Resources for Writers by Writers. http://www.scrypticstudios.com Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:48:35 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/images/M_images/scryptic.jpg http://www.scrypticstudios.com Resources for Writers by Writers. http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/making_good/jim_hardison_shows_us_his_helm.html This week I interview Jim Hardison (http://www.characterweb.com/jim.html), whose first comic THE HELM (http://www.thehelmcomic.com/)hits stands from Dark Horse tomorrow with art by Bart Sears. THE HELM may be Jim's first foray into the comics medium, but he has a lot of experience in both story and characters and plenty of wisdom to share on the writing process. Columns - Making Good Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:16:23 +0100 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/making_good/vito_delsante_takes_on_superman.html Vito Delsante shares how his Superman story was saved from oblivion and his campaign to sell it out, as well as giving us a glimpse into his writing process. Columns - Making Good Tue, 13 May 2008 15:05:17 +0100 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/running_up_that_hill/shortest._column._ever..html This week in Running Up That Hill, Elton Pruitt comes clean on why you should stop listening to him and start trusting your own instincts. Sound like a farewell column? It's not. But it is the Shortest. Column. Ever. (columns/running_up_that_hill/shortest._column._ever..html) Columns - Running Up That Hill Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:50:18 +0100 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/running_up_that_hill/shiny_happy_column.html Are you one of the 5,000+ people who entered the Shadowline Who Wants to Create a Super-Heroine Contest and didn't make the Top 10? Elton Pruitt (aka the Ecto) is, and he's here with the perfect cure for what ails you: a completely sincere little pep talk. Delight in his failure to crack the Top 10 – and hopefully even get a little inspired yourself – by reading “Shiny Happy Column,” this week in Running Up That Hill. Columns - Running Up That Hill Fri, 08 Feb 2008 21:23:22 +0100 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/making_good/the_agony_and_ecstasy_of_deadlines.html We've all faced them before and most of us will face them again. Some of us love them, some of us hate them, and some of us are eternally torn. But one thing's for certain: anyone planning on being a writer (especially a comics writer) is going to face a career full of them. They're DEADLINES. As in, Cross this line and you're dead. Columns - Making Good Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:41:19 +0100 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/running_up_that_hill/the_courtship_of_an_artist.html Artists: without them, we’re merely delusional dreamers. If you want to write comic books, you’ve got to find artists to bring your words to visual life. But where do you find them? And how? Learn all the Ecto has learned – and hopefully a lot more – in “The Courtship of an Artist,” this week in Running Up That Hill. Columns - Running Up That Hill Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:47:53 +0100 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/running_up_that_hill/defeating_blank_pages_part_1_outflank_your_enemy.html Our primary goal as writers is to defeat that mythological, multi-headed beast: the dreaded blank page. This week in Running Up That Hill, Elton Pruitt (aka the Ecto, aka recent accomplisher of the fabled NEGATIVE BURN Hat Trick) shares a couple of tips and stategies that work for him! Columns - Running Up That Hill Wed, 23 Jan 2008 23:45:09 +0100 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/running_up_that_hill/the_shadowline_who_wants_to_create_a_super-heroine_contest_ultimate_faq.html Is Elton Pruitt, aka the Ecto, aka recent accomplisher of the fabled NEGATIVE BURN Hat Trick: A. An idiot with way too much time on his hands? B. So confident in his own pitches that he welcomes all competition? Or perhaps... C. A straight-up guy who actually wants to do something constructive and helpful for the aspiring writers out there who may come across the contest late in the game? You decide -- but only after reading The Shadowline Who Wants to Create a Super-Heroine Contest Ultimate FAQ! Columns - Running Up That Hill Tue, 15 Jan 2008 07:42:53 +0100 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/running_up_that_hill/reboot.html In which Elton Pruitt, aka the Ecto, aka recent accomplisher of the fabled Negative Burn Hat Trick, finally (a) stops referring to himself in the third person, (b) writes a column for the first time in seven months, and (c) embraces his most important audience ever: YOU! Yes, he's a comic book writer/columnist on a mission now, folks. And that mission is simple: to help you become a comic book writer yourself. P.S. He's I'm serious! Columns - Running Up That Hill Thu, 10 Jan 2008 22:27:58 +0100 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/digging_my_own_grave/orange.html Drew Edwards puts the final nail in his coffin as he looks back on his career in comics. Readers can expect brutal honesty and yule tide woe. As well as the typical references to ghosts, goblins, and every thing in between. 