Who are you?
I’m Caroline Palmer, a nonbinary comic creator living in Charlotte, NC.
What do you write?
Typically, I shy away from contemporary fiction or slice-of-life stories, but that’s what Camp Prodigy turned out to be! I like fantastical, unrealistic worlds, but with compelling, grounded themes and characters. There are people who prefer either plot-driven or character-driven stories, but what I like most is having both attributes combined. Also, interesting ensemble casts!
As a kid, me and my younger sisters would come up with stories at night, when we were supposed to be sleeping. It’s possible I was by far the most invested in the process; there were countless nights they’d fall asleep as I talked. And any serious efforts of mine to write stories were almost exclusively tied to drawing comics; I don’t think I could ever write a story without feeling compelled to draw.
There are things I wouldn’t write about without lived experience, but I like a wide variety of themes and genres, so it’s hard to say for certain what I’d avoid. Maybe a romance. It’s fine if it’s not the main focus, but I’m completely uninterested in that genre. No offense to romance writers! It’s sadly not my thing.
I definitely love what I do. I’ve wanted to make comics since 4th or 5th grade, and never in my life have I been able to see myself taking a traditional career path. It’s not just a matter of “If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.” There are lots of people who wouldn’t want to turn their passions into a job, potentially losing that spark as they go. But I’ve lucked out in many, many ways that allow me to do what I love without worries.
Where do you write?
I’ve got a setup on a former-dining table, now-work table. My computer is next to a sort of tabletop drawing easel, and these two things are what I use the most to write and draw. I rarely get into the details of a story through text alone, so typically, I’ll start by sketching out the rough draft of a story’s comic pages straight from my brain! At this point, I don’t need nice paper or tools, a simple sketchbook and pen are plenty. Drawing things out nicely comes later.
When do you write?
I try to keep to a sort of 9 to 5-ish schedule. (Maybe more like 10 to 6.) I’m a pretty orderly person, so I tend to structure all my workdays the same way. And I never do professional work too late in the day if I can help it! I think a lot of artistic types like to stay up late and spend sleepless nights on their projects, but I prefer to be well-rested, haha.
If I have some sort of deadline to meet, I might set goals for myself, but typically they never get more specific than “finish these chapters/sections”. When I’m drawing out comic pages, it’s another story. Depending on my schedule, I’ll complete X number of pages per week till I’m done with that phase of work. I usually give myself some wiggle room, though.
Why do you write?
I’ve loved reading and drawing all my life, and I’ve truly never found a medium combining them with more potential than comics. I’ve dabbled in animation and illustrated prose, but for me, comics are the ideal balance of art and text. They can do such a wide variety of things; they’re the perfect avenue of storytelling! …I may be biased.
Throughout my life, I’ve had trouble understanding the emotions and unspoken thoughts of others. When I read stories, I don’t have to worry about that. Those confusing nuances will all be explained or implied through dissectible symbolism. A good story makes you happy, or sad, or frustrated, but it does so cathartically. In the end, I don’t think my motivations for writing are that unique. Like many others, it’s a way of expressing myself.
Also, you can talk about cool superpowers and alien planets and stuff.
How do you overcome writer's block?
I brainstorm a lot before putting anything to paper, so I rarely feel the need to go back and revise what I’ve written, but there are times when it’s difficult to generate something satisfying. But honestly, even when I get writer’s/artist’s block, I tend to bulldoze on. It won’t improve if you don’t keep creating!
One thing that helps me rev up the bulldozer is reading other comics that inspire me. It’s a surefire trick! When I read something amazing, I’m compelled to try to create something amazing. I suppose there are people who get writer’s/artist’s block due to insecurity, though, and maybe for some of them, looking at the creations of those who are “better” than them could be discouraging. Perhaps in those instances, I’d recommend writing up something completely self-indulgent, just for you. There’s nothing more fun than that!
Bonus: What do you enjoy doing when not writing?
I’ll write and draw for fun as well, separate from creating comics. If I haven’t drawn in a while, I’ll get bummed out, haha! Aside from that, I like to read and play viola. Lately, I’ve been doing yoga every morning with my mom; that’s been fun. I sit hunched over my desk all day, so I have to get into the habit of stretching myself back out!
My thanks to Caroline Palmer for today's interview.