Ask the Author: Doug TenNapel
Answered Questions (7)
Doug TenNapel
While I have many more Nnewts books outlines, I have no real plans to do your Nnewts books. That trilogy story is all wrapped up! Do check out my next big graphic novel called Bigfoot Bill that is only available at Indiegogo!
Doug TenNapel
I'm sure you've heard this before but you have to write as much as you can and be disciplined about it. I'm not a "when I feel like it" artist. That means I will have to write even when I don't feel like it. This may go against one's intuition but I don't find a big gap in quality between when I feel writing and when I don't feel like it; I've written bad stuff when I was really into it and written great stuff when I felt dry as a bone.
Doug TenNapel
The best thing about being a writer is getting to make stories for readers. While I would draw even if nobody was there to see it, I wouldn't write stories unless there was at least one reader to enjoy it.
Doug TenNapel
Thanks, Aaron. Usually I have a number of ideas to choose from. These are loose stories that would seem fun to dig into. Then I consider what my audience might be in the mood for. Who wants to tell a story to an audience that may not want to hear it? It's like standing up during a funeral and telling a knock knock joke. Some stories will always seem more timely than others.
As for selling books, that part is a mystery. Some of my favorite stories don't get much attention and I never feel like I shouldn't have told those stories. I won't work on a story I'm not excited about, but there is at least some level of excitement in telling ANY story! It's just fun.
As for selling books, that part is a mystery. Some of my favorite stories don't get much attention and I never feel like I shouldn't have told those stories. I won't work on a story I'm not excited about, but there is at least some level of excitement in telling ANY story! It's just fun.
Doug TenNapel
I don't get writer's block. I never feel like there isn't work to do on a story. A story could get so complicated and off-track that I don't know where to start, but I usually find something wrong and blast in some words as a desperate fix.
If you experience writer's block, ask yourself "What's missing from this story that needs to be there?" or "What is in the story I should remove?" Then get to work.
I think when some people talk about writer's block they might really mean they just don't feel like writing. Now that is something I experience all the time! But that's writer's disinterest, not writer's block.
If you experience writer's block, ask yourself "What's missing from this story that needs to be there?" or "What is in the story I should remove?" Then get to work.
I think when some people talk about writer's block they might really mean they just don't feel like writing. Now that is something I experience all the time! But that's writer's disinterest, not writer's block.
Doug TenNapel
Aaron, thanks for asking. I used to do a lot more conventions, but found the table set up and negotiating convention centers with my massive stock of books too stressful. I decided to focus on making books instead of comic-conventions.
That said, I remain open to attend cons as a guest where I won't have to set up a book table. And I very rarely miss the San Diego Comic Con as it's my favorite. I don't sell books there but there are booksellers who carry my books if you want to buy one and get a signature.
My family takes a vacation during the week of Comicon every year so I'm almost always in town. The best way to find me is to send a message through my social media (my doug tennapel Facebook page) that you are there during the week.
That said, I remain open to attend cons as a guest where I won't have to set up a book table. And I very rarely miss the San Diego Comic Con as it's my favorite. I don't sell books there but there are booksellers who carry my books if you want to buy one and get a signature.
My family takes a vacation during the week of Comicon every year so I'm almost always in town. The best way to find me is to send a message through my social media (my doug tennapel Facebook page) that you are there during the week.
Doug TenNapel
I'm about 170 pages into my next 220 page graphic novel called JACOBOT! I post live videos of my inking sessions on my Facebook fan page.
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