Which is the better part of doing comics: drawing or writing

For discussions, announcements, non-technical questions and anything else comics-related or otherwise that doesn't fit in any of the other categories.
User avatar
Lewis
Regular Poster
Posts: 110
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Somewhere, Sometime, Somewhat

Post by Lewis »

The writing process is very simple for me. <P>I just throw flaming dog poop and gravel at random people on the street. The first thing that they say is what I base an issue's plot on.<P>Of course I'm starting to get tired of writing about, "ARGH! WHAT THE F**K!?!"<P>------------------
Barry Jackson
<A HREF="http://www.stinkingwolf.com" TARGET=_blank>Stinking Wolf</A> Twice the feces-grabbing action.
Coming Soon.

User avatar
KathleenJ
Cartoon Hero
Posts: 1479
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Contact:

Post by KathleenJ »

what i love about comics above any other medium is that they combine writing and drawing. i love doing both in my own stuff. but in the comics i read, i think when it comes down to it i'd prefer something really intelligent and well written with crappy art to something beautiful looking but stupid. <P>------------------
<A HREF="http://coolville.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>http://coolville.keenspace.com</A>

Quattro
Regular Poster
Posts: 101
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Canada
Contact:

Post by Quattro »

I have to say the step before writing is my fav. Coming up with ideas for a comic sometimes can be really fun, especially if you do the comic with a friend.<P>But I'll agree in that a well written comic with ok art is far better than grat art and a bad story.<P>That's why I try really hard to make sure my comic is well written and I hope my art catches up as I get more familiar with my characters. Though i've already been complimented on my fairly unique art style.<P><P>------------------
<A HREF="http://heroes.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>HEROES</A>
Where being a super hero is as easy as getting a drivers license

User avatar
MikeLeffel
Cartoon Hero
Posts: 1027
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Nebraska, land of Carsons
Contact:

Post by MikeLeffel »

I have the most fun sitting alone and doodling out my thoughts and flying about in my fantasy worlds, creating characters and having them do things and daring to transfer what I see to paper.<P>The hell begins when I dare try to present those ideas in a format that 'others' could comprehend. Then it all falls to pieces as I nitpick about my writing and my art and then the seizures begin and the sweating and the voices scream and scream and something has ahold of my chest or something and I can't breathe and then I run around the room calling out to the gods who torment me and I beg them to leave me alone and then I finally draw the damned thing and it's over.<P>------------------
"FAT JESUS" <A HREF="http://www.fat-jesus.com" TARGET=_blank>http://www.fat-jesus.com</A> <A HREF="http://fatjesus.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>http://fatjesus.keenspace.com</A> by Mike Leffel(c)2000 - 2001

Maelstrom32
Regular Poster
Posts: 243
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Idaho Falls Idaho
Contact:

Post by Maelstrom32 »

I like drawing and writing the same way, but you must start with a good story before your pencil may ever touch the paper.
Art is just as important, your style captures your story, the art does not have to be di vinci, it just needs to express something that your words were trying to convey,
it is a marrige of too art forms, to show the reader what goes on in your minds eye.
and to hold there attention with line,form, and plot.
That is a wonderful question.
maelstrom- <A HREF="http://www.lolm.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>www.lolm.keenspace.com</A>

Somebody Strange
Regular Poster
Posts: 630
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Contact:

Post by Somebody Strange »

Pretty much ditto. My art's not much to brag about.<P>But I really like my writing. And there are some well-drawn comics out there that have little or no story to them, and frankly I'm not reading them for pretty pictures. That's not to knock artwork -- I really enjoy well-drawn comics as long as there's something in them to read as well.<P>--Strange/Dave<P>EDIT: deleted that stupid non-working URL.<P>------------------
<A HREF="http://viciouslies.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>Vicious Lies.</A> You can't handle the truth.
Neurotic -- sane, but unhappy about it.
<p>[This message has been edited by Somebody Strange (edited 06-05-2001).]

User avatar
Scrubbo
Cartoon Hero
Posts: 1654
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Madison, WI
Contact:

Post by Scrubbo »

My favorite part is when an idea for a strip pops into my head! I LOVE that. I need to start carrying something to write stuff down on around with me. I've forgotten a few ideas when I didn't have a convienant place to write it down.<P> <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/eek.gif"><P>------------------
Scrubbo
<A HREF="http://www.sillyconev.com" TARGET=_blank>Silly Cone V</A> Woah oh oh! Oh you gotta let me know, will Tom 2 stay or will he go?
<A HREF="http://comicollage.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>comicollage</A> I coulda SWORN we had a storyline around here SOMEWHERE!
<A HREF="http://four.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>The Four Toon Tellers</A> rock like mean bananas. Except for me. I kinda get brown and squishy like an overripe banana.

