How To Get Ideas For Your Comic! Making Comics 101 #02

[@tierlee2182]

As a student studying illustration, GOD BLESS THIS MAN

[@ScottSerkland]

Thank you so much! I appreciate it!

[@dafdcartoons]

Nothing beats how strange reality, is so for me I go through the newspaper for ideas.

[@ScottSerkland]

No doubt. Truth is stranger than fiction sometimes.

[@n1ghtmar3w0lf3]

i did that too the"then one day" trope with my comic, and it has alot of influences from various tv shows i watched

[@ScottSerkland]

It's an excellent question to ask to get you started.

[@Rometiklan]

What a great video, Scott! Love the ideas on how to generate ideas. I'm a World War II buff and I've found some of the stories our veterans have told in old WWII documentaries and/or some of their old memoirs/journals to be inspiring and sources of amazing ideas. Loving this series, and thanks for posting!

[@ScottSerkland]

Someday I would like to tell the story of my grandfather whose plane was shot down in WWII. He spent over a year in a German POW camp. He was scheduled to be executed just days after the war ended so, fortunately, he returned home safely but it's a harrowing story and would make for a great comic.

[@Rometiklan]

@@ScottSerkland I bet that is an amazing story. He must have been pretty tough to have survived a POW camp. His story, and many others, are some of the most incredible examples of heroism...ordinary guys placed in extraordinary circumstances. They gave it all for their country...that's bound to contain a few good stories, right? Thanks for sharing, Scott!

[@glostudios_art]

Lots of good info here and tons of inspiration!! Thanks for taking the time to do this!

[@ScottSerkland]

No problem. Thanks for taking the time to watch it.

[@Spenser523]

Mr. Serkland, words cannot express how thankful I am for this series and many of your videos in the past. I've been writing a story idea for a comic for 5 years and I started actually working on it only a few months ago, partially thanks to your "5 Reasons to Start Your Comic Right Now" -video or something like that. And boy, it's been way more fun than than I expected and there are now very few things I'd rather do than working on that! 8-) Now, to expand some of your thoughts in this vid, I gather inspiration from literally almost everything I see and hear throughout my everyday life. Those can be things like documentaries that I find interesting, news articles, conversations with people, a song with very meaningful lyrics etc. While engaging in those I often ask myself that "What If.." - question and next thing I know I'm writing more stuff for my comic series or making a thumbnail sketch for a comic strip. As an example, my comic series is about a revolutionary army that tries to save a nation from an evil dictator, similar to the premis in Hunger Games, but with my own twist and a large part of the ideas I came up with relate to my time serving in a military a few years ago and the politics related to that. : ) Sorry for the long comment. If you read it till this point, you have my gratitude for that as well!

[@ScottSerkland]

No apologies necessary. I appreciate your enthusiasm. So glad you are enjoying the series. It sounds like you are already do many of the things I’ve outlined. Hopefully your still learning some new stuff too.

[@pencode]

"Write what you like" resonated with me in particular. I've heard "Write what you know" many times before, but maybe it's even more important to enjoy your creative process; have fun... Inspire readers with your passion, perhaps?

[@ScottSerkland]

Absolutely!

[@midnightcreature7583]

i love how enthusiastic this man is

[@ScottSerkland]

Thank you, it’s hard not to be enthusiastic when talking about comics.

[@talimediaart]

Family Stories can be another way to get ideas. Mostly stories of your parents and grandparents telling about their childhood and life.

[@SalazarArtNation]

I agree,family stories can be a great source. That's pretty much how Maus came about.

[@ScottSerkland]

True, there are so many ways to approach a comic.

[@talimediaart]

Also being inspired by historical events or things that were done in history which what my current comic is but how would things be if things were changed?

[@lenjennings3096]

What I really love about this video, and I agree with 110%, is giving people permission to use things that have really happened, or old stories, even old comic characters, to build their stories from. That whole "originality" thing is a prison for the mind. It's a creativity killer, IMHO. Stop thinking about what you can't do and focus on what you can do. I have a very simple mantra: Start where you are. Use what you have. Do the best you can. It doesn't matter what you try to accomplish in life, this will free you to start. But sometimes, especially when it comes to being creative, is we need to give ourselves permission. Permission to use the tools we have, the stories already told, characters already created, to explore all ideas (blue sky approach) and not judge them. Of course, don't let anyone steal your dream. But most importantly, don't steal it from yourself. Thanks Scott! Another great and inspiring video!

