WHO I'VE WORKED FOR
Here's the list of classes
offered
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Making Comics
Writing Longform Comics
Writing Horror for Comics
and Film
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How to Edit Comics and
Graphic Novels
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Testimonials
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"Jim Higgins has a great story mind. His notes are spot on, and he got me to step up my game in a big way. My story is so much richer for his input.”
- Clay Adams, co-writer RED XMAS, Scout Comics
"As an editor, Jim has a very strong ability to structure a storyline, develop character and remain enthusiastic and encouraging through to the end of a project. His skills in organizing a book project to completion are unsurpassed. An exhaustive knowledge of cinematic and comics history, as well as, a sharp eye for suggesting creative solutions in drawing, design and composition make him an invaluable asset for any storytelling endeavor."
Mary Walter
VFX editor, Cartoonist
"Enthusiastic and professional, Jim has been a constant source of entrepreneurial ideas and inspiration, as well as a trusted colleague."
Langdon Foss
Freelance artist, illustrator, and designer
"Jim is a great teacher and editor with a solid understanding of storytelling and art. I've always found his insights to be objective and helpful in strengthening the work of mine that he's reviewed."
Steven Prince
Brand Manager, Writer
Join this weekly workshop where you can accomplish your goals as a comic book writer, artist or both. In the class, participants bring in their work, exchange useful and honest criticism, and share ideas while being led and instructed by an experienced, passionate comics professional. Honest feedback is encouraged as well as support and a focus on what the participant is doing well. The most desired critiques are specific and detailed without being cruel or unnecessarily negative.
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Learn the most important aspect of writing — how to structure a story as it relates to the medium of comics and graphic novels. Cartoonists will often take art classes to improve their drawing, but not enough take the time to hone their skills as a writer. In this workshop, writers and cartoonists learn the essential knowledge needed to write a story with interesting characters, an engaging plot, and a satisfying ending. Artists will be given drawing tips, instruction about technique, and examples of work by great masters, new and old, to help with visual storytelling, composition, light and dark, figure work, and other drawing skills. The goal for writer/artists is to have a finished 8 to 10-page minicomic at the end of the classes. The goal for writers is to have a completed script for a 14 to 15-page short comics story. The students have fun and learn at the same time.
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Dates: August 14 to November 6, 2023
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Day: Mondays
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Time: 5:00 to 8:00pm Pacific time
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Cost: $495
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Where: Online using Zoom.
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​Students need to be 18 or older to take the classes.
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SPACE IS LIMITED. Once you sign up, just bring a sketch pad and pencils or a notebook, depending whether or not you’re just writing or writing and drawing to the first class.
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The class (and all the others here) is taught by me, Jim Higgins. I'm a former DC Comics editor and have been in the comics field for over 25 years. I've written comics and screenplays as well. I've taught comics at CalArts, The School of Visual Arts, UCLA, The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, Otis College of Art and Design, and more. My 12-episode online show, "Crafting Comics with Jim Higgins," was produced by Nerdist.
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Sign up now! To join the class, go HERE:
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Writing Longform Comics​
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Are you thinking about doing a graphic novel? Or maybe a comics series? Are you doing it, or still just thinking about it? Take my WRITING LONGFORM COMICS class and it'll jumpstart you and get you on your way. Before you sit down to do the art (or hire someone to do it) you need to make sure your story is as good as it can be. I'll help you with story structure, character development, get you to bring out the emotional beats, and the themes you want to explore. Plus, you'll get constructive feedback and support from the other students. And deadlines to get things done. Every creative person works better with deadlines!
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Dates: TBA
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Day: Thursdays
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Time: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Pacific time
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Cost: $450
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​Students need to be 18 or older to take the classes.
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Where: Online using Zoom.
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SPACE IS LIMITED so sign up now!
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To join the class, go HERE:
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https://si-la.org/courses-offered/
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In this online class, we’ll analyze various comics and films in order to understand some of the tropes, methods, and techniques used to make great horror stories, as well as the reasons behind our desire to be scared. You'll learn about psychological issues that will help you understand the effects of your horror elements on the audience. We'll look at common and interesting themes in horror and how to develop them. And you'll learn how horror can be best used in the structure of your story.
Everyone will work toward finishing a scene-by-scene outline for their story, whether it's a graphic novel, a screenplay, or a shorter comic story. The class will be done in a workshop style, where the students and I will give both critical and positive feedback.
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We'll meet live online, but the class will be recorded so that students can re-watch it later or can watch for the first time if they can’t be in the class live. The class runs for eight sessions.
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Dates: April 3 to May 22, 2024
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Day: Wednesdays
Time: 5:00pm to 8:00pm Pacific Time
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Cost: $450
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Where: Online and recorded using Skype.
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Students need to be 18 or older.
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SPACE IS LIMITED! To sign up, send me an email at jim@newsuit.net
then pay with your PayPal account, or with your credit card at the PayPal site as a "guest." You can also pay with Venmo. Both use the same email address:
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Let's say you're a book editor. You're someone who can read a lot and can see the strengths and high points of a manuscript, the weaknesses and the things that don't work, and everything in between. At some point you started seeing graphic novels popping up in bookstores and reviews, and thought they were an interesting way to publish a book. You think, “I’m a pretty good editor, but I don't know if I’d know how to edit a graphic novel.”
What if you're a comics reader who wants to get into the creative side of the comics world, but you're not a writer our artist?
What is a graphic novel? Is there a difference between comics and graphic novels (the short answer is: not really)? A graphic novel is the kind of thing that you know when you see one. But how does one get made? What are the steps the creators take and in what order? And you think, “You mean I have to be able to look and assess artwork??”
This six-session class will help you learn how to do that, and will cover a wide range of topics including the creative side of making a graphic novel, the editing process, and the distribution of the finished book out to the world. You’ll learn the jargon used in the comics biz (You‘ll be able to say things like, “This balloon should be higher up and not go into the gutter.”) We’ll spend a lot of time looking at great comics art, as well as some not-so-great comics art. And you'll get good at seeing the difference between the two. You’ll also read some great graphic novels.
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When: Wednesdays, TBA
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Time: 5:00pm to 8:00pm Pacific Time
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Cost: $375
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Online and recorded using Skype.
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Students need to be 18 or older.
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SPACE IS LIMITED! To sign up, send me an email at jim@newsuit.net
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then pay with your PayPal account, or with your credit card at the PayPal site as a "guest." You can also pay with Venmo. Both use the same email address:
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If you have any questions, email me at jim@newsuit.net.
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You can pay with your PayPal account, or with your credit card at the PayPal site as a "guest."