When coming up with ideas for cartoons, I first use words. As I've said before, I read...a lot. Some of the things I read on a regular basis are newspapers, magazines, books and online news sites. I jot down words and phrases that I think I'll be able to use in my gag writing. I don't draw, but I can visualize what the cartoon would look like - who the characters are, what the setting is. I write the caption first, then I figure out what the setting and characters will be. Of course my captions often undergo many changes, some many times, before they're sent to a cartoonist. The setting may change. Who is speaking to who may also change many times. When I'm ready to send the idea to the cartoonist, I first describe what's going on in the cartoon (very briefly) and then give the caption.
There are phrases that everyone knows. I could list hundreds of them. I get these phrases into my head by reading (again) extensively. You can tell I'm a library and bookstore person. You can also find familiar phrases online. What I do with these phrases is change one aspect of it, usually at the end, to make a surprise. Or I use the familiar phrase as is but have someone other than the expected person utter them. Or maybe have an animal say them.
If I were an artist, my tools would be my paints. My tools are words. I type these words on a typewriter. I type these words on a computer. This is what I do.
Any comments? Email me at: gagsbyhelene@gmail.com. Stay healthy!
