{"id":610,"date":"2020-09-11T15:26:28","date_gmt":"2020-09-11T15:26:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/?p=610"},"modified":"2022-05-25T13:16:54","modified_gmt":"2022-05-25T13:16:54","slug":"its-time-to-d-d-draw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/its-time-to-d-d-draw\/","title":{"rendered":"It&#8217;s Time To D-D-Draw"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"615\" height=\"663\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2003.jpg?resize=615%2C663&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-611\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2003.jpg?w=615&amp;ssl=1 615w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2003.jpg?resize=278%2C300&amp;ssl=1 278w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px\" \/><figcaption>My heart is so full.<br><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph\">Today, I&#8217;m delighted to be hanging out with the incredible <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ruemxu.com\/\">Ru Xu<\/a>!<\/strong> Ru is the creator of the long-running webcomic <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.saintforrent.com\/about\">Saint For Rent<\/a><\/em>, as well as the <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.saintforrent.com\/newsprints\">NewsPrints<\/a> <\/em>graphic novels and a host of other wonderful work. Ru and I have had the opportunity to yell about our shared fandom at a variety of cons over the years, and I am so glad to document some of those yells here, for you, my beloved readers. Let&#8217;s roll!<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Good morning, Ru! Thank you for joining me! Today, I\u2019d like to wander with you along an imaginary boardwalk. There appears to be some kind of holographic card game going on closer to the other end, but the players seem distressed, so maaaybe we avoid that part.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks, Gale! I say we take a closer look, as we\u2019ll probably end up in the Shadow Realm by the end of the Q&amp;A anyway. \ud83d\ude42<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>You are fully aware that I know exactly what this is, and that it brings joy to every square inch of my heart, but would you mind describing this piece for our readers at home?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This, dear readers, is the Dark Magician Girl from <em>Yu-Gi-Oh!<\/em>. I was absolutely obsessed with her as a tween, and she is still near and dear to my heart. &lt;3 This is actually the first DMG that I drew with my first drawing tablet (Intuos2) on my first version of Photoshop (CS2).<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"202\" height=\"296\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-614\" data-id=\"614\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2005.png?resize=202%2C296&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">A selection of DMGs through the years. 2005&#8230;<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"518\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-615\" data-id=\"615\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2016-17.png?resize=800%2C518&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2016-17.png?w=1080&amp;ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2016-17.png?resize=300%2C194&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2016-17.png?resize=768%2C497&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2016-17.png?resize=1024%2C663&amp;ssl=1 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">2016-2017&#8230;.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"602\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-613\" data-id=\"613\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2018.png?resize=800%2C602&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2018.png?w=1000&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2018.png?resize=300%2C226&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2018.png?resize=768%2C578&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">and 2018!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><br><strong>We have <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Sn-o478ckVk\"><strong>bonded<\/strong><\/a><strong> over the fact that we are both long-time <em>Yu-Gi-Oh! <\/em>fans, with a deep and abiding <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/b7t6rZUZmfE\"><strong>passion<\/strong><\/a><strong> that just will not quit, <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/rcL3kAtbcYE\"><strong>no matter what<\/strong><\/a><strong>. Had you been invested in the show for very long when you made this? How did you get into it, and how did you participate in the fandom &#8211; privately, with friends, online&#8230;?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thank you, what a fantastic reminder that we always need <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PL4BE209DF75AAF47F\">music to duel by<\/a>! I drew this in my early days of the YGO fandom in 2003. Konami had just started releasing the English version of the actual card game in 2002, so I had the Yugi starter pack in English as well as a Japanese Dark Magician booster pack, which my local grocery store carried for some reason??? That was the first time I saw DMG, and it\u2019s been true love ever since.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What a tangent. Anyway, by then I had started playing the card game with the neighbor boys, and I was watching the dub every Saturday. I think this was also when webrings were around, so I also spent a lot of time lurking around fansites on Angelfire and GeoCities. And reading fanfic on ff.net.<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Oh my gosh, same (magical) hat!! I remember buying the starter decks and just being very distressed that there were Actual Rules.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I don\u2019t blame you! The first season of the anime was really loosey-goosey. It slays me that Pegasus, the actual creator of the game in canon, held a tournament and was like, \u201cNo rules~ Learn to camp! :)\u201d and that wasn\u2019t good enough for Kaiba when he held his own tournament: \u201cEveryone play by the rules! Also, I\u2019m making up new rules! Loser loses their best cards, that\u2019s a great rule! For me!