Paperlegends

[einahpets]

So if any of you don't know, paperlegends had their announcement post today!  Yay! 
I've met the best people through this event, seriously. 

Anyway I was looking through the schedule and I noticed artists now have to submit drafts.
This is actually pretty cool, cause it makes artists more involved. 
But I think there's probably more that would make it a little more involved/better for the artists.

Question for my writer friends and artists too!! --
As it's done now, drafts aren't due until after artist/author matchups happen. 
Before matchups, the 15K word counts are taken in faith.  I can't tell you how many of my artist friends got burned because the author didn't have the suggested amount, and ended up dropping out or the artists were not able to make art to the fullest of their abilities since time is shorter for artists.
I was wondering if submitting a minimum 15K rough draft before match-ups is something you think would benefit your Big Bang experience?
As an artist, I see it as more of a guarantee that you're serious about finishing and I have more confidence going into the anon matchups.  ALSO!  I have so much more material to work with and create beautiful art from.  And please tell me of a writer who doesn't want to see beautiful art?

Question for my artist friends --
How would you feel to have betas required for artists too? 
There are so many talented artists in fandom who would be more than happy to take a look at your in-progress work.
In the past year I started sharing my IP work with fellow Merlin artists and it makes a world of difference. 
Be it for anatomy, composition, perspective issues, coloring, the atmosphere in the piece, how to do a certain technique, etc. 
Having an online critique makes such a difference, and it created such a supportive community. 
It's like an art class, but for free, and on your time!!
Would you guys be interested/supportive of this?

I've already talked to a few friends, but I wanted to see if there were similar/different thoughts from my flist/the Merlin community.

Feel free to pass this along!

Comments

[itzcoatl.livejournal.com]

I think those are all excellent ideas. I've had absolutely smashing authors in Big Bang 2010 and 2011, with brilliant stories going, but through absolutely no fault of their own, one of them didn't finish in 2010, (though luckily I was illustrating more than one story that year), and my author in 2011 didn't finish.

At the moment I'm dithering over whether to do 2012, I was thinking I absolutely, definitely wouldn't...but now that I've seen the main post go up...I'm finding myself getting interested despite myself.

I think the 15K rough drafts are an excellent idea. And as an artist you know you've got something to get going on from the day you're matched up.

I sometimes think it would be nice to have a final date for the stories, where they have to be finished and submitted. And then the final date for the artwork is a month after that. And then they are both posted. Often a story is leading up to a great climax that would be absolutely super to illustrate...but the artist never sees it in time to do anything with it, and is kinda stuck illustrating early/middle scenes in the story.

(At the moment the authors have several months to work in before the artists can get involved. Maybe the artists could have a month at the end to work after the writers have finished.)

The idea of an art beta is a great one. I'd love to have someone I got on well with looking at my WIP and offering advice.

[reni-m.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the time issue for artists working is always a tough one. I totally think having a draft would ensure artists making the most of their time which is always a plus.

I love your idea about giving artists an extra month after the writer finishes to make art for end scenes. Sometimes I feel like my art only accompanies the beginning and middle of the story instead of the whole thing. Though I don't know if that would be possible since PL likes to launch before the new series begins. However, I can see a change like this taking place after Merlin stops airing (which would be very sad because I live for the boys D:).

[itzcoatl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's way too late to begin mucking about with this year's PL schedule.

Although I am commenting on, and putting forward, various ideas for the future, I SOOOOOO appreciate The Muppets' work on this year's PL and the previous ones. I'm sure everyone would join me in saying that she does a really super job and that nothing said here is a criticism. It's all about throwing around different ways of doing things and having a bit of a discussion.

As you say, after Merlin stops airing, (say it ain't so!!!), then this wouldn't be an issue.

Or, perhaps one could push the whole process back to begin on an earlier month and gain a month at the beginning...?

Mind you, if this next series is the last, then it will all die a death after that anyway. *sobs quietly*

[reni-m.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's why I brought up suggestions that could be implemented this year without changing the schedule.

Hopefully all these new ideas will be helpful for future BBs!

I don't want it to end!