Chicano Kickstarting graphic novelist

posting by RudyG

[Daniel Olivas returns next Monday.]

El Vez

Ricardo Acuña

I was surprised last year to run across Ricardo Acuña's Kickstarter campaign fundraising for his first graphic novel The Realm. It was described as: "A supernatural, dark and gritty graphic novel about a thief searching for buried treasure who must overcome his greed in order to escape from a Mexican ghost town."

My first surprise was how easily this vato could pass for the cult, Mexican-American, political rock star and Elvis Presley "impersonator." You compare the photos. (Yeah, Acuña's not as viejo-looking, true.)

My next surprise had to do with so many writers hoping their writing will be turned into a movie (and movie script). Acuña (aka Ricky Luv) was doing the opposite, striving to get his script published as a book, a graphic novel.

As he explained it, "This is my first graphic novel based on a feature-length script of mine. Besides film, the graphic novel is a perfect medium for the pulpy and fantasmagorical world I created in The Realm.

"I did exhaustive research on the few companies out there that convert scripts into graphic novels and struck gold when I happened upon Stephen Stern (President of StoryBoardGraphicNovels.com) who paired me up with legendary illustrator Stan Timmons. Stern said, [Acuña's script] reminded me, at turns, of El Mariachi, and Treasure of Sierra Madre, and even The Shining. It's a wholly original, mind-bending, sexy ghost story.' "

I was next impressed that the kid was hungry and determined. As he explained, "In Stephen Stern and Stan Timmons, I have the best team to convert my script into a graphic novel. My unique deal for the entire production will cost approximately $10k (the graphic novel script, sketches, inking, lettering and the cover art). I invested $5k out of my own pocket and ask your support and contribution towards the remaining $5k, while giving you the opportunity to be of part of it."

In the end, 98 backers pledged $5,513 toward the $5k goal.

You can go here for the trailer on that.

Acuña knew there'd be risks and considerable work: "The biggest challenge in the production of this graphic novel is to ensure that the film script translates well into a graphic novel. The process starts with formatting the film script into a graphic novel script, that is, breaking down film scenes into comic book panels.

"Basically, I'm testing my story and my storytelling skills. At every stage, from initial sketches to final lettering, I work closely with the illustrator so that the panels are faithful to the story. As a graduate of Columbia's University film program, I am uniquely prepared for this challenge as I shape and edit the plot and dialogue from one medium to another.

"In essence, this graphic novel should stand on its own and also serve as a storyboard for eventual production of the film. The risk is not whether it will work or not, but how well it will work in either or both mediums."

When I read Acuña's bio that he'd lived in Denver but we'd never crossed paths and that he'd done a stint in public school teaching, the ex-teacher in me was hooked. I decided to make a donation and follow Acuña's publishing trek, since Kickstarter-type projects are growing avenues for publishing.

I recently received my copy of The Realm and will share my take on it in a follow-up posting, as it takes off. I'll also look into interviewing Acuña about lessons he learned that may help other aspiring writers. In the meantime, you can learn more below and by going to The Realm website.

Summary of The Realm: A dark and gritty tale about thief Juan Caballero who botches a bank robbery in San Diego and in the process gets his accomplice and friend killed. Juan escapes to Mexico and comes across an old drunk with a map to buried gold in a town called El Reino (The Realm). But instead of laying low, a desperate Juan steals the map.
After much trouble, Juan eventually finds El Reino and the gold. Problem is, El Reino is cursed by an evil witch so that anyone who enters El Reino can never leave. Juan also falls in love with a beautiful young maiden imprisoned by the witch who can show him the way out of El Reino, but only if Juan gives up his greed.
Juan must choose between the gold or his freedom.

Ricardo Acuña bio: "I was born and raised dirt-poor in Nogales, Arizona, a small town on the U.S./Mexican Berlin Wall. At 15, I earned a full, academic scholarship to attend a prep school for rich kids, The Lawrenceville School. After culture and climate shock, I attended Stanford University (a year spent studying wine-tasting in Paris) and graduated with a BA in English and French Literatures.

"I returned to the East Coast, worked at the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital psycho-sex ward as a research assistant whilst putting myself through Columbia University’s film school, where I earned my MFA, with a concentration in screenwriting.

"I then moved to Denver (a year and a half prostituting myself to temp agencies), drove through the icy, treacherous, bittersweet Rockies to sunny, hazy L.A. and worked day jobs from the depths of typing pools to copy editing, from communications management for the farm workers to episodes teaching high school English.

