(Because of certain nondisclosure agreements, I cannot discuss specifics but I am going to tiptoe around certain aspects but hopefully everything will still be understandable.)
As I continue to forge ahead with my burgeoning comic book career, at times I find myself looking around and wondering how in the world I got to where I am. One of my favorite comic book writers is J. Michael Straczynski. I loved his run on Amazing Spider-Man and his current run on Thor has been Mighty. (Bad pun, I know.) Thor deals with the rich tapestry of Norse mythology—particularly the God of Thunder—and blends it seamlessly with the incredible complexity of the Marvel Universe.
Reading his run on Thor has given me fuel and inspiration as I was working on my own book that dealt with certain mythological aspects. (Again, NDA!) But I recently watched a fabulous movie that reminded me of another JMS quote. (And I am paraphrasing here.)
JMS said that once you decide to become a writer, you are screwed. You never look at the world the same way again because you will see great movies and say, “Will I ever write anything this good?” And then you will see terrible movies and say, “This is getting made and my stuff is sitting on a shelf unpublished?”
I have experienced exactly what Mr. Straczynski is talking about. And after watching the Robert Redford film Lions for Lambs, I often wonder if I will ever write anything as good.
The movie revolves around three very different stories that are all interconnected. The first is about two Special Forces soldiers fighting in Afghanistan, the second is a politician and a reporter, and the third is a California college professor having a conversation about potential with a stumbling student. The story is set very much in the present world. It explains to me in the clearest terms I have found yet about the United States and our involvement in the Middle East. And it is a movie that challenges you to do something important with your life.
When I was in Middle School, I was headed for the Air Force Academy and I was going to be a hotshot fighter pilot. Then I had moments of self-discovery where I learned that a) I throw up in single engine Cessna aircraft doing touch and go landings and b) I have a real problem with being shot at.
How was I going to fly F-16 Falcons throwing up in my oxygen mask? So my passions started leading me down other pursuits. What are the words inscribed at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi? “Gnothi seauton.” Translation: Know Thyself.
Through many twists and turns, I found myself writing. Now, any creative endeavor is going to be met with skepticism from other people, be it writing, singing, drawing, dancing—pretty much anything creative. But their opinions do not matter. They CANNOT matter. The only person you have to convince is yourself.
And now that I am writing in comics, I still have to wrestle with a terrible demon named Doubt. He is a dangerous and destructive foe. Every time I write something, I wonder. Is this any good? Am I any good? I’m just a guy from Adair, Oklahoma with a minimal amount of college education. What am I doing writing a mythology story?
But then I get notes back from editors. Positive notes. And I begin to remind myself that I am pretty darn good. Writing is my calling. This is what I was intended to do. I know that. Beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Can I still improve? Of course! And seeing fantastic movies like Lions for Lambs or reading the latest issue of Thor makes me want to improve. And I think that is the key. I still want to improve.
So as I search my soul and my skills for my version of Lions for Lambs, I am on a great quest. I want to find a story that challenges my readers and makes them consider their futures. It’s a tall task. It is a big challenge. And it may take years to complete. But you have to have goals in life. And I think I am well on my way to achieving my goals.
As I continue to forge ahead with my burgeoning comic book career, at times I find myself looking around and wondering how in the world I got to where I am. One of my favorite comic book writers is J. Michael Straczynski. I loved his run on Amazing Spider-Man and his current run on Thor has been Mighty. (Bad pun, I know.) Thor deals with the rich tapestry of Norse mythology—particularly the God of Thunder—and blends it seamlessly with the incredible complexity of the Marvel Universe.
Reading his run on Thor has given me fuel and inspiration as I was working on my own book that dealt with certain mythological aspects. (Again, NDA!) But I recently watched a fabulous movie that reminded me of another JMS quote. (And I am paraphrasing here.)
JMS said that once you decide to become a writer, you are screwed. You never look at the world the same way again because you will see great movies and say, “Will I ever write anything this good?” And then you will see terrible movies and say, “This is getting made and my stuff is sitting on a shelf unpublished?”
I have experienced exactly what Mr. Straczynski is talking about. And after watching the Robert Redford film Lions for Lambs, I often wonder if I will ever write anything as good.The movie revolves around three very different stories that are all interconnected. The first is about two Special Forces soldiers fighting in Afghanistan, the second is a politician and a reporter, and the third is a California college professor having a conversation about potential with a stumbling student. The story is set very much in the present world. It explains to me in the clearest terms I have found yet about the United States and our involvement in the Middle East. And it is a movie that challenges you to do something important with your life.
When I was in Middle School, I was headed for the Air Force Academy and I was going to be a hotshot fighter pilot. Then I had moments of self-discovery where I learned that a) I throw up in single engine Cessna aircraft doing touch and go landings and b) I have a real problem with being shot at.
How was I going to fly F-16 Falcons throwing up in my oxygen mask? So my passions started leading me down other pursuits. What are the words inscribed at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi? “Gnothi seauton.” Translation: Know Thyself.
Through many twists and turns, I found myself writing. Now, any creative endeavor is going to be met with skepticism from other people, be it writing, singing, drawing, dancing—pretty much anything creative. But their opinions do not matter. They CANNOT matter. The only person you have to convince is yourself.
And now that I am writing in comics, I still have to wrestle with a terrible demon named Doubt. He is a dangerous and destructive foe. Every time I write something, I wonder. Is this any good? Am I any good? I’m just a guy from Adair, Oklahoma with a minimal amount of college education. What am I doing writing a mythology story?
But then I get notes back from editors. Positive notes. And I begin to remind myself that I am pretty darn good. Writing is my calling. This is what I was intended to do. I know that. Beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Can I still improve? Of course! And seeing fantastic movies like Lions for Lambs or reading the latest issue of Thor makes me want to improve. And I think that is the key. I still want to improve.
So as I search my soul and my skills for my version of Lions for Lambs, I am on a great quest. I want to find a story that challenges my readers and makes them consider their futures. It’s a tall task. It is a big challenge. And it may take years to complete. But you have to have goals in life. And I think I am well on my way to achieving my goals.
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