Comments for Sara Ryan http://sararyan.com Novelist, comics writer, and librarian based in Portland, Oregon. Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:34:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Getting a robot to make you a sandwich and other tips for writing comics by Dylan Meconis http://sararyan.com/2010/03/getting-a-robot-to-make-you-a-sandwich-and-other-tips-for-writing-comics/#comment-9799 Dylan Meconis Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:34:23 +0000 http://sararyan.com/?p=1575#comment-9799 The multiple-actions thing is by far the most prevalent rookie mistake I've seen in comics scripts. People seem to forget that comics aren't movies; that's part of why I try to avoid film-speak in my own scripts. Saying "a zoom-in shot" or "we track with X as she goes down the hallway" leads to filmic thinking instead of juxtaposed still images. Movies are such a dominant form in the culture right now that they can really mess up other forms of narrative structure, and it irritates me! The multiple-actions thing is by far the most prevalent rookie mistake I’ve seen in comics scripts.

People seem to forget that comics aren’t movies; that’s part of why I try to avoid film-speak in my own scripts.

Saying “a zoom-in shot” or “we track with X as she goes down the hallway” leads to filmic thinking instead of juxtaposed still images. Movies are such a dominant form in the culture right now that they can really mess up other forms of narrative structure, and it irritates me!

]]> Comment on Getting a robot to make you a sandwich and other tips for writing comics by Sara http://sararyan.com/2010/03/getting-a-robot-to-make-you-a-sandwich-and-other-tips-for-writing-comics/#comment-9794 Sara Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:07:32 +0000 http://sararyan.com/?p=1575#comment-9794 Oh cool! I don't think my Crickets are still around, but I know my parents got my subscription started pretty early on, like maybe '79 or '80. Loved that magazine. Oh cool! I don’t think my Crickets are still around, but I know my parents got my subscription started pretty early on, like maybe ‘79 or ‘80. Loved that magazine.

]]> Comment on Getting a robot to make you a sandwich and other tips for writing comics by Sigrid Ellis http://sararyan.com/2010/03/getting-a-robot-to-make-you-a-sandwich-and-other-tips-for-writing-comics/#comment-9789 Sigrid Ellis Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:39:01 +0000 http://sararyan.com/?p=1575#comment-9789 It was in Cricket, in one of the issues I still own. I'm not sure which one, though . . . It was in Cricket, in one of the issues I still own. I’m not sure which one, though . . .

]]> Comment on Getting a robot to make you a sandwich and other tips for writing comics by Kevin Moore http://sararyan.com/2010/03/getting-a-robot-to-make-you-a-sandwich-and-other-tips-for-writing-comics/#comment-9784 Kevin Moore Sun, 07 Mar 2010 07:35:22 +0000 http://sararyan.com/?p=1575#comment-9784 Nice post. One sentence can = four panels or thirty, depending on how much tension or drama or detail you want to put in. Okay, I'm not sure what a 30 panel sentence would look like, but I suspect Beckett wrote one much like it. That Cpt America cover is awesome. Not in a "dude, that dude totally whacked that other dude" way. But in a "could there be more POW BIFF in one image?" way. Nice post. One sentence can = four panels or thirty, depending on how much tension or drama or detail you want to put in. Okay, I’m not sure what a 30 panel sentence would look like, but I suspect Beckett wrote one much like it.

That Cpt America cover is awesome. Not in a “dude, that dude totally whacked that other dude” way. But in a “could there be more POW BIFF in one image?” way.

]]> Comment on In praise of binge-viewing for writers by Sara http://sararyan.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-binge-viewing-for-writers/#comment-9635 Sara Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:10:11 +0000 http://sararyan.com/?p=1561#comment-9635 Chelsey: some of the humor ages beautifully, some doesn't. And I'm not a fan of the other-exoticizing approach to characters of color that seems to be fairly consistent throughout. But I love the way the main characters' relationships build and shift, and I am at my most fannish as regards the Buffy & Spike dynamic. Kevin: great question. I definitely feel emotionally invested (I have watched the musical episode three times now, four if you count the time I was listening to the commentary), but it's an investment that's impossible to separate from critical lens double-tracking. Then again, when Buffy was originally airing, I hadn't really *developed* my critical lens as a viewer. I've only been working on it consciously for the past few years, as I get more serious about taking apart all the stories I consume -- which, come to think of it, corresponds with an upsurge in binge-viewing. Maybe correlation equals causality in this case? Chelsey: some of the humor ages beautifully, some doesn’t. And I’m not a fan of the other-exoticizing approach to characters of color that seems to be fairly consistent throughout. But I love the way the main characters’ relationships build and shift, and I am at my most fannish as regards the Buffy & Spike dynamic.

Kevin: great question. I definitely feel emotionally invested (I have watched the musical episode three times now, four if you count the time I was listening to the commentary), but it’s an investment that’s impossible to separate from critical lens double-tracking.