"I have paid my dues, but am very happy to report I am now married to the love of my life, have a brilliant, beautiful little girl and a tough preemie baby boy, and know that the only thing I need to do in life is write. If not, I will drop dead."

Acuña just officially released The Realm and if you want to check it out, you can purchase the soft cover here.

Purchase the eBook here.

Es todo, hoy,

RudyG

How to write a novel in 66 days

by RudyG

I post this hoping it might be of use to aspiring or struggling or caught-in-a-rut writers. It's not the final word or the expert's advice; it's simply one author's experience.

I just composed the final pages of a dark Young Adult fantasy novel with Chicano protagonists, villains and secondary characters. 27 chapters. 91,000 words. First draft, done.

The novel-in-MS-form is not going to a publisher or agent, yet. Nobody's going to bang on my Facebook wall for a copy. Because the story reached its end but is not complete.

Definitely weeks, possibly a couple of months--hopefully, not more--of redrafting the MS will follow. I won't list all that it needs or that I have to improve, but it's chingos. Below is how I got to this milestone where I've got a near-complete MS to work on, at all.

How to do it

It's easy if you follow this recipe, or create one more tailored for your personal tastes and lifestyle.

I. I began writing approx. Nov. 1st. That coincided with my Texas book tour of the Chicano fantasy novel The Closet of Discarded Dreams, which occurred the first two weeks of Nov.

I wrote every day. Weekends included. No matter what my schedule was. No matter whether I was in a motel or staying with family, on a plane, or between flights. I plugged my little laptop into outlets behind flight gates, sat on the floor or watched for an empty seat by an outlet.

I wrote on a Megabus between San Anto and Houston, which has outlets for every seat. I wrote on my brother's or mother's or sister's porch until the battery ran out, and then I ran an extension cord to keep going. I wrote hung-over--like now--or sober, it didn't matter.

And when I returned to Denver, I continued. Every day. For me, 5am is a good start time. Some days, the book in my head had me up at 4 or even 3:30am. That's what writing does to you when it takes over your life: your brain must follow.

II. I began each writing session by revising and editing down the new material I'd composed the day before. Always. In the flurry of creating, too much superfluous wording shows up in my writing, at least. To not let the build-up of dross get too out of hand, this daily gleaning serves me well. (Critics may say, not enough, but that's a different topic.)

III. Every day I would add new material. Sometimes, just a passage of four pages. Sometimes, a passage here and another there. Sometimes, half a chapter. Rarely, a whole chapter of approx. 10 pp.

This consistency helps me, at least, to keep the story flowing, pacing, developing.

IV. I never wondered if I'd have writer's block. I don't believe in it. I think it's a cucui created by others that may apply to them, but I strive to be an idealist and assume it won't get me.

Critics may say it shows in weaknesses of my writing, but I write the plot, the dialogue, the scenes and character development, as it comes flowing out of my head onto the keypad. IOW, I don't stop to over-think what it is that I'm doing, where the story's going or whether I've taken care of everything. The next period is when all that will be dealt with.

V. I let my imagination and hard-brain take care of questions. Where's the heroine going next, what will he find there, who's going to be in the next scene and how will things be resolved--are things I take to bed with me or file in my frontal lobes when I take a nap. Somehow, when I wake up, the psyche has taken care of enough to go into the next chapter, etc.

VI. I try to remember to rest every 1.5 hours, more or less. I go outside, check the weather and the birds, eat a small burrito, drink some orange juice and smoke a vacha. Then I go back.

I take naps. Whenever I'm tired. I don't put them off; I don't say, "Later when I finish this chapter." I answer my old body's call and give it what it needs to keep going at some more or less optimum rate.

I never work when the body or mind gets tired. I'm not being paid by the hour or punching any clock, so I'm not obligated to "just show up."

VII. I work up to some breaking point in the story. The end of a scene, chapter, etc. I try not to start something new that can't be completed in a short amount of time.

So, I'll stop my writing day anywhere after six to nine hours at the computer.

That's my story, style and approach. Writers are as different as leaves on a tree, but we're also similar. You don't have to do it like I did. You can write one page a day, and after a year, you've got a novel.

I wrote the first draft of my first published novel in 45 days. (John Nichols wrote the first draft of The Milagro Beanfield War in less time than that.) Then it took me years of revising. But, I'm better and won't need so much time this go-around.

