The growth of digital comics, paid subscription models, and social media presents an innovative opportunity for storytellers.
As a writer, I tend to go through fits and starts of what I liken to “creative mania” and “creative depression.” I don’t take mental health struggles lightly; I’ve battled depression a time or two in my own life. One such battle in particular is what led me to write my first comic script. That’s a story for another day…
When I’m in a state of “creative mania,” ideas pour out of me with a sense of joy. I write as if I’ve been teleported to Amashik and am reporting live on the ground in its various locations. I’m watching as engineers in Riverburgh construct an irrigation system to help feed The Republic Kingdom of Athea. Or I’m patrolling the Esran Sea with a band of Kavanian Ro’kitas on the lookout for Horaghian pirates. Some days I’m hovering above the Floating Forest of Gea and taking in a bird’s eye view of all its mysteries.
This Substack newsletter will allow me to take the next step towards writing full-time.
Writing helped me get through one of my toughest bouts of depression to date. I went from literally hiding under my desk at work to scripting comics in a matter of months. None of those comics have yet to see the light of day, but without them you’d never have heard of TRoN or JL Johnson Jr.
The periods of “creative depression” a.k.a. writer’s block, are very real. Ideas are at stand still. It’s not as though they aren’t there, they just are hard to access. And instead of feeling as if I’m reporting live from Amashik I feel like all flights to and from are cancelled indefinitely.
Last week I shared a free sample of the first style of post that’ll eventually end up behind the paywall: comic pages and author commentary. I’m excited to grow the subscriber list on this newsletter, both free and paid. I believe it’ll make these moments of “creative depression” go by faster. Rather than sitting idly I’ll be able to connect directly with you.
Did I mention you can now read Book 1 in its entirety right here on Substack? Click that link above!
“Though in this genre we write about the fantastic, the stories work best when there is solid grounding in our world. Magic works best for me when it aligns with scientific principles. Worldbuilding works best when it draws from sources in our world. Characters work best when they’re grounded in solid human emotion and experience.”
― Brandon Sanderson
The notes I used to craft this world are full of new characters, exotic regions, fictional religions, and mysteries that we won’t explore in the comic.
I wish we could. Or at least I used to. Until I discovered Substack. I’d heard of this platform before but ignored its potential. I think that’s been for the best. I’ve been able to build out the first volume (and then some) of the series and instead of forcing these stories into the comic I’ve left them untouched.
Until now. Check back tomorrow for our first short story set in The Rule of Nine.
JL