User avatar
Damonk13
Cartoon Hero
Posts: 2097
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: The Great White North
Contact:

Post by Damonk13 »

personally, i think that they're <I>both</I> important.<P>I'm not saying i want "good" art, but i want art that can convey ideas as well as the writing...<P>strips that invariably have four panels of static, unchangable characters with text bubbles above their heads aren't using the comics medium to their full potential.<P>even "crappy" art, if used properly to convey movement, or show emotion, or a reaction, etc. is fine in my book.<P>but <I>both</I> are needed if you want to draw a true comic. otherwise, you're just giving us a written story with the odd illustration, and that's <I>not</I> a comic. <P>------------------
VOTE FOR TALKING SIGN IN '01!<P><A HREF="http://framed.keenspace.com/" TARGET=_blank>Framed! The Comic!</A>
(Now with more MANGA!??)

John Pierce
Regular Poster
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Reno, NV
Contact:

Post by John Pierce »

I don't think they should be treated seperately. In comics, they're really one and the same.<P>------------------
<A HREF="http://pigmandiaries.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>

User avatar
SucksToBeMe
Regular Poster
Posts: 130
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Fort Worth,Texas,USA
Contact:

Post by SucksToBeMe »

Gah! <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/confused.gif"> I can't decide! If you read my comic you would notice it is kinda badly written (but maybe the art makes up for it probably not)
My favorite part of doing the comic is actually having people look at it. Wether their reaction is good or bad it doesn't matter because I don't care as long as they looked at it. It makes me feel all special and blah. (If you read my comic you would probably think the art mattered more to me than the writing and ya know what? It proabably does <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/tongue.gif">)<P>------------------
A free online manga...
You get what you pay for!
<A HREF="http://squadron509.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>Squadron509</A>
Where the women are stupid...
and the men are stupider.

User avatar
Brian Young
Regular Poster
Posts: 472
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Upper Marlboro, MD USA
Contact:

Post by Brian Young »

I guess since my writing and drawing are both pretty not good, it's a tie.
<P>------------------
Brian E. Young<P><A HREF="http://boygirlclub.keenspace.com/images ... design.jpg" TARGET=_blank>Check out my new summer shirt!</A> It's cool. <A HREF="http://boygirlclub.keenspace.com/store.html" TARGET=_blank>Go buy it.</A><P>Boys & Girls Club (Jijo no Kurabu): <A HREF="http://www.boygirlcomic.com/" TARGET=_blank>http://www.boygirlcomic.com/</A>
Gravis: <A HREF="http://gravis.keenspace.com/" TARGET=_blank>http://gravis.keenspace.com/</A> (on hiatus)
Creator of Comicollage: <A HREF="http://comicollage.keenspace.com/" TARGET=_blank>http://comicollage.keenspace.com/</A>

Tsarr
Newbie
Posts: 13
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Atlanta, GA
Contact:

Post by Tsarr »

I think that the driving force behind any story is the writing. When we watch something on a regular basis, it is not because of the production (set/art/graphic direction)

Ren@shoushi
Regular Poster
Posts: 63
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Ventura, CA

Post by Ren@shoushi »

I like the writing part, that all comes first for me. After that I get to have fun and draw. Of coarse I can't enjoy showing it off cause my comic only exists on my computer untill they decide to let me have my own space to put my comic online... I've been waiting God knows how long now...<P>The fun thing about drawing is that I get to show you what I was thinking about when I was writing, well "would get to show you" anyway <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/frown.gif">.<P>-sad person who can't really participate
(or spell)

Lazy
Regular Poster
Posts: 184
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Contact:

Post by Lazy »

I do the whole package. The drawing is more frustrating then the writing. I don't really seperate it into parts though.
<P>------------------
Like um read it eh!
<A HREF="http://lazy.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>Lazy's World</A>

User avatar
Scrubbo
Cartoon Hero
Posts: 1654
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Madison, WI
Contact:

Post by Scrubbo »

