Calling all creators of comic books and graphic novels!

COMICS MASTERMIND™ 2019 TRAINING PROGRAM

 Comics Mastermind™ is delighted to roll out the first stage of its 2019 short course program for aspiring and emerging comics creators, as well as cartoonists, authors and illustrators who want to cross mediums and learn more about writing comic books and graphic novels.

THE MECHANICS OF VISUAL STORYTELLING: Mastering the Comic Book and Graphic Novel Script

DATE: Tuesday 26 March and Tuesday 2 April 2019

TIME: 6:30 to 8.00pm (AEST – Sydney / Melbourne time)

DURATION: 1.5 hours x 2 weeks (3 hours)

PRESENTER: Jason Franks

This short course for beginners will provide you with the tools for getting started in comics, and give you insights into:

• Understanding visual narrative (the “comics” medium), as well as its genres, styles and publishing categories (including graphic novels!)

• Becoming acquainted with comics jargon

• Understanding the writing process from outline to page / panel breakdown to FULL script… and how to communicate ideas clearly and concisely to your artist and publisher

• Utilising visual storytelling tools appropriately to serve the narrative and the character journey

• Translating story structure into comics formats

• Controlling pacing through your story

• Establishing panel points of view (AKA shots) effectively

• Understanding the fundamentals of dialogue

• And other important rules of visual storytelling.

For more information please visit: https://www.comicsmastermind.com/short-courses/the-mechanics-of-visual-storytelling/

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VISUAL STORYTELLING SUCCESS SYSTEM: How to Write Comic Books and Graphic Novels

DATE: Tuesday 9 April to Tuesday 28 May 2019 

TIME: 6:30 to 8.00pm (AEST – Sydney / Melbourne time)

DURATION: 1.5 hours x 8 weeks (12 hours)

PRESENTER: Julie Ditrich

This short course provides you with a step-by-step system that will get you started as a visual storyteller, and will give you insights into:

• Visual Narrative Techniques

• Characterisation

• Story Structure

• Plotting and Dialogue

• Show and Don’t Tell

• And other important aspects of graphic narrative.

For more information please visit: https://www.comicsmastermind.com/short-courses/visual-storytelling-success-system/

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The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is a partner organisation, and members qualify for special discounts off the short courses program.

Creating Creative Writers - an Overview

As if participating in the One Day SCBWI Sydney Conference was not enough, I was fortunate to be included in the auxiliary conference aimed specifically for proficient teachers with the objective of providing them with a unique educational experience with some of Australia’s finest children’s book creators - Creating Creative Writers PD Conference.

The SCBWI presenters lineup read like a who’s who of Australian Kid Lit industry’s royalty and those sessions I sat in on were rich oceans of informative, insider tips and tricks designed to enlighten teachers and librarians and equip them with better, engaging, real-life methods with which to teach the art of story telling to children.

The day, opened by Susanne Gervay, was primly organised into four separate sessions, each focusing on a particular area of creativity.

Session 1: Creating Super Storytellers

Deborah Abela led the discussion with Sandy Fussell, Yvette Poshoglian and Tim Harris on how to inspire, motivate and develop super storytellers in the classroom. The focus for this session was narrative writing and authors shared individual practices in the process of creating their own narratives and also their experiences with work-shopping with students in schools. Aspects of narrative writing explored included:

• narrative structure and plotting

• creating strong and believable characters

• effective genre writing

• vocabulary and word choice

• the use of online visual resources to inspire and the importance of the editing process.

Sandy Fussell, Tim Harris and Yvette Poshoglian

Sandy’s use of Minecraft to stir imagination and develop story plots is not only contemporary but buckets of fun.

Tim Harris encouraged us to ‘live mark’, to cease being the passive observer when it comes to promoting creativity in kids. He reminded educators to never overwhelm children when trying to get them to fix things, to simply aim at one thing to improve their writing at a time. The notion of ‘colouring in your story using language’ really appeals to this author, also.

Yvette Poshoglian suggested characters and genre as springboards to creative writing whilst Deb Abela reminded us to remind kids that;

If they can make trouble, they can write it because writing a good story is all about making trouble!

The session ended with two lively readings from soon-to-be-released books by Katrina McKelvey (No Baths Week) and Candice Lemon-Scott (Eco Rangers: Pelican in Peril)

Session 2: Creating Fascinating Factual Texts

Sue Whiting then led experts in the area of creative nonfiction, Stephanie Owen Reeder, Gina Newton, Claire Saxby and Corinne Fenton through discussions on the challenges of researching and writing engaging informative texts.The panel explored the notion of how “creative” one can be when writing nonfiction or informative texts, i.e. where creativity comes into the process? And also how students can make facts/research their own, the importance of using multiple sources, and the use of “perspective” and “borrowed voice”. Panelists provided teachers with ideas for research techniques and activities designed to motivate teachers and students alike and enable teachers to facilitate quality student research and guide students through the process of creating fascinating and original informative texts.

