thank you so much for the nomination! I don't think I qualify due to my main characters being male but it means so much that you would give a shout out to my story.
Burning Red6
Series logline: A mysterious girl needs to prove her will to become a soldier, while being challenged by the prejudice of commoners surrounding her hair. Will she gain trust and respect? Or is this prejudice based on solid ground rather than just a myth?
Quote: > I don't know what it takes but I'll give my all. And if I grow strong enough I could help others too.
(this is refering to Delia's will to enter the trainee program to become a soldier)
From a very young age I've been conditioned that women wrote romantic stories, or stories prevalently romantic because we are usually more "emotional" than men, while men wrote skillfully captivating and intriguing stories. I've also been told to stick to the romantic side because it would be easier for me to convey emotions.
However, growing up I've realized two things:
1. The authors who have written skillful and breathtaking stories I look up to are equally men and women.
2. Not only emotions are important, but one can tell when a romantic sidestory has been inserted "just because", so it isn't as easy as it seems.
I started working on Burning Red out of passion and of deep desire to bring this story to life, but if I can show these two realizations in the story as well it would be amazing.
I strongly believe anyone can improve their skill on storybuilding and plotting, and anyone can convey emotions if they stay true to themselves and the message they want to pass on the world.
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Don't mess with the old lady.
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This is a comedy picturing a strong woman (an old lady) teaching good manners.
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I'm proud to be a female creator. I have seen a lot of movies and comics made by men and for men. So I decided to create series that I personally as a woman would like to read. A story focusing on a charismatic old lady teaching good manners.
Logline:
After a successful coup dethrones the emperor, Albus has to save his father and reclaim their empire from the power-hungry witch warrior Irene. But with just him and his bodyguard Styrka against the entire force of the empire, how can they hope to stand a chance? And what was the real reason for the coup in the first place?
A heartfelt fantasy story about sticking together through hardships and being better than you were yesterday.
Quote
"It gets old after a while, being told to take young girls form their homes. I guess that was my wake up call."
I've always loved redaing fantasy and action books, and now I'm lucky to be creating my own story, which has everything I've ever loved, but it caters to me specifically. I can have as many kick-ass females as I want, lgbt+ representation, explore non-romantic male-female relationships... It's really great. I love the freedom of just being able to post my stories, and I get so excited whenever someone reads it and enjoys what I made!
Comic
Logline
Follow 23-year-old mage Junah on her adventure of discovery and independence alongside her assigned partner Kaelen, a wizard of sorts, at the Institute or Mystical, Magical, & Mythical Arts located at the Heart of Lufiriya; a magical mashup of beings, cultures, and lifestyles trying to coexist in one nation.
Quote:
"One size fits all you say? Nothing that ever says that means that." - Junah
Applies in life and clothes!
What making MagicalMashup! means to me:
Growing up as a fat black gal who loves fantasy/sci-fi and fiction in general, I NEVER got to see characters that resembled me as story leads or as the focus of fantastically illustrated works of art. It was hard enough to find black characters, let alone black women, and then add on plus-size/fat... GOOD LUCK. It used to be that finding any two of the 3 parts would elate me no matter how minor the role she was, but hanging on scaps isn't enough to feed the hunger I had for characters that I could relate to on a physical level.
Once I started taking my art seriously, I noticed the impact of how not seeing myself in the media I consumed affected my art. This took years and is in no small part thanks to the beautiful depictions of all kinds of women just existing in Sophie Campbell's art and comics that made me feel seen and excited. Thanks to Sophies's art /comics as well as encouragement from my loved ones, I started to draw characters based on the people around me and stopped trying to mimic the atypical looks of women presented to me by the genres I loved. I drew tall gals, fat gals, muscular gals, nonbinary/gender conforming folks, and just really fell in love with the beauty of creating with diversity and an open mind.
Once I finally started to see more media featuring BIPOC fat/plus-sized folks in comics and on tv, they were side-characters, joke-characters, or meant to be villains. I love Ursula as much as the next big gal, but It hurt that the commutative amount of reps for gals like me always fell into the negative side of life with being destined to fail and be unhappy or just be a never-ending joke. It sucked because I'm a person just like anyone else, so why couldn't I have stories like everyone else?
