Simple Tips and Rules For Making Comics
Plus Summer Cartooning Workshop listings
A sequence I use to start off many of my school assembly and workshop sessions. Obviously this is just a silly piece about a giant anvil falling out of the sky and flattening me, but once we’ve read a comic together, we can start to talk about how cartooning works. Rather than having words that describe the action, we “read” the drawings, and we fill in all of the in-between moments and tell portions of the story to ourselves.
Upcoming SCBWI Workshop + Exclusive Minicomic
On Saturday June 14th I will be presenting a 90-minute workshop at The New Jersey Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Summer conference. This is open to all attendees, though I am sure space is limited. If you will be at the event, consider signing up. I will walk you through a series of fun drawing and cartooning activities, and explore different ways to generate ideas and find inspiration.
A hands-on comics making workshop. Participants will learn the nuts and bolts of making comics, and gain a deeper understanding of what separates cartooning from just drawing or writing, and have an opportunity to tell their own stories using the language of the art-form. The workshop bounces back and forth between an engaging and entertaining slideshow, to a series of comics making activities featured in a workbook specially designed for this event. Attendees will warm up with doodles, create a cartoon avatar, practice controlling the reader's eye as it moves across the page, and write a four-panel cartoon inspired by their own experiences. At the end, attendees will design a cover based on the stories they have told and leave having created their own comic book to take with them.
In addition, I’ll have a free minicomic to hand out to all participants:
It’s called A Part, Apart, and I’m considering it a “companion” comic to my new middle-grade graphic novel, The Hidden Dominion of Geordie James, which is due to “hit streets” almost exactly one year from now. This minicomic collects two cartoon essays, both of which directly inspired many of the ideas and themes explored in my new book. It’s 24-pages, full color, digest sized.
If you can't make the SCBWI conference, but might like to have a copy of this pamphlet, consider becoming a member of my Monthly Minicomic Club. For just $9, I’ll mail you this comic, as well as a brand new self-published ‘zine or minicomics every month for as long as you remain subscribed. There are no additional shipping fees, and international members are welcome.
More Summer Workshops
I’ll be all over The Garden State this Summer, presenting one-hour cartooning workshops at a series of New Jersey libraries. Each of these will be open to the public, and are intended for kids ages 8 and Up. I will walk participants through a series of drawing and cartooning activities and offer them individual feedback on their work. Check library websites for information on signing your child up.
July 9th, 6PM, Lambertville Public Library
July 16th, 3:30PM, Robbinsville Public Library
July 16th, 7PM, Hickory Corner Branch, Mercer County
July 22nd, 2PM, Barnegat Public Library
July 23rd, 2:30PM, Manalapan Library, Headquarters Branch
August 5th, 2PM, Middlesex Public Library
August 6th, 4PM, Verona Public Library
August 13th, 3PM, Long Branch Public Library
August 20th, 3PM, The Middletown Public Library
More dates may be added. I hope to see you at one of these events!
Thanks for reading along,
Mike