[@ScottSerkland]

Thanks Len. I love your mantra. I couldn’t have said it better myself. I’m going to have to file that away in the back of my brain.

[@patrikvizvari4486]

So basically I can create my story even if the idea is similar to someone else's?? I just need to not worry about it? That is great.

[@mildacha8050]

Oh, this is a great insight! Your comment is truly valuable and inspiring, I appreciate so much that you took time to share this! Oh my, I was being stuck on disliking my own ideas as soon as I start working on it (both in writing or drawing) for a decade! Last year I've started drawing more again due to excessive free time (covid pandemic, right) and it's been a question of "not being original enough" that stopped me too many times. I like the way you explained your realistic, fun and easy going approach! Makes me more willing and capable to enjoy creative process again, to experiment, find a way to ignore that critical voice inside that was so limiting and demotivating. Sending you a *friendly & grateful hug*

[@newlenmedia]

@@mildacha8050 You're quite welcome. My wife is an author and has adopted the idea of building her framework for all of her stories. She creates a list of plot points and then writes the story (several times beyond the first draft, BTW.) This approach gives her direction and allows her to focus on just being creative and telling the story. Some authors say this hinders their creativity. It's no different than when we artists do thumbnails or even multiple sketches or even full renders to get to the end result. No idea is a bad idea until you find the best one. Sometimes it just takes acceptance of the process to get there. I encourage you to just start wherever you are, use whatever tools you have and then do your very best. Even if you start from humble beginnings, you may eventually create something marvelous and magnificent. The secret is to start and never quit. Taking breaks is okay. Just keep going.

[@thefriendlyaspie7984]

its incredible how much work you put in the production of this videos, i really appreciate it :) plus its good to have it as a company podcast to listen while i create :)

[@ScottSerkland]

I appreciate you saying that!

[@memegraveyard1]

2:35 your welcome

[@TheDreamSyndicateArts]

Good timing on this one Scott. I've been feeling creatively stuck as of late (I had a run of months that hit like ye olde stereotypical country songs) and mostly have been living off of executing on older ideas or create stuff around semi thought-out ideas.

[@ScottSerkland]

Well hopefully this can help stir up some new ideas for you Ryan!

[@fortytwocrayons3485]

I really like the song illustration idea- I never would have thought of that. I am loving this series, thank you 🤗

[@ScottSerkland]

Thanks! Glad to hear the tips were helpful!

[@scribblingjoe]

If it's old west in the future, would it be the new west?

[@ScottSerkland]

Yes it would or in the case of the Mandalorian it's still in the past but in a galaxy far far away.

[@therobloxnoob9316]

You can put yourself in the comic and change yourself to any charachter like shushi,crab whatever you want and this help me sooooooooo much

[@ScottSerkland]

I love it! Great suggestion! Thank you!

[@PuppetMaster8707]

For the past week I've been carrying around a small scrap piece of paper and I jot down whatever random idea pops into my head so I don't forget it later

[@ScottSerkland]

Not a bad idea at all!

[@prinkidoodles]

Thank you so much for making this video! It’s very helpful!

[@ScottSerkland]

So glad to hear it was helpful!

[@hirus6603]

Little late here, Doing fanart/fan comic would be a great place for a beginner to start at (Inking popular paged Blue line work, fan comic, fan designs etc), Great to add to a portfolio, just as long as you don't try to monetize it and also credit the original artists/creators.

[@ScottSerkland]

It's never too late. Great suggestion! Actually most comic companies prefer to see submissions featuring their characters as opposed to anything original.

[@ToddDolce]

I'm exhausted from watching this. WOW what a fast pace! But hey,..perhaps it's because I'm an old fart(55). I can always replay it and slow the playback down a notch in my editing software. Great content Scott and as always....really good advice.

[@ScottSerkland]

Thanks, You know your not that much older than me. I'm just trying to pack in as much info as I can as quickly as I can Ha Ha. people attention span on You Tube is not long and I'm always being accused of rambling.

