INCITING INCIDENT
The inciting incident is the key to storytelling. It should take place as early as possible in the story, that’s certainly what film script editors prefer, and – in dramas at least, it should take the protagonist and the reader to a dark and powerful place. Here are some good inciting incidents – and one weak one.
THE EMOTIONAL JOURNEY
In comics, characters often don’t make any kind of emotional journey and that is their strength and their weakness. We like the reassuring cosiness of characters who never change, who are the same year after year, and often don’t seem to have any kind of private life. We don’t want them to get religion, make good or bad financial investments, marry, leave their job, or fall out with good friends. All the things we do ourselves in real-life.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
But being a future cop like Dredd, a dictator like Torquemada, or a comic editor like Dave Maudling is still only a surface layer of character. It’s just a job description. Their true character is only revealed under pressure. Then the mask drops and we see who that person really is.
HEROES
My heroes are all from an underclass in one form or another and they all win. They are relatively rare in fiction – a point that needs lingering on. Because I believe we are deliberately programmed and conditioned to think our own lives are not important and not worth writing or reading about.
CREATIVE JAMMING
I’m often asked by fans and prospective writers about my storytelling. Why I write. How I write. How I created various characters. What are the tricks of the trade? Where do I get my inspiration from? How do I get over writer’s block and so on. So I thought it was time I answered those questions and shared my experiences in a series of weekly blogs, starting this week with CREATIVE JAMMING. I hope it will make Storyteller a useful ‘How To’ guide for writers – whether we’re talking comics, novels or film.
Return of the Zombies
I’m looking forward to going to Prague for an-all day comic event at Prague City Library on Friday 28th September. I’ll be chatting about my career, 2000 AD, and – most important of all – the return of 17th century zombie-hunter Defoe, drawn by Scottish...
John Armstrong – A Tribute
I was so sad to hear of John’s recent passing. Many readers of girls comics will know of his legendary work on Bella at the Bar, the story of a working class gymnast for Tammy, and Moonchild, a Carrie-stye story published in Misty. Both serials were...
MASTER OF BLACK COMEDY – KEN REID
I’ve just finished a preliminary read of these two incredible, beautifully printed volumes produced by Irmantas Povilaika. I can assure you they are works of absolute perfection. Here we can see just how fantastic Ken’s work was, especially when he was not held back...
Wham! Smash! and Pow! The Complete Ken Reid
There's fantastic crowdfunding campaign on IndieGoGo platform to raise funds to print the complete official collection of the work of the British comics legend Ken Reid in Wham!, Smash! and Pow! comics published by Odhams Press Ltd. in the ‘60s...
Be Vigilant!
The Vigilant, the new one-shot collection from Rebellion, has a really great cover and this looks like an impressive revival of stories that were loved by the readers. But I think it’s regrettable if the original creators of these characters, or their...
New Charley’s War collection: Bravo, Rebellion!
Rebellion have done an absolutely brilliant job on the new Charley's War series. This really is the definitive edition. Everyone concerned must have put a helluva lot of work into it; so my sincere thanks to all those concerned. I know many (maybe all?)...
Bolland’s Slaine
Just got my Hachette volumes of The Horned God. Very impressed with the accompanying poster by Brian Bolland showing Dredd, Strontium Dog and Slaine. Brian's depiction of Slaine is absolutely spot-on. Slaine's character is summed up perfectly in it - not...