The Small Project BEFORE The Project

For anyone working on what feels like (or is) a "big idea" and not knowing how to start.

OFTEN, a creator will make a small piece, either to get moving, or not realizing it is about to become a bigger thing. This is great, and it's encouraged!

As an example, I'm showing two examples from Leela Corman's work. (I've done this at least 2 or 3 times myself, sometimes accidental, sometimes on purpose.)

She made this story, "Fanya Needs to Know." She was pretty sure it would be the beginning of a large graphic novel, but she really needed to just get the thing moving. So she made this piece for an anthology.

Eventually, it did become part of the larger graphic novel, Unterzakhn, but it had to be entirely redrawn (because she had grown and changed as an artist), and substantially re-written to incorporate the larger world of the book. 

The point? 

Get started. 

Make a small thing. 

It's like letting a genie out of a bottle, it will say THANK YOU when you let it out and grant you the wish of seeing more of the project. 

Hope this encourages!

Cheers! - Tom Hart

I WANT TO MAKE AND READ MORE COMICS!

Do you have a story inside you that’s just itching to come out, but want some guidance to help push it out?

Learn more about intensive comics learning with teachers at SAW by checking out SAW’s Year-Long Intensive Program and our Six-Month Graphic Novel Intensive.

Be sure to also check out our Online Courses, since some courses are offered year-round and are always enrolling!

Our Graphic Memoir Intensive runs year round and is always enrolling.  It includes access to a vibrant working community, twice-monthly live online check-ins, weekly prompts, and access to SAW’s Monthly Pro Calls!

Our Comics Flow Group, is also year-round and always enrolling and is SAW's MOST AFFORDABLE course option with access to Monthly Pro-Calls!

And, of course, come see what we’re all up to on SAW's Mighty Network anytime!