Corinne Fenton read her newly released picture book A Cat Called Finn for the first time. Image credit to Corrine Fenton

Session 3: Creating Passionate Poets

Discussing the trials and tribulations of trying to enthuse kids to read, write and enjoy poetry was tackled by Jodie Wells-Slowgrove and her panel of passionate children’s poets: Sally Murphy, Libby Hathorn, Meredith Costain and Lesley Gibbes.

The panel debated whether poetry should be analysed, discussed the importance of reading poetry aloud and how explored how to encourage students to dig deep and write poetry with emotional truth. Sharing their vast experience with writing, performing and work-shopping poetry with students, the poets provided teachers with a myriad of practical ideas for infecting students with the poetry bug and for the development of specific skills, such as using rhythm, alliteration, simile, cadence, metaphor and word play.

Poetry presenter dynamo and author, Alexa Moses read from the poetry anthology, A Boat of Stars.

Exceptional poets: Sally Murphy, Libby Hathorn, Meredith Costain, and Lesley Gibbs

Session 4:  Creating Vibrant Visual Narratives

Any session on illustration always intrigues me as a picture book author. James Foley and his panel of four award-winning illustrators, Sarah Davis, Liz Anelli and Marjorie Crosby-Fairall, discussed the process of children’s book illustration, focusing on visual literacy and the construction of visual narratives.

The panelists discussed their differing processes, tied by a common language – but rather than using words and sentences, their language uses the visual elements of colour, line, shape, body language, facial expression, typography, light and shadow, scale, and composition and in the case of Liz, stamps made from random objects!

Attendees learnt first hand how creativity can be expressed and how tone and mood can be altered simply by changing the thickness of a line.

“DESIGN CREATES MEANING”

Sue Whiting followed this revealing session with a reading from her latest picture book, Beware the Deep Dark Forest, then yours truly wound up the day with a reading of At The End of Holyrood Lane, each book depicting the various nuances of illustration and symbolism referred to earlier.

It truly was a packed day filled with praise from over 100 attendees for its smooth facilitation and phenomenal content not to mention the value and relevance of the stimulating readings.

by Dimity Powell (Head Roving Reporter SCBWI 2019 Conference)

#SCBWISyd

Masterclass D: Picture Books with Essie White

Storm Literary agent/partner Essie White is passionate about creating beautiful and meaningful books for children. Her passion started as an educator when she learnt that providing children with exceptional literature was imperative in education.

Five years ago, Essie made the seamless transition from educator to agent – both careers harbour a true love for children’s literature.

“YOU NEED GRAB CHILDREN’S ATTENTION FROM THE VERY BEGINNING”

Essie’s masterclass was generous and thorough providing all participants with important takeaways.

• Title – make it good and alert the reader to the concept. The title must also set the tone, introduce the character and setting.

• First sentence – make it better than the title. It must snag attention and hold it immediately.

• Narrative Arc – start with a great plot and begin with a ‘bang’. Immediately alert the reader to the crisis and establish the character’s motivation. Motivation drives the story forward. The protagonist responds to the crisis or cause which results in ACTION. The Protagonist then overcomes!

• Create a satisfying ending – bring the story full circle. It must also resonate deeply.

• Unforgettable Characters – ensure they are fully developed and they are authentic, memorable and create merchandising opportunities.

• Language and word choice – Be selective – 500 to 750 words or less. Non-Fiction can be longer.

• Verbs – Vivid, Active, and Visual!

• Cadence – rising and falling of voice.

• Convey emotion – be authentic to the character

• Avoid rhyme (it does work occasionally).

Essie outlined some Universal Themes in picture books.:

• Firsts: First day of school, first pet, first birthday, first unicorn costume!

• Momentous Events: New baby, new pet, Doctor visit etc.

• Relationships: Parents, siblings, grandparents, neighbours, teachers, community members

• Animals and more!

“A GOOD BOOK EMPOWERS AND GIVES PURPOSE, IT KEEPS KIDS THINKING.”

The necessary collaboration between author and illustrator

Author –

1. Provide illustration notes but give artist room to breathe

2. Share research/background info

3. Offer feedback on sketches (when asked)

Illustrator –

1. Do your research (especially non-fiction)

2. Accuracy is imperative

3. Be selective

4. Sometimes your vision needs to be flexible.

Illustrations should:

• Help children understand what they are reading.

• They should enhance the text and move the narrative forward.

• Stimulate imagination and allow children to analyse.

• Help create the mood of the story.

• Must have storytelling capabilities and establish the primary character…especially in wordless picture books (very popular in the US right now).

Essie also spoke about the use of shapes and colours to create mood and feelings in illustrations.

• Yellow – hope

• Red – anger

• Blue – calm

• Grey – gloom

• Circle – warmth, completeness, wholesome

• Rectangles – ridgity, inflexibility, enclosed

• Triangles – Hierarchy, power, strong, solidarity, substantive

Click on the video for a visual snapshot of the session by Roving Reporter, Giuseppe Poli.

Essie’s final message was so important.

The goal of picture books should be to:

Provide a beautiful experience that leaves the reader impacted, empowered, challenged and changed. Good children’s literature is transformative!

by Rachel Noble

#SCBWISyd