Midnight Ramblings - November 2008

Capacity
Secret Acres has just released a collection of Theo Ellsworth's wonderful stories and illustrations. The 336 page book reprints the best from his Capacity small press zine, but also includes 150 pages of brand new material. This is a must-have collection of this outstanding artist's cartoons and illustrations. Secret Acres Theo Ellsworth

NaNoWriMo Week Four
This was a challenging week for me on my journey toward completing my first rough draft of a novel. I wrote some transitional scenes and spent a fair amount of time figuring out the action just ahead of the actual writing. This made the progress much slower than previous days. But if I'm anything, I'm tenacious, and on Thanksgiving Day I crossed the magic 50K word hurdle set by the National Novel Writing Month rules. I celebrated by enjoying a wonderful meal with my family and watched The Big Lebowski, one of our all-time favorite movies. There's still a little more to the story I need to finish, so I'm going to continue beyond NaNoWriMo until I complete the full first draft. Wish me luck!

Fictar Graphics
Longtime webmaster for the Small Press Syndicate, Dan Nauenberg has started a website of his own. Fictar Graphics features his recent The Ranter comic and an extensive preview of his latest project, Playing the Sims. Check out his Website and online shop.

Recent small press comic reviews:
Stripburger #47 on Poopsheet Foundation

Good Minnesotan Episode One on Comic Related

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November 22, 2008 Blog Entry

NaNoWriMo Week Three
I had a great week on my novel during the third week of NaNoWriMo. I was working with characters I knew fairly well and had a good idea what was going to happen. I wrote several scenes and wrapped up an exciting sequence on Thursday night. Since I only have a rough idea where it's all going from here, I've entered a new cycle: uncertainty. I took a break on Friday, hoping the muse would be interested in helping get this thing back in gear again. But Saturday it's back to the keyboard regardless. I've got too much invested to turn back now!

Hogan's Alley
Tom Heinjes reports the sixteenth issue of Hogan's Alley is getting ready to go to press. And judging from the cover it looks to be overflowing with great features as usual. Plus there's some great special offers they're making: First, is an offer on back issues. During the holiday season they'll send you three back issues of your choice from the #10-15 run for $18. And if you want more after that, they'll tack on additional issues for $5 each. The second offer is an incentive to subscribe. Next issue they'll be randomly inserting original artwork into subscribers copies only. Check their website for more details and links to their vintage Christmas Card collection too.

Lafler Speaks (Or Writes)
Austin English ran his 20 Questions by cartoonist Steve Lafler recently, check it out here. I love Lafler's off-center comics and his sometimes stream-of-consciousness approach. And when you read his answers you can't help but admire his candor, energy, and excitement about what he does. I'm enjoying his current project, a webcomic called El Vocho. It's fun to read online, but I can't wait until it's collected into a book.

Popeye Volume Three
Fantagraphics has announced the third volume of their Popeye series collecting the daily and Sunday strips from 1932 to 1934. Plus EC Segar's never-reprinted World's Fair series. More details about this treasure here.

String #9
The ninth issue of the free PDF anthology from the 7000 BC comic collective is all laid out and ready for downloading. This time out the issue features an installment of the continuing story The Darkness from Warsaw by Bram Meehan, Jamie Chase, and Monica Meehan; Coyote Bathtub Presents . . . by Sykryk; Peoplings part 3 by Courtney Angermeier and Jeff Benham; Gallery Opening by Van Veen and Chance; and Fakin' the Funk by Paul and Pete Ziomek. Better yet, you can still download the first eight issues too. This is a great series, so if you like what you see post a comment on their blog and tell them!

Recent small press comic reviews:
Rashy Rabbit #4 on Poopsheet Foundation

You Ruined Everything on Comic Related
Monster World #1-6 on Comic Related

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November 15, 2008 Blog Entry

The Thirty Day Novel Factory
I've always enjoyed writing and ever since I heard about the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)—which is every November—I've been intrigued by the concept. In fact, I even read a book about it written by its founder, Chris Baty.

Besides specific lessons, the writing classes I've been taking throughout the year have taught me how many different things there are to learn about the craft. There are also several different ways to tackle a story. Some say just dive in and follow your muse. But what if your muse turns up missing just when you really need her? Others advise you won't reach your destination if you don't know where you're going. They say it's better to build a roadmap before you start out. It'll save you a lot of time headed in the wrong direction.

Sometimes it seems like there's more advice about writing than there are writers. But two things emerge consistently. One: the best way to learn about writing is to do it. (see On Writing by Stephen King.) But not only when the muse is willing to watch over your shoulder. Instead, write every day, whether the muse is there or not. Just the process of doing it every day will naturally bring greater understanding and continuous improvement.

The second thing is to read. If you're writing every day, when you read, writing will always be on your mind while you're reading. And that's another great way to learn. See what works and see how other writers handle different aspects of a story.

As these two ideas began to sink in, the thought of participating in NaNoWriMo this year kept sounding better. So this time I signed up. The event's goal is to write a 50,000 word novel in the thirty days of November.

By the end of the month I won't have a finished novel that's ready for prime time. My goals are 1) to write every day and 2) to use what I write as the basis for a novel. I'm using the first draft to develop and get to know the characters, settings, and plot of my novel. When I'm done, if there's something worth building on I'll be able to start a second draft from a good foundation. If not, I'll still have learned quite a bit in only thirty days.