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by damonk13:
<B>strips that invariably have four panels of static, unchangable characters with text bubbles above their heads aren't using the comics medium to their full potential.<P><I>both</I> are needed if you want to draw a true comic. otherwise, you're just giving us a written story with the odd illustration, and that's <I>not</I> a comic. <P></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>DAMN YOU DAMONK! <a href="http://sillyconev.keenspace.com/d/20010310.html">LEAVE ME ALONE!</a><P>------------------
Scrubbo
<A HREF="http://www.sillyconev.com" TARGET=_blank>Silly Cone V</A> Woah oh oh! Oh you gotta let me know, will Tom 2 stay or will he go?
<A HREF="http://comicollage.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>comicollage</A> I coulda SWORN we had a storyline around here SOMEWHERE!
<A HREF="http://four.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>The Four Toon Tellers</A> rock like mean bananas. Except for me. I kinda get brown and squishy like an overripe banana.<p>[This message has been edited by scrubbo (edited 06-06-2001).]

User avatar
Meredith Gran
Regular Poster
Posts: 165
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: NYC
Contact:

Post by Meredith Gran »

I agree, cartooning involves both drawing AND writing, and these two shouldn't be treated separately. As for personal preference, my writing usually discourages me more than the art, because my ideas are always changing, while usually leading to the same climax. When you've created a cast and a world for them, sometimes They pick the stories on character alone. ^_~

User avatar
Stinkywigfiddle
Cartoon Hero
Posts: 3479
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Under your skin
Contact:

Post by Stinkywigfiddle »

I enjoy creating stories for my characters to do but I also really enjoy creating the characters and different worlds.
I could draw all day, creating creatures and things, but the still need something to do.
Often, the drawing is a lot easier than writing an entertaining and interesting story. But they both present a challenge when put together, making this character do this, trying to lay out a panel in the right way.
I hate it when someone can't figure out what's happening either because of the art or story, but that's my own fault most of the time. Well, live and learn, and then get loves.
<P>------------------
~Daniel the Willingham
If you're looking for a sci-fi comic about the adventures of some losers in space, then try out <A HREF="http://spacelosers.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>SPACE LOSERS!</A>

Dan
Regular Poster
Posts: 51
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Bloomington, IN
Contact:

Post by Dan »

Drawing can be fun, but I do all my drawing digitally so it can be very time consuming (especially doing everything in layers and trying to set the right amount of vector smoothing). Fortunately I reuse everything a million times so the work is worth it.<P>Writing can be fun, but it makes my brain hurt.<P>Overall I'd have to say writing is better for me now (it's less time consuming and I do it more regularly). If I had been asked this 3 years ago I would have said drawing (way back when I had all the time in the world).
<P>------------------
Dan
<A HREF="http://www.stankywater.com" TARGET=_blank>StankyWater</A>

Somebody Strange
Regular Poster
Posts: 630
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Contact:

Post by Somebody Strange »

Drawing easier than writing? Good God, I wish I had that problem. Of course, I'm a writer who doodles, as opposed to an artist who writes. (And for those of you who argue there shouldn't be a distinction for comic creators, you're hopefully one of those fortunate enough to be blessed equally with both talents.)<P>I've long wanted to do a graphic novel, or a "serious" comic strip (like Everything Jake or The Wandering Ones, or even comic books like the X-Men), but I just can't draw that well. I'm also a bit weary of folks always telling me to go pick up such-and-such a book and I'll be drawing like a pro in <i>no time</i>! They're almost right. I've picked up many of those books, and at <i>no time</i> have I drawn like a pro.<P>Very briefly in high school, I teamed up with a guy who could draw fantastic-looking superheroes and realistic people, and we created a grand total of six pages of eye-popping spine-tingling story. I haven't seen him since 1996. Darn it all.<P>Ehhhh, I've probably got enough on my plate. I'm working full-time, writing a novel, etc, etc, etc, and it takes me two hours for each new, original comic at <A HREF="http://viciouslies.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>Vicious Lies</A>, if you can believe it. The writing takes three minutes. There's a reason I've done a lot more cut-and-paste than I like to admit.<P>--Strange/Dave<P>------------------
<A HREF="http://viciouslies.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>Vicious Lies.</A> You can't handle the truth.
Neurotic -- sane, but unhappy about it.

ZOMBIE USER 3098
Regular Poster
Posts: 226
Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2005 2:26 am

Post by ZOMBIE USER 3098 »

Writing... Too lazy to draw. Hand is rather shaky and I draw too hard. Oh well.<P>Herr X
<A HREF="http://ntnation.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>http://ntnation.keenspace.com</A>

Post Reply