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By: Nicole Hubbard,
on 9/18/2013
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Life has been quite hectic for me lately, so I haven't spent much time online in the past few weeks. First, my brother's wedding, then getting my brother and sister into college. Now that things have died down a little bit, I have had time to resume some of my projects. I am still writing on DA Shadow Phantom. Also, the burning desire has hit me to do a short animation with some of the characters and some music that has inspired me, sort of like a theme song/sequence.
Currently, I am perfecting the run cycle for Dalan, my main character. I think I finally came up with something that I like, and I have been testing it in After Effects as well. It's a handy animation program from Adobe. The first step for me to refine this run cycle, however, was research. I looked up numerous run cycles that other people had done. Still unsatisfied with what I was finding for this particular character, however, I kept looking. It wasn't until I was watching Black Cat, an action anime, that I at last found what I was looking for.
Train Heartnet and gang from Black Cat (Kuro Neko) -
not my artwork, I found this on Tumblr.com
Train Heartnet basic run cycle -
a series of screen shots from Black Cat, Episode 10 - not my artwork
Screen captures weren't fast enough to get me what I needed as a reference, however. What I needed was a frame-by-frame reference. Generally, since the most common frame rate used in animation nowadays is 24 fps (frames per second), the human eye cannot pick up every single one if played in real time. We see it as continuous motion. So what I had to do was open the episode that had the run cycle I wanted in After Effects and pull it apart frame by frame, taking my screen shots there with individual images as opposed to footage, which is what an animation is when we see a movie or show. Anyway, with this run cycle now available to me as a reference, I was able to experiment and adapt a working one that suited my character, Dalan much better.
Dalan Raymer basic run cycle, by me
Just from being able to compare general run cycles with a faster run cycle, I learned a lot about what makes them faster or slower looking. Most normal run cycles are, on average, about nine frames long, not including whatever in-betweens the animators decide to add to smooth them out and slow them down. What I wanted was a fast, sort of choppy run cycle that denotes someone who is very fast, faster than the average human athlete, as Dalan has a few un-human abilities.
The effect I learned towards that end is to clip the average nine frame run cycle down to six or seven frames, seven if you make it a full cycle, repeating the first frame as the seventh one. Even if I add extra frames in between, or keep each frame up for the length of two frames to slow it down enough to make it visible to the average human eye, I discovered that it still gives the impression of the runner moving very fast. Part of that illusion are the sharp diagonal angles the body and limbs are put at in each frame. If the figure was more upright, for instance, it would appear that he is moving at a slower, more leisurely pace.
To see the above run cycle tested as an actual animation clip, visit my
FaceBook Shadow Phantom page.
Main page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/DA-Shadow-Phantom/125944890946328Dalan Raymer run cycle, frames 1 and 2,
basic color version with swatches - art by me
Little by little I'm seeing it come together, and it's exciting. Besides other random art projects for people, this project has me sucked in most of the time. Sometimes, it's days before I surface for air.
For those of my readers who do not yet know, DA Shadow Phantom is an action/fantasy story where Dalan, a shapeshifter, has to come to terms with what he is, the last of his kind living in a society of humans that have all but forgotten the old ways of life. He acts as a sort of protector as he learns to master his abilities, running to the aid of the weak that are oppressed by the strong and violent. Will he have to give up his own desires, even his life to protect people who will never understand him? Or can he somehow manage to find what he wants in the process?
Gridded City - The Hand of Destiny - artwork by me
The above image is one of the key frames (images) in my short theme song animation. Time and space have merged as Dalan's destiny begins to be revealed, and his own life seems to be unraveling at the same time.
A close up of Dalan in the odd grid room
To find out more about the DA Shadow Phantom series and/or purchase the first book, follow these links:
AmazonSmashwordsI hope to see you there!
For more artwork and story-related stuff, or if you just want to get in touch with me and see what I'm up to, visit me at these websites:
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By: Nicole Hubbard,
on 8/30/2013
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To get a feel for how my character, Dalan, moves, I began experimenting with run cycles. The first thing I did was a lot of research into various run cycles for different characters, as well as observing how people of different body types, stamina, and personalities run in real life. Some of the references I found are really interesting and well done. Here are a few I found that helped me out a lot:
Stick figure run cycle that only shows the main flow of movement, no details,
though I can't remember where I found this
a general chart of changes in motion
Below is the basic run cycle I came up with for Dalan Raymer, the Shadow Phantom in my series, DA Shadow phantom. He is the type of character to dash straight into battle or danger without much thought on the matter. That, coupled with his slightly smaller body type, led me to explore a slightly more chaotic run style for him. He's fast, outstripping most opponents with ease, and impulsive.
Basic Run Cycle for Dalan (art by me)
I started with the concept, i.e., the stick figures. These provided the initial idea for the run cycle, the flow of motion. After that, with each consecutive step, more and more details are added. Also, I test these as an actual animation. Photoshop has an Animation feature (under the Window tab) where you can set each image/layer as a separate frame. You can place these frames and time them whenever they are supposed to come up, one after the other. If you want them to flash quickly, have each image/layer stay be visible for one frame only. To slow it down, either add more images as in-betweens, or have each one stay visible for two or three frames. It's a handy feature. That way, you can test the movement of the animation and perfect it a bit before importing it into an animation program such as Flash or After Effects.
I also found references for four legged creatures running, as well as flight cycles of birds and bats. This could be very useful, considering what my main character changes into, as a shapeshifter.
The process I've been going through to create a run cycle has been a lot of fun. For one, it has reminded me of a very important concept in character design: when drawing characters, even in a two dimensional medium, always treat them as if they are three dimensional. That will make doing different angles of them easier and more believable. Even in a basic run cycle, it isn't just the legs and arms that are moving. People's bodies naturally twist and turn while running or doing anything, for that matter. So it would make sense to visualize characters as being three dimensional to begin with.
As always, everything I learn about art, animation, and storytelling is always a journey, never really about some final end destination. There are various things to accomplish along the way and levels to reach, but I'm afraid that if I finally did get to the top of some great height with nothing else to go for, I wouldn't know what to do or where to go. I need to keep learning.
So, to all the people out there who, like me, thrive on learning of some sort and the experiences that go with it,
Happy Traveling!
A chibby of me done by a friend of mine
By: Nicole Hubbard,
on 8/23/2013
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I have found out that Celtic music is very commonly used for and associated with fantasy movies and shows. I guess it's because of the mood and feeling much of the music gives off, like a perfect fantasy world is actually real and, not only that, is a very reachable community that the audience can join right in with. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit have a lot of Celtic style music in the soundtracks. That is part of what gives the mystical, magical effect of the story.
From The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring
Recently, I've been listening to a lot of Irish music done by modern bands. One song I love in particular is called "Nil Se'n La" by Celtic woman. Part of the song is in the old Irish language, and the rest is in English. It starts off with part of a folk song:
Chuaigh mé isteach i dteach aréir
Is d'iarr mé cairde ar mhnaoi an leanna
Is é dúirt sí liom “Ní bhfaighidh tú deor
Buail an bóthar is gabh abhaile.”
Roughly translated, this verse means:
I went into a (public) house last night
and I asked the barwoman for credit
She said to me "You won't get a drop
Hit the road and go home."
The setting of this song is in a bar or ale house on a cold winter's night. After making his case to the bartender (the woman in the intro) that he will be staying because he is the main source of entertainment, the speaker of the song then instigates the festivities. The song is about an all night party that no one ever wants to leave because of how lively and inviting the environment is. The night is magical, with instruments playing and a golden fire as drinks abound, never seeming to run out.
