JOHANNA STOKES: WHAT WAS SHE THINKING?

[MattBrady]

This October, BOOM! Studios will publish another installment in its series of comedy one shots - What Were They Thinking: Monster Mash-Up just in time for Halloween. We caught up with one of the writers on the book, Johanna Stokes, who also does time as one of the writers on the new Sci-Fi Network TV show Eureka.

Stokes will be familiar to comic book fans as a writer on the Zombie Tales, Cthulhu Tales, and Pirate Tales anthologies from BOOM! Studios, as well as the mini-series Zombie Tales: Death Valley (co-written with Eureka TV show creator Andrew Cosby). She also penned a series of controversial columns for Comic Book Resources, "The Girl in the Clubhouse: How to Get Your Girlfriend to Read Comics." Stokes is quickly becoming a talent to watch and has a new series with Cosby on the stands right now called The Savage Brothers.

Newsarama: First let me ask, how much different is it being a professional writer than the ideal, romanticized life of the pro? Or is it just as you imagined it would be?

Johanna Stokes: I spend very few of my evenings pecking away on my antique typewriter and sipping cognac by a roaring fire while sequestered away in a log cabin on a mountain ridge.

That's what the movies told me a writer's life looked like. And that's definitely not my reality. Currently there are dirty dishes in the sink, my dog is whining to go outside and I'm pretty sure my checking account is overdrawn. But all and all, it's even better than I imagined. I love not having to answer to anyone. I love that I can do 75% of my work in my pajamas. I love that I can work where I want, when I want and how I want and there's no middle-aged, middle-management type leaning over my shoulder telling me I need to be in this cubicle at this time and that tennis shoes are not appropriate work attire.

For every job I've ever worked before, I always felt it didn't really matter. And maybe the same can be said for the stories I write. But, at the very least, they're important to me and I think everyone should, at some point in their life, get a chance to do something they think matters. It makes all the difference.

NRAMA: Most of your work to this point in your career has been drama. Although a "dramedy" like Eureka definitely has lighter moments, What Were They Thinking is all comedy. How do you approach writing a funny story as opposed to something more dramatic?

JS: The best comedy stems from drama. I laugh the hardest when my only other option is to cry. Scrubs is one of my favorite shows on T.V. and they do a brilliant job of creating this anchored reality surrounded by the harshness of life and death and because they temper the show with that darkness, it earns them the freedom to go light and funny and they encourage us to laugh because… what else can you do?

When I know the story I want to tell I then try to figure out the tone. Is it Blade or is it Buffy? All story telling is the same basic principle but for comedies you just try not to take yourself so seriously.

NRAMA: Tell us a little bit about Monster Mash-Up.

JS: Monster Mash-Up is the Halloween edition of What Were They Thinking. It takes some of these great, pulpy comics from the 40s and 50s which have this fantastic, over-the-top B movie feel to them, (like giant ants overrunning the planet) and then just turns them on their head and points out the ridiculousness of it all. The What Were They Thinking books, in my opinion, are like candy bars. There's no nutritional value there but it's a fun indulgence.

NRAMA: One of the things that that has been noted about your work is your ear for dialogue. Are there techniques that you use or experiences that you draw from that help you when writing dialogue?

JS: Nothing specific, per se. I am, however, from the South. Southerners spend a lot of time not saying what they mean and learning to listen for what isn't being said. Some would call that passive aggressive. We call it civilized. The joke is that a Southerner will never tell you 'no.' They'll just tell you 'yes' in such a way that makes you wish you'd never asked.

One of the tricks to writing dialogue is never allowing the characters to say exactly what they mean. It's counter intuitive but we do it all the time in our daily lives, even in our most intimate relationships. It's not that we're lying or intentionally being manipulative. It's a way to protect ourselves. If I don't ever show you who I really am then you can never really reject me. So part of the fun of writing dialogue is finding out what needs to be said and then figuring out how to convey it without ever actually saying it.

NRAMA: How did that approach work when writing WWTT: Monster Mash-Up?

JS: WWTT is a completely different beast. None of us go into this thinking we're going to tell an important story here. This is Mystery Science 3000. You're given these pages and there are a 100 different stories there and you just have to pick the one that makes you laugh and that you hope other people will enjoy.

NRAMA: So which of the 100 possibilities did you pick for your story?

JS: Two guys in a jungle. There's a big, green monster somewhere in there too but these fellows have more important things to worry about. Namely? Fashion.

NRAMA: Speaking broadly, what is your overall writing process like? Does the story come first or the characters? Do you have to be in a certain environment or can you write anywhere at any time?

JS: For me, stories come in moments. I'll be given a general direction from the comic publisher or the television producer and then images and scenes and brief minutes shared between two characters will start to come to mind. Once I have a few of those I start to string them together with a plot and a story. It's like making a necklace. You won't end up using every bead in the craft store but you find a few you like and that go together and see what you can make. And usually, less is more.

When I started writing I was surprised at how little of the process takes place in front of a computer. I'd say I do 30% of writing in bed, right before I fall asleep. Or when I hit a wall and can't figure out where the story goes I'll go on a long walk or go to yoga and let the story work itself out. When it comes time for the actual writing though, I do need a calm, quiet environment.

