Your comic can have great art, a cool premise, and characters you love, and still fail to connect with readers. Self-Editing for Comic Book Writers is about finding hidden story problems before your comic goes to print. Coming soon. #makingcomics #indiecomics

After a decade of asking indie comic book readers this one question, the most common answer continued to puzzle me. Here's what it taught me… and what I did about it. #indiecomics #comicscripts #makecomics jamespowellediting.substack.com/p/the-25-pro...

Finished Widow’s Bay. What a delightful show. I was laughing out loud in one scene and sort of terrified the next. The perfect balance between humor and horror. Oh, and the drug episode. I haven’t laughed that loud at a show in a loooong time.

Publishing a comic or graphic novel? Check out Janna Morishima’s free class on June 20. I hype Janna from time to time because she’s got incredible insight into the world of comic book publishing. Yes, this is a sort of promo for her course, but it’s well worth your time to attend. #makecomics

Can’t seem to stop thinking about Backrooms. So many ideas about what’s happening there.

If you’re a comic creator with a book coming out in the next year or two, I highly recommend checking out the upcoming course by Janna Morishima and Kids Comics Unite. Janna is the absolute best, and her courses are some of the best. #makecomics #indiecomics

One episode into Widow’s Bay and I’m already hooked. Humor + horror tropes + great characters = me trying not to binge the entire series in one night.

Proud to have played a small role in this comic’s creation. And maybe more than a small part in the next one. Wink wink. Wurst and Mayhem by John Edingfield II and Ryan Kroboth. #indiecomics #makecomics #ieditcomics

Damn, Obsession is disturbing. Inde Navarrette's performance is so unnerving that I feel like I need to take a shower or in some way distance myself from the whole thing. Or, you know, go see it again. #horror #horrormovies

Every typo in your script makes the artist trust you a little less. Every inconsistency is creative energy they spend on your housekeeping instead of the art. If you can’t put in the effort to provide a clean script, why should they put in the effort for strong visuals? #makecomics #indiecomics

Did my first black MTB ride today. Fast. A little scary. But so much fun.

Holy hell yeah. This book can't come out fast enough. #comics #makecomics #indiecomics

It's still early, but I'm excited about this one right here. More sample art coming soon, I hope. #comics #makecomics #indiecomics

I would love to see indie comics use silent panels more often. Sometimes, beats hit harder without words. They can carry so much emotional weight. Greg Rucka is a master of the silent panel. Here’s one from Queen and Country #8 (art: Leonardo Fernandez). Even without the story, you can feel it.

Comic writers: One word balloon per panel, every panel. It's a problem I see in too many scripts I edit. It creates a staccato rhythm, but worse, it wastes space. Merge panels when the exchange doesn't need a beat between lines. A 3-page scene can become 2.

Tongues by Anders Nilsen is so, so good. Probably one of the best OGNs of all time (I need to read it again to say that with certainty). Myth. Heavy themes. And that art! Volume 2 can't get here fast enough. (But also, Anders, take your time. We'll wait.) #comics #graphicnovels

I edit indie comics for a living. But now, I'm the one looking for an editor for two scripts I've written. Comic writers, if you have recommendations, give me a shout. #indiecomics #amwriting #comics

Comics writers: I've started a series that delves into self-editing. Today, I discuss how adding more action won't always make your script stronger. #amwriting #indiecomics #makecomics

Papercutz is publishing a comic I edited! It’s coming out in June. Woo hoo! The Stone of Shiro by Sue Ruffle and Stefano Spaziani. I’m so excited for them both. www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-St...

I haven't always had the most supportive friends when it comes to writing. I recently told a friend that I spent the last year writing a book. Her response: "Cool. Have you seen any good movies lately?" 😆 But also: Sigh. #amwriting #writerslife

It'd be so cool to yoink my 8-year-old self from the past and go watch the new He-Man movie together.

I wish I liked Project Hail Mary as much as everyone else seems to. The middle and parts of the ending just sort of made the whole thing feel flat for me.

Anyone here watch The Studio? We finished last night. Fantastic series! The final episodes were hilarious. But damn, episode two was hard to watch. The Grammy episode wasn't much easier. Seth Rogan's Matt Remick is so...god, the anxiety of it all! He's so cringe, as my son would say.