\u201d<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pretty sure the exact same thing happened with a seven-year-old I baby-sat once\u2026 KAIBA.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What kind of a role did drawing have in your life at that time?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I drew a lot of fanart and also original characters! I always liked telling stories, and drawing helped me do that in comic form. I feel like this hasn\u2019t changed much since I\u2019ve grown up, although it\u2019s harder to find that all-encompassing, life-engulfing fandom that would eat me up from inside.<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"668\" height=\"427\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2004.jpg?resize=668%2C427&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-622\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2004.jpg?w=668&amp;ssl=1 668w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2004.jpg?resize=300%2C192&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 668px) 100vw, 668px\" \/><figcaption><em>Powerpuff Girls, <\/em>circa 2004.<br><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>I think about this sometimes! Looking back, that was a really special feeling &#8211; being able to give your whole heart to a fandom without reservation &#8211; and it\u2019s something I really cherish now that it doesn\u2019t happen as often (alas).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What else were you interested in? Do you feel like this influenced your creative growth?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I liked history and social studies in school. I feel like most of my worldbuilding comes from this vein rather than inspiration from fantasy novels, which I also read a lot of.<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Looking at your work today, this makes a ton of sense! Was there anything in particular that really got you interested in history?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I see it as intersected stories. So many things that were a big deal in history happened concurrently. By the time Julius Caesar was killed, China was already in its second dynasty, the Han. As a part of Asian diaspora, I enjoy entertaining ideas of how a person from Han China could be in Rome at the time, and for what reasons they might be there.<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>One more <\/strong><strong><em>Yu-Gi-Oh! <\/em><\/strong><strong>question and I promise I will move on (MAYBE). Has your perspective on it changed over the years? Any characters or storylines you appreciate more or less than you used to?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You literally added this question because I told you I might be a Kaiba bitch now, lmao! <strong>(HEH HEH.) <\/strong>Looking back at it as an adult allowed me to re-contextualize what an over-the-top edgelord series it was. I don\u2019t find the duels as engaging as I used to, but I\u2019m still very fond of the cast. Every time I revisit the series, I feel a new appreciation for a character I\u2019d overlooked previously.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This time, it\u2019s Seto Kaiba. He always seemed like the most adult character who had everything together! Now that I\u2019m over a decade older than him, I just\u2026 Who let this 17-year-old billionaire buy a goddamned city to host a card game tournament? Or build his own personal version of the International Space Station? How is he supposed to finish high school while running a major corporation while being the sole parent to his little brother? Please, Mr. Kaiba, go to therapy!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Casually jumping out of helicopters and bullying grandpas!! Kaiba, please, this is not a sustainable lifestyle!!!<\/strong><br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"605\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2018-2020ish.png?resize=800%2C605&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-646\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2018-2020ish.png?resize=1024%2C774&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2018-2020ish.png?resize=300%2C227&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2018-2020ish.png?resize=768%2C581&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2018-2020ish.png?resize=1536%2C1161&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2018-2020ish.png?resize=2048%2C1548&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2018-2020ish.png?resize=1220%2C922&amp;ssl=1 1220w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2018-2020ish.png?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption>Some more recent fanart, from 2018-2020. (<em>zooms all the way in on that bottom right image<\/em>)<br><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>So, like\u2026 white-haired cartoon characters. I don\u2019t know why, but if there\u2019s a white-haired character, I am very likely to be deeply invested in their personal happiness and well-being. This was also the case when I first encountered the main character of your eponymous webcomic, <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.saintforrent.com\/\"><strong><em>Saint For Rent<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em> <\/em><\/strong><strong>(highly recommended, check it out, <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/hivemill.com\/collections\/saint-for-rent\"><strong>buy the merch<\/strong><\/a><strong>)!&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>I would like to discuss <\/strong><strong><em>Saint For Rent <\/em><\/strong><strong>with you further, because it is <\/strong><strong><em>very <\/em><\/strong><strong>good, but first I must ask: do you have white-haired-character feelings, and if so, what are they and why? Who are your Bishies of Record?