To emphasize my opening statements, I only intended to describe elements I've used to finish a first draft in 66 days. If any of this helps, I'm very glad I helped. If none helps, I'm happy if you toss this into the Delete folder. Whatever.

If you love writing, just do it. Enjoy it. And always remember what you owe your future readers: un chingón libro, not just worth their time and money, but worth reading and passing along.

Es todo, hoy,

RudyG, aka author Rudy Ch. Garcia, holder of a few hundred pages of YA fantasy, to appear sometime this year on your slush pile.

The Closet goes to Albuquerque NHCC

A reading and book-signing of Rudy Ch. Garcia's

The Closet of Discarded Dreams

Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, 2:00 p.m.

at the

National Hispanic Cultural Center

1701 4th Street SW
Albuquerque, Nuevo Mexico

For info: 505-246-2261

Some of my promotion efforts for my new book, like the above, have born fruit. I'm honored at the opportunity, but a little nervous at the prospect of the Hispanic Center's membership cringing when I utter the word Chicano. Hopefully the literary experience will be good for both of us. Their September events will be listed here soon.

By coincidence, I'm in the same publishing stage as Melinda Palacio who posted yesterday on La Bloga about turning in her final manuscript for her upcoming book of poetry, entitled How Fire Is a Story Waiting. I too just turned in the final for my upcoming novel, The Closet of Discarded Dreams. Dos frijoles in a pod?

By an even greater coincidence, Melinda graced our patio in Denver this past week at a small gathering of writers, artists and familia. In her post Melinda wrote how she preferred live readings and we were treated to a sampling of both her work and her voice. It wasn't the sing-song rendition that some poets perform, it was more hearing descriptions of thought and feeling from the poetess' own mouth. Four poems representing the book's four sections gave us a great experience of the literary lyrics in her book. I highly recommend not only buying it, but seeing and hearing her in person. Melinda was a delight.

With all the work preparatory to my book being released in September, my head and days seem to be filled with book business, if not the literary. And with little prospects for employment this next school year, my life seems to be transforming into something like the writer's life, albeit with little to no income to support it.

Last week on my front patio the Friday evening, end-of-week cervezas turned into a discussion about the of starting one's own publishing company to distribute one's novels. Manuel Ramos, Pocho Joe of KUVO La Raza Rocks fame (that you can stream on-line here), myself and a neighbor who's completed a novel batted around this idea, ending with an agreement to agree that every novelist should decide his own path. Goes to show you how deeply cervezas can uncover the ultimate truth.

And one morning this week, an aspiring author and I traded our entries for Esquire Magazine's 79-word story contest. (No entry fee, great prize and only a couple of weeks left to enter.) This was no reading out loud experience, but instead a process of reading each other's work to ourselves several times. Some authors prefer not to undertake this sharing, but I sometimes find it beneficial, as happened that day.

My initial promotion was a great success. The first 25 autographed, monogrammed and numbered copies of my novel have been spoken for. I now know I'll sell at least that many the first week it's out. About mid-September or earlier when it's available, I'll have to aim for 26. Possibly even more.

Over on The Closet of Discarded Dreams website, it's obvious that it's not easy to give away an autographed copy of a new book from a debut novelist. Maybe I made the rules too difficult, so I decided to change them to make it simpler. Below are the new ways to win, so I encourage La Bloga readers to enter.

Winning an autographed copy – now made easier!

Beginning Sept. 1st, readers can enter to win an autographed copy of The Closet of Discarded Dreams (continental U.S., only; an unsigned E-book or pdf for others), following its release in Sept., each week I’ll randomly pick one lucky person.

Here’s how: This novel is filled with dreams, nightmares, aspirations and passions that people have abandoned. DON’T send me one of yours. Instead just send 5 words or more that pertain to your dream or whatever. If you don’t have one, make it up; I won’t know the diff. Example: bicycle, monster, nighttime, my BFF, eating nachos. Simple, huh?

Fill out the “Contact the Author” form on the homepage, put “My dream” or nightmare, etc. in the Subject line. Send me your words in the Message box. I’ll blindly draw one winner. I’ll only announce the winner, not their words, unless you prefer to.

 Feel free to pass this info along. And hurry before the Closet’s Door slams shut!

This week Facebook and Twitter sites should be ready for the book. Hope you "like" them.

Es todo, hoy,

RudyG