I thought it was time, after an incredibly long lie in, to document my thoughts on Thought Bubble in Leeds - as the title suggests, I was rather disappointed and came home with feelings of frustration more than anything else.
As it was my first Thought Bubble, I didn't know what to expect, and assumed it would be a similar vibe to BICS last month, which turned out to be a bit wide of the mark - there was a much greater emphasis on the buying and selling at Thought Bubble, and not quite so much on the social aspects of the show. Good for the people with tables, not so good for me, I guess. I managed to have a quick chat with Dave and Colin at the Accent table, and caught up a little with old chums like Jenika, Doug Noble and Daniel Merlin Goodbrey, but all in all it had much more of a market feel and I found it hard to wade through the bustle towards other creators. It was something of a shame considering my new quest for artists.
The organization of the event seems to be a little chaotic, too. Any event where those with pre-paid tickets take twice as long to get into the show as those who have just shown up with nothing is a bit uncoordinated, and In this regard, Thought Bubble was a bit of a shambles. It was livened up a little, however, by the troupe of rollerskating zombie chicks in gold hotpants, who were meandering around the entrance for the best part of the day.
So, not very much was done, and a lot still remains to do - Accent passed on the script that I had delivered to them due to its length, but reassured me of its quality, gave their blessings for me to shop it around, and welcomed a different, shorter script, which Roland will be able to fit better into his schedule. I've got a concept that I shall be developing in the next few weeks for them that will be ideal.
This has had the side effect of leaving me with a complete graphic novel script with no home and no attached artist, which is not necessarily a bad thing, because I already have a number of ideas regarding Hudson Falls which I'll be exploring in the next few weeks. That will all hinge on finding an artist to come on board, because as any writer will know, many publishers won't even look at a script unless it's accompanied by at least 10 pages of finished art.
Between that and the Clint submissions, I'm going to have to redouble my efforts and throw myself into my crusade for artists. By the last count, I now need at least three new collaborators for various projects.
In other news, progress continues to be made with Chris and the website - more subtle changes take place as time goes on. I'm hoping that some time in the new year the design will be complete and I can just concern myself with generating additional content to go into it.
Lots to do, and more to think about. This Christmas will be a quiet one, I think.
Darren Ellis writes, except when he doesn't.
When he doesn't he's more than likely doing something sedentary and fun, like playing video games or reading a book. Or procrastinating over what he's supposed to be writing.
Oh yes. He does that last one quite a bit.
Sunday, 21 November 2010
Saturday, 6 November 2010
Ding Dong
The website has seen a little more attention today - It's really starting to take shape now.
I've been calming down a bit over here since the mad post-BICS rush. I've just put the finishing touches to another script that I'm intending to submit to another anthology, and I have another script to write this week for something else.
Once that is done, I'm going to explore some more full graphic novel opportunities and fish out and old idea I had a while back when pitching ideas to Accent UK that I really liked, and I'm going to write that bad boy. It's another of my talky, thoughtful ones, but this one is a bit high-concept and I have a feeling it'll grow in the telling. Looking forward to getting stuck into it.
This weekend is going to comprise my ongoing search for artists for the Clint scripts I've written. I've heard from a few people, but non who would really fit with either story, but I'm not giving up hope and The internet is full of talented artists. There are bound to be a few that would go well with the scripts.
Tickets are bought for Thought Bubble in Leeds, where I'm hoping to continue my run of possibilities.
In other news, as the title of this post demonstrates, I'm now the proud owner of a Leslie Phillips moustache. My immortal and beautiful beard is gone!
It's all in aid of charity, of course. Movember is now in full swing, raising money for The Prostate Cancer Charity, and I've thrown my oar in to try to help out. If you feel like sponsoring my face furniture and donating a little cash, head on over to http://uk.movember.com/mospace/956772/ and hit the "donate to me" button. If I can raise over £80 I get a free invite to a moustache party! I don't know what that involves, but it certainly sounds jolly exciting.
And worry not. Like Rage Against The Machine last year, my beard will be making a triumphant Christmas Comeback when Movember is over.
