COMMUNITY NEWS: Rich Douek Discusses Gutter Magic

Comics Experience Writing alum and Creators Workshop member, Rich Douek, recently penned a column for ComixTribe about writing comics and the winding path to his first comic book, Gutter Magic.

In the column, First Steps, Rich discusses how he had almost given up on writing comics, even though he had a story in mind -- one that began life as a prose story.

"Writing comics was one of those things I had always wanted to do, but was always finding excuses not to," Rich wrote.

But after coming across Andy Schmidt's appendix in the Peter David book, Writing for Comics and Graphic Novels, Rich looked up the Comics Experience online courses and signed up. In the column, Rich continues:

"In terms of creating comics, taking the Intro to Writing course was definitely a good move for me.

The course was equal parts learning how to write a proper script and construct a story, and how to maneuver and network within the comics industry. I picked up a lot of great tips, but the most valuable thing to me was the fact that I had homework. I had a project! A deadline! Concrete goals I could work towards completing. It was electrifying..."

Rich has since gone on to create Gutter Magic, and just this week he released the second story in the series, currently available for free on his website.

The story, entitled "Nice Work," is written by Rich Douek, with artwork by J.C. Grande, and letters by Creators Workshop member E.T. Dollman.

Congrats, Rich, and keep making comics!

Read Rich's Column, First Steps

Read Gutter Magic: "Nice Work" on SixGunComics.com

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If you want to make comics, write or draw comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
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Creators Workshop Pro Critiques & Guests!

The Creators Workshop is an on-going community of writers, artists, colorists, and letterers all dedicated to getting published and improving their craft. It's a community focused on making comics!

Our members post their work, critique each other, and discuss all aspects of creating comics in our members-only forums. But in addition to all that, members are eligible each month for critique by our instructors and special guests!

This month's special guest critiquer is Chuck Dixon. Chuck has more than twenty-five years of experience in the graphic novel field as an editor, writer and publisher. He's contributed well over a thousand scripts to publishers like DC Comics, Marvel, Dark Horse, and currently writes in the GI Joe universe for IDW. One script posted on our forums by September 24, 2011 will be eligible for a written critique by Chuck!

In addition, one artwork post by that date will be eligible for a written review by professional penciller and Comics Experience instructor, Robert Atkins (Snake Eyes, GI Joe, Heroes for Hire).

Plus, every month, Andy Schmidt, Comics Experience founder, writer, and former Marvel and IDW Editor, provides a written critique of an additional script and artwork post.

Our past guest critiquers have included:

• Peter David
  
• Jason Aaron
  
• John Romita, Jr.
  
• Wil Moss, DC Editor
  
• Jim McCann
  
• Andy Lanning
  
• Pablo Raimondi
  
• Tom Feister
  
• Nathan Edmondson
  
• Jody LeHeup, Marvel Editor
  
• Allan Heinberg
  
• Jim Cheung
  
• Mike Raicht
  
• Charles P. Wilson III & Nick Pitarra
  

The Creators Workshop is the ideal place to receive honest and helpful feedback on your work from both like-minded colleagues and professionals!

Beyond our forums, we also have regular, live, online meetings -- often with special guests -- where we discuss comic-related topics like marketing, budgeting, cover design, breaking in, pitching, self-publishing, and more.

Our past live guests have included:

• Robert Kirkman
  
• Christos Gage & Chris Samnee
  
• Kurt Busiek
  
• John Layman & Rob Guillory
  
• Jason Aaron
  
• Tom Feister
  
• Nathan Edmondson
  
• Jim McCann
  
• Mike Raicht, Brian Smith & Charles P. Wilson III
  
• Adam Withers & Comfort Love

Our live guest this month is Jeff Lemire, the multiple award-winning writer and artist of the Essex County trilogy as well as the new Animal Man and Frankenstein titles from DC Comics. We'll be discussing Sweet Tooth, Volumes 1 and 2 in a special Book Club session on September 27, 2011. (See more on that right here.)

If you want to make comics, write or draw comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Join the Creators Workshop!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
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COMMUNITY NEWS: Amy Chu Writes About a Difficult Topic

Comics Experience Writing alum, Amy Chu, has released a comic book short story, titled Closure, which was written as part of a 9/11-related writing challenge on the Creators Workshop several months ago.

In a blog post, Writing About a Difficult Subject, Amy wrote:

I was surprised at how emotional I became during the writing process. During 9/11 I lived in lower Manhattan and watched the towers fall outside my window.

