It's funny how the ZYX Project started. I had an idea that I could write an alliterative character and event for all letters of the alphabet and be done in 26 weeks. One letter a week, not too bad, eh?

Then, it turned into a monster.

A literal creative monster.

Because it didn't take one week to write each letter. I'm a working Freelance Professional Creative Director. I was doing this in the morning before work. Or while I was walking to the subway. I was being a mom and a wife and planning birthday parties and playdates and doctor's appointments and laundry and managing The MoMeMans while also working. So...it took longer than a week per letter. 

But when I finally finished all 27 letters, because I couldn't pass up doing Letter Ch about "Charlie who's so charming he could charm a chair," I wasn't finished.

All of the characters and their stories turned out so weird and quirky, I wanted to keep going with that. I wanted to bring all the quirks that were inside my head outside, so people could hear and see them too! It's goofy!

And this is part of that process.

When I'm writing them, I see them moving. I see how their bodies move and flow. I may hear a sound, a rhythm, a cadence. 

So, I'll sit down at the computer and record myself reading the words out loud. I'll try singing. Each in various ways. Then I'll lock down what speaks to me the most. Maybe save another voice for a different character.

Next, I'll start finding the beat. Adding musical layers and SFX to enhance the story.

From there it's a lot of back and forth. How long does a scene need to last? How long is the overall piece. What instruments come in where? For how long?

And by the end, I have created an audible interpretation of what's inside my head. 

After that, I'll go back to illustrating and get the original layouts moving...

See, it's a beast. A lovable beast of a monster. But a beast that has been a labor of love.

And here's part of that story, in action.