[@ToddDolce]

@@ScottSerkland I understand. You have to adjust to what the majority wants. I once had a webcast (no really,..I did) and I interviewed old pros, legends and up and comers in the creative industry (mainly 2D animation) and I intentionally made it a much more comfortable pace and ironically the listeners appreciated it. They would play back the interviews while they worked on their art. Funny,..I did too! Keep in mind that it was a one on one interview show and I, as a host,...kind of let my guests set the pace. It's different than what you are doing. I get it. My audience was different too. Once my job changed and some big family changes occurred,..I sadly had to stop the interviews. It was a TON of work. I know what you are doing has to be a ton of work too! A Labor of love. You are doing video as well as audio. I just did audio. My hat is off to you. Keep it up!

[@ronaldmcauley6607]

Thank u I have created lot characters also written stories right next to them and drawing buildings details but will continue with u

[@ScottSerkland]

Keep it up, Sounds like your off to a good start!

[@scribblingjoe]

I kinda like the sharks on a plane idea

[@zechariahstudios]

Great content good sir! Very impressed 😁

[@ScottSerkland]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@IvoryTempestCandleOfStories]

The I'm working on is definitely based on the Darkness, not the comics, the glorious video games! Hell, I haven't even played it passed the second mission, but the images I got from my brother's blurb are absolutely inspiring! But I am very much stuck in the metaphysical worldbuilding, that stuff is VERY VERY complicated, especially the way I do it.

[@ScottSerkland]

Just be careful with the world building. It’s what keeps many artists and writers from actually starting the writing and drawing process.

[@elonmudd]

Thank you 😊 so much

[@ScottSerkland]

Always welcome

[@Ayatron34]

Ideas are a snowball rolling downhill. It gains weight and momentum aka becomes easier the more the story is developed as you have more pieces of the puzzle to work with

[@ScottSerkland]

Great analogy. Very true.

[@Taylor_swift_girl]

Thank you so much❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ScottSerkland]

You're welcome 😊

[@7mmfurryartist656]

As much I love drawing fantasy, I like drawing combat sports more.one of my projects I'm doing is boxing and a pro wrestling stories, but in an anthropomorphic characters.

[@ScottSerkland]

That sound cool. We need more of that variety. Fantasy and Super Heroes are cool but there are so many other genres we can dive into. Just look at all the subject matter that is being explored in manga.

[@7mmfurryartist656]

@@ScottSerkland Thanks! Hopefully I can get this ball moving. Your videos are helpful to keep me motivated to try and keep up on my work.

[@danielwright9533]

Wow grat tutorial nice job pepell are going to need this okay I make comics Book so Thai you

[@ScottSerkland]

You are very welcome, Thank you!

[@spicerzynk]

Hi Scott. I just wanted to pop in the comments section and say I'm enjoying the videos so far. I'm 37 years old and as long as i can remember, I've loved watching super hero movies and programs, enjoy the story telling and animation of Manga and Anime and play RPG type games on the computer like final fantasy 7. I think one of my processes is that i need to tell someone my plan because this is without a doubt something I've always thought about doing. I want to create a pilot episode for an adult graphic novel. Now... I cant draw, I've never tried anything when it comes to animation... i'm terrible at explaining things... i haven't written anything in my life properly and i dont really have that inner circle of friends where i can have a work shop or bounce idea from.....only until very recently did i actually tell someone that i have watched Dragonball Z since i was in primary school. I'm maybe just afraid to commit to it because one thing or another always gets in the way....but I'm gonna give it a shot. So, here's me finally telling someone. I'm going to get help and draw a comic and then hopefully get it animated. cheers for the videos xx

[@ScottSerkland]

That sounds like an amazing goal. I’m glad you are making the commitment and holding yourself accountable by stating your intention in public. Best of luck to you. I know you will do great!

[@spicerzynk]

@@ScottSerkland Going to my first Anime-Con over the weekend so im sure i'll bump into some of the right people too and hopefully they can help and keep me right :) i'll keep ye filled in :)

[@kevinpatel6602]

धन्यवाद गुरुजी🎉🎉🎉

[@2rgaming887]

I am 12 years old and i made my first comic book ' life of an artist '❤❤

[@ScottSerkland]

That’s awesome! Keep it up!

[@BonkinatorReal]

can i do this as a kid?

[@ScottSerkland]

Make a comic? Absolutely! I made lots of comics when I was a kid.

[@BonkinatorReal]

@@ScottSerkland Thanks!