Celtic Woman Album art
The chorus goes:
Níl sé ina lá, níl a ghrá,
níl sé ina lá is ní bheidh go maidin,
níl sé ina lá is ní bheidh go fóill,
solas ard atá sa ghealaigh.
Translated:
It's not yet day, it's not my love,
it's not yet day and it won't be 'till morning,
it's not yet day and it won't be yet,
A high light is in the moon.
And while the listeners are never told if this party is actually real or all a wistful fantasy in the speaker's mind, the tone and voice of the music brings them into the scene so completely that they are somewhat sad when the song ends at last and the last note of this bright magical world in the middle of winter drifts away.
From the Lord of the Rings, Pippin and Merry eating.
Music really does have a much bigger on the tone and even the theme of a movie than people seem to think. Even if you don't normally notice the music, you would certainly notice if there was no music at all or if it had a happy tone when a certain scene was supposed to be sad. The carefully created mood would be ruined. When I was in high school, one of my teachers proved this to my class. He played a scene on a big projector screen that was supposed to be suspenseful and even a bit scary, such as a villain playing a cat and mouse game with either the hero or someone close to the hero in a dark setting. Instead of playing it with the normal suspense music, however, my teacher had a very cheerful carnival-type song on.
The effect that combination had on my classmates and I varied. Some of us just couldn't take the scene seriously anymore. It just wasn't scary. To other people, the cheerful music with this setting just made the scene ironically creepy. Either way, the mood of the entire scene was warped a great deal. And it was all because of the music being played in the background, the aspect of a movie that many people don't even notice. That is why theme songs for television shows are so important, even if you do skip them half the time. For one, the theme song is supposed to portray the overall attitude and tone for the show, as a whole. It could be a comedy, or dark drama. The theme song should suggest what elements might go into it.
Even while I'm writing or drawing, I often listen to the type of music that corresponds with the mood I want for a particular mood or theme. This helps to put me in the right mood instantly and also can give me inspiration from time to time. When I first started writing DA Shadow Phantom, a song that I have considered to be the theme song for this story is called "The Bird and the Worm" by the Used.
The song starts:
He wears his heart
safety pinned to his backpack
His backpack is all that he knows
Shot down by strangers
whose glances can cripple
the heart and devour the soul
Then it moves on to the chorus:
All alone he turns to stone
while holding his breath half to death
Terrified of whats inside
to save his life he crawls
like a worm from a bird
crawls like a worm from a bird
Beast Within, artwork by me, inspired by the image above this one
A big theme in DA Shadow Phantom is Dalan struggling with his inner beast. Should he resist it? Shun it give into it? Or should he try to understand its nature and work with it, allow it to truly become part of him? Whatever he chooses, this process is lonely and scary, even painful at times. Having even a single ally, like Dalan's friend Heather Dennison, is a huge relief, though it does not remove the burden, not by a long shot.
The song above portrays the overall mood and attitude I was picturing for this story. Maybe if I get around to creating more images for this story, maybe even an animation, I will play with setting them to music like this.
Stories are all about a journey, either internal or physical. The main characters grow and develop, their motives often driving the plot of the entire story. This process enables the readers/viewers to get into the story more and even root for the main character(s). Music is also a journey. It incites the listeners' emotions a certain way so that they feel like they are on a journey as well.
So how do movies make people cry, or fill them with excitement, euphoria, or even rage? Some images can be quite compelling, true, and sometimes famous movie lines can get stuck in your head for days, but one aspect that most people forget about is music. According to a Scientific American article, "Why Does Music Make us Feel?", "speech sounds don’t give us the chills, and they don’t make us cry [....] But music
does emanate from our alarm clocks in the morning, and fill our cars, and give us chills, and make us cry." It is a big part of the lives of many people worldwide (
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-does-music-make-us-fe).
In a recent study covered by a recent paper by Nidhya Logeswaran and Joydeep Bhattacharya from the University of London, 30 participants were given pictures of human faces and were told to rate them from 1 to 7 in terms of emotion, with 1 being extremely sad and 7 being extremely happy. The researchers found that, if music was playing, it actually influenced the ratings. Sad music made the frowns seem that much more melancholy, while lively, happy music made the happy faces seem all the more ecstatic. One explanation the article gives "is that the emotions of music are 'cross-modal,' and can easily spread from sensory system to another." Since images and colors are also powerful in getting a response from people, putting these together with music the correct way into the plot of a story can have an even more powerful and even magical effect, pulling the audience more fully into the world of the story, as more of their senses are engaged and even interacting with the story.
Try noticing the way music and images/colors are used together the next time you watch a movie or anime, and you'll see what I mean.
Happy travels!
Dalan's aging process, from 5 to about 20
If anyone has any questions or comments, or if you just want to start a discussion with me, leave a comment after this blog. To see the fantasy kindle books I have on Amazon, visit these links:
1.)
North Country, Book One: The Riders of Redrog 2.)
DA Shadow Phantom, Volume 1: TransformationFeel free to stop by and browse, and maybe leave a review.
For more artwork and story-related stuff, or if you just want to get in touch with me and see what I'm up to, visit me at these websites:
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By: Nicole Hubbard,
on 8/19/2013
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My dad has a 1960’s version of Romeo and Juliet that he wants to show his high school English class when they read the ever famous Shakespearean play. It’s a British film though, and the funny thing about British films, even in the 1960’s, is how not shy they are about nudity. While American actors of that era and before could hardly even be shown sleeping in the same bed, British producers did not even try to strategically hide anything. You might see a nude guy mostly from behind, but everything is showing, and the girl is not shy about flashing her breasts for the camera.
The acting is superb. You would almost never think it was a film done in the ‘60’s. The actors dive into their roles completely, making the old Shakespeare text come to life so completely that you can’t help but enjoy it, even if you’re not into reading Shakespeare-style language (which, by the way, is not Old English, but actually Late Middle English). Anyway, because of one questionable scene with flashing breasts and buttocks, my dad hasn’t been able to get the film approved. So I got to open it in my film editing program and make it kosher for American high school students. That was fun, getting flashed a few times while trying to figure out exactly where to cut it, all the while trying to keep all the of the dialogue and background music consistent enough so that it’s not obvious a scene, or a few bits of a scene, have been cut.
Romeo and Juliet, a Paramount picture and Bhe Film,
Franco Zeffirelli’s production of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” Anyway, my progress with editing this film for my dad made me think about something I’d learned about in art school, a method that drives me nuts if it isn’t used properly in movies, television shows, and even comedy routines. It is called The Art of Taboo. If you look at the definition of the word taboo, that word explains a lot what this method in filmmaking and storytelling might entail.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a taboo is "a social or religious custom prohibiting or forbidding discussion of a particular practice or forbidding association with a particular person, place, or thing." As an adjective or verb, taboo is something "prohibited or restricted by social custom," or something that is "place[d] under prohibition." The word came into the English language in the late 18th century, "from Tongan tabu 'set apart, forbidden'; introduced into English by Captain Cook." (http://oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/taboo?q=taboo) Basically, the Art of Taboo is the ability to hint at certain topics, which may or may not be touchy with a lot of people, without actually explicitly mentioning them or showing them. This may seem like an old-fashioned cop-out, but if this method is used artfully and tastefully, some of those awkward situation and/or topics suddenly become ten times funnier. Once someone actually comes out and says it, the joke is dead, the mood brutally killed. If actors on stage or even comedians just started blurting certain things out all over the place, not only is it not really funny, but the show cannot be taken seriously, especially if the audience begins to feel perverted just by continuing to watch. In this way, using the Art of Taboo in strategic places, i.e. leaning more towards the morality of issues, doesn’t have to be boring or spoil the fun at all. Stories can have those funny moments, but then they can get serious again as well, as both the characters and the audience can move along on their journey.
