Creating comics, so simple… right?

“Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts. And never hope more than you work.” – Rita Mae brown

Creating comics, such a simple thing. An idea is translated into a medium of sequential art incorporating pictures and words. A script is written, the pages are drawn, along comes the inker, she hands it over to be colored, the letterer throws some words into balloons, you wrap a cover around it, slap a staple in the middle, and voila, you have yourself a comic. See what I mean? Simple. Or is it? After all, if it were so simple, why on earth do so many that are not merely content with just reading comics but want to actively pursue injecting their creativity into the world of comicdom struggle day in and day out to bring their ideas to the printed page. It seems as if the process to create such a simple, innocuous thing is almost a war of attrition for those striving to do so.

It’s true that just about anyone can create a comic book. And yet so many creators are out there wanting to bring their ideas to life only to run into obstacles that prevent them from doing so; be it time to work on their creation, finding a reliable group to work with, or the necessary funds to make it a reality – the latter quite often being the biggest hindrance. Although it is the same for just about any artistic medium, comics present their own unique challenges.

Lets take a look at a few of those challenges that I mentioned above:

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What fear is standing between you and your dreams?

“Aerodynamics experts can prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that the bumble bee’s small wings and bulbous body render it incapable of flying. Once launched into the air, any creature so configured will simply crash to the ground and die. The bee, however, is fearless – so it flies anyway.”

All too often, the thing that holds us back the most when moving towards fulfilling our dreams is fear: fear of failure, of success, of ridicule, of worth.  The above quote is taken from a column by Clayton Makepeace.  The post is one of the most inspiring I have come across in quite some time.

Instead of paraphrasing what he says, I felt it in your best interest to direct you to the column itself so you could read it in its entirety.  It includes a video that absolutely must be watched.  If after watching the video and reading his uplifting words you do not see how small your fears are and how readily possible it is for you to achieve your dreams, as Clayton puts it, “better take your pulse – because whether you know it or not, you have passed away.”

After you’ve read the column – and dried your eyes – come back and post a comment or two.  I love to hear what you think.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE POST (You may have to scroll to the top of the page.)

To your success.

Independent Excellence

“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.” – Proverbs 22:29

Do you strive for excellence? The word excellence means outstanding, of exceptional quality. It begins when we know that being “good enough” just won’t do. It is the stand one takes that allows for performance that surpasses what was previously possible, defies previously established limits and maps out new territories. So I ask again, do you strive for excellence?

At one time or another I am sure you have had moments when you succeeded at something seemingly without effort. Times when you performed superbly and gracefully, you hit the mark on your very first attempt. Unfortunately, you’re never quite sure how it all came together, how it happened, or if a repeat performance is even possible. This my friend, is what excellence tastes like. A taste once acquired… Read more

Where in the world is Jonnie Allan???

That was a question I received in the comments section of this BLOG. And you know what? It’s a great question. So instead of simply posting a reply I thought it better to address as an entire post. There’s a lesson in it that applies to everyone.

First and foremost let me take a moment to apologize for the lack of content. I began Creating Comic Success with the intent of having at least 2 posts a week to help aspiring and professional creators alike understand the marketing side of the industry. As a trusted source for marketing in the comic book world, I take this self-appointed task to provide you with the very best information available very seriously.

Here’s what happened: Read more