I've been calming down a bit over here since the mad post-BICS rush. I've just put the finishing touches to another script that I'm intending to submit to another anthology, and I have another script to write this week for something else.
Once that is done, I'm going to explore some more full graphic novel opportunities and fish out and old idea I had a while back when pitching ideas to Accent UK that I really liked, and I'm going to write that bad boy. It's another of my talky, thoughtful ones, but this one is a bit high-concept and I have a feeling it'll grow in the telling. Looking forward to getting stuck into it.
This weekend is going to comprise my ongoing search for artists for the Clint scripts I've written. I've heard from a few people, but non who would really fit with either story, but I'm not giving up hope and The internet is full of talented artists. There are bound to be a few that would go well with the scripts.
Tickets are bought for Thought Bubble in Leeds, where I'm hoping to continue my run of possibilities.
In other news, as the title of this post demonstrates, I'm now the proud owner of a Leslie Phillips moustache. My immortal and beautiful beard is gone!
It's all in aid of charity, of course. Movember is now in full swing, raising money for The Prostate Cancer Charity, and I've thrown my oar in to try to help out. If you feel like sponsoring my face furniture and donating a little cash, head on over to http://uk.movember.com/mospace/956772/ and hit the "donate to me" button. If I can raise over £80 I get a free invite to a moustache party! I don't know what that involves, but it certainly sounds jolly exciting.
And worry not. Like Rage Against The Machine last year, my beard will be making a triumphant Christmas Comeback when Movember is over.
Saturday, 23 October 2010
Eye of the Storm
It's been pretty busy recently, so I've decided to give myself the weekend off. I've been in the middle of a whirlwind of activity since BICS, so I'm taking a couple of days to kick back and reflect on what's been going on. I think I need to - my head has been spinning with so many different things I think I've been getting dizzy.
The scripts I've been working on the last couple of days have been for Mark Millar's Clint magazine - as you'll probably be aware if you've been paying attention, there's a fairly major talent search going on, so I thought I'd stick my oar in and try to do something for them to look at. The scripts are finished, and I think they're pretty good, and now I'm going through perhaps the most laborious and stressful time for a writer - trying to find a couple of artists for them before the submission window closes.
I have no idea IF the submission window is closing any time soon, but I'm desperately scouring the internet for talented artists like there's no tomorrow just in case. It's doubly difficult to find them when there's no money involved, unless, of course, the scripts get bought. But potential money isn't quite the same as actual cash, as far as a carrot on a stick goes.
I've got a few more scripts to write next week, too, which I'm not quite so concerned about finding artists for. One of them may have an artist lined up already, and the other may (I'm hoping) take care of itself if it's successful.
Elsewhere, I've splashed out on my tickets for Thought Bubble in Leeds in November, so I'll definitely be attending. I'm hoping to continue there my run of uplifting chats and opportunities for progress that kicked off at BICS.
It's all go at the moment. Except this weekend, of course. This weekend is for DVDs and Chinese food.
The scripts I've been working on the last couple of days have been for Mark Millar's Clint magazine - as you'll probably be aware if you've been paying attention, there's a fairly major talent search going on, so I thought I'd stick my oar in and try to do something for them to look at. The scripts are finished, and I think they're pretty good, and now I'm going through perhaps the most laborious and stressful time for a writer - trying to find a couple of artists for them before the submission window closes.
I have no idea IF the submission window is closing any time soon, but I'm desperately scouring the internet for talented artists like there's no tomorrow just in case. It's doubly difficult to find them when there's no money involved, unless, of course, the scripts get bought. But potential money isn't quite the same as actual cash, as far as a carrot on a stick goes.
I've got a few more scripts to write next week, too, which I'm not quite so concerned about finding artists for. One of them may have an artist lined up already, and the other may (I'm hoping) take care of itself if it's successful.
Elsewhere, I've splashed out on my tickets for Thought Bubble in Leeds in November, so I'll definitely be attending. I'm hoping to continue there my run of uplifting chats and opportunities for progress that kicked off at BICS.
It's all go at the moment. Except this weekend, of course. This weekend is for DVDs and Chinese food.