Posted in "5 hour epic" on YouTube by The Prime Ares
Think of it like having an invisible window between your audience and the taboo. You can look, but don't touch. The question is knowing where that line - or window pane - is, knowing what to leave in and what to cut out or simply allude to. If too much is cut out, then you, as the storyteller, will come across to the audience as being too timid. If that happens, you will have dragged your audience out of the story forcefully in the direction opposite what the lack of the Art of Taboo would do. Dragging your audience out of the story for any reason is bad because you may lose them altogether.
One example of the use of the Art of Taboo can be seen in many movies and television shows PG 13 or lower that involve romance. For instance, take Smallville. It is a highly passionate show with passionate characters. Yet, even when you have scenes when various characters are lip-locked, or even when they are in bed together, notice that only enough of the scene is actually shown to give the viewers the idea of what is going on, or what is about to happen. That little hint is all the viewers need. After that, people’s imaginations can run as wild as they want to, as they have been given plenty of material to work with.
Ollie and Lois, a screenshot from Smallville, Season 6
Posted in "5 hour epic" on YouTube by The Prime Ares
Having a middling to low rating for movies and television shows, instead of aiming for a really high rating just because you don’t want to be restricted in what you show, actually attracts more viewers that include many different types of people. Just because people are adults that don’t have movie restrictions that apply to them anymore doesn’t mean that everyone wants to watch rated R movies. But if the ratings are kept more in check, more people find that they can enjoy the story, and they still get the gist of the more touchy and violent scenes without being shown everything. By using the art of taboo, some of these scenes can become a mystical or mysterious experience for the viewers and/or readers. As a writer myself, I find myself struggling sometimes to find the proper balance. Part of that balance is knowing who your audience is. Even though I want a broad range of people to read my series, DA Shadow Phantom, I am aiming it primarily at teenagers. Sometimes the hardest challenge is working with other people on a single project, getting them all to work towards the same goal. Everyone has different preferences and ideas. Even working with one other person can be a challenge, as I am collaborating on this series with a close friend of mine. We both are going on our own journeys with this project, just as our characters are.
When you have two people working on the same story with wildly different ideas of how scenes should go, knowing where that fine line is as far as The Art of Taboo goes can be quite tricky. Especially if you have some characters that are highly passionate by nature. As the main editor as well as a writer of DA Shadow Phantom, I’m constantly trying to figure out how much to leave to give the readers accurate information about the characters, let take out enough so that a wider range of readers can enjoy the story. Despite the different ideas my friend and I have, our journeys still have to coincide enough to make the experience of reading the story a magical cohesive flow instead of a bunch of jumbled ideas. That way, the readers don't get ripped viciously out of the euphoric flow of the story; they won't have to miss out on the special moments, even if some of them are merely hinted at, like some exotic dream seen from a distance.
Happy travels!
Posted in "5 hour epic" on YouTube by The Prime Ares
For more artwork and story-related stuff, or if you just want to get in touch with me and see what I'm up to, visit me at these websites:
By: Nicole Hubbard,
on 8/5/2013
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We just had my brother's wedding, so everything has been crazy around my house. That's why I didn't get a blog out last week--sorry guys.
Not only have there been a lot of people around, so I've been going crazy, but since I'm the resident artist, I've been commissioned to do the wedding cake topper. My brother and his fiancé wanted a custom one that matched them better than the ones advertised. So what I ended up doing was a rather spunky one with my brother's fiancé, who is much shorter than he is, holding him up as they try to kiss in that position. Using a simple anime-ish style, I think I pulled it off quite well, besides the fact that my brother's hand fell off and I had to super glue it back on. Oops ^_^
This project was fun, but I'm glad it's over with now.
The happy couple (art by me) - cake topper made of super sculpey and acrylic paint
They're off on their honeymoon now, so maybe I'll finally get a little peace. This weekend was still fun though, as exhausted as I am.
Anyway, besides all the craziness of the wedding, I am at a shifting point in my story, DA Shadow Phantom. It's a place where the plot could take any turn or twist. There could be a major turning point, where the characters' motives shift tracks. It's certainly an interesting place to be, though sometimes frustrating.
Part of what goes into the plot is the character development. Currently, my main character, Dalan, is going through a lot of changes. He's torn between being the Shadow Phantom, protecting the innocent from those that would hurt and exploit them, and just being a normal teenager. For quite a long time, he's been flip-flopping back and forth. Now he's faced with shutting out one identity completely to embrace the other. At the same time, he's also learning about his roots, why he is the way he is, and what his destiny might be.
One song that has been inspiring me recently to that effect is "My Immortal," by Evanescence. I first heard the song in season three or four of Smallville, in the episode where Clark has his first memories of his birth parents. It is a really touching but sad scene, so I thought the song matched it pretty well.
"My Immortal" by Evanescence, a wallpaper
Jor-El and Lara-El, Clark Kent's biological parents
The reason this song has inspired me is because it reminded me of a perfect, beautiful past that couldn't last or was too good to be true being drudged up. The person is forced to relive this, all the while knowing this life can never be, yet is wishing for it anyway.
Dalan is doing the same thing by wishing away his destiny. He's trying to look back to a time that at was more normal for him, though a time that may never have existed at all. Dalan has always had to watch from the sidelines while everyone else was just being normal. Later on, for a time, he even tries to forget his own identity to be normal himself.
The other central characters are struggling with their own demons. Heather and Matt, Dalan's closest friends, are having trouble with their friend's role as well. Neither of them are sure where they fit into the picture at all, as Dalan's destiny seems too great and alien for them. Heather isn't completely sure of her feelings regarding Dalan either, just as he's unsure of his. It seems the more complicated the plot gets, the more characters seem to grow. I am amazed at how much Dalan's character has grown and changed since I did his first character sketches, both in art and as a character bio when I was first getting the idea for this story. I still have a long way to go.
Anyway, I haven't yet done full character sketch pages for my character yet, as I've been off and on designing them, but I've gathered ideas from various artists who's character design pages and artwork have inspired me in the process of creating my own character pages. Once I have some done, I'll post them so that everyone can finally see what I've been up to.
By the way, in the image above, I love the expression in the middle :3
This design includes the character from various angles and even with a few expressions that define his personality, and all the viewers have seen so far is a brief glimpse. That speaks to me as artwork that is very well done; it's alluring and accomplishes its task well.
Astir from Beast Hunt
An expression sheet is also useful to do for a character. If the character is an original character (OC), the artist may want to go on to do a comic or graphic novel, or even have it animated. Having references of things you've already figured out is very handy and keeps the character's reactions to various situations consistent.
Also, sometimes it's just fun to play around with styles and characters, whether they are styles and characters that already exist or not. I know I've drawn my share of anime characters in order to get a style I like with the characters for my own stories. I tend to make use of whatever interests and inspires me.
The bottom line: whatever you do, have fun with your journey through art. Art and storytelling are about the journey, not some end result. It's great to be able t o sit back and admire your own work. Trust me, I've been there. But once you hit some grand end-of-the-line destination, what then? Where do you go from there? What have you gained from the experience? If it's a journey, there's always more to explore and learn.
