Making a Graphic Novel - The Charlie Way

Hey, everyone.

Today, I thought I'd share the process that went into making Save Me.

First, the idea. I had been wanting to make a graphic novel for a few years now. I wanted to make one about a character I created in high school. The only problem was, I couldn't think of an actual story. Well, sort of. All I really knew was that I wanted to do a story about someone who was feeling isolated, and I was going to use this character to accomplish that. However, l couldn't come up with any details to the story. I hadn't yet come up with the method I would eventually use to make Save Me. Btw, I came up with the way the story is going to start (and a few other details) a few months ago. I plan on producing that story someday, but I need someone more artistically talented than I to draw it.

Since I couldn't come up with anything for that one, I decided to go in another direction. I came up with a character who worked in a copy shop, and was trying to find love, but the concept reminded me too much of the movie Clerks, so that was quickly abandoned.

As you know by now (that is, if read my previous posts, and shame shame if you haven't...go fix that now...I'll wait...okay, let's continue), I have bipolar depression. I also have loved superheroes since forever. One day in early 2014, out of the blue, I decided to put the two together. It was if lightening had stuck my brain (some who know me would not be surprised if it had). I want to use one more analogy: it was like chocolate smacked right into peanut butter. There. Happy now.

So...I had the idea. Now, I needed to figure out how to do it. In April 2014, I decided to write out an outline, which I still have. I'll scan it and include it in a future post. I pulled my Mickey Mouse padfolio, went to the nearby Barnes and Noble cafe, and started writing. It took about a month of scribbling and scratching out words onto the paper in front of me, but I finally finished it.

Maybe I should stop for now. We'll continue this tomorrow. Feel free to leave ant comments below.

Later.

-Charlie

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Buy Save Me @ Amazon.com: search "Save Me Charlie Stubblefield"