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Introduction to Comic Book Writing
Follow these 7 steps to craft a well-written comic script.
Step 1: Write a Story Sentence
- CHARACTER is taking ACTION to achieve GOAL.
- Your character bio should explain your characters motivations (why they want to achieve the goal), and any unique characteristics that would be needed to understand your character.
- This is a one page, double-spaced synopsis of your story.
- This shouldn't get into motivations, as you have those in your character bios.
- This is still big picture, so don't get into details.
- Avoid providing backstory. Your backstory, by definition, is not in the story, so leave it out.
- Your first sentence should be the first thing that happens in the story, and your last sentence should be the last thing that happens in the story.
- No more than one or two sentences per page.
- No more than one major turning point per page.
- Do not break your story down into panels or add dialogue (and no paraphrased dialogue).
- This will likely be shorter than your story spine.
- Turn your page-by-page breakdown into a partial script by adding panel descriptions, but no dialogue, sound effects (sfx), captions, or thought balloons.
- Panel descriptions should be clearly labeled and concise, containing only the information the artist will need to properly illustrate the story.
- Each panel should contain only one action.
- The first sentence should be the primary ACTION; anything after the first-sentence should be considered optional.
- Only describe how something looks when you are establishing it for the first time.
- Focus on what you want a panel to ACCOMPLISH / how you want it to FEEL, rather than getting into specific details.
- Do not paraphrase dialogue in your panel descriptions.
- Leave the staging to the artist... don't dictate camera angles, body language, or character distance; although there are exceptions to this.
- When finished, read through your panel descriptions... this is a visual medium, and you should be able to discern the essential elements of the story from the descriptions you've provided.
- Add dialogue, sfx, captions, and thought balloons to match the flow of your panel descriptions.
- Remember the difference between text and subtext (i.e., don't add text that simply tells the reader what they will visually see... create dialogue that is more nuanced and adds something else to the visuals that are already on the page).
- Number your balloons.
- Add your contact information.
- Seek out and incorporate feedback from peers throughout each of the steps above, continuously refining for impact and clarity.
- You now have a completed script!
My Completed 5-Page Comic Script
Population One |