What would you rather see?

[inferiare]

As my crafting of stories as backstory in the History section grows (as does language crafting and idea flow), I've been trying to figure out how to actually TELL the story I've had in mind for a while (yes, when I can figure out a really awesome story for the visual novel that will actually surprise everyone, it'll be done. I still have the software, promise!), which includes actual comic, light novel style, and text only with MAYBE drawn chapter markers.

Now, the pros and cons of each:
Comic style: -pros- I get to not only design all of my minions (which is already a topic if you wanna get in on it for the visual novel!), but it'll help with my drawing/digital colouring skills. Plus, all of the awesome stuff I see in my head can be shown to you too! There's also some language-speaking (as in, different languages!) that would only work in comic form because I can write that shit in. Ohhhhh yeahhhhh.

-cons- It would be slightly slow to update (to be fair, though, I would try to keep a backlog so it wouldn't be "OH SHIT I HAVE TO HAVE A PAGE DONE IN 3 HOURS TRDSFATDYSUA" all the time) because I do work. It also wouldn't be in all colour all the time, but I'd try to at least have some minor colour into it. There'd also be the loss of a "I want my own imagination to render this scene!" to some degree.

Light Novel style: For those who don't know what a light novel is, let me explain. A light novel is text-and-occasional picture to accompany the story. So, the text "So-and-so encountered a monster while traveling. The fight took some time, but So-and-so was victorious, and saved the townspeople from the dragon." would have a picture with it depicting either So-and-so fighting the monster or So-and-so returning to the townspeople with the dragon's head. They would be scattered without, and probably half and half, if you will.

-pros- I'd still be able to work on my skillz, and I'm cool with that. It would be a lighter workload as well, though I'd want to get a backlog started, as with the comic. There'd be a lot of room for your own mind to render a scene as well!

-cons- Lots and lots and lots of text. Pictures would be black and white, and only depict one thing while a lot of things are happening, instead of like a superhero comic where EVERYTHING is shown.

Text only: -pros- There'd only be a wait for chapter updates if I'm behind in chapter markers in picture. Quicker updates and everything can be seen in your imagination.

-cons- LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF TEXT. I know text can blur together sometimes if it's particularly long, and this is going to be a pretty lengthy story.

Personally, I'd want a comic format, but that's just me. I have alternate character art to make for everyone as well with this option, and that's what I'm looking forward to. BUT, I'm really not doing this for myself, it's for you guys, soooo it's up to you.

[Jason Tandro]

Light novel is the best of both worlds. Your artistic talent is amazing but you're certainly no slouch at writing either. A light novel would allow you to focus your best energy into both art and writing without skimping on either. In a comic, you would be tempted to take artistic shortcuts for the sake of a deadline. With a light novel, you can really go all out on the pictures you do and make the final product that much more rewarding.

[EverPhoenix]

id like the full on comic, but i like pictures. that and you can still convey a full story in a comic, so its not like your writing skills go to waste

[inferiare]

Jason Tandro wrote:

Light novel is the best of both worlds. Your artistic talent is amazing but you're certainly no slouch at writing either. A light novel would allow you to focus your best energy into both art and writing without skimping on either. In a comic, you would be tempted to take artistic shortcuts for the sake of a deadline. With a light novel, you can really go all out on the pictures you do and make the final product that much more rewarding.

well, I'm already kinda taking that route with wanting to do light colourings on pictures (like in the picture on this blog post), but that's so it's not too boring but not too extravagant except for certain things/parts, if I so wish. Plus I like pastel colours a LOT.

@ep duly noted.

[SoulBlazerFan]

While a full on comic would be great, a more realistic approach would be the light novel. I've always been interested in doing such a thing (Story with the occasional picture to break the writing) but seeing as I'm nothing short of pathetic when it comes to drawing, I'm stuck in that respect.

I say, do whatever you feel is best suited to the time constraints you have. If you can do a full on comic, then great. If you can't, then the light novel would be awesome, too.

[Freedan]

I think I'd prefer a light novel. I have no problem with a lot of text; that's why they invented paragraphs.

[tay120n64]

I think a comic would be awesome.

Really, its not like you would have to put a great deal of energy into making a whole lot of panels. I don't think that any of us would mind the occasional panel accompanied with WALL OF TEXT.

What style of comic would you use if you did one?

[inferiare]

tay120n64 wrote:

I think a comic would be awesome. Really, its not like you would have to put a great deal of energy into making a whole lot of panels. I don't think that any of us would mind the occasional panel accompanied with WALL OF TEXT. What style of comic would you use if you did one?

Very much manga-style. So it wouldn't be like 50 panels on one page, just like 4-5 or something, or more.

[EverPhoenix]

that sounds like a good idea. between the panels you could even put notes on what is happening, or other non-dialog descriptions you cant/cant be bothered drawing.

[inferiare]

EverPhoenix wrote:

that sounds like a good idea. between the panels you could even put notes on what is happening, or other non-dialog descriptions you cant/cant be bothered drawing.

Precisely. Battle scenes would be a little more in depth, but it wouldn't be crammed on to the page. I'd try to at least have 1-2 pages up every week or so, or alternate it so it'd be one page one week, and then two pages to cover the next two weeks or something. So like... two pages one week, the next week nothing, the next week after that one page, one n=page next week, two pages the next, and none the week after.

Or rather: 2/0/1/2/0/1/2/0 and so on. That would probably make the work load a lot easier.

[Manibrandr System]

Unless you find someone to draw for you, i would suggest keeping it text only. This site should prove to be a nice publishing platform.

[inferiare]

Valerie Valens wrote:

Unless you find someone to draw for you, i would suggest keeping it text only. This site should prove to be a nice publishing platform.

I can't tell if that was a passive-agressive "don't draw because your art is crap" or what o.O

Either way, if I don't practice, I won't get any better. Comic for TE = more practice. And if I were to keep it text-only, it would be on TE and not anywhere else.

[Jason Tandro]

Valerie Valens wrote:

Unless you find someone to draw for you, i would suggest keeping it text only. This site should prove to be a nice publishing platform.

Excuse me, say-wha-bitch?

You can draw. You're good. Fantastic. That doesn't mean anybody who's not you suck.

[Manibrandr System]

It's not to put you down or anything, I am saying that you're a fantastic writer and that it will show through more in that avenue.

[Jason Tandro]

That's a pretty simple viewpoint. I mean you kick ass at drawing and music, and you recently did an art piece and musical piece which compliment each other quite well.

Raini's artistic and writing talent is amazing and I think she can demonstrate both just fine. And since she's making it about TE I daresay it'd turn out even better than an unrelated project since she sinks her soul into this forums.