NOTES FROM SAW
Here’s the place to check out everything that’s been going on at SAW including what we're learning, reading and drawing.
CELEBRATING OUR IGNATZ NOMINEES!
We are so proud of our SAW community members who have been nominated for the illustrious IGNATZ AWARDS! Congratulations to Emily Zilber, Leela Corman, and Josh Bayer!
Request your ballot here and vote for them now! Online only!
Lauren Groff on Process
SAW's favorite novelist on drafts, failure, and limitation as gift.
As a maker-writer, you may have a story in mind, the beginning of a story, the end of a story in mind—but rather than emphasizing the narrative arc, she places importance on the process of a “continual thickening until right shape emerges…”
Jess Ruliffson on "Art Budgeting" with Alison Bechdel's Fun Home
One thing I seem to be thinking about a lot lately is how to make an "art budget" for a long form comic. Or even a short comic! In the SAW weekly meetings, sometimes we do short exercises.
Making Comics and Graphic Literature Roundtable Discussion - Hosted by Tom Hart and Kelcey Ervick
This will be a virtual roundtable discussing the possibility of graphic literature from the frame work of The Field Guide to Graphic Literature: Artists and Writers on Creating Graphic Narratives, Poetry Comics, and Literary Collage, Edited by Kelcey Ervick & Tom Hart
Tuesday Drop In -- Make Something Small and Finish
“Make small things. Find friends to counter the “bad” voice.
Do "unimportant" things (like small things, fast things, like journal in the notebook things, single panels, just faces, etc.) - the critics tend to be quelled a little when they think what you are doing is unimportant…”
Virtual and In person: Jess at Brookline Booksmith 11/13
On Sunday November 13th, I'll be doing a Q and A with Heather-Hopp Bruce from the Boston Globe at Brookline Booksmith. We worked together when I serialized early excerpts of the graphic novel with them (you can read those online for free I think, here and here, though there is sometimes a paywall.)
Invisible Wounds: Graphic Journalism by Jess Ruliffson
Pre-Order your copy of Invisible Wounds: Graphic Journalism by SAW instructor and good friend, Jess Ruliffson. Invisible Wounds: Graphic Journalism is set to come out November 8th and will be published by Fantagraphics Books.
Instructor Success: "Look Again" by SAW Graphic Memoir Instructor Elizabeth Trembley
“Once, years ago, while walking her dogs in the woods, Elizabeth found a dead body. “ Library Journal review of Look Again, a recent Graphic Memoir by SAW Graphic Memoir Instructor, Elizabeth Trembley.
Be Regular? Settled? Ordinary? Bourgeois?
This quote also highlights the non-work part of a life and how important it is to the whole (self-care, caretaking, health, car stuff, etc. can demand attention as soon as you commit to a weekly goal for your long-form, gorgeous creative pursuits.
More Graphic Novel Editing, Another Comparison
Try to focus on "what I have in my hands right now" (skills and abilities) not “who I wish I was of Future Me Who is Much Better at Drawing and Socializing and Unafraid of All Things.”
SAW Exhibition & Zine Launch October 29!
We're getting ready for our exhibition opening and zine launch tomorrow night. If you're in Gainesville, join us from 6pm to check out the new space and celebrate local cartoonists!
Stay Weird!
Some wise words from SAW Instructor, Jess Ruliffson, on just MAKING THE WORK and not worrying about the rest. Read on to see what she means.
Starting With One Thing and Ending Up With Another
Recent post excerpt from SAW Instructor Jess Ruliffson in our Six-Month Graphic Novel Intensive on process and creating “timeless and honest work that that sits on the waves of the shifting currents.”
Keep Characters Consistent (or Not)
Recent post excerpt from SAW Founder and Instructor, Tom Hart, in our Six-Month Graphic Novel Intensive on keeping characters consistent… or not. A discussion about the two extremes and the in-between. Read more.
You Know You're a Graphic Memoirist When...
You Know You're a Graphic Memoirist When... What do you have to say? Check out this exclusive post from one of our ongoing Online Intensive programs: SAW’s Graphic Memoir Intensive (led by Instructors Tom Hart and Beth Trembley)!
An Article About Grief
An article Tom Hart shared recently in our Graphic Memoir Intensive on GRIEF and how it affects us physically, mentally, and who we are. Check it out here.
On Making Work for the Market
We DO belong somewhere, but the "market" is cruel place. Very few belong there. I wouldn't recommend anyone try it, without a lot of research and planning, like wearing SCUBA gear… So, what should you focus on so you can sell your work?
Voice and Narration
Explore different types of narration in your comics, which styles do you tend to write in?