Slice of Life Comics

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Comment by Donna Barr on October 21, 2009 at 8:51am

Like I tell folks who want me to stay up for the 24-hour comics things: how about the 26-year comic?

Comment by Donna Barr on October 21, 2009 at 8:50am

How long is a story arc? Well, I've written a couple for 26 years -- but the episodes only go the length of one book. Day In The Life. It's more fun if the readers know ALL the details and ALL the characters but they don't have to -- and they get the in-jokes. But none of us know the life histories of everybody we meet, and we do all right in real life.

Comment by Josh McDonald on October 20, 2009 at 2:11pm

I definately recommend having an extra set of eyes looking over one's work as much as possible. In my case it's my wife, who is my biggest fan who isn't shy about telling me when something isn't working. I find she has just the right perspective to help me get out of my own head and see it as others might see it.

Comment by James Climer on October 20, 2009 at 6:39am

I feel your pain. I planned out my story back in January where my main character quits his job, which I could sum up in like two paragraphs. I'm just now finishing the comic where he walks out the door; so that's ten months for him to get upset and serve out his two weeks . :)

My readers (which are few but choice to me :) ) do not really grasp the big picture seeing as how it has taken so long to progress.

Which leads me to a question. I've been listening to TallTaleRadio lately and believe I'm noticing a trend where writers and artists team up to produce comics. I think where I suffer is in my writing, and I'm thinking another pair of eyes might actually help my comic. This might also help one learn if their story is too long and dragging on.

Do you all prefer to work alone? Have you ever considered finding someone to help write or draw or even act as an editor?

Comment by R. C. Monroe on October 19, 2009 at 11:25pm

Wish I knew the answer to that. I'm in the midst of a very long arc that I fear may be going on for too long. But there's no hard and fast rule. "As long as you're able to keep it interesting," I guess. But it's hard to be objective about that.

Comment by The Karen on October 19, 2009 at 10:01pm

Does anyone know how long is too long for a story arc? I just started writing a bunch of strips about my roadtrip, and even though there's a joke in each I'm worried that people will get frustrated and bored with it. I'm even trying to boost the number of strips a week so it'll take less time. I'm probably going to keep going no matter what, but I'm just wondering if I should be expecting a downward trend until this is finished.

Comment by Donna Barr on September 24, 2009 at 9:03am

Man, you have to get "Palestine." That's Joe's masterpiece. And not enough people are reading it. It's hard to get people to read comic books seriously. It's why I introduce them with a stealth marketing term -- drawn books -- before I go on to describe what I do. There's no use our saying, "Oh, when I say I do comic books everybody's excited." That's because we hang out with OUR kind. Outside markets still have to be convinced.

Comment by R. C. Monroe on September 23, 2009 at 11:24am

I only saw one thing he did, it was this comic about touring Europe with a rock band as their "staff cartoonist". It was great. I figured he must have done other stuff, but I never saw any of it.

Comment by Josh McDonald on September 23, 2009 at 9:55am

Umm... I dunno how he's doing. I don't know him personallly -- just a big fan of his work, and it's the first thing I thought of when you brought up non-fiction writing and comics.

Comment by Donna Barr on September 23, 2009 at 8:36am

Of course I know Joe! We're both part of that ol' black-and-white '80's thang. How's he doing?

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