All I could think about at the time were the people in the building, and how my husband had turned down an offer from a firm on the 103rd floor, and ever since I have avoided revisiting the coverage of those events, especially around this time of year. So I suppose the title of this story “Closure” has meaning for me personally as well.

With story by Amy Chu, art by Silvio DB and lettering by Creators Workshop member E.T. Dollman, Closure is currently available on Amy's website, NerdyGal.com.

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Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
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GUEST BLOG: Soto on the Intro to Comic Book Coloring Course

In this guest blog, Soto (aka Chris Sotomayor), professional colorist on countless Marvel titles (Spider-Man, X-Men, The Avengers, etc.), and Instructor of the Comics Experience Introduction to Comic Book Coloring class, shares his thoughts on the course. Classes will be held live, online, beginning October 3, 2011.

Before I start this guest blog about how awesome my coloring class is, and why it's better than any of the other Comics Experience classes (D'oh! I can hear the typing of angry e-mails from Andy, Rob, and Dave), I'd like to quickly explain how it got off the ground.

Andy already had Comics Experience off to a good start by the time he and I first started fantasizing about how to expand it to include a coloring class. Our first brainstorming session found more hurdles than solutions, but Andy and I share two important things (besides our love of good comics, which I guess would make it three things):

1. Sharing knowledge;
2. Innovating.

When Andy made the move from New York to San Diego, it became apparent to us that technology was going to be the missing link to proper expansion. With that, Andy and I came up with Comics Experience's best first online class (the one that started it all) -- Introduction to Comic Book Coloring.

We designed the class with slightly differing, but complementary, goals. Andy wanted a coloring class that he would be excited to take, and would instruct anyone in the steps necessary to coloring a complete piece from the ground up.

I wanted to design a class that was an art class first and foremost (seeing as how my background is in illustration), in order to properly teach how to use the computer as a tool, because I want to see good art and good comics.

What we came up with was one bad-ass class that's an unmatched experience in comparison to anything else available. It's completely interactive and in real time -- meaning that any time you have a question (or want to discuss a particular topic) during any of the 2-hour sessions, you can ask it and get an immediate answer. (Ever try to ask one of those DVD tutorials a question?)

We've had students from all over the U.S. (and the world) enjoy a carefully crafted curriculum that teaches the art of painting and color using Adobe PhotoShop as the tool of choice. Every student comes in with a different skill level--some already professional working artists, and some never having used PhotoShop before. And everyone comes out having learned way more than they thought possible.

Students complete homework assignments using sample artwork from the top comic book publishers, all in an effort to complete a fully realized portfolio at the end of the 6-week course. But one of the best things about the course is the supplement of the private-access forum, where the discussion and learning can continue far past the 2-hour weekly session. Plus, you get one month's free access to the very popular Comics Experience Creator's Workshop, which is a great place to hone your skills and discuss comics, creativity, and art with all the other Workshop members.

Everything that's packed into this class makes it as exciting to teach as it is to take. I've had many students contact me after the course is over, or meet me at conventions, and tell me how fun and informative the class has been. Some have even contacted me to tell me about the paid coloring work they were able to get, based on their completed coloring portfolio.

But be warned: I'm very honest in the class--sometimes to a fault (but not my fault). I don't pull punches, but I do name names. This is a no-nonsense class where your feelings may be hurt, but you will make good art in the process.

Above all else, I enjoy working in comics. It's exciting and rewarding, and I love the idea of sharing my love of comic books, art, and the business side of it all.

-Soto

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The next session of the live, online Introduction to Comic Book Coloring class begins October 3, 2011. Enrollment is still open, but seats are limited, so sign up now!

If you want to make comics, write or draw comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshop and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
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Comfort Love & Adam Withers Discuss Self-Publishing on the Creators Workshop

In last month’s Creators Workshop live session, the husband and wife comics-creating team of Comfort Love and Adam Withers discussed their road to independent comics, and why other creators should be realistic about what steps are necessary to reach their goals.

Adam and Comfort are the Harvey Award-nominated creators of the comic book series Rainbow in the Dark and The Uniques, as well as the Harvey Award-nominated anthology, Unique Tales.

However, Adam and Comfort didn’t start out with the goal of self-publishing creator-owned comics.

“We tried to pursue comics in the way people used to do, and the stories you used to be told,” said Adam. “You go to a convention, you show your portfolio, and if you’re good enough an editor will shine down upon you and take you under their wing. And that’s how it’s supposed to work.”

Instead, as the years went by, Comfort and Adam received more and more work as freelance illustrators, and worked with writers on pitch books and other projects, but were unable to gain traction with the Big Two publishers.