Thursday, 21 October 2010
So It Begins...
The new initiative to get my foot in the door in as many places as possible, that is.
I spent most of yesterday fleshing out some ideas from various things, and today has marked the beginning of the scriptwriting process, and I've begun advertising for artists to collaborate with on these projects. Time will tell if any of them get anywhere.
The brainstorming itself was a complete nightmare. I had to take to sitting in front of TV Tropes and watching movies, hoping that something planted a seed in my head that I could grow. It got so frustrating at one point I just sat at my desk, pounding the sides of my head trying to make the ideas come out.
That didn't work, either.
Eventually, after a lot of hard work and false starts, I got some decent ideas down. Some are old ideas I've retooled to fit these submissions, some are new. At least one of them is completely mental, but I'm keeping quiet about the details until I know something is happening with them.
I've got another holiday tomorrow, and I'm hoping to have at least another two short story scripts finished by the weekend. I'm setting myself some tight deadlines, but I have no idea if there's a time limit on some of these submissions. I figure it's best to act quickly. Every target that I set myself and meet means I'm slightly better at working to an end date, so when the time comes for me to work to genuine deadlines, I'll be well accustomed to it.
They're only a couple of pages long each. I figure if I can get another one done this evening, I can spend all day tomorrow on the last, and give them another pass to add some polish at the weekend.
I spent most of yesterday fleshing out some ideas from various things, and today has marked the beginning of the scriptwriting process, and I've begun advertising for artists to collaborate with on these projects. Time will tell if any of them get anywhere.
The brainstorming itself was a complete nightmare. I had to take to sitting in front of TV Tropes and watching movies, hoping that something planted a seed in my head that I could grow. It got so frustrating at one point I just sat at my desk, pounding the sides of my head trying to make the ideas come out.
That didn't work, either.
Eventually, after a lot of hard work and false starts, I got some decent ideas down. Some are old ideas I've retooled to fit these submissions, some are new. At least one of them is completely mental, but I'm keeping quiet about the details until I know something is happening with them.
I've got another holiday tomorrow, and I'm hoping to have at least another two short story scripts finished by the weekend. I'm setting myself some tight deadlines, but I have no idea if there's a time limit on some of these submissions. I figure it's best to act quickly. Every target that I set myself and meet means I'm slightly better at working to an end date, so when the time comes for me to work to genuine deadlines, I'll be well accustomed to it.
They're only a couple of pages long each. I figure if I can get another one done this evening, I can spend all day tomorrow on the last, and give them another pass to add some polish at the weekend.
Sunday, 17 October 2010
I'll give you love you can't ignore
And on my writeup continues, as do the Gina G quotes.
Roland was there at the show, and of course we spent quite a while talking about our various plans. It was nice to see the old boy again - since last year's show, it's been email contact all the way, which is great, but sometimes in order to properly talk about stuff you need to be in the same room. I now feel much better about the projects we're working on together. Nothing additional was planned, but that's for the best - He has to work for a living and I wouldn't presume to make any further demands on his time without a guaranteed payday.
What I need, clearly, are a couple more artists in my pool of collaborators that are as talented and reliable who I can go to with projects when Roland is too busy. And I think I made a couple of tentative steps towards that, but it's too early to say anything for certain. Maybe being online will provide some assistance to that as well.
Yesterday had me kind of sorry I quit smoking a couple of years ago. Most of the good work I did took place while standing out in the biting cold while Roland puffed away on a cigarette. It was during one of these occasional breaks from the sweaty hall that I met Jimmy Pearson, a fellow writer who I exchanged portfolios with. He's another guy trying to go places, who was really helpful. A few of the avenues of inquiry he recommended could prove to be quite fruitful.
There were a few other goings on, but nothing I've followed up on yet, so I don't know if anything will come of them. A few possibilities for future short stories, and a good few emails I have to send to assorted people, most of whom will still be at the show today, so there's no rush.
All in all, I think I really needed to be at BICS. Being around other creative bods has reinvigorated me to some extent. Lots to do in the coming weeks. I shall have to make another of my spreadsheets so I can better handle my workload.