Happy travels!
If anyone has any questions or comments, or if you just want to start a discussion with me, leave a comment after this blog.To see the fantasy kindle books I have on Amazon, visit these links:
1.)
North Country, Book One: The Riders of Redrog2.)
DA Shadow Phantom, Volume 1: TransformationFeel free to stop by and browse, and maybe leave a review.
For more artwork and story-related stuff, or if you just want to get in touch with me and see what I'm up to, visit me at these websites:
By: Nicole Hubbard,
on 7/26/2013
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Recently, I've been playing a game called Words of Wonder, an interesting take on the whole word search idea, but interactive and with a different, crazier set of rules. Besides killing time, it's been exercising the left side of my brain. I am primarily right-brained, meaning that I have an easier time with creative things rather than more technical ones. Anyway, the setup is rather fun and I've found that it can get a bit addicting, especially if you try to beat your own high scores.
You get different amounts of points, depending on which letters you use in a word, but you have only a certain amount of moves to clear your objective.
Words of Wonder on Facebook, Level 32
I have also just finished reading book two of the Wheel of Time series: The Great Hunt. I'm ready to move on to book three, but unfortunately, I don't have it. I have books four and five, but not three. So I'll have to save some money for it. Anyway, something interesting I found out about myself as I read is that I'm not just an observer, I throw myself fully into the story. For instance, with the Wheel of Time series so far, I find myself relating to Rand the most. As the story unfolds, I'm not jut watching what happens to the characters, at times I become the characters. That is my world, at least while I'm reading, before I have to world hop again.
Maybe that's why I'm so good at writing various characters. It's actually easy for me to jump into various points of view, so I can write even multiple characters accurately. They don't just end up being talking heads. Each one has a motive, personality, and goals, as well as their own personal obstacles, villains and heroes alike.
Rand has just found out that he's the dragon reborn, but he's also wary of the Aes Sedai trying to control him. He's tried to stay away from this supposed destiny for as long as possible, but he can't hide from it any longer. I've gotten into his character so much that I feel what he does in the story, and I even know how he'd react to things before he actually does, as opposed to the way I'd react to things. Unfortunately, since I am so introverted, I'd never make a good actor or roleplayer, especially not around people. I barely survived one session of the Dungeons and Dragons game, and I haven't really had the courage to try it again since.
The third book of the Wheel of Time series
I love this series.
This is a little bit random, but I came across this great artwork that combined an episode of Fullmetal Alchemist with My Neighbor Totoro, a Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by
Hayao Miyazaki. It certainly is an interesting mix of feelings and themes, the more innocent feel of My Neighbor Totoro darkened here by the sinister nature of the suggested event in Fullmetal Alchemist. When I saw it, I thought it was a brilliant piece that inspired me. I guess it reminds me of the pure creative mind of the artist. It's incredible how, if even already existing stories and elements are mixed and matched, something totally new can emerge. As an artist myself, I applaud this.
Since I love Fullmetal Alchemist, I just couldn't help but share this :)
On the note of creativity and art, I've been working on my character line up for my story, DA Shadow Phantom. For the basic characters, I've finished the line art and am now experimenting with colors. A line up not only helps me know which characters to design first, it helps me to gage the characters in regard to one another. I get to visualize the characters and their possible relationships; they start to come alive for me. That is important for a storyteller because, if your characters aren't alive to you, if you can't become them at least in some small way, you could very well end up with talking heads.
The story itself is also progressing well. I'm entering the second arc of the plot. Dalan has been fighting for the weak and innocent of Athallia who could not protect themselves. First, he fought against himself, against his own nature. Then he had begun fighting thugs and even entire organizations hiding in the darkest depths of the city workings that were fighting corrupt government control by creating panic and chaos in as much of Athallia as possible. He's even had to face off against the government officials themselves. Now, he's wrestling with a very heavy question. Who is he, and where did he come from? As he learns more about his heritage, he may discover in the process more clues as to what his destiny and purpose are.
Anyway, now that arc one is in full swing and the plot nailed down, I'll gradually begin to put up more volumes and maybe even get a solid start on the graphic novel, especially once the characters are designed. Keep an eye out for these updates!
DA Shadow Phantom: Dalan Aiden Raymer, with the mark of his curse on his back
If anyone has any questions or comments, or if you just want to start a discussion with me, leave a comment after this blog.
By: Nicole Hubbard,
on 7/17/2013
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I've finally made serious progress on developing the overall plot for DA Shadow Phantom! I've been so excited since last night I've been almost giddy. It's that kind of excitement that has made me jump to writing a future scene that won't even come up in the story fro quite a long time, but I must write it for fear of losing the insight. Anyway, more on that a bit later.
Recently, I've been listening to a song by Linkin Park called "What I've Done." This has given me a ton of inspiration as far as the main plot in DA Shadow phantom goes. Dalan spends a good portion of the story struggling with himself, with the monster he thinks he's become. The hardest task for him isn't using his abilities to help protect the weak, it's in forgiving himself for his own wrongs and for the times when he failed to protect people. The song really inspired me in this part of the story, as it's about repentance versus self-loathing.
The lyrics that stand out to me the most, especially in terms of Dalan's character are the ones in this verse near the end of the song:
For what I've doneI start againAnd whatever pain may comeToday this endsI'm forgiving what I've doneIt then kicks off into the chorus.
The chorus finishes:
I'll face myselfTo cross out what I've becomeErase myselfAnd let go of what I've doneDalan's choices are to die in attempted atonement for his shortcomings and the wrongs he's done, of which, later in the story, there are a lot, especially when the creature inside him gets out of control. His other choice, the harder one to make, is to live for the people he is trying to protect, and actually be able to let go of the past so that he can help to create a new future. He needs to forgive himself, as well as those people who have betrayed him, whom he thought where close.
The question boils down to whether or not the hero can find balance within himself before he crosses the line that turns him into a tragic hero, or even a villain.
From the Black Cat anime, Train Heartnet
Train Heartnet as an assassin
An anime I recently watched that has a similar theme I am currently wrestling with for my characters is Black Cat. Black Cat is the code name for a deadly assassin also known as XIII (13), the bringer of bad luck. He is called the "pet cat" of the organization Chronos, one of their top assassins sent to eliminate corrupt people in power. Even though it is an organization that claims to uphold peace for normal people, Black Cat, or Train Heartnet, finds himself trapped in a world where there is always blood on his hands. It is a world in which he feels he has no redemption and no way out.
Once my main character, Dalan, gets fully into the world of fighting the crime in the street of his home city, Athallia, he finds himself in a similar situation. He must fight to protect the innocent people of the city, but can he do that without pronouncing himself judge, jury, and executioner? This is a battle he must face within himself he must face. The question is whether he can truly protect Athallia without getting blood on his hands, or if getting blood on his hands is inevitable. Then the next question is where that fine line is between hero and tragic hero, and hero and villain. Will Dalan have to give up himself and his own sense of honor, justice, and morality in order to protect the people he cares for?
These are questions I am asking myself as I continue in the DA Shadow Phantom series, as I explore the many possible paths the plot can take. Sometimes I find the plot twists exciting. Other times, they are heart-wrenching, even for the writer, since the story come to life can surprise even me.
The journey though art can be the same way. I am currently in the middle of designing a few characters that pop up in the story quite a bit. I am trying to incorporate their personalities right into the designs, which can be fun as well as eluding.