Snuck out to see Undertone today, and fuuuuck. The story is razor-thin, and I'm not sure exactly what's happening at the end, but who cares? The sounds were so intense, I kept shifting in my seat, making sure no one was gonna kill me. #horror #horrormovies

Akira has to be the most engaging first volume of any comic series I've ever read. Every panel is dynamic. The level of detail is incredible. Definitely one of those series I want to soak in every moment, but damn, it's so fast-paced, I fly through the pages. So immersive! #comicbooks #manga

Anyone remember these Marvel 3-packs? These Secret Wars packs are what got me firmly planted as a comic fan. (I couldn't track down the whole set, so read the same 9 issues over and over. It would be years before I read the entire series.) #comicbooks

When I started making comics, I bought a tablet to learn coloring, just for fun. I loved it. Maybe I could even flat for artists I worked with. I mentioned it online. The only comment I remember came from a somewhat high-profile indie colorist: “Ugh. Leave it to the professionals.”

I run my own editing business, and I still have to rush to get everything done before I go on even a short vacation. I used to assume that was just a Corporate America thing, but nope.

The writing books don’t tell us about that hollowness in your gut when you’re about to cross the finish line with your latest book, but you barely have enough energy to sit through a movie. Anyway, that’s all the energy I have today. Time for another nap.

I’ve been so sick for so long now, I’m wondering if survival is actually in my best interests.

Finally started reading this monster. Damn, it’s fantastic! Liu and Takeda have created a masterpiece.

Scorsese's The Irishman is riveting cinema, but I realized just how bad I'd be as a mafia hitman. "Tell him it is what it is." Ummm, wait, what now? "Take him to Australia." Wait, am I killing this guy or taking him on vacation? Is there a mafia cheatsheet these guys use?

Had to revisit Fraction and Aja's Hawkeye... This is some of the best non-linear storytelling you'll find. And the silent panels are used to perfection. And toss out the idea of 4-6 panels per page, bro. Incredible emotion throughout, bro.

Send Help is so much fun. I don't always appreciate Raimi's humor, but it works so well in this one. Perfect date night film (well, for me anyway).

If I ask my wife to see Send Help with me, do I say it’s to celebrate Friday the 13th or Valentine’s Day?

Looks like my series on pitching to and publishing through Dark Horse is making the rounds again. If you write comics and want info about working with publishers, this series walks through it point by point. #amwriting #indiecomics #makingcomics

Guess who just got a dose of sword & sorcery delivered. If anyone needs me, I’ll be on the couch. #fantasybooks #reading

Got my manuscript back from my editor and now I’m about halfway through revisions. I cannot wait to finish this book and send it out to trusted early readers! #amwriting

I have one mug for my morning tea. My wife has 14 coffee mugs.

Horror trailers are the best. This Undertone trailer makes me want to go camp out at the theater.

Oh hell yeah! I missed the news that Damsel from D.I.S.T.R.E.S.S. was with Mad Cave. Just ordered the collected edition. It goes straight to the top of my to-read pile! @maumoraart.bsky.social @andrewclemson.bsky.social #comics #readcomics

Why do comic creators self-promote all the time? Because we have to. Even working with a publisher that's supportive, press only goes so far. The rest of the success falls on the shoulder of the creator rallying their fanbase. So here's mine. I'll RP yours. www.kickstarter.com/projects/whi...

My favorite family tradition stayed again today.

Just a few days left to check out this great series.

Son of a—

My neighbors still have their life size reindeer in their front yard, so, umm, Merry Christmas everyone!

This looks intriguing. Happy to help see this come to life. #makecomics #indiecomics www.kickstarter.com/projects/sum...

All New White Ash is LIVE on Kickstarter. Join us as we wrap up the second arc of the series with a double-sized, 70 page plus issue from @conorhughes.bsky.social @fincramb.bsky.social @jordiperez.bsky.social and more. www.kickstarter.com/projects/whi...

KCU's Pitchfest is coming! If you make comics for kids, you should definitely check this out. Get feedback on your pitch! 100s of agents, editors, and publishers involved! Submissions open February 12. #makecomics #comics #indiecomics kidscomicsunite.com/kcu-pitchfest/

Hamnet is such a beautiful film about family and love and loss and story... one that stuns with an ending that's absolute perfection. And Buckley's performance! I’m going to have to update my 2025 favorites list.