[@BonkinatorReal]

@@ScottSerkland what if i dont have strong imagination

[@clydoscope5841]

@@BonkinatorReal dont worry, it only takes a single point

[@johnrainsman6650]

Do I have any Pokemon artists here who like to make a comic? Does anyone remember when Brock entered Geodude in the Grand Prix for Fighting Pokemon, back in season 1? Must've been based on Geodude's muscular "physique" and toughness. I can think of other non-Fighting type Pokemon that should be allowed: Greninja, Tsareena, Rilaboom, Grimsnarl, Incineroar, and Dewott. Basically I just want to see a comic of these Pokemon taking on the type they aren't but should be. Tsareena and Hitmonlee kicking each other would be pretty cool. Maybe Greninja taking on Croagunk and later Poliwrath (its fellow frog Pokemon). Or Rilaboom battling Primeape or Infernape (fellow apes). Anyone interested? We can discuss plot and whatnot.

[@ScottSerkland]

I hope you find who your looking for. I don’t know much about Pokemon but I have been watching Deep Pockets Monster on You Tube to get ideas on what type of content performs well on KZbin.

[@ramakrishnanpk3026]

Did you give your friends names itself for the characters of young and the dead?

[@ScottSerkland]

I'm not sure I totally understand the question, but I did name the characters myself and they are different than some of the real people they are based on.

[@MrJvne]

Very interesting issue

[@ScottSerkland]

Thanks! hopefully it was helpful.

[@scribblingjoe]

Maybe the sharks are alien tourists enjoying a luxurious skytour over planet earth. Then suddenly the plane gets hijacked.... and that's as far as I got.

[@ScottSerkland]

I was thinking some experimental new plane transferring some rare genetically engineered sharks and then the tank cracks open and floods the cabin , completely implausible but a good check your brain at the door adventure horror movie.

[@scribblingjoe]

@@ScottSerkland It must have Samuel Jackson in it.

[@karencunningham3137]

I am making a comic called the life of timmy

[@TheSeensca]

❤谢谢你

[@newtoatheism5968]

How do people draw in those tiny squares?

[@ScottSerkland]

Not sure if you mean the thumbnails or the panels?

[@GYM_K1D]

I starting a comic have you got any ideas

[@ScottSerkland]

I've got 26 ideas, one for each letter in the alphabet. Pick a word that starts with "A" and create a one page comic about that word, then move on to "B" and do it again, keep going and soon you can collect them all into a 26 page comic.

[@novelsbyc2784]

a heard many times this'brainstorm' word. because its one of important tip am i right

[@ScottSerkland]

Yeah I would say it's pretty important. I usually try to brainstorm with all my projects.

[@madclasher3570]

Bro are you a proffecional comic artist?pls reply

[@ScottSerkland]

Yes, I make comics that people buy and people pay me to make comics so I guess that makes me a professional comic artist.

[@DWverse-2010]

So wen are you gonna name youerselth making comics 201

[@ScottSerkland]

Not sure if that will happen. At least not on KZbin. Most people on KZbin are looking for entry level tutorials

[@alecboi777]

shark man and dino boy become superheroes and fight a sea monster

[@ScottSerkland]

Sounds fun!

[@emathomas6401]

I generated two random genres and got slice of life and got thriller and slice of life, I’m not sure exactly what I’m going to do with that

[@ScottSerkland]

Oh, I don’t know, I think you can do something interesting with that.

[@javvadiumamaheswararao1589]

How about gmail who would miss mails like parties

[@thefriendlyaspie7984]

you said that many of this characters are based on your friends? wait do you have zombies friends? xd

[@ScottSerkland]

Ha ha, only the human characters.

[@sammantheamazinganon2306]

zombies are technically humans…

[@Blxtazure]

I’m watching this in 2023

[@ScottSerkland]

It’s still relevant!

[@AMJAWAD-ex9hs]

These tips are not helping sorry if I am being rude

[@ScottSerkland]

sorry to hear that, I know they have helped a lot of other people. Remember it take patience, practice and persistence you won't improve overnight.

[@pineappleplatypus7781]

you stole causally explained's music

[@ScottSerkland]

All the music I use is royalty free and available for anyone on the KZbin platform to use, not stolen. With 3.5 million subscribers Causally Explained can afford to hire someone to compose original music if he doesn't want anyone else to have the same music he has.

[@pineappleplatypus7781]

oh where do u find the music