making things

it's a saturday. i'm killing time with podcasts (the voice of wil wheaton talks to me even now), i listen with half a ear. multitasking like a boss. soon i will do laundry. and hopefully work out (there is every chance that i wont, because laziness). and bathe. and go see a movie.

but here i am thinking about creating. which is basically what wil's all about. just getting podcast episodes out. not worrying about them being perfect. which is what i'm trying with making comics and generally writing/drawing more. and it's all because of podcasts. i listen to a whole bunch of makers: kevin smith, adam savage (still untitled), the nerdist writer's panel, wil... they make, i make. good motivation. pushes the critical voice way back. or far back enough that i can unfreeze and get out the thing that is struggling to get out of me without just cringing into the mental hole that i've dug for myself. i have also stopped showing my stuff to as many people though... because criticism is a thing i don't feel ready for. one negative thing and it's that much harder to put pencil to paper, word to key. got to keep moving. because, really, i make - for me. and only me. it matters that "i" like it and i get something out of the act of making. this seems fear based, i know. and it is, i guess. but i also know i'd rather be making than not. and if this is the way it works right now, i shouldn't stress myself out about it. but that being said - have a looksie:

stupid stereotypes are stupid

Read a couple books in succession where some characters judged other characters based on them reading comic books ie. they must be stupid. this makes me so mad. because by no means are these authors complete idiots. i read their books. i also read comics. it's an irritating idea. the mere existence of the words "graphic novel" pain me.

in other news today i listened to ben blacker talk to kelly sue deconnick on the nerdist writers panel. totes amazing. she's an only child (like me) and used to read the 3 investigators books (also like me :)). unlike me, one of her favourite writers is bendis. tried him... wasn't convinced. might give him another shot now. or just read more deconnick :D

bought this swords of cerebus volume (no. 5) from blossoms ages ago and finally got around to reading it today and boy was it good. i (am falling in) love (with) dave sim. the man can do it all. it is just so weird and wonderful. had me hooked from the line "SHOW YOUR EMACIATED FACE PEASANT... I AM CEREBUS THE AARDVARK! AND I WISH TO BUY YOUR CRUMBLING HOVEL!..."

i love how comics (sometimes) come with a look into where the writers/artists were when they wrote them. a glimpse into the inner workings. or just responses to letters to the editor. i love it all. you never get that with regular fiction. at the most there's a literary interview type thing that follows... not at all the same as knowing what music they were listening to.. or what was going in their lives at the time. fascinating.

front

back

beautiful front and back cover by barry windsor-smith who i really must look into now.
there's always more to be discovered in this wonderful world of comics.
as eric foreman would say: yes. yes.