To
hone his writing abilities as he generates content for his graphic
novel, Khaled (known as "K.") has enlisted Kildonan's Literature
teacher Alisa Kwitney (@akwitney) as his advisor. Kwitney is no newcomer to the genre. Author of more than six books, former full editor at Vertigo (@vertigo_comics), and former editor at DC Comics (@DCComics),
Kwitney continues to maintain an active presence in the world of comics
and graphic novels even today. She approaches her professional
relationship with K. with an indefatigable sense of humor and a stress
upon endurance. No less importantly, she has given K. a new framework
in which to write. Below she discusses the mindset with which a writer
must approach that structure:When you're writing a comic book script, you're writing with a very specific reader in mind -- the artist. The artist is your first and probably your most careful reader, because she or he will have to go back over your panel descriptions again and again. Your artist will have to study your words until he or she sees them from all angles and can draw them on the page. So, in order to write well for the artist, the writer has to become the artist.
Before
his advisorship with Ms. Kwitney, K. composed his graphic novel using
typical prose. His narrative consisted of long, descriptive paragraphs
that encouraged the reader to generate, in his/her mind's eye, every
image. Since his working relationship with Ms. Kwitney, however, K. has
learned that images place certain constraints upon his writing, for
better and for worse. He has abandoned his uninterrupted prose for an
organizer that allows him to think in shots, in panels, and in pages
(not unlike a cinematographer).Those panels that an audience finds visually stimulating are quite surprising. A panel in which a character walks down the street or engages in a prolonged car chase is frozen (unlike in a movie). The image, despite its narrative potential, is unexciting for its repetitious visuals. A panel in which a character busts through a wall executes an abrupt action that does not repeat. The image is exciting AND possesses narrative potential. Ultimately, K. continues to experiment with this "visual writing" by playing with silences. He is starting to explore what an image can say without the accompaniment of words.
What do you think? Do you have a suggestion or question for K.? Please post in the comments section below.
Description of 1st image: Alisa Kwitney, pictured. Image located at www.alisakwitney.com. Kildonan and its IP program claim no ownership over the above photo.
Description of 2nd image: A draft of a comic book in-progress. Image located at www.wikihow.com. Kildonan and its IP program claim no ownership over the above photo.