Dalan (right) with his best friend, Matt (left)
Matt has a usually easy-going and mischievous personality, and Dalan often needs to escape from school to deal with the changes happening inside of him, so he ad Matt are a perfect match, even though Matt doesn't know Dalan's secret, why his friend is odd an stand-offish.
Heather (left) an her twin sister (Jinae)
Even though thy are twins, these two could not be more different. Heather is a tomboy and into physical activities such as sports and karate, as well as being a junior lifeguard at a public pol in the summer. Jinae, on the other hand, is into cheerleading, fashion, and flirting with boys. She also as a crush on Dalan, who is friends with her sister. Heather is actually the only other person to find out Dalan's secret for the longest time, as she followed him few times fleeing school.
Heather, a progress sketch when I first started developing her
Nolin Dyer, another progress sketch
This is a really smart kid, only twelve years old and in high school. Dalan is very protective of him.
After I do rough sketches for characters, I then have to redraw them as clean line art. Using Photoshop, this task is easier, since I can work in layers. After I have clean line art, I can then start experimenting with color. Every color I use or that I think I might want to use, I create swatches for so that I can always get that same color again if I ever have to fix anything.
Jost Trevors, a leader of a secret group at Dalan's high school that focuses on helping the citizens of Athallia that the government has tossed aside. This is the preliminary colored version with swatches.
I start out with flat colors, which I will then later add shading and highlighting layers on top of to provide the necessary lighting and shadow contrast. Just fleshing these characters out artistically helps me to do so in the written version, as I can begin seeing them as real people that have their own struggles. Also, as can be seen from above, I get inspiration for characters and themes from other stories, whether they be songs, movies, television shows, or books. Just taking in many kinds of other stories spurs my imagination.
As a storyteller, they make me feel like I am not alone, that there is one big worldwide conversation I am part of. Thus, I like stories. All kinds of stories. Indulge in stories.
Black Cat: Train Heartnet and Eve
Next time you read a book or see a movie, remember that worldwide conversation.
Have fun on your journey!
For more artwork and story-related stuff, or if you just want to get in touch with me and see what I'm up to, visit me at these websites:
Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.hubbard.50Facebook DA Shadow Phantom: https://www.facebook.com/pages/DA-Shadow-Phantom/125944890946328?notif_t=page_new_likesFacebook North Country Series: https://www.facebook.com/NorthCountrySeries?fref=tsDeviant Art profile: http://nykol-haebrd.deviantart.com/Tumblr profile: http://nyko-shad.tumblr.com/
By: Nicole Hubbard,
on 7/8/2013
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Lately, it's been so blazing hot where I live that it's been hard to do much of anything, and we can't afford air conditioning. So I've spent the last few weeks in a haze of heat, not sure if I'm awake or if I even want to be awake. All I can say is that I now know why California is called the Golden State, and it's not because it's a gold mine or because everyone's rich. That title is literal. Most of the countryside literally is gold, especially in the summer.
Advertisement images usually shown for California
And these are literal photos taken in California. This is just one side of this state that some people are never really aware of. *Sigh.*
Reality for California residents not fortunate enough to live directly on some beach
Anyway, enough ranting about the heat for now, I guess. Lately, I've been watching anime and listening to music while doing art associated with my new series, DA Shadow phantom. Today, I was watching Ouran High School Host Club again with my sister. It's one I've seen more than once, but every time, I'm struck by the sense of community the viewers get from the interactions between the characters. There is that overall feeling that everyone belongs, a rarity in real life, but nonetheless something that everyone needs to feel once in a while.
Ouran High School Host Club with the show's key characters:
Haruhi is in the front, and is actually a girl, Hunny is the little boy to her right, Tamake is the tall blonde on the other side of her, and redheaded twins are Hikaru and Kaoru, the dark-haired guy with the glasses is Kyoya, and the guy with dark spiky hair with the solemn expression is Mori
Ouran High School Host Club: Meet the Characters
One thing I've discovered in my own writing adventure is that, sometimes, creating a sense of community is very important in the creation of just about any story. Even if it isn't as bright and shining as the one in Ouran High School Host Club, it's the other characters interacting with the main character or characters that give the readers a real sense of who's who. In other words, the characters become real people living in a real world. Even if the sense of community I show is a dark, fearful, or even creepy one, the readers are drawn into the world I've created.
Trinity Blood: Father Abel, Priest and Cruznik
This character has two major sides, and each one has a vastly different personality. The only way this personality change can be noticed, however, is through his interaction with the other characters, both friends and villains. With friends, Father Abel is a totally bubbly, sanguine character that is obsessed with food. Sometimes, he can even seem a bit silly. Once there's a violent vampire to hunt down, however, his personality does a nearly complete 180. He's suddenly all business and even a bit scary, as he is a vampire that feeds on other vampires himself. His personality in that state reverts to a more Choleric demeanor, one that is all action and has no more time for fun or frivolities.
But without those interactions, as small and inconsequential as they sometimes seem, these odd characteristics of Father Abel would be impossible to get across to the readers, and he wouldn't seem to be a real person.
A funny moment with Father Abel,
just an example of his sanguine personality
One way that I've found to write believable character interactions is to spend time observing the conversations of random strangers. Be subtle about it of course, so people don't think you're stalking them. You'd be surprised what you can learn about people in general by how they interact, and the more knowledge you have, the better your story will be. You don't want to end up with just talking heads. Another way to liven up character interactions, or just to practice your skills, that is actually kind of fun is through collaboration with another writer friend.
For instance, if you each have characters you are working on developing, try putting them in a scene together, determine a situation of some sort, and just go back and forth. Become your character and try to imagine how he or she would react to certain things said or done by the other person's character. My friend and I have done this often, either via chat or Google doc, when we were both on at the same time. Below is an example chat session between me and my best friend where we assumed the roles of our prize main characters engaged in a conversation. On the side, (or in parentheses) is our own interaction in setting the story straight or otherwise (you can skip down to the next image if you don't want to read all the chat stuff, by the way):
5:49 PM Beth: At the sound of Dalan's laughter Daelach's attention was drawn to his companion. His slivery blue gaze met Dalan's amber eyes and Daelach could not stop the look of hurt that flashed through his eyes. His body language shifted to one of mild hurt and even a hint of sorrow when he thought that his apprentice was laughing at him. Then a moment later he sighed as he pushed his feelings aside. At least Dalan was laughing again. That was the important thing.
5:51 PM (your turn)
me: (back)
(kay, I gotta read what you wrote)
5:53 PM Beth: (it seems to be taking you a while to process this :) )
5:54 PM me: (sorry, I also have to go back and read why Dalan is laughing in the first place)
Beth: (why was he laughing?)
(I was a bit confused by that)
me: (that's what we get for breaking off in the middle)
5:55 PM (hold on)
5:56 PM Beth: (It would be easier for me to tell if you sorted events into a more logical order XD)
5:57 PM me: (I know, that'll have to wait)
6:00 PM Noticing the expression on his mentor's face, as briefly as it had surfaced, Dalan swallowed any more laughter that wanted to come out. But what should I tell him? he wondered. That I was laughing at his last outburst? It had startled him, but was not the triggering factor. "I wasn't laughing at you," Dalan assured the tall man at last. "I can't explain it. Haven't you ever simply felt like laughing before, even if there is no good reason?"
He shrugged. "I dunno, it just seems to take the pressure off."
(brb)
6:02 PM (back)
"A lot's happened."
Beth: There was a gentle look in Daelach's eyes as he smiled at his young friend. "I can understand that urge quite well, actually. I'm sorry I was being touchy." He sighed again. "I just can't seem to win," he muttered more to himself than to Dalan.