If you'd like to track my progress to 50,000 words just click on the NaNoWriMo icon in the sidebar on the homepage. It'll take you directly to my page on their site. I update my word count everyday. And while you're there check out all the resources and success stories.

Crooked
Geoff Eighinger reports a new outlet for short crime fiction. Crooked a PDF zine is planned for a January release date. Check out Eastern Standard Crime for more information (top righthand side).

Cruse, Back on the Loose
Underground cartoonist Howard Cruse has resumed publishing his excellent Cruse Art newsletter filled with beautiful repros of his original cartoons for sale at very reasonable rates. To subscribe click here.

Comic Related's New Look
The all-things-comics website, Comic Related, launches their new site on Saturday, November 15th. Be sure check out all the new features and surprises Chuck Moore and his partners have cooked up.

Drop Comics
What's a drop comic? It's a PDF file you download from the Drop Comics website. Then you drop it in your desktop printer, fold it up and you've got yourself a brand new mini comic to read.

Recent small press comic reviews:
Paper Tiger #4 on Poopsheet Foundation

The Fart Party #5 on Comic Related

Pinwheel on Comic Related

Tim Corrigan's Comics & Stories #26 on Comic Related

Thanks for the tips and links this week to:
Rick Bradford
Alan Gardner

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November 8, 2008 Blog Entry

The New Site Headers are Here!
This week I'm happy to announce our new site headers. (Kind of a post second anniversary surprise.) I've wanted to do this for ages and finally made the time to get it done. The moonman on the homepage is the new logo toon for Midnight Fiction and Ed Flagstone is now holding court over the Review Index.

The new headers were designed for the top-level sections on the site. Any pages below them remain with the simplified text-only page headers.

The Blog header features a character inspired by the newscaster I originally drew for Dave McDonnell's Media Report column in The Buyer's Guide. And the blog title, Midnight Ramblings, is now official.

The Comix Index header is sliced up into panels just for fun.

The About section features a cartoon of me and a few of my favorite small press cartoonists who've helped me out with the site.

The Links page is a simple outer space setting suggesting all those ethereal links that populate the page. Eventually I may need to break this thing off into separate pages!

Thug Lit #28
Big Daddy Thug announced the twenty-eighth edition of Thug Lit is now online and ready for the downloading. The latest thugfest features hard boiled fiction by Trey R. Barker, Neil Grimmett, Rey A. Gonzales, Robert McClure, David Price, Christopher Bundy, Frank Bill, David Moss, Sophie Littlefield, and Derek Nikitas.

Recent small press comic reviews:
Zibdap Rebop #2 on Poopsheet Foundation

Invincible Summer #15/Clutch #20 on Comic Related

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November 1, 2008 Blog Entry

Good Minnesotan
2D Cloud reports the third episode of the Good Minnesotan has been released. The annual comic art compendium contains sequential art by artists from, and living in, Minnesota.

This time out the 104-page, perfect-bound volume contains work by Anna Bongiovanni, Nic Breutzman, Dank!, Toby Jones, Noah Harmon, Meghan Hogan, Raighne Hogan, John Holden, Luke Holden, Reynold Kissling, Ed Moorman, Abby Mullen, Madeline Queripel, and Justin Skarhus. To order episode three, or past issues check out the 2D Cloud shop. For news visit their blog.

Speech Balloons
I get most of my international comics news from the excellent Forbidden Planet International Blog, but I heard this week that the Birmingham Mail also runs regular coverage of the international comics scene. News and market trends are reported by Neil Elkes, while Tony Lee (Dr. Who, 2000AD) covers industry worklife, and Paul Birch (Gumby, Dead Ahead) handles interviews and behind-the scenes coverage. Check out their news feed at Speech Balloons.

Strange, Weird, and Wonderful
Fans of horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the paranormal should check out an issue of the free eZine, Strange, Weird, and Wonderful Magazine. The current issue is Fall 2008, but you can also download the inaugural Summer issue from their website. Editor DL Russell interviews writer Joel Arnold for the SW&W website. Arnold's Wicked Wire is one of the stories featured in the Fall edition.

Convention Photos
Dan Taylor posted a nice collection of photos from the recent Mid-Ohio Comic Convention on his ComicSpace page. Thanks for sharing these, Dan! I love it when they're labeled so I can tell who's who.

By the way, Dan's been busy painting as well as contributing to work to many of the Main Enterprises zines. Check out his latest work on the Art of Dan W. Taylor.

Captain Cure
Ty Douglas reported the addition of a shop to his Captain Cure website. Click on the Contact Us link to access the link to the shop, where you can purchase the first issue of Captain Cure. Sale proceeds go to help families and foundations in the battle to fight cancer. Douglas plans to add posters, hats, and other merchandise in the weeks ahead.

More Small Press Reviews
I've joined the review team at Chuck Moore's Comic Related website, where I'll be reviewing a new small press or self-published comic every week. CR is undergoing a major site refresh. Watch for the new design in mid-November.

Recent Small Press Comic Reviews:
Weekend Friends by London Underground Comics on Poopsheet Foundation

I Still Live by Annie Murphy on Comic Related

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