{"id":1314,"date":"2014-01-21T09:22:00","date_gmt":"2014-01-21T17:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comic-con.org\/toucan\/?p=1314"},"modified":"2023-12-18T09:24:39","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T17:24:39","slug":"devourer-of-words-012-talking-bout-a-resolution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comic-con.org\/toucan\/devourer-of-words-012-talking-bout-a-resolution\/","title":{"rendered":"Devourer of Words 012: Talking \u2018Bout A Resolution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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MARC BERNARDIN’S DEVOURER OF WORDS<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Devourer of Words 012: Talking \u2018Bout A Resolution<\/h1>\n\n\n
Marc Bernardin<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Toucan<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Marc<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is the New Year and, as one does when the calendar resets itself, it\u2019s time to make some plans for a course correction. To change either things about yourself or establish new habits to make the coming year more rewarding than the last. Given that writers seem to be, by nature, sedentary creatures\u2014excepting the few who\u2019ve adopted the treadmill desk\u2014being more active should be at the top of the list. But that\u2019s not going to make you better at your chosen profession. Here are a few ideas that will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read More Comics<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

It is vital that we stay current; that we know what\u2019s currently being published and the people who are doing the publishing. Forewarned is forearmed, as they say. See who is doing what well, and who\u2019s doing what not so well. And see what no one is doing at all. One of the first conversations I had with someone about writing my own comics was with AiT\/PlanetLar\u2019s Larry Young back in 2005. I wanted to pitch him and when I asked him what he was looking for, he said, \u201cAnything but superheroes. There are two companies that do a fine job of publishing superhero comics\u2014I\u2019m in the business of hitting them where they ain\u2019t.\u201d It will only help when it comes time to parade your wares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do More Than Read Comics<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

What will make your voice unique is the totality of your experiences \u2026 not the fact that you\u2019ve read every Batman comic ever published. Read as much as you can outside of comics. Travel. Meet people. Expose yourself (you know what I mean) to as much of the world as you can. Get in the car and drive. Take the train to the end of the line and see what\u2019s there. Get lost. Then see what you find. Your writing will be better for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experiment More<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

There is nothing wrong with a joke that is purely set-up\/punchline. It\u2019s pure and simple and it\u2019ll get the job done. There are lots of ways to deliver a story in 22 pages\u2014try something different. Step into a zone that makes you slightly uncomfortable and try something new. And that goes as much for content as it does for format. Comics thrive upon the new and it\u2019s our responsibility to produce it. Sure, there are people\u2014editors, publishers\u2014who will tell you a particular story won\u2019t work in the marketplace. Do it anyway. The marketplace is more diverse than it\u2019s ever been\u2014no one knows what will or won\u2019t sell \u2026 until it does, or doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Write More<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

This should go without saying, but writing is all about writing. It is about putting in the time and doing the work. You can have the best idea in the world, but if you don\u2019t actually write it, you\u2019re just wasting it. Personally, I think of myself less as an artist and more of a craftsman. And if I\u2019m not building chairs, then I\u2019m not doing my job. And the more I do it, the better I\u2019ll get. Being a writer is not about waiting for inspiration to strike, it\u2019s about being able to do the work even when it doesn\u2019t. So do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rationalize Less<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

There are always great reasons for not writing. Life will always endeavor to stack things up that you could be doing\u2014that maybe even you should be doing\u2014instead of writing. Don\u2019t buy into it. Do what you have to do, just know that you could be writing instead. Be honest with yourself and be your best motivator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Marc Bernardin\u2019s Devourer of Words appears the third Tuesday of every month here on<\/em> Toucan!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Written by<\/p>\n\n\n

Marc Bernardin<\/div>\n\n\n

Published<\/p>\n\n\n