Roland was there at the show, and of course we spent quite a while talking about our various plans. It was nice to see the old boy again - since last year's show, it's been email contact all the way, which is great, but sometimes in order to properly talk about stuff you need to be in the same room. I now feel much better about the projects we're working on together. Nothing additional was planned, but that's for the best - He has to work for a living and I wouldn't presume to make any further demands on his time without a guaranteed payday.
What I need, clearly, are a couple more artists in my pool of collaborators that are as talented and reliable who I can go to with projects when Roland is too busy. And I think I made a couple of tentative steps towards that, but it's too early to say anything for certain. Maybe being online will provide some assistance to that as well.
Yesterday had me kind of sorry I quit smoking a couple of years ago. Most of the good work I did took place while standing out in the biting cold while Roland puffed away on a cigarette. It was during one of these occasional breaks from the sweaty hall that I met Jimmy Pearson, a fellow writer who I exchanged portfolios with. He's another guy trying to go places, who was really helpful. A few of the avenues of inquiry he recommended could prove to be quite fruitful.
There were a few other goings on, but nothing I've followed up on yet, so I don't know if anything will come of them. A few possibilities for future short stories, and a good few emails I have to send to assorted people, most of whom will still be at the show today, so there's no rush.
All in all, I think I really needed to be at BICS. Being around other creative bods has reinvigorated me to some extent. Lots to do in the coming weeks. I shall have to make another of my spreadsheets so I can better handle my workload.
A little bit more...
Yesterday didn't start well, I have to admit. While waiting for my train in the morning, I was stood on the platform minding my own business when a pigeon shat on my arm.
"Oh," I thought. "It's going to be one of those days, isn't it?"
It didn't get much better when I got to the show. As I was doing my usual silent circuit of the show before talking to or buying anything, someone shouted for my attention. It turned out to be a pretty girl sat behind a desk with an open portfolio on top, who wanted to complement me on my brilliant Legend of Zelda T-shirt. As well she might - it is a fine T-shirt, but so surprised was I by this peculiar event I turned into a giggling ninny incapable of speech and immediately turned away to leave, tripping over my own feet in the process.
I am graceful.
I went back later. She was away having lunch. Her portfolio was full of Legend of Zelda fanart.
Feeling like a bit of a pillock after that, I decided I simply wasn't ready to be meeting new people and ran away for a pick-me-up at the cafe, and after that, things got better and I made less of a fool of myself.
Firstly I was accosted by the incredibly enthusiastic Tom McNally, who effectively pressganged me into buying his comics through sheer force of personality. If you want a wonderful example of comic show salesmanship, head over to the Little Old Man Comics table at any of these events. They are quite, quite mad, and their comics are funny. Mental, but funny. Check them out at www.littleoldman.com.
Next, I meandered around a bit and found the Accent UK table for a nice, productive chat with Colin and Dave. I also picked up copies of their books 'Whatever Happened to the World's Fastest Man?' and 'The Man of Glass', both of which are excellent and come wholeheartedly recommended.
After further wanderings, I found Jenika Ioffreda's table for a chat and to pick up #5 of Vampire Free Style and a cute little badge. I was looking forward to reading it when I got home, but unfortunately couldn't. Idiot Me had completely forgotten that I haven't bought or read #4 yet, so I'm hoping Jenika has a table at Leeds next month so I can complete the collection, or I'm stuck without my dose of VFS until next year.
So the day started to improve. I'll tell you all about that later today in a following post.
"Oh," I thought. "It's going to be one of those days, isn't it?"
It didn't get much better when I got to the show. As I was doing my usual silent circuit of the show before talking to or buying anything, someone shouted for my attention. It turned out to be a pretty girl sat behind a desk with an open portfolio on top, who wanted to complement me on my brilliant Legend of Zelda T-shirt. As well she might - it is a fine T-shirt, but so surprised was I by this peculiar event I turned into a giggling ninny incapable of speech and immediately turned away to leave, tripping over my own feet in the process.
I am graceful.
I went back later. She was away having lunch. Her portfolio was full of Legend of Zelda fanart.