Part of the problem, Comfort said, is that she and Adam were influenced by artists who straddled the line between an animated and realistic style, such as Chris Bachalo, J. Scott Campbell and Joe Madureira. But when they were trying to break in, publishers were more interested in an uber-realistic style of art. Comfort said editors would often tell them, “I love your stuff, it looks great, I wish I could do something for you, but I don’t know where it fits.”

But Adam and Comfort both said that, style issues aside, it would still be extremely difficult to break into the Big Two through portfolio reviews alone.

“It doesn’t happen that way anymore,” Adam said. “You have to be published to be published.”

And so they turned to self-publishing. Fast-forward to the present day, and Comfort and Adam are highly sought-after convention guests, the critically acclaimed creators of The Uniques and Rainbow in the Dark, and 2011 Harvey Award nominees for most promising new talent, and best anthology for Unique Tales.

Their journey to self-publishing was just one small part of Comfort and Adam’s presentation. They also discussed the collaborative process, marketing your creator-owned material, selling digital comics, and how to make the most out of comics conventions (hint: the most profitable cons may not be the ones you’ve heard of).

A recording of the entire discussion will be available to Workshop members for a few weeks, so it's not too late to check out the full session.

The next live session will feature writer/artist Jeff Lemire discussing Volumes 1 and 2 of his Vertigo title, Sweet Tooth, in a Book Club session of the workshop. (Read more about that upcoming session right here.)

Comics Experience live sessions take place every month, giving members real-world knowledge that will help them succeed in their comics career. There’s still plenty of time to sign up before next month’s session. We hope to see you there.

-- Posted by Paul Allor

COMMUNITY NEWS: Paul Allor Interviewed on CBR!

Comics Experience Writing alum and Creators Workshop member Paul Allor was recently interviewed by Comic Book Resources (CBR) regarding the release of his first book, a collection of short comics titled Clockwork, Vol. 1.

In the interview, Paul discusses how the approach he took to Clockwork originated with Andy Schmidt's Introduction to Comic Book Writing course, in which students write a complete 5-page comic book script with a beginning, middle, and end.

Paul told CBR:

"In that class, Andy told us that writing a strong and complete five-page comic is actually harder than writing a longer work.

I really took that to heart. So, after the class ended, I decided to continue honing my craft on stand-alone five-page stories. Clockwork, Volume 1 features 12 of them, and another 12 are currently in production for Clockwork, Volume 2.

Read the full CBR/Robot 6 Interview with Paul Allor here.

Paul gathered together an amazing array of artists to bring his stories to life including Comics Experience art alums and workshop members Ken Frederick and Carl Peterson, alongside well-known artists including JM Ken Niimura (I Kill Giants), Brett Weldele (Surrogates) and Nikki Cook (Memoir)

Anyone who enjoys anthologies, great comic book stories and art, or has an interest in studying complete, short comic book stories should definitely check out Clockwork! The stories inside range from westerns to outer space, and take you from death row to a child's home.

Paul recently wrote about the lessons learned from Comics Experience in producing his book in a special guest blog.

You can read Clockwork, Vol. 1 online for a limited time at www.clockworkcomic.com, and can order the print version in the Clock Shop.

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If you want to make comics, write or draw comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook

Comic Book Writing & Art Classes SOLD OUT!

If you were one of the lucky folks who managed to register for our Introduction to Comic Book Writing and Introduction to Comic Book Art courses in the last few days, then congratulations, because they are both fully sold out!

The Intro to Art class taught by Robert Atkins just started up on August 30th, and we had to close registrations several days before it began.

And Intro to Writing taught by Andy Schmidt is still a couple weeks away, and we're already sold out! The next Intro to Writing class will likely be scheduled for January. If you want to ensure you have a spot, we'd suggest signing up early! The course and exact schedule will be posted in the next few weeks.

We're sorry we couldn't fit in everyone who wanted to join us this time around -- but we have to keep the class size relatively small to ensure the best possible learning experience for our students. We certainly hope you'll join us next time!

In the meantime, any writers or artists wishing to work on their craft are welcome to join our on-going Comic Creators Workshop! You can read more about that right here.

Next up, we have an Introduction to Comic Book Coloring class, taught by professional colorist Christopher Sotomayer (aka "Soto"), starting on October 3, 2011. This one is sure to sell out as well...

We hope to see you soon -- in our courses or in the Creators Workshop!

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If you want to make comics, write or draw comics, or improve as a comics creator, you'll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Rob Anderson
rob@ComicsExperience.com
Twitter / Facebook