6:04 PM me: Dalan decided not to comment on that last statement. If he commented on every odd thing Daelach said, Dalan was sure he would never stop talking while he was around the guy.
6:05 PM Beth: (bwahhaha. This is soooo true!)
me: (hehehe)
Beth: (Daelach is a huge oddball XD)
(whose turn is it?)
6:06 PM me: (and the elf side is quite chatty)
(um, it could go either way)
6:07 PM Beth: (the elf is only supper chatty with people he has a deep connection with. If there is a close bond with someone he finds it remarkably hard to keep his mouth shut and hide information about himself)
6:08 PM me: (being part sanguine will do that to you)
Beth: (the dragon knows how to keep his mouth shut...usually)
me: ('usually' is the key word)
So, in stories, as well as in real life, community is very important. In my story, DA Shadow Phantom, I give every character a back story, no matter how minor, even if I never show it to the readers. That way, the characters all have motive when interacting with the main character, making my main character seem all that much more real, his own motives clearer as the plot develops. If Dalan didn't have realistic encounters with even seemingly random people, he would seem to the readers to be cut off from any world, let alone the one I've created for him, just like the figure above on the far right, the one that is standing on a puzzle piece disconnected from the others.
If the illusion is shattered, the readers won't stay in the story. If, on the other hand, the other characters form the pathway to understanding the main character, like the figure above, the story will flow more smoothly. Here is one example of a character interaction that seems random that is actually important. Dalan, my main character, is a shapeshifter running around his home city of Athallia protecting people too weak to protect themselves. One day, he comes across an elderly bag lady being mistreated by a day patrol, whose task it is to keep the streets clear. He defends her.
The interaction is brief and seems inconsequential, but it actually serves two purposes. One, it reveals more of his character, that he really does have a soft heart for those suffering needlessly despite his own problems. Two, as thanks for Dalan's help, the bag lady puts a charm on a pendant Dalan has that his sister gave him. Later on, that pendant helps Dalan on his journey to find out his true purpose.
Dalan's Pendant, batwings protruding from three interlocked triangles,
all circumscribed inside of a hollow ring
On a closing note, DA Shadow Phantom, Volume 1: Transformation is now for sale in multiple ebook formats here:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/334369Everything is finally in order!
I've also submitted it to the Amazon Kindle Bookstore as well, so it should be up there for Kindle within the next twelve hours.
Happy reading!
For more artwork and story-related stuff, or if you just want to get in touch with me and see what I'm up to, visit me at these websites:
Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.hubbard.50Facebook DA Shadow Phantom: https://www.facebook.com/pages/DA-Shadow-Phantom/125944890946328?notif_t=page_new_likesFacebook North Country Series: https://www.facebook.com/NorthCountrySeries?fref=tsDeviant Art profile: http://nykol-haebrd.deviantart.com/Tumblr profile: http://nyko-shad.tumblr.com/
By: Nicole Hubbard,
on 7/3/2013
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Recently, I was watching an anime called Vampire Knight with one of my sisters (of which I have two). It’s an interesting and deeply moving story, if not slightly creepy. Two major things are going on in this story. First, there are those in the story that are trying to make it possible for humans and vampires to coexist. Second, the main character, Yuki, has her own battle to fight. Her friend, Zero, is slowly reverting into an E-level vampire after having been bitten by a Pureblood. What he is turning into is a lower class, one that eventually loses all humanity and craves only blood.
Vampire Knight Wallpaper: from the left - Zero, Yuki, Kaname
Despite all common sense, she refuses to leave him, even if that means giving her own blood to pacify him. In many ways, this story brings up in my mind the question: What makes a hero or a savior? Is Yuki truly being a savior to Zero, or is she only prolonging his suffering? This is the question that can fairly be asked throughout this story. Two more animes that broach that very question on a much grander scale are Code Geass and Death Note.
Both stories deal with main characters who are granted power over people, both in a sense dealing with the very issue of life and death. There are those people who are trying to live out their lives peacefully, and those who think nothing of taking life from others. But who decides who deserves to live and who deserves to die? Can someone who takes it upon himself to make that kind of decision concerning other people truly be called a hero? Or does he have the makings of a tyrannical villain?
Code Geass: from left - Suzaku, Lelouch/Zero, C2
Is this the birth of a villain or of a nation's savior?
Death Note: Light and L - ensnared in the coils of justice
This can be a tricky question, as most realistic villains in stories do not harbor the life dream of being evil. In fact, many believe they are actually doing the right thing. What ends up being the turning point for them from hero to villain was that in the great cause they had in mind, they fail to consider the people they are affecting, the individuals they are hurting. Their cause has become greater, so they lose their hearts.Lelouch and Suzaku of the Rvolution
Another thing to consider also is that, just because a person is the main character, that doesn’t make him a hero. As far as I saw it in Code Geass and Death Note, one of those characters was redeemed at the end for his actions against people for the sake of his cause; the other was not.
Crossovers Wallpaper - Left and right: Lelouch Lamperouge from Code Geass
and Kira Yamato from Death Note; Middle: a major character from Durarara
This question of villain or hero is a major one for any storyteller. In the story I am currently working on, DA Shadow Phantom, a major question that makes up the plot early on in the series is whether or not Dalan is the hero type character. He’s definitely not a villain at that point, but most of his actions are brought on by the urge to protect himself and his identity at first.
Later on, he gets the urge to protect others. That is one quality of a hero, but not the only one. A lot of heroes have compassion for other people, even their enemies, despite their cause, if they have one. Some heroes will throw themselves into harm’s way to protect people they may not even know. Dalan does those things, though he has some serious doubts about whether or not he’s the one the people around him need to be protected from.
DA Shadow Phantom: Dalan and the bat wing pendant,
a symbol of his identity as the Shadow Phantom
This is a question I’ll have to continue to broach as I continue writing this story. In the meantime, I’ve finally finished the book cover for Volume 1 of DA Shadow Phantom. It will be going up for sale as an ebook within the next couple of days, just as soon as I can finish editing and registering it online. I’ll post a notice as soon as it’s up for everyone to enjoy it.
DA Shadow Phantom, Volume 1: Transformation
This is the written version of the story, though I am designing characters for a graphic novel.
I have no clue when that will truly get underway, but I'll let everyone know.
By: Nicole Hubbard,
on 6/25/2013
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Just recently, I've purchased and listened to a song sung by Susan Enan, entitled "Bring on the Wonder." It starts:
I can't see the stars anymore living here
Let's go to the hills where the outlines are clear
Then it goes into the chorus:
Bring on the wonder
Bring on the song
I pushed you down deep in my soul for too long
This is a slower song in terms of beat and rhythm, with a guitar as the main instrument. The feeling I get from this song is one long journey, not necessarily a physical journey, but one that is internal. It could be for one person, possibly for more, or even for a couple, depending on how you interpret it. Ever since first hearing it on YouTube, it has served as a sort of theme always present in my head whenever I work on the DA Shadow Phantom series. Thus, this song has been a great inspiration.
Cover for the Album in which "Bring on the Wonder" is included
The second verse especially seems to go well with my main character, though I myself relate to it as well.
I fell through the cracks at the end of our streetLet's go to the beach, get the sand through our feetTo me, this seems to be an escape of sorts, or a desperate desire for escape. I know I have felt this many times, and my main character Dalan feels this quite a bit as well throughout the course of the story. Then the chorus.
