This is Lila and Sausage. I don't know where these names have come from, but for now they feel right: how do they sound?
These are characters I have developed for the story I have been working on recently. It's going to be a rather off-beat fantasy, which is why it starts off with her imagining different worlds. I like the idea of Lila being the thinker and Sausage playing her loyal, but not-quite-sure sidekick.As you can see from my initial sketched ideas below, I started off with the little girl looking a bit too old. It's all about head size and leg length of course. This is the first page of my brand new A4 sketchbook: I started it just for my new story ideas. I originally took it to the children's library, to kick-start the creative juices (see Trying To Write).
I think I have an outline now of the way the story could go, and am setting about trying to tidy up the sketchbook scribbles into sketch sheets I can show to the publisher. I've already pitched the basic idea to Hodder and they didn't tell me to stop fiddling about and stick with what I'm good at, so that's got to be a good sign...
My main problem now is that tomorrow I start the October school visit rush, so I am in serious danger of losing my momentum. My next drawing day is Friday October 17th, and there's still another 3 visits the following week! I will take my sketchbook with me when I have long train journeys, so at least I can keep scribbling away at the idea.
14 comments:
I like the names a lot! Pity I couldn't enlarge the drawings by clicking on them to get a better look. My eyes aren't as good as they used to be :0) Things sound quite positive for you with Hodder for now, so fingers crossed!
Haha...Lila and Sausage's relationship sounds very similar to mine and my beagle Pokey's. Funny thing is that his nickname is "the Sausage!" Don't you want us to be characters within the book?
Love seeing your process sketches. I wish I had more of these to share.
All sounds very interesting, and can I say fun?
It is fun, but often in a 'pulling teeth' sort of way - that makes no sense I know!
Suzanne: Pokey is a great name too! I am enthralled daily by your sketchwork, but I suppose it is a little different to these, because the Lila drawings are not observed. It would be interesting to see that side of your work too.
I love the name, there is something magical about the word sausage!!
so does the story develop through Lila's sketches?
your illustrations are always great and i think its excellent that you are writing the story yourself, keep me posted, i want to see more. if thats ok of course?!
Giles
xxxx
Yes, the story will be about the world of her drawings. I don't want to tell you too much about my ideas yet, as I don't want to kill the magic - I feel it's so delicate. I need to get it drawn first, so I can't decide it's rubbish and back off!
I like these characters a lot! Sausage sounds just right for the side kick as it can be an endearing name or a put down name, according to the mood of Lila. Keep going in all your spare (Ha! Ha! ) moments.
Love Mum XX
What an interesting point - it's quite by accident!
I am really worried about not having time to keep the momentum going. My own fault for not getting down to it sooner. It's going to be so frantic now for weeks, I worry my relationship with it will slip away...
Trying to keep stories alive and moving along where you're busy with other things always makes me think of those performers you used to see on television spinning plates. Doing one is easy but once you have a lot of things up in the air and spinning you find yourself running around frantically trying to keep it all moving.
Lila and Sausage looks great though... I hope you keep them alive. Enjoy your schools visits though. x
Thanks - I've just had a couple of really good days to kick off, so that's great.
I am going to try and think about Lila & Sausage on the longer train journeys, to keep it bubbling. Do you do that sometimes?
Unfortunatley not, as I very rarely go by train... Mainly because I take so much stuff with me that it makes it impractical but also because going anywhere by train from Blackpool usually means hopping from one train to another so it's just easier in the car.
You can still think things over whilst driving but you can't lose yourself in thought the way you can when on a train.
I do like the occasional visit where I get to stay away from home though. That often gives time with a bit of peace to work on things... though it's always tempting to just spend the evening watching episodes of Frasier on dvd.
Know what you mean - I have a couple of nights in Wales next week, but will I actually work when I get in after the events..? We'll see.
I'm liking this already. Who knows where characters' names come from? I'm just happy when they come at all!
Glad you think they work. Needless to say, I didn't get much drawing work done in Wales!
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