Body Of An Intern - From Start To Finish

As most of you are aware, I was writing a comic called "Body of an Intern," which I shelved due to writer's block, lack of interest, laziness, etc. As I was writing it, I wrote a companion journal to document my process. I've decided to compile some excerpts from four of my blogs to give you an idea of the progression, or should I say digression, of my comic book writing experience.

Enjoy!

Blog #1

I've had tons of ideas for movies, TV series, and novels over the years, but it occurred to me that I should try and write a comic because that's what I'm currently into and it seems like a medium I'd be well-suited for. The idea for said comic comes from my previous job as an intern, hence the title of this blog. In fact, it will be more of a diary on my experiences writing a comic book, and all the aches and pains that come with such a task. It's a kind of chicken soup for the wannabe comic book writer's soul.

I'm still writing what I know, but I feel there's no shame in that. At least not on your first try. I had put off writing anything for so long, largely because I didn't feel like I knew how to write. I mean there's so much to know, about plotting and characters, how to write an actual script, etc. But I'm gonna learn. I'm making that my priority right now. And in the meantime I write, I don't care if it's shit. I have to write until it's finished.

I don't think this will be a breakout hit or anything. The first thing you write is often terrible, incomprehensible, just plain bad. But that's ok. With practice makes perfect. But I have to do this because it's what I want to do and it's what I'm good at (I think).

Blog #2

I've gotten a good sense of what my story's about - me! I'm trying to chronicle the life and dreams of a brilliant twenty-something, trapped in an empty existence, still longing for the woman that broke his heart ages ago, while hoping to make something of himself in the boardrooms of a souless corporation. Pretension doesn't begin to describe it. This is as self-indulgent and meaningless as anything I've ever written, but as I said last time, I think I'm allowed to write my first story on myself...

There are those of you reading this thinking I can't possibly do this. You're saying, "Colin, you softcock, you can't write a comicbook let alone a blog about writing a comic book. You're gonna run out of ideas, you dumb fuck! Fuck is wrong with you?"

First, fuck you.

Second, to be quite honest, I find writing this blog to be easier than the damn comic. With the comic I actually have to come up with dialogue and structure - words I hear so much about but have no idea what they mean. A blog is quite simple by comparison. It's just me writing shit until my fingers get tired or the barista asks me to leave, whichever comes first. To tell you the truth I wish all writing were this simple.

Why just this afternoon as I was about to leave my house, something occurred to me. I have the basic plotline of my comic written. I have characters, a structure, etc. But now I have to actually write a script for this thing. I don't know how to do that. At some point I'll get around to reading a book on how to write professionally, but in the meantime, why not just write the damn thing?

I actually find this blog quite liberating. I think it actually encourages me to write the comic more, which in turn gives me more to write in the blog. Win win.

Blog # 3

I find the most challenging aspect of this process is coming up with ideas. It wasn't at first. I thought my biggest challenge would be the actual scripting, but ideas are tough to come by, particularly when I no longer have my biggest source of material on hand to give me ideas. I'm basing Body of an Intern largely on memory and imagination, not always the greatest of friends. Often times they're at loggerheads with each other. I'll remember something from my actual experience and that will often clash with what I think makes for a more interesting story. Trouble is what I think is more interesting isn't easy to write, particularly if I don't have something to base it on. And likewise what actually happened may be easier to translate on page, but doesn't make for very interesting storytelling.

This brings me back to something I wrote in my first blog, about trying to be original and having something interesting to say. It's difficult to determine how people will react to your writing, especially when you're not entirely confident in your material. As important as it is for me to tell this story, there are going to be people who don't give a shit, who will read what I've written and be bored, or not understand what it is I'm trying to say. We've seen or read stories about slackers before and they all have very common themes. What's different about mine? What makes my story worth telling?
The answer is that I honestly don't know. I'm not confident that this comic is going to be original or even entertaining to say the least. It's about me, and my life isn't that interesting. All I know is that I have to write it no matter how self-indulgent or bad it may be

Blog # 4

Finished "writing" issue # 3 of my magnum opus and I must say this in the most generous terms possible: I suck! I can't write for the life of me. Does every writer go through this? Did Ian Curtis feel this way? (Probably. He did kill himself after all). I mean forget that I don't know how to write a comic, I can't even do dialogue. I wrote a scene where my protagonist is sitting with some friends talking about girls and I realize that what I'm writing doesn't make a lick of sense - it has nothing to do with the plot, it's goes on and on, and it's not even funny or remotely entertaining. Why the hell am I writing it than?

It's a good thing I plotted out my stories before I started scripting this thing. I mean, the script itself is unreadable, and it's getting harder and harder to come up with ideas. Without the plot details as a guide, I'd be stuck and probably just call it a day. But I figure as long as I have something to reference than I can at least finish the scripting process and then move on to the second story arc. That is of course if I decide to go on writing this bloody thing.

I don't know if I'm cut out for this comic writing shit. Honestly, writing a blog is so easy and way more fun. I can say shit that's off the top of my head and not have to worry too much about how it sounds, because it's just a journal. It's a beautiful thing really.