The Power of the Sequence
I was lucky that when I started writing, I met people into comic books.
Comic books taught me to think big. I didn't just think about what I'd do in a short story, a screenplay, or a novel: I thought about what I'd be doing with characters years down the line.
There's something special about a storyline that unfolds like life.
As a reader, those kinds of stories become part of our lives.
I always checked out the comic strip For Better or For Worse here and there. darthcynthia was a much, much bigger fan of the strip than I ever was. For most of her life, she's followed it regularly. In the sixteen years I've been with Cynthia, I've become even more familiar with the strip.
Cynthia sent this strip this morning. And I have to admit, I got teary eyed. Not because we finally find out all that happens to all those characters, but the final panel: the thank you's; the end of the run.
I've finished stories, screenplays, and novels, (Cynthia and I even did some comic strips for awhile), and there's a huge sense of satisfaction in completing something that big.
Finally finishing a story that's 29 steady years in the making, though--I can only imagine what that feels like.
Comic strips have always been one of my favorite mediums, and with good friends like Jeremy Smith, I get to be around it whenever I want.
Jeremy's just really starting out as a cartoonist (although he's been working for his recent successes for over 16 years), and I wish him a long run and great success with whatever he sets out to do, 'cause one would be hard pressed finding a person more dedicated to their art!
Comic books taught me to think big. I didn't just think about what I'd do in a short story, a screenplay, or a novel: I thought about what I'd be doing with characters years down the line.
There's something special about a storyline that unfolds like life.
As a reader, those kinds of stories become part of our lives.
I always checked out the comic strip For Better or For Worse here and there. darthcynthia was a much, much bigger fan of the strip than I ever was. For most of her life, she's followed it regularly. In the sixteen years I've been with Cynthia, I've become even more familiar with the strip.
Cynthia sent this strip this morning. And I have to admit, I got teary eyed. Not because we finally find out all that happens to all those characters, but the final panel: the thank you's; the end of the run.
I've finished stories, screenplays, and novels, (Cynthia and I even did some comic strips for awhile), and there's a huge sense of satisfaction in completing something that big.
Finally finishing a story that's 29 steady years in the making, though--I can only imagine what that feels like.
Comic strips have always been one of my favorite mediums, and with good friends like Jeremy Smith, I get to be around it whenever I want.
Jeremy's just really starting out as a cartoonist (although he's been working for his recent successes for over 16 years), and I wish him a long run and great success with whatever he sets out to do, 'cause one would be hard pressed finding a person more dedicated to their art!