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ah, yes. My weakness. I don\u2019t know what the charm of the white-haired character is, but there are like two or more TVTropes pages on what makes them so compelling. As for me, I\u2019ve always liked them! There\u2019s something about the white-haired anime boy that drew me as a young Ru, but white-haired characters encompass all genders. \ud83d\ude42 Growing up, my starter pack was Ryou+Yami+Thief Bakura (<em>Yu-Gi-Oh!<\/em>), Sesshomaru (<em>Inu-Yasha<\/em>), Allen Walker (<em>D.Grayman<\/em>), and Near (<em>Death Note<\/em>). It\u2019s entirely possible that Saint came from some unholy mix of them&#8230; :\u2019)<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"777\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2009_3.jpg?resize=600%2C777&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-623\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2009_3.jpg?w=600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2009_3.jpg?resize=232%2C300&amp;ssl=1 232w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption><em>yes good. <\/em>this is a gem from 2009<br><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"469\" height=\"696\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2020.png?resize=469%2C696&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-624\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2020.png?w=469&amp;ssl=1 469w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2020.png?resize=202%2C300&amp;ssl=1 202w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 469px) 100vw, 469px\" \/><figcaption>yes&#8230;. <em>good.<\/em><br><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.saintforrent.com\/\">Saint For Rent!<\/a> <\/em>It\u2019s been going since 2012 &#8211; and you somehow <em>also<\/em> made the time to create a pair of incredible graphic novels (<em><a href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/books\/newsprints\/9780545803120\">NewsPrints<\/a> <\/em>and <em><a href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/books\/endgames-newsprints-2-volume-2\/9780545803175\">EndGames<\/a>, <\/em>available at your favorite bookstore), a wildly adorable <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/store.dftba.com\/collections\/ru-xu\/products\/appeal-pilot\"><strong>comic about a werewolf-vampire couple<\/strong><\/a><strong>, and just a bunch of other great stuff. You\u2019re prolific!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks! The fun in tackling new stories keeps me going! \ud83d\ude42<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Has the concept or execution of <\/strong><strong><em>SFR <\/em><\/strong><strong>changed a lot since you started working on this story? What keeps you excited? And how do you keep yourself from getting lost in all of the multiple-timeline-building details??? Please tell me how to organize my life??????<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The initial concept of SfR came from me wanting to do a personal spin on a time travel story, by focusing on the \u2018travel\u2019 aspect. Travelers need places to rest, so that\u2019s where the \u2018inns for time travelers\u2019 setup came from. Over the past eight years or so, with each inn introduced, the story began to dig deeper into the system that upholds these supernatural domiciles. Why are they there? What happens at the end of an operation within a set time period, as is the case with so many of these inns? And what happens to their innkeepers? We\u2019re at the point in the story where I get to drop the truths and to start tying loose ends! I\u2019m looking forward to paying off the arcs I\u2019ve spent years building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The details are in the characters. The story arcs depend on key character interactions. Knowing when and where these exchanges take place allows me to build each character\u2019s life from one major moment to the next. I like to think that\u2019s how people live, too, when they revisit memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I used to write down notes and timelines, but updating them was a pain. Whenever I changed a key moment for a character, that meant changing stuff for all the characters involved. Nothing on paper ever kept up with what was in my head, so now I just keep it updated in my mind. SfR has taken up a huge section of my mental RAM since 2012 anyway, so I might as well store it all in the mental cloud, lol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That means I write down the day-to-day schedule in my life, though, because my brain is too overloaded with time travel nonsense to remember dates. :\u2019D<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"582\" height=\"900\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2011_3.jpg?resize=582%2C900&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-633\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2011_3.jpg?w=582&amp;ssl=1 582w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2011_3.jpg?resize=194%2C300&amp;ssl=1 194w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 582px) 100vw, 582px\" \/><figcaption>A Saint from 2011!!<br><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>You are so, so strong. ;^;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Any advice for up-and-coming <\/strong><strong><s>duelists<\/s><\/strong><strong> cartoonists?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Attention, <s>duelists<\/s> cartoonists! I know everyone says start out small with short comics and stories, and I\u2019m going to add to it. The practical reason is so that you can finish what you started to gain confidence and have more finished work under your belt. You\u2019re learning how to comic and honing your craft more quickly with each new project.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another benefit that I don\u2019t see explored as much: once you have a few stories done, you can see for yourself what your patterns in storytelling are, as well as what themes you tend to explore. You end up noticing what tropes you use a lot. Here are some questions to ask yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Do you really LOVE the tropes\/themes\/plots that you use a lot?&nbsp;<\/li><li>Or are they just things you see a lot in media you consume, so you assume you need them in your own stories?