Sure I'm fat, but there's more to me than just that and I want to see more stories that have fat and nonatypical-looking gals existing in leading roles. It has taken a while for me to get here, but I'm finally here and I get to be part of the solution that addresses the problem of representation for BIPOC women with non-typical body types getting to be depicted as people who can be desired, have a life outside their waistline, and who gets to be the focus in their own stories and depictions in art/comics.
Lady T.
Logline
During the golden era of prohibition, a talented contract killer crosses paths with an ambitious mafia boss. Their combined forces have the power to bring the city to its knees. But first, they have to learn to trust each other or risk destruction.
Quote
"Mistakes are prohibited, mistakes get you killed."
I am a woman, however I don't like to be reduced by my gender. Not because I'm ashamed of it but because everyone has the right to be treated equally regardless of their gender, skin color or sexual orientation.
Therefore, although the story follows the footsteps of a woman, I try covering sensitive topics that affect all genders equally , such as depression, racism, abuse in their various forms.
I want to place my characters in difficult situations and show how even seemingly small decisions can change everything.
Eory is a fairy prince locked in a tower. Pollyanna is an invincible warrior-maiden who has guarded his family for two centuries, on her way to rescue him. She is a woman who has given her womanhood--her personhood--to become a sword, because to her, being strong is everything, and being a sword means she no longer has to remember her own weakness in the past. Meeting up with Eory, however--a particularly feminine young man--has reminded her that she is a woman, and has unearthed the pain and pleasures of being a woman--and moreover, the pain and pleasures of being human.
"The point of having children is so they can carry on your legacy. I can’t die and I can’t have children. I am my own legacy."
Well, I really don't think being a woman makes me special in any sort of way. I certainly do enjoy stories that are told from different perspectives; I think both men and women bring unique and beautiful things to the table when they create. I think one thing that I like to do with my writing, however, is champion traditional female traits in my work. I like to uplift women by embracing traits like openness and agreeableness and sensitivity by portraying them as admirable traits that make women happy. I also like to highlight some of the challenges women tend to face in their lives, such as: Choosing a family or a career, rising above mental illness since women are statistically a little more prone to it, and what happiness means for different types of ladies. I suppose what it means to me is bringing a soft, feminine slant to storytelling, and being able to share my stories through the webnovel platform since I know that traditional publishing would never have them since they are weird. XD
This is fun! I wish we had a men's history month~! I'd love to see what they would have to say, too~!
Series: https://tapas.io/series/Draygon-Frost/info2
Logline: In order to save her world, she may have to burn it down first.
Quote: Bidding her time meant they wouldn’t know the hellfire ready to rain down upon them.
Siobhan in Draygon Frost and the sequel Draygon Inferno is probably my favorite character I've ever written. To me as a woman, a strong female character isn't just one that can kick as and needs no help to do it. A strong female character is also lost, scared, vulnerable, and everything in between. As a creator, it's important to me that each of my characters are relatable. Siobhan's story arch in the two Draygon books thus far has been a real treat for me to watch as her creator and I hope that my readers can equally enjoy her growth. She starts off acting as if she needs nobody but herself. As her journey goes on her insecurities, her fear, and honestly the loneliness she's felt since being exiled from her kingdom all start to break through of her tough facade. In the end, she's strong, she can fight with any man, but she also knows that she can't do everything alone and it's okay to ask for help.
2) Series Link
Tonx, an ex-boxer and recluse tries to overcome her own personal demons brought on by her past fame while also dealing with every day misadventures with her group of friends, finding that life is still worth enjoying if she is able to get her ass off the sofa and stay open to others.
