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If you have an idea that you want to turn into a comic book or a graphic novel but you're not sure about how to craft a story, this course will get you started with the most important skills. Writers often have a ton of ideas but don't know how to assemble them into strong form, or they understand story structure but can't get their ideas out. This workshop will give you exercises to overcome unnecessary carefulness that stifles creativity, and a series of questions that will prompt you to find the "shape" of your story. I will teach you the secrets of how to produce any kind of story, and also show you how to master the specific building materials of the graphic novel: pages and panels.
This course meets for a varying number of sessions:
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WRITING FROM THE GUT:
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Brainstorming; Stream-of-Consciousness; Subjective Structure; The Secret of Productivity
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REVISING FROM THE BRAIN:
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Finding and Developing Conflicts; Objective Structure; "Mapping" your story; A List of Questions to Refine a Story
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DESIGNING PANELS & PAGES:
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Clarity & Composition; Flow & Impact; Analysis of Steranko's "Ideal Page"
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This is not a seminar of lectures — it is a high-intensity workshop. I will work with you. Come prepared with an idea that you want to develop and I will help you:
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Get the ideas down without bogging down
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Find the "core" of the material
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Identify the few common problems that we all make when we write
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Fix those problems
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Exploit the power of a graphic novel, which is the opportunity to tell a story with pictures that you can draw or paint without the limitations of photography or actors.
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It should be an invigorating, inspiring and productive day.
Bring a sketchpad or bond paper and mechanical pencils or whatever you use to put ideas onto paper quickly.
This is not a university curriculum course and you will not receive college credit for it.
Some classes sell out. To reserve a seat, you must pay in advance. See the Schedule page for more information including dates and locations.
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Comments from past attendees:
"It was excellent. As a board artist, I have the ability to translate scripts and stories into coherent visual form, but I'm often intimidated by the prospect of building my own. There was a nice combination of techniques along with the 'nuts and bolts' of visually constructing a story. It was well worth the time and money. Thanks again."
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—Nate Clesowich
Storyboard Artist
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“All that energy, positive buzz and resonance when you are around creative people... sums up Saturday’s seminar."
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"Thank you for the wonderful class. I truly got what I was looking for with the refreshment on writing. I am gearing up to begin writing again and your lectures were the spark I needed."
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"Marshall is an incredible draftsman and an even better teacher. His teaching methods are easily accessible, but full of depth. Under Marshall's tutelage, my classmates included novices, semi-professional artists, art teachers, and living legends of the graphic arts world. No matter what your skill level, you owe it to yourself to take Marshall's classes!"
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—Jason Ho
Artist for Bongo Entertainment
(Simpsons and Futurama Comics)
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"The most popular comic book teacher the department has had."
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—George Zebot
Chair of Illustration
Laguna College of Art & Design
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