<\/li><li>Are they things that a mentor told you are important?<\/li><li>Do you want to keep exploring them?<\/li><li>Are there other tropes\/themes\/plots that you touched on in a story that you really liked, and it surprised you? Why? Do you want to explore them?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As storytellers, there are certain types of stories that we gravitate toward. For some, it\u2019s as obvious as plot setups and character archetypes (coughImaishicough). For others, it may be that their works all seem to revolve around an intangible theme. When people tell you to find your own voice, this is what they\u2019re actually referring to: the stories from your own perspective that you\u2019re passionate about telling, the things that you like, your patterns.<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"730\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2019-1.png?resize=680%2C730&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-626\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2019-1.png?w=680&amp;ssl=1 680w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2019-1.png?resize=279%2C300&amp;ssl=1 279w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><figcaption>Art for <em><a href=\"https:\/\/store.dftba.com\/collections\/ru-xu\/products\/appeal-pilot\">Appeal!<\/a>, <\/em>which you should go read.<br><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What are you trying to get everyone to read\/watch right now?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.netflix.com\/title\/81220435\">The Great Pretender<\/a><\/em> on Netflix is a fun heist series with super charming characters! In a similar vein, I\u2019ve also been listening to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earwolf.com\/show\/scam-goddess\/\">Scam Goddess<\/a> podcast while I work these days.<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/great-pretender-poster.jpg?resize=579%2C819&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-612\" width=\"579\" height=\"819\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/great-pretender-poster.jpg?w=640&amp;ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/great-pretender-poster.jpg?resize=212%2C300&amp;ssl=1 212w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 579px) 100vw, 579px\" \/><figcaption>it&#8217;s gorgeous!!!<br><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Anything\u200c \u200celse\u200c \u200cyou\u2019d\u200c \u200clike\u200c \u200cto\u200c \u200cmention?\u200c \u200cUpcoming\u200c \u200cprojects,\u200c \u200cpeople\u200c \u200cyou\u2019d\u200c \u200clike\u200c \u200cto\u200c \u200cshout\u200c \u200cout,\u200c \u200cthings\u200c \u200cI\u200c \u200creally\u200c \u200cshould\u200c \u200chave\u200c \u200casked\u200c \u200cbut\u200c \u200cdidn\u2019t\u200c \u200cthink\u200c \u200cto\u2026?\u200c&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can always find out what projects I\u2019m working on over at my twitter <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ruemxu\">@ruemxu<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">November is coming soon, and I ask my fellow Americans to <a href=\"https:\/\/votesaveamerica.com\/\">vote<\/a> for a president and Congress that will bring us back to some level of sanity and not antagonize China into a war??? Please, it\u2019s all I want for Christmas this year.<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Thank you SO much for your time!!!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks for indulging me~! \ud83d\ude00 See you at the Battle City finals!<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" data-id=\"627\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2017.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-627\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2017.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2017.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2017.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2017.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2017.jpg?w=1080&amp;ssl=1 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" data-id=\"628\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2019.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2019.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2019.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2019.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2019.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2019.jpg?resize=1220%2C1830&amp;ssl=1 1220w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2019.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Go <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ruemxu\">follow Ru<\/a> and enjoy her work!! I promise you&#8217;ll love it!!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today, I&#8217;m delighted to be hanging out with the incredible Ru Xu! Ru is the creator of the long-running webcomic Saint For Rent, as well as the NewsPrints graphic novels and a host of other wonderful work. Ru and I have had the opportunity to yell about our shared fandom at a variety of cons over the years, and I am so glad to document some of those yells here, for you, my beloved readers. Let&#8217;s roll!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":611,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[5],"tags":[7],"class_list":["post-610","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interviews","tag-interviews"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2003.jpg?fit=615%2C663&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/610","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=610"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/610\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":849,"href":"https:\/\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/610\/revisions\/849"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/611"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=610"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=610"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/galesaur.com\/tfww\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=610"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}