3) A Quote From episode 21 (excuse the terrible art, this was some time ago)
4) What creating means to me
Creating this comic means a lot to me as a woman. The main inspirations for the comic is a mix of 'Daria' and 'Bojack Horseman', my two favourite shows of all time. But it made me realise how little there is for women when it comes to the ideas of self-worth, identity and celebrating femininity. The majority of media is male dominated and I find it difficult to find main characters as compelling as Bojack Horseman, Walter White etc who are female, aside from Daria, in my opinion of course, feel free to disagree with me.
Creating this webcomic has had an amazing effect on me since I started it a year ago. The main duo, Tonx and Fife have a strong womance and the comic itself focuses primarily on the pair. Over the last few months I have rebooted the comic to contain more of a story-line (and improved art) where I plan to give spotlight several other themes. Tonx is a female who spent a good chunk of her life in the very masculine field of boxing so struggles to be in touch with her femininity as opposed to her friend Fife who is comfortable with her femininity and encourages Tonx to embrace it. I will dip more into the LGBTQ plus community as well as the comic goes on. I'm just very happy to be making this comic, it has helped me grow and realise things about myself that I never thought about. It's been a huge comfort through some difficult times for me and I'm excited to continue it
https://tapas.io/series/Project-Infinity4
2 - Kidnapped during WW2, Patient Zero was on the receiving end of inhumane experimentation for decades, but after being rescued by Captain Harvey he has a chance at freedom. A chance at finding love and happiness in a world he no longer recognizes.
3 - His tears flowed freely as he sobbed into my chest. I ran my fingers through his hair in an attempt to comfort him.
"Who did this to you?"
4 - Writing has always been an outlet for me. As a woman I always felt I had to meet the standards of society, but as a queer, Non-Binary, dominant type, that was never going to happen. I love to write queer stories about people who don't fit the standards and boyslove has always been my favorite. So even though I'm a woman I write about men loving men, because that's what I like. And I write for myself and am so happy to have a place where I can share my passion projects with others.
Hi! I Love this so much~
1) Comic Link:
2) Logline:
Angiris is a 13 year-old girl from Cloveridge City.
One day, on her way home from school a strange looking creature kidnapped her and took her to another dimension.
A curse was set upon Miraclewish a long time ago. And Angiris was told to be 'the chosen' and that she had to find the way to break the curse to free the people living in there.
"We all used to be humans here...but they just don't remember it." - Bjorn
3) Quote:
"I will free you from this curse, I promise! I won't back down, no matter what happens! I...I can do this!" - Angiris
4) I've always loved coming up with interesting characters and fun stories. It's something I've done since I was younger. But never got the courage to do so, until now.
I think every woman feels a little scared at first when doing anything that can be seen as 'un-ladylike' but, if people are going to criticize you anyways then you better do what you love the most!
This is something I love and I put my heart in every project I start. I won't let anything get in the way of my dreams. 'Prove them wrong!' is a quote I use a lot whenever I doubt myself to keep on going~
I believe you should be able to do whatever you want to do, no matter your gender. Follow your dreams and keep on moving! Nobody can tell you that you are not worthy of it!
This story is about a powerful pirate captain who sales the atlantic. She goes by the name of White Wren and many fear her. One day a stranger is found aboard the captain's ship, does this stranger have what it takes to soften the Captain's heart?
White Wren gets into trouble often, luckily she has a trusty first mate by the name of Nico. They have been best friends since their young teenage years. They comfort each other through the difficult times and learn to understand one another as they go on many adventures."It's alright Lovely, I've always had a resilient body. No slash of a blade will stop me!"
Honestly, before now I never really thought of being a woman as being something different. However, I realized while thinking of what to tell of my experience of being a woman that I'm actually truly lucky to be who I am today. Being a female in this world is something that is challenging to explain. I just know that I'm grateful for the life I have lived and experiences I have been given as a woman in this community. And with those experiences, came inspiration for all of my stories. With these experiences I've learned that a woman should be free to take any path she chooses. Free to be anything she wants. And that is the biggest thought behind my novel and many other stories I have yet to publish. Thank you for giving me a chance to tell you what being a woman and a writer means to me.
