SH Begins...

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More than creating the art, telling stories was the primary reason I got into comics.

Ever since my early teens, nearly 20 years ago now, my brother and I collaborated on many story ideas. These stories where part of our play time and we'd often spend the time after school running around the local country club (a combination of sport club and leisure centre) acting out our stories before the family headed home in the evenings.

I have since tried numerous times to write some of these stories down with little success. Now however, work has begun in ernest to bring one of these concepts, simply called SH, to life. It was the first story we created together and it's very fitting it's the first I'm going to be focusing on. The concept and potential for SH was vast as it was originally created was vast and never ending. Initially I thought I'd need to condense and streamline it in order for it to be published and to an extent that's still true. But having consulted with a group on Facebook there seems to be many writers interested and willing to pen SH with me which got me to reconsider streamlining SH. 

The way SH was set up by my brother and I all those years ago, it allows for many writers to come in and add their own story to the mix, expanding and enriching the SH 'universe'. I still need to write the backbone of SH and the key story plot, it's a plot that will cover around 10 graphic novels (in itself an indication of SH's potential).

But, small steps first.

Even without expanding the SH universe there's still a lot of ground work to cover and things to consider which are making my head dizzy:

Firstly, getting the right kind of writer for the initial comic. This is new territory for me. Not every writer will be right for the initial comic and it will required researching any writers. Although I got a few offers for free writing with a back end deal, doesn't mean I'd jump at the offer, and indeed I haven't. I still need to see what any writer can bring to the table and make sure their writing style is suitable. If it mean's I have to pay then I am prepared to do so. I've always been about quality and I'm more than willing to pay for it even if it means saving up a budget for the next year to pay a writer up front (+back end).

Then I need to think about the right art: I kind of know what I want from the pencils but it's going to be a toss up between the right style or the right visionary. I know a penciler who, although he's got a lovely art style and I would work with him in a heartbeat, it isn't quite the style I what. But he's a master at conceptualising and the depth he can bring to the art is immense. So what do I do? Which is more important at this stage? Aside from this, I then need to think about the colours: what do I want the colours to convey? Again I know an excellent colourist and he could work, but I do wonder if an experimental or artists style of colouring would suite SH more? Will there be inking? that very much depends on what kind of pencils I eventually settle on. Many assume I'd pencil SH myself but as I've told them that most likely won't be the case because a) my style wouldn't necessarily suite the subject matter, b) turns out I don't enjoying penciling sequentials and c) at every step my decisions will be based on what's best for the story and me penciling won't necessarily be the best.

Then, what would be the best way to publish it and with whom; do I keep it independent or approach some of the bigger publishers? I feel the best home of SH would be with a bigger publisher just because of the potential scope of SH, but it remains to be seen. But to hook a bigger publisher I need to make sure my story is solid and will catch their imagination otherwise it's a mute point. This puts more pressure on making sure I've got a solid writer. I'll have to see what independent publishers have to offer too.

And so the journey begins. I've got to say I am simultaneously super excited and horribly nervous. I still can't believe this is going to happen but it is - one way or another you'll be able to read SH one day whether it's through a big publisher or a limited run with an indie, it will get out there. I will blog about the process of getting SH published and I hope you'll join me on the journey.

For any creators out there I'd be interested in hearing your process when putting a story together. How do you go about organising your plot lines and ideas before writing the script? 

Cheers!
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SheldonGoh's avatar
Best of luck with this!! I'll be cheering you on! :D