Storytelling and art are more about the journey for me than the actual end result. While some journeys in real life can be painful ones that people don't want to recall or even have gone through at all, stories sometimes show how journeys, both beautiful and painful, can build character. They can be learned from if they aren't shoved down so deep that the people carrying those memories become bitter, afraid the bad things that happened in the past will come up and get loose in their lives again.
So far, my journey as an author through the DA Shadow Phantom series has been an intense one. If you don't mind some very slight spoilers to DA Shadow Phantom, I'll lay out the first part of the story here, since this story is what is currently consuming most of my time. I am currently alternating between writing the story and creating the art for it, including cover images and character design.
The story starts with Dalan, the main character, in summer school. He seems to be a stand-offish kind of guy right off the bat, not really involved with school or with any friends except for his best friend from childhood, Matt Spencer. Heather Dennison, a girl in his class, has known him since middle school, but he hasn't talked to her much. The first time the readers meet her, her kitten, Chester, has stowed away in her bag to school.
DA Shadow Phantom Comic - Chapter One: Mark of Evil, pg 1
Here, the readers learn that Dalan is afraid of cats, which is a very odd quirk as far as most people are concerned. After being attacked by the stowaway kitten, he jumps out of the classroom window and runs home. There, the reader discovers a mysterious mark on Dalan's back shaped like a pair of bat wings that seems to be the reason as to why Dalan is so stand-offish, why he does not easily trust people.
This is Dalan's introduction as presented at the beginning of the story, before Chapter One:
I walk around with a curse, so I hide it.
I hide myself from everyone else in the outside world,
hoping they won't see through my thin facade.
A turn around sketch of Dalan in his transformed state
Dalan's so-called curse is that his uncontrolled emotions trigger a transformation. He begins to turn into a blue-furred creature with superhuman strength and fangs and claws, and he can't control it, so he doesn't trust himself around people. He doesn't want anyone even to see the
tattoo on his back, the mark of his curse, lest they should guess the truth. The intro goes on to say:
I may hide from the world...but really,
all I want is to be able to look up into the sky at night,
cluttered dirty orange as it is with city lights,
and know that I'm not alone,
that I'm not just a face in the crowd...
or a faceless figure forever in the shadows.
Thus, Dalan's desire is laid out. He wants to be normal, to be able to live life as a normal teenager and have fun with his friends, if he had them. Eventually, Heather notices how strange he acts and tries to follow him when he escapes from school to go into the city, attempting to find out just what it is she can sense is going on with him. At some point, Dalan takes to patrolling the streets at night, protecting innocent people from criminals. He does this as an attempt to pacify the creature he can feel inside of him, struggling to get loose.
DA Shadow Phantom Book One cover image - in progress
The image above is my progress so far in creating the cover image. On the left is the image I have done so far without text. I have the foreground figure done, along with the preliminary shading. It is a digital artwork, so I am working in layers in Photoshop. The city in the background is still just line art right now and unfinished. The image on the right is an experiment putting the image and text together.
I'll try to finish up the cover image in the next couple of days, then Volume One of DA Shadow Phantom will be up on Amazon for sale. It's an ongoing story, so there's plenty of fun to be had with it, both for me and for my readers, I hope.
Happy reading!
For more artwork and story-related stuff, or if you just want to get in touch with me and see what I'm up to, visit me at these websites:Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.hubbard.50Facebook DA Shadow Phantom: https://www.facebook.com/pages/DA-Shadow-Phantom/125944890946328?notif_t=page_new_likesFacebook North Country Series: https://www.facebook.com/NorthCountrySeries?fref=tsDeviant Art profile: http://nykol-haebrd.deviantart.com/Tumblr profile: http://nyko-shad.tumblr.com/
By: Nicole Hubbard,
on 6/23/2013
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It's been awhile, but I've gotten back into reading the fantasy book series I'd started awhile ago: The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. I'm on what is officially called Book Two: The Great Hunt, though the first 'book' is actually broken up into two novel-sized sections. Thus, I consider it to be book three. Anyway, this series has a very detailed writing style. Sometimes it is a little hard to get into, but other times I'm completely captivated. I can't get out of it.
Second book in The Wheel of Time series, dealing with the hunt of the Horn of Valere,
which will awaken dead heroes to fight for whoever sounds it.
This author truly has succeeded in making fantasy seem like real life. The emotional journey I described above that the reader goes through in a story is the mark of any good writer, I've noticed, no matter what their style.
Rand Al'Thor - I have seen many pictures of Rand, the main character in the books I've read of Wheel of Time Series so far, but this one amused me the most. I think he just might make a great anime character ^_^ This amazing artwork is by hevial@deviantart.com This depiction suits Mat perfectly, in my opinion.
As a writer, whether it's fiction or non-fiction that you write, it is your job to create a world where you can make your readers laugh or cry with you, not because they are supposed to, but because it seems like the most natural thing in the world for them to do. If you can accomplish this all without breaking the illusion you've created of your world, then you are a truly good writer.
Some advice I read once about writing likened the art of writing to a tour in a glass-bottomed boat, both for the writer and for the reader. I don't remember the author of the book I was reading at the time, but what he said stuck with me. Just imagine you are riding in a glass-bottomed boat in the ocean, and you see all these colorful fish around you. Soon, it seems as if the glass is not there at all, nor are the people in the boat with you. It is just you and these amazing fish.
Then imagine if the person beside you dropped something, let's say a pair of sunglasses, directly into your field of vision. Just for a moment, you are jerked from your illusion. Even if it was just for a moment, the illusion was still broken, and it might take you a while to get back into it. It's nothing that serious, but as a writer, you should never do that to your readers. If you've created an illusion that you let your readers get into, don't do anything that could jerk them out of it. Once you jerk them out, you might never get them back.
In a nutshell, if you want your readers to enjoy the hard work you've put into crafting your story and/or fantasy world, don't let on that it was hard work. Simply let it flow into the story.For instance, in my series, DA Shadow Phantom, many of my characters have interesting backstories, including Dalan, the main character. Most of these backstories never see the light of day, but they are there. The point of having backstories that the readers never get to learn is that they help you, as the writer, write even secondary minor characters more convincingly. Everyone has motive, something that drives them to act the way they do. The readers don't always have to know what that motive is, but if it's there, they'll sense it between the lines, so to speak, and the illusion will remain in place. Even my main character's back story I divvy out in bits and pieces, and only if it helps to build the plot and the illusion I've created of reality in this story.DA Shadow Phantom: Dalan
Sometimes, a little bit is all that is needed to create a convincing illusion
of a world beyond the 'window'.
As for what I've been up to as far as writing and art, I have primarily been working on my series, DA Shadow Phantom. I am nearly done with the first story arch. There are only about three more chapters to go. I have yet to put up the first book for sale, but I will as soon as I finish the book cover image, which I have been working fervently on. Thus, it should be ready soon.
However, I do have my first fantasy book, North Country, Book One: The Riders of Redrog done, along with the cover image. It is now up for sale on Amazon Kindle. Check it out:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DIGO504#_
Happy Reading!
For more artwork and story-related stuff, or if you just want to get in touch with me and see what I'm up to, visit me at these websites:Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.hubbard.50Facebook DA Shadow Phantom: https://www.facebook.com/pages/DA-Shadow-Phantom/125944890946328?notif_t=page_new_likesFacebook North Country Series: https://www.facebook.com/NorthCountrySeries?fref=tsDeviant Art profile: http://nykol-haebrd.deviantart.com/Tumblr profile: http://nyko-shad.tumblr.com/
By: Nicole Hubbard,
on 6/20/2013
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Yesterday, I attended a webinar hosted by Daniel Hall about how to get your book out there. He said that the first important thing to realize is that you do indeed have meaningful subject matter to impart to your readers and that it doesn't have to take months or years to write it either. I found this to be very interesting.