-My story is about Harriet Malloy, who is fated by the cards to bring death and destruction wherever she goes. But, at the end of her rope, she is given a chance for a do-over in a different dimension where no one knows what her fate was. In this place she finds a cousin who didn't exist in her previous world: Gordy Harrison, who like her has a terrible fate--but his is to save the world instead of end it. Naturally, she saw herself in his plight and decided to jailbreak him out of school so they could rediscover who they are underneath the cards they were given. What she didn't know, is that most of the world is trying to kill him.
-“Stop it!” Harriet stood up and put her arms in her jacket with all of her fury. “You always have to analyze me. You always have to put some name on me. I'm tired of being all of your names!”
-Growing up I was always attracted to stories that had smart and powerful women which were by women. I think we were all inspired by characters who were good, and kind, and still held strong despite what everyone else tells them to be. Maybe they held a sword, maybe they only held a hand, but writing strong female characters whether in action stories or realistic stories is a joy. Often the standards of "how to write women" are based on comparison to male stereotypes and cliches, with little research or care. But when you write your own story, you can glean from your own life and the lives of women around you--creating a person who feels real and unique. Writing in an online space means you get to write the way you want it to be written.
Logline: A young working-class janitor gets thrown into a world that is remarkably different--yet eerily the same--to his own world.
Quote: "I don't know if risking my life is worth it. But I know that it's possible, and besides, it's better than doing nothing." -Olivia Obiero, page 184
I started An Untold World over three years ago, when I was just 13. I dealt with a lot of internalized misogyny at the time. You can see it in the earlier chapters of my work, with me portraying the leading woman characters as hysterical and mean. However, as I came to terms with my own biases and became more aware of the world's flaws around me, my comic morphed into something much, much more meaningful to me, and I put some of my thoughts and philosophies into my story. I also noticed that much of the media I consumed was portraying women as vapid or shallow in some way. The nice girls in indie romance movies only existed to further the development of the guys, the "strong" female characters were one-dimensional "I don't need a man" archetypes who tore down feminine girls, and whenever there was a multi-faceted male villain in a story, he was sympathized with while female villains were portrayed as purely evil and umsympathetic. I was able to identify some troubling parts in my comic and revise them, for example, the "Chosen One" trope that was emerging in An Untold World in the earlier days. So now I'm trying to make it so that every main character gets a good amount of agency and development in the story. Though my protagonist is a man, I want An Untold World to be an oppurtunity for me to portray female characters as they really are; people. So in short, being a comic creator who is a girl means I get to create women's stories that I want to see.
Tapas https://tapas.io/series/Done-with-life-
Done with life
Just some mundane things about life some funny moments which happen coincidentally.
Done with life although the comic is humour centered and does not contain any strong themes it is about passions of life.A story about a 20 year old girl who is in her 3rd yesr of medical school tired, burned out and yet there are some moments here and there which can be classified under humor so as to say .
Author's note
It was totally a nightmare to start my comic cause i have a lot of academic work as well .It was a dream of mine since i was a child . My original idea was to just go for a strong theme and see what happens a murder mystery comic sadly it did not work out cause i was busy with school work .Although it is a three panel slice of life ,humour centered comic done with life holds a special place in my heart even if it doesn't get popular i will be happy knowing that i did it i published my first comic.
Series link:
Series logline:
A recently turned vampire struggles to survive in San Francisco. Despite minding her own business, a renegade hunter, a young savant witch and a vampire agent are all keen in using her for her 'unique' ability. However, they all get embroiled in a battle for an ancient powerful relic that could mean the end of all vampires.
WARNING: Mature for violence and lots of cussing.
An inspiring/powerful quote that showcases the characters’ strengths:
“Oh, for pete’s sake! There’s so many people around you can go feed on. Just let me have her for this one time and I’ll just be on my way,” pleaded Leora.
“You are trespassing,” growled the hooded vampire. “Do you know who we are?”
“Umm….” Leora meekly shrugged her shoulders. “Kinda?” she said as she stuck her hands into the pockets of her jacket. It was a lie. She knew who they were and was just trying to distract him so he would not notice her feeling for her phone in her pockets.
