A big part of my project is talking to other people.I want to create realistic characters who would respond like real people in their own situations with backstory that makes them well rounded people. I could do that by inventing them myself but I'm choosing to base elements of real people mixed with pieces that help suit the topics at hand. The interviews also have helped me find specific subject matter to tackle within the narrative without making a work of biography. I have been able to trace similar elements that have been reoccurring themes in the interviews and individual responses to them. I believe that this will help the writing to be more organic and will really help a wider variety of viewers to relate to the work.
I conduct my interviews one on one generally over coffee or tea. I record our conversation via phone and keep a notebook handy to jot down a few notes as we talk. I come prepared with a few questions to start things on a conversational tone then let our conversation unfold to let them talk about the things that they really feel like opening up about. I steer the conversation gently only talking a little time to jot down important notes, subtext I've noticed, and anything I think I may miss listening over the recording later on. I have enough material to really start in on some solid foundation work and am really looking forward to where this project takes me.
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Where do you begin when writing a meaningful project? To find out what I really wanted to do I had to break down that statement.
Meaningful to me was something more than I had written before. In the past I had written short stories and concepts from imaginary worlds that I haven't experienced. I've tried writing about my own experiences, in journals and with short narratives, but have found that an act of pure self indulgence. Then I heard a quote from a now forgotten source that stuck with me for some time, "I can only write myself," meaning people can draw from their own experiences and write how they believe someone would act. I can only write what I would do as an old woman, a beggar on the street, a warrior, a villain, a lost lover, I could only write myself into these figments. Recently a friend passed away and I've been subconsciously listening to people more than I had before. I searched out meaning and wanted to do something to honor him. At first I contributed by holding a fundraiser and trying to connect people to crisis services. Some time passed and I noticed that I was doing more than just listening. I was talking to people, finding out their own personal truths; telling them mine. One on one heartfelt honesty. I realized I this was it, this is what I had been looking for. I could take these personal truths and give them a voice. I wouldn't be writing myself. I could write in collaboration with other peoples experiences to create heartfelt stories, characters you could fall in love with, new things to think about, stories which could leave you feeling a little heartbroken when the story ends. I could connect people and possibly help them feel less alone knowing that someone out there is as wonderfully broken as I sometimes feel. Writing projects come in many forms and I decided early on that a graphic novel format would suit my needs. Stories have been told with images going back to the origins of human communication. An image lends itself to a dual communication, both a direct pictoral representation and stylized elements representing more. Some of my favourite authors have collaborated with illustrators in the past. Their stories have been the ones that moved me the most. Looking back it is these stories that drove my interest in illustration. Ideally I would like to start this project as a free weekly webcomic to make it accessible to as many people as possible. |
AuthorMy name is Patrick Brant. I am member of the LGBT community looking to share my skills as an artist to contribute meaningful work that has the possibility of helping people. This blog will focus on the production and process of that work including the accomplishments and challenges I may face. ArchivesCategories |