing through things that afternoon, and it was then that they concluded the comic was, very much a big experiment for them both.
Perhaps even “The big experiment of life.”
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