2007 is over, can he survive 2008? And what will be left of him if he does. Find out dear reader in Orange. Columns - Digging My Own Grave Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:43:17 +0100 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/making_good/mark_sable_and_david_roth_on_fearless.html Caleb talks to these two writers about their new Image book, about why comics, about overcoming obstacles, budgeting writing time and more! PLUS: a behind-the-scenes look at the book's script. Columns - Making Good Tue, 06 Nov 2007 04:12:57 +0100 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/digging_my_own_grave/dinosaurs_vs._zombies.html Drew Edwards has a serious case of the meat department blues. A surprise run-in with the ghost of a Texas politician has him thinking about zombies, dinosaurs, and his new graphic novel from Silent Devil. Read on for excitement! Columns - Digging My Own Grave Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:07:53 +0100 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/swift_as_mercury/shes_faking_it.html Good writers and good lovers are cunning linguists, but that's not all they have in common. The relationship between writer and reader is a lot like two strangers who catch each other's eye. It can be magical love at first sight, or a sketchy pick-up in a bar, and either one is fine, provided you're true and honest about your story's intentions. Don't jilt the audience. Columns - Swift As Mercury Wed, 20 Jun 2007 07:48:48 +0100 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/running_up_that_hill/kristen_simons_top_10_writing_tips_for_comic_book_writers.html Kristen Simon, editor for Jim Valentino’s Shadowline imprint at Image Comics, recently posted her Top 10 Writing Tips for Comic Book Writers on her MySpace site. Coming from a professional comic book editor, this is the kind of information that’s simply invaluable for aspiring writers, and it’s exactly the kind of information Scryptic Studios should provide. So, here it is! Columns - Running Up That Hill Fri, 08 Jun 2007 14:43:33 +0100 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/swift_as_mercury/draft.html Action is where character and plot do battle. But it's that kind of battle that ends with the two combatants realizing how hot they are foreach other. Now that you're thinking sexy thoughts, step on in. Columns - Swift As Mercury Wed, 30 May 2007 13:40:27 +0100 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/running_up_that_hill/interview_with_censored_editor_extraordinaire.html A while back, I made the acquaintance of a crazy cat named [CensorEd], who’s an editor for [a rather large comic book publisher]. I asked for an interview, s/he said yes, and voila – it’s the next installment of Running Up That Hill! Columns - Running Up That Hill Wed, 23 May 2007 18:41:37 +0100 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/making_good/first_books_-_matt_siladys_the_homeless_channel.html Caleb talks to Matt Silady, a writer/artist whose intriguing first graphic novel, The Homeless Channel, comes out tomorrow. Columns - Making Good Mon, 21 May 2007 23:56:10 +0100 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/swift_as_mercury/the_universe_conspires.html Listen, chum, God helps those what help themselves, so here's a smack in the mouth for those of you writers that aren't keeping your ears open to your own assistance, and the world besides. If that doesn't sound like complete gibberish, congratulations! You're part shaman. Come on i. Columns - Swift As Mercury Thu, 10 May 2007 10:38:58 +0100 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/running_up_that_hill/it_all_started_with_kamandi.html Elton never got to read Jack Kirby's Kamandi, the Last Boy on Earth as a kid. So when he finally read it 2.5 years ago, it made him lose his mind and decide he wanted to write comic books for a living! Columns - Running Up That Hill Tue, 01 May 2007 14:04:34 +0100 http://www.scrypticstudios.com/columns/digging_my_own_grave/fear__loathing_=_las_vegas.html This go around the infamous Mr. Edwards sums up his first few months in Las Vegas. Find out what show girls, grocery clerks, and werewolves have to do with one another in this installment! Columns - Digging My Own Grave Fri, 27 Apr 2007 10:43:46 +0100