Then again, when Buffy was originally airing, I hadn’t really *developed* my critical lens as a viewer. I’ve only been working on it consciously for the past few years, as I get more serious about taking apart all the stories I consume — which, come to think of it, corresponds with an upsurge in binge-viewing. Maybe correlation equals causality in this case?

]]> Comment on In praise of binge-viewing for writers by Kevin Moore http://sararyan.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-binge-viewing-for-writers/#comment-9634 Kevin Moore Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:28:44 +0000 http://sararyan.com/?p=1561#comment-9634 I've been doing the same thing with Battlestar Galactica, now up to through the second season. In this case, friends (a few mutual) tell me the last season takes the series downhill and the finale is awful. So I have something to look forward to. I recently blogged about Anders Loves Maria, a webcomic that recently ended to popular acclaim but I read in all one sitting. Same experience - get the narrative strategy, character arch, the compressed time, etc. In this case, I'm glad that I didn't follow it week to week over years, because, frankly, the ending sucked. I woulda felt robbed - robbed! My question is this: Do we miss something in emotional investment by not experiencing the series in real-time anticipation of the next episode/update/installment? I’ve been doing the same thing with Battlestar Galactica, now up to through the second season. In this case, friends (a few mutual) tell me the last season takes the series downhill and the finale is awful. So I have something to look forward to.

I recently blogged about Anders Loves Maria, a webcomic that recently ended to popular acclaim but I read in all one sitting. Same experience – get the narrative strategy, character arch, the compressed time, etc. In this case, I’m glad that I didn’t follow it week to week over years, because, frankly, the ending sucked. I woulda felt robbed – robbed!

My question is this: Do we miss something in emotional investment by not experiencing the series in real-time anticipation of the next episode/update/installment?

]]> Comment on In praise of binge-viewing for writers by Chelsey http://sararyan.com/2010/02/in-praise-of-binge-viewing-for-writers/#comment-9633 Chelsey Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:24:33 +0000 http://sararyan.com/?p=1561#comment-9633 I watched Buffy week by week as it unfolded, starting somewhere in Season Two, I think. On the one hand, I love that the show was a steady part of my life for five or six years, rhythmic and true. On the other hand, I would have loved to watch it all together and see what you're describing, because I'm fascinated by Joss Whedon's narrative brain. I'm curious, Does the humor hold up? Has it aged well? I watched Buffy week by week as it unfolded, starting somewhere in Season Two, I think. On the one hand, I love that the show was a steady part of my life for five or six years, rhythmic and true. On the other hand, I would have loved to watch it all together and see what you’re describing, because I’m fascinated by Joss Whedon’s narrative brain. I’m curious, Does the humor hold up? Has it aged well?

]]> Comment on New What A Girl Wants post is up, and here’s my response to #10 by Ann http://sararyan.com/2010/02/new-what-a-girl-wants-post-is-up-and-heres-my-response-to-10/#comment-9606 Ann Thu, 25 Feb 2010 01:34:41 +0000 http://sararyan.com/?p=1558#comment-9606 I also reread The Dark is Rising (and the other books in the sequence) every year over the course of the winter. I first read the books when I was nine or ten, and they haven't lost one hint of the magic they held for me at that age. Excellent rec! I also reread The Dark is Rising (and the other books in the sequence) every year over the course of the winter. I first read the books when I was nine or ten, and they haven’t lost one hint of the magic they held for me at that age. Excellent rec!

]]> Comment on I did not expect to be writing an identity-related post tonight by Steve http://sararyan.com/2010/02/i-did-not-expect-to-be-writing-an-identity-related-post-tonight/#comment-9575 Steve Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:29:23 +0000 http://sararyan.com/?p=1546#comment-9575 Well put (with appropriate illustrations from your good books). I once got a letter from a very famous novelist who told me he tried never to use adjectives for his characters, only verbs, since we are what we do and think and feel. Well put (with appropriate illustrations from your good books). I once got a letter from a very famous novelist who told me he tried never to use adjectives for his characters, only verbs, since we are what we do and think and feel.

]]> Comment on I did not expect to be writing an identity-related post tonight by Claire http://sararyan.com/2010/02/i-did-not-expect-to-be-writing-an-identity-related-post-tonight/#comment-9553 Claire Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:30:59 +0000 http://sararyan.com/?p=1546#comment-9553 Dear Sara, Thank you for writing about bisexuals and lesbians! Especially since Nic's bisexuality and the way it's handled is one of the most interesting things about Empress, which is as I have said before one of the shiniest, loveliest books ever. :) Claire Dear Sara,

Thank you for writing about bisexuals and lesbians! Especially since Nic’s bisexuality and the way it’s handled is one of the most interesting things about Empress, which is as I have said before one of the shiniest, loveliest books ever. :)

Claire

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