I love almost everything about writing so picking a favorite part would be difficult. But I will say the most amazing part of the process is when the characters take over and I'm just struggling to keep up. It's less like creation and more like dictation. Sometimes it's like I'm just transcribing scenes. When that happens it's pretty magical.

NRAMA: What's the one writing tool you could not live without?

JS: Empathy.

NRAMA: Of all of your creations to date, who's your favorite character? Why?

JS: Probably Zarah from my first comic story "For Pete's Sake" in the Zombie Tales anthology. That story is very autobiographical in the sense that here's this young woman who has never known her place in the world and has often wondered, "Is this it? Is this what my life looks like?" And then she finds her calling but struggles with letting go of all that she was so that she can become all that she will be.

NRAMA: What is the Holy Grail for you? In other words, do you have a story that you are just dying to tell?

JS: One of my favorite movies is 12 Angry Men. I would love to write something like that for women. So much of the human condition is caught in those two hours in that one room. No car chases, no heists, no quippy lines. Just people. The leaders, the followers, the lone wolves. These broken men with their baggage and their damaged psyches just trying to get through one more day, just looking for a little peace, a little happiness. I think stories like that are so relatable and powerful.

NRAMA: WWTT, Pirate Tales and Ninja Tales will all be hitting bookshelves in the very near future. When can we expect to see your first Eureka episode on the small screen?

JS: I can't remember if the final title on my episode is "Callister Raynes" or "Right as Raynes" but it airs September 5th so set your Tivos! And I have to say, even if I wasn't affiliated with the show I would still recommend it. It's getting much love from the comic book and Sci Fi community but, surprisingly, people who have nothing to do with those worlds are really digging it as well.

I think it's because we have such an incredible cast and all the writers on the show are more concerned with the characters and their relationships than what blows up each week. So even people who don't care for Science Fiction are getting into it because they want to see which guy gets the girl or which Whedon-esque line will be quoted at the water cooler the next day. It's a fun show with a real sweetness to it and I just couldn't be prouder of everyone involved. Check out the Sci Fi channel each Tuesday at 9:00 and I promise you'll find something to love.

[Mike Bullock]

Way to go, Johanna!

[Jay Carvajal]

Great to see Johanna getting the attention she deserves. Everything I've read from her has been well done & entertaining. She's one to watch.

-Jay

[Kolimar]

Sounds like she started on the right foot and kept going. I'm looking forward to hearing more about Johanna's projects.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

NRAMA: WWTT, Pirate Tales and Ninja Tales will all be hitting bookshelves in the very near future. When can we expect to see your first Eureka episode on the small screen?

JS: I can't remember if the final title on my episode is "Callister Raynes" or "Right as Raynes" but it airs September 5th so set your Tivos! And I have to say, even if I wasn't affiliated with the show I would still recommend it. It's getting much love from the comic book and Sci Fi community but, surprisingly, people who have nothing to do with those worlds are really digging it as well.

I think it's because we have such an incredible cast and all the writers on the show are more concerned with the characters and their relationships than what blows up each week. So even people who don't care for Science Fiction are getting into it because they want to see which guy gets the girl or which Whedon-esque line will be quoted at the water cooler the next day. It's a fun show with a real sweetness to it and I just couldn't be prouder of everyone involved. Check out the Sci Fi channel each Tuesday at 9:00 and I promise you'll find something to love.

She still has no IMDB entry. I guess it will take a month or two at least.

Comic book creators and their work in other fields. What do you think?

[CitC]

"The Girl in the Clubhouse" articles were controversial? I thought they were very well written, and informtive (as well as being very funny). I never would have thought them of them being cotroversial. I was looking for the one that talks about making comic shops more apealing to women, but I can't find it when I search CBR. The suggestions she made would make the stores more apealing to anyone not familiar with comic shops or comics in general.

Anyone know where I can find that article?

[xomanowarfan]

Sounds interesting. I'll be picking this up

loved the girl in the clubhouse articles, did not think they were controversial...but whatever helps sell this book I guess.

[CitC]

Nevermind. Got it. THe links to all four are here: http://www.comicbookresources.com/co...=2005&month=10

[Vince@Aspen]

Couldn't happen to a nicer person! We once shared a middle management-type boss in Century City, glad to see you've taken your career to a new level.

-Vince H.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

She also penned a series of controversial columns for Comic Book Resources, "The Girl in the Clubhouse: How to Get Your Girlfriend to Read Comics."

Girls and Comics

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by CitC

Nevermind. Got it. THe links to all four are here: http://www.comicbookresources.com/co...=2005&month=10

Darn it, I arrived too late! Next time.

[johnchrist]

I spend very few of my evenings pecking away on my antique typewriter and sipping cognac by a roaring fire while sequestered away in a log cabin on a mountain ridge.

That's what the movies told me a writer's life looked like.

Really?
I guess I always believed in the idealized Steinbeck, Fitzgerald, Kerouac, Thompson, spend 90-95% of your life drunk/high and occasionally wander out of your hazy, self induced, chemical stupor to write up some brilliant prose.
But maybe that just what I am seeking as I attempt to get paid for this "hobby" that takes up the last of my wakign hours everyday I get off of my 8hr job.... Come to think of it... my hazy, idealistic exsistence doesn't exsist except on weekend... What a gyp!