The title here speaks for itself :)
It was actually pretty helpful. Part of the presentation was on how to set up a Word document (both Doc. and Docx.) on Amazon as a Kindle. I took print screens of the slideshow to help with my note taking, so my first book, North Country, should soon be up on Amazon as well, as it is already up on Smashwords.com. So far on Smashwords, I've sold 3 ebook copies and have had a handful of page views and downloads.
Another of my recent endeavors is that, after a bit of cajoling from my brother, I played Dungeons and Dragons for the first time with him. The type of character I chose to be is a Halfling (race) Rogue (class). I'm basically a short little character with thief skills that is supposed to be quick on his feet and have a decent amount of street smarts. Being an artist, I couldn't help drawing my character out as a visible aid. He was quite fun to design.
Ike Palin, the character I designed for D & D and colored with colored pencils.
I think he turned out quite well. So does my brother and his fiancé,
because they can't stop saying how cute they think he is.
So far, D & D is a pretty fun game. It's based primarily on imagination and storytelling. Since I'm a writer, it seems to suit me just fine and is giving me a little more confidence telling my part of the story aloud to a group, which I've never been that good at before.
Speaking of storytelling, I've recently been working on adding my first fantasy book, North Country, Book One: The Riders of Redrog to Amazon's Kindle. It's now in my bookshelf on Amazon in review, but it should be up for sale in 24 hrs. The name it's under is Nicole Hubbard, as I'm the author. North Country is an epic fantasy adventure that starts out with Liz, a young girl who wants to be a warrior, and Raefon, a young dragon from the nearby walled haven.
This is a drawing of Liz I did in markers. This is a sculpture of Raefon I did in super sculpey and painted. That took months, between school and a part time job. There were plenty of frustrations, but I enjoyed the process overall. I want to do another project of this type if I can get the materials. Here is a short synopsis of the first book:
Liz is a young girl who wants nothing more than to be a warrior like her father. Raefon is the dragon version of the ugly duckling. What does such an odd pair have in common? An ancient bond that has connected them since before their birth. As a girl, however, Liz has no chance of becoming a rider of the great dragons. Raefon’s differences make it impossible for him to get a rider. Can these two destined companions meet before their powerful bond drives them insane? Can they ever be free from the scrutiny of those around them, free to pursue a greater destiny?
Another book that I am working on getting up for sale as an ebook is the first volume of DA Shadow Phantom, a fantasy series I have been working on for a little while now. The main character there is a fourteen-year-old boy called Dalan, who has a curse. Whenever his emotions build up, either due to stress or physical exercise, something stirs inside of him, something not human that is clamoring to get to the surface. Despite his efforts, he can't control it. Is he doomed to live his life alone so he won't inadvertently hurt those he cares for? Or can one of those loved ones learn to accept him as he is and help him on his journey to accepting himself?
Dalan Raymer, a digital image I did of him in his usual getup. The symbol behind his head has a lot of significance in the story, as the readers will find out a little bit further in.
I am currently formatting Volume 1 and creating the cover image for it. I have the first story arch almost all the way written now, but I am releasing it a little at a time. Anyway, once I am done with the formatting and cover image, I will put DA Shadow Phantom, Volume 1: Transformation, I will put it up on Smashwords and Amazon as well.
In the process of all of my endeavors, I am learning a lot and having a lot of fun. For a writer and/or artist, that is what really counts. If you don't have fun doing what you do, why do you do it? I guess that's my thought for the day. I've been reading through a book on how to stop worrying by Dale Carnegie, and it's got some great insights on what stress and worry, and being generally unhappy can do to your health. It's quite true. You feel better physically if you're happy.
Happy reading!For more artwork and story-related stuff, or if you just want to get in touch with me and see what I'm up to, visit me at these websites:Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.hubbard.50Facebook DA Shadow Phantom: https://www.facebook.com/pages/DA-Shadow-Phantom/125944890946328?notif_t=page_new_likesFacebook North Country Series: https://www.facebook.com/NorthCountrySeries?fref=tsDeviant Art profile: http://nykol-haebrd.deviantart.com/Tumblr profile: http://nyko-shad.tumblr.com/
By: Nicole Hubbard,
on 6/18/2013
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Hi everyone! I'm Nicole Hubbard, an author and artist.
I have been doing both since I was very young, my first memories of drawing being when I was four. Since I was reading by that age as well, my story-writing adventures started soon after. I have always loved adventure and fantasy stories, such as The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien and the Redwall by Brian Jacques. More recently, I've also gotten into manga and anime. So far, I think my favorites in that world have to be Fullmetal Alchemist and Code Geass.
Fullmetal Alchemist - Edward Elric with a really cheeky grin XD. Ed is a really fun character. In Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, I also like Lin a lot too. He's the kind of character that is hard not to like, and he knows how to get his way, usually.
Code Geass - Lelouch Lamperouge, probably after just having used his Geass on someone. In my opinion, he is a fascinating character with a quick, strategic brain that keeps me trying to figure out what he's planning.
Anyway, I write fantasy myself, and I love doing art, as I said. I have a lot of training in fine art: people, dragons, animals, and mythical creatures mostly, though I have done scenery when I have to.My original drawing of Raefon, the main dragon character in my book series, North Country. I actually had to draw him on several large sheets of paper, as the drawing just kept getting bigger and bigger. This took me 3 months to complete, and I had to scan it in pieces and clean it up a bit.
Lately, I've been getting into digital art more, as well as doing my own cartoons, illustrations, and book designs for my stories. So my style has really expanded a lot since I first started out.This is an image I've done recently from my story, DA Shadow Phantom, though it will come later in the story. For now, I'll just say that the character here is the main character, Dalan Aiden Raymer, and that glowing tattoo-looking mark on his back is a visual sign of his special abilities and even what he is in the first place. He thinks he has a curse but will hopefully learn differently.
A detailed close-up of the glowing mark on Dalan's back, the symbol of what he thinks to begin with is his curse. This is an example of the digital art I have been playing with. I do a lot of it in Photoshop by hand, though occasionally I will also use source textures that I add into the backgrounds where appropriate.
I'm just starting to get ebooks out to where more viewers can enjoy them. Two projects I am currently working on include North Country: The Riders of Redrog, and another series I've been calling DA Shadow Phantom. Both of them are fantasy stories, and I might later turn DA Shadow Phantom into a comic or graphic novel. I've already been designing the characters.North Country, Book One: The Riders of Redrog - This is the front cover I designed when I put the book up for sale as an ebook on Smashwords.com. To read a free sample or purchase the book, click here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/325431.
You can download a free sample in any of the ebook formats listed at the bottom of the page.
I am still working on the front cover of DA Shadow Phantom, Book One. Once that's done, as well as the proper formatting for ebook conversion, I will put that up as well.Happy reading!For more artwork and story-related stuff, or if you just want to get in touch with me and see what I'm up to, visit me at these websites:Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.hubbard.50Facebook DA Shadow Phantom: https://www.facebook.com/pages/DA-Shadow-Phantom/125944890946328?notif_t=page_new_likesFacebook North Country Series: https://www.facebook.com/NorthCountrySeries?fref=tsDeviant Art profile: http://nykol-haebrd.deviantart.com/Tumblr profile: http://nyko-shad.tumblr.com/
