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This is a weblog of one person's multi-year quest to write, draw, and publish a graphic novel. This is my story: my trials, tribulations, successes and failures. -- Robert Stradley, Weekend Artist

2010:  Sketches of Heroes

Publishing and Copyright ©
I entered a whole new world of self publishing, business, and the Federal government.  As usual these days, it is good news and bad news.  The good news is that it can be done without the services of a “professional”, by a neophyte [that would be me].  The bad news is that it does take some time and some money.  Here’s the short version: 

With the new Copyright law, the rules have changed.  As soon as you write it, draw it, or record it, it is copyrighted.  No ©, no mailings, no paper trail.  Nothing.  You can say © if you want on your document, to tell others you don’t want it stolen or copied. 

However, if you want to defend others from taking or using your work, then you need to register it.  Go to www.copyright.gov and they will lead you thru it.  It will cost you $35. 

To self publish with your own ISBN’s, go to www.bowker.com and they will lead you thru it.  Current cost is $125.00 for 1 or $250.00 for 10.  With the ISBN’s in hand, go to an on-line barcode generator and print out a 13 digit barcode for free.  Then insert it into your document on the back cover and presto-chango, you are good to go. 

You may want to include a copyright page in your document that says that all rights are reserved and list your ISBN.  Just look at a few published books to make your verbiage similar. 

When you are done, you will need to send 2 copies electronically or hard copy to the Library of Congress.  That’s it.  Fini. 

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Character realism and culture
In the process of writing about the heroes and keeping them all straight, we developed a document on each of the groups including general characteristics, food, shelter, family types, and all the items needed to generate stereotypes. 

For instance: all Elfes are slim and slight, do Magie of some type, and belong to Houses; all Zwergen are short and blocky, have a thing for modesty, and belong to Clans; all Foresters are medium height, strong and independent; all Thals are tall, fast, and flexible, and polyglot.  

This document helped in generating character backgrounds and idiosyncrasies on both the personal and cultural level, and will keep us from generating embarrassing inconsistencies during multiple adventures on the story arc. 

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Languages and Accents
Along with the cultures, we added languages to the different groups.  To avoid the normal dissonance associated with invented languages, [see chart] we decided to use existing ones. 

Why invent them when they are so readily available in the real world?  For those who already know each language, join the fun.  For those who don’t, run them thru a translator. 

Please notice the evil grin on the face of the editor.  Some of the phrases are idiomatic, and you might actually have to search on line or crack a book at the library.  ;)

All of the characters have accents of one kind or another, especially those whose native language is not Common Midlander [by default English].  To show this use of accents, we decided to use different typefaces for each character.  This results in an interesting condition.  When multiple people are talking, even off screen, the reader will now know who is saying what.   

Engineer: It will also complicate the heck out of compositing. 
Artist [sneering]: All great art is complex.
Engineer: Tell it to the editor who wants to see something published this year.

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