Feeling like a bit of a pillock after that, I decided I simply wasn't ready to be meeting new people and ran away for a pick-me-up at the cafe, and after that, things got better and I made less of a fool of myself.
Firstly I was accosted by the incredibly enthusiastic Tom McNally, who effectively pressganged me into buying his comics through sheer force of personality. If you want a wonderful example of comic show salesmanship, head over to the Little Old Man Comics table at any of these events. They are quite, quite mad, and their comics are funny. Mental, but funny. Check them out at www.littleoldman.com.
Next, I meandered around a bit and found the Accent UK table for a nice, productive chat with Colin and Dave. I also picked up copies of their books 'Whatever Happened to the World's Fastest Man?' and 'The Man of Glass', both of which are excellent and come wholeheartedly recommended.
After further wanderings, I found Jenika Ioffreda's table for a chat and to pick up #5 of Vampire Free Style and a cute little badge. I was looking forward to reading it when I got home, but unfortunately couldn't. Idiot Me had completely forgotten that I haven't bought or read #4 yet, so I'm hoping Jenika has a table at Leeds next month so I can complete the collection, or I'm stuck without my dose of VFS until next year.
So the day started to improve. I'll tell you all about that later today in a following post.
Saturday, 16 October 2010
Ooh, ahh, just a little BICS
Just got back from my Saturday jaunt over to BICS.
It was jolly productive. Lots of possibilities and things.
I'll give it a proper write up tomorrow, but for now, I really need beer.
It was jolly productive. Lots of possibilities and things.
I'll give it a proper write up tomorrow, but for now, I really need beer.
Friday, 15 October 2010
Musing on past projects
I've been doing a bit of homework recently, in preparation for BICS this weekend. As Christian has been playing about with the website quite a bit this week (more on that in a later post), I've been keeping busy by reading through some of my old work from a way back, and it's become apparent to me that my script for "Come & See" could use a bit of lick and spit.
"Come & See" is one of the ongoing projects of Roland's and mine whose page isn't quite ready for the website, but you'll see some stuff about it soon. It's a big project that Roland and I have had on the back burner for a while, and frustratingly it's one of those things where other things have just kind of queued up in front of it and pushed it away. A guilty part of me thinks I might have been ignoring it because I knew it needed work.
It's not the first time I've taken a second look at it, either. I rewrote the first part of it about 18 months ago, back before I got to work on the big script I've mentioned before. That rewrite was from a script that I wrote several years earlier. It's feels like it, too. It reads like a script by the me of 2001, that the 2008 me knocked into shape in a slightly lazy way.
I like to think that I've come along as a writer a fair bit since then, and as it's a project that's quite dear to me I'm going to stall the kids book until after Christmas and spend the next couple of months working on this one. It will definitely benefit from a little love and care, and who knows, a proper Version 2 of the script might get a bit more attention than it did the first time round the block.
I'll be on a comic-writing high for at least a couple of weeks after BICS this weekend, so I may as well harness that positivity and put it to good use.
"Come & See" is one of the ongoing projects of Roland's and mine whose page isn't quite ready for the website, but you'll see some stuff about it soon. It's a big project that Roland and I have had on the back burner for a while, and frustratingly it's one of those things where other things have just kind of queued up in front of it and pushed it away. A guilty part of me thinks I might have been ignoring it because I knew it needed work.
It's not the first time I've taken a second look at it, either. I rewrote the first part of it about 18 months ago, back before I got to work on the big script I've mentioned before. That rewrite was from a script that I wrote several years earlier. It's feels like it, too. It reads like a script by the me of 2001, that the 2008 me knocked into shape in a slightly lazy way.
I like to think that I've come along as a writer a fair bit since then, and as it's a project that's quite dear to me I'm going to stall the kids book until after Christmas and spend the next couple of months working on this one. It will definitely benefit from a little love and care, and who knows, a proper Version 2 of the script might get a bit more attention than it did the first time round the block.
I'll be on a comic-writing high for at least a couple of weeks after BICS this weekend, so I may as well harness that positivity and put it to good use.
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