Tell us what creating series means to you as a woman in the webcomic/webnovel industry:
As a queer woman I wanted a vampire story with queer women leads that was more action base rather than romance. Those stories are great but for once can I read a lady version of Blade and/or a LGBTQ+ version of Underworld with a dash of What We Do in the Shadows?
Logline: Samara doesn't know what she is or why she has these unusual abilities, but one day, her visions lead her to a fuming stranger being tortured by a gray-eyed man, and it may just be the first step to discovering secrets she didn't even know she had.
"In some way, shape, or form, we all crave contact with another living being. We’re all… searching.”
Creating a series for me means reflection. While I love the magic, mystery, and adventure that comes from being a creator and everything it entails (worldbuilding, character development, etc.), I also see this as a time to show moments of authenticity. My characters are, in some small way, an extension of my thoughts, emotions, and experiences. As they grow and develop, so do I. In truth, the vast majority of my characters are strong, independent females that learn, grow, and adapt as problems are thrown their way because, as a woman, that is what I aspire to be. It is clear that being a woman has not always been easy, historically. There are stereotypes and societal expectations that would give anyone a run for their money, and I can't say I haven't been unaffected by pressures and judgements. However, if I am able to create a series that gives hope to overcome any circumstance, or inspire a disposition of perseverance and self-reflection, it is truly a bonus to providing what is, hopefully, an engaging read. 
Logline: The Prince of Nasales has found his true mate and happily ever after, so what's with all the intrigue about his heritage?
Inspiring Quote: "It's Cassidy's body that will pay the price of having our child." My chin juts out in a slight challenge. "He will choose, and I will support him regardless." ~ Episode 53, Undecided
What writing means to me as a woman in the industry:
As a woman, it means more to me to see characters who can communicate effectively without the burden of past trauma. And those are the kind of stories I write.
I started writing almost a decade ago because, for the longest time, I kept reading comics or novels with characters in toxic relationships. And while that showed me what to avoid in real life, I eventually wanted to read an example of what it should mean to be in a supportive and wholesome environment.
I think so many creators find it easier to give their characters tragic beginnings and that's fine too! Especially since some of these situations can be quite real. But as someone who has had the fortune of growing in a relatively safe and sane environment, it becomes more relatable and appealing for me to see characters thrown into situations where they should be capable of making better choices because they haven't been hurt.
Although it's getting better now, I still think too many webcomics or novels show anti-social behaviour between love interests.
My main characters aren't meant to be people with traumatic backstories, because I think there need to be more stories showing examples of wholesome characters without romanticising tragedy. I want to see good people get into trouble they didn't cause and come out alive. One doesn't need to be an orphan, abused or socially inept to be the main character. It's a very different feeling when you already love what you have, but you need to fight for it, rather than fighting for something you only have an idea of.
A plucky witch with weak mana strives to do just as much as the strong magic users around her but her unique magic spells land her in a spot of trouble when she turns a stranger into a frog!
“…and a little boy is safe…If my mana is enough to help one person, then it is enough.”
I think that in every industry it is important to have so many different voices and perspectives. I particularly feel that this is important in a story telling industry like webcomics! When we tell our stories, we share our perspectives and experiences with everyone which helps us all grow and learn about each other. I love being a woman in this industry because my voice adds to the incredible and complex web of perspectives that comes together in a collection like Tapas. And I think we all have something important to add whether is fun and goofy or serious and dark!
Aeon Gertrude Reigns, a woman aspiring to be the greatest knight, dominates the battlefield with nothing but her fists and tactics with corrupted souls seeking of her misery.
"All hail the empress."
I had observed so many events particularly around men being dominants in society because they were labelled as physically stronger than women and have more capabilities to do tighter and heavier jobs. I had encountered a lot of people who tend to lowkey degrade women's abilities to survive and choose. Making series allows me to deliver powerful lessons and messages that women can be badass, too-- no, can be more badass than men and it deeply means a lot to me because it is the least I could do to motivate other women in my own way.