DemonHanzo's Make Your Own Comic Book: A self Journey To Making A Comic Pt.7

Make Your Own Comic Book: Writing The Script.

By now you have most of your ideas about what your comic book is about and what our characters motivations are. You should have a general outline for your story. If you're writing a huge epic then you have to decide where the first issue takes place. Will it be the middle of the story arch? Will it be at the beginning? Will it be somewhere near the end? Are you unsure as to where it should start? I can't give you these answers as they are personal and should reflect the type of story you want to tell. What story do you want to tell? That's what you need to write about.

Also there is other questions to consider. Are you going to illustrate the story yourself. If so you only need to write as much of the story that is relevant for you to illustrate it. Some just write names( in Japanese manga names are a rough layout of pictures and words. You might think of it as a rough draft of what a comic will look like and read like.) If you're teaming up with an artist you have to consider if you want him to have control over panels or if you want to tell the story panel by panel describing each shot. In other words how much lee way are you willing to give your artist in terms of creativity? One thing is certain though, your artist is not a mind reader so if you leave out important things from your script and he comes back with something you don't like, for instance wrong location, wrong costume, wrong facial expression, it is the failing of you the writer for not including it in your script.

Here's a couple examples. Let's use an example of Bernhold walking up to some one and punching him.

A script that offers a lot of freedom to the artist might have this type of a format.

Bernhold walks in the castle corridor.(caption: Empryean rots from within. ) He surveys the the corridor and spots Cobus.( Caption: Cobus, The new captain) Cobus unaware of Bernhold Wyld, is standing in a door way.( Caption: The new Justice). Bernhold walks unnoticed towards Cobus.
Cobus is spun around Berhnhold and Bernhold Punches Cobus in the face. Crack. Uuuff!(caption:He's Corruption incarnate).

If the writer wants some thing more specific the same story should be told with as many panels as the writer sees fit. I feel the above is about a pages worth of action but it could be only half a page worth of action to someone else.

A more specific type of Script.

Panel one (medium shot)
Bernhold walks in hugging close to a stone wall to avoid detection.

Pannel two etablishing shot

Castle corridor. Both Bernhold and Cobus are seen at opposite ends of the castles corridor.

Panel three(meduim shot of Cobus)

Cobus is standing in a doorway we see his face in a weird type of sneer.
Caption reads  Cobus, The new Captain

Panel four (meduim long)
Berhold walks towards Cobus from behind unnoticed
caption reads  The New justice.

Panel five (medium shot)

Bernhold grabs Cobus shoulder and spins him around
Caption reads Corruption incarnate

Panel six

Bernhold punches Cobus in the face shattering Cobus's jaw. Sound effect: Crack!
Cobus says: Uuuff!

It doesn't matter so much the format of the writing, the only rule is that the writing should be clear and should contain all the detail that  you want your artist to include. If your ideas are vague and the artist gives you something you as the writer don't like, you have yourself to blame. If you're drawing it yourself you only need to include whatever information relevant to help you draw the story. If you are collaboration with some one I suggest you talk with them frequently so that both of you understand what is going on and how the project is progressing. Keep in mind a collaboration is a give and take relationship. It's both of your ideas being combined to produce a comic. If you as a writer don't like this idea learn to draw. If you as the artist don't like this learn to write. If you can't do that, learn how to work together, or find someone who best matches your vision and work with them.

If at all possible I'd suggest leaving out sloths as collaborative partners. Tweet

DemonHanzo's Make Your Own Comic Book: A self Journey To Making A Comic Pt.4.5

Make Your Own Comic Book: Ideas Clean Up

When  doing clean up also set a time limit to force yourself to stay focused. I would give yourself 15 -20 minutes but go to 30 minutes if you need to. Also if you're deciding names give yourself ten minute slots for each name. Don't worry you can always change it later if your you need to.

Advice on picking Names: Start with a general Idea on what Names you would like to give your characters. For instance if your your story takes place in ancient times try to pick an ancient name. That said it does not matter if you already have names for your characters or not. Just make sure the name is fitting for your story. I like the name captian Wyld for my Pirate, but I also know it is going to be set in an older time, hence his first name is Bernhold. If you know the background( ethnicity) of your characters check a few baby names online and search names by origin. They usually have meanings listed with the baby names, making it easier to choose a proper name for your character. You can choose three maybe four names per character that you really like if you're undesicive, and choose to finalize a name later.

Former captian of Guard/ Pirate ( BernHold meaning rules as the bear/ and Wyld meaing wild uncontrolled)

Pompous jerk/ Current captain of the Guard ( Simply known as Cobus which means Supplanter or usurper)

The Queen  ( Catriona form of Kathrine meaning pure)

The revolts  (Wylde Grass, leader is Nolan Wylde a cousin to Bernhold The name Nolan Means famous)

The kindom of Empyrean In essence the purest land.

I suggest you have working names for your characters, as it will help organize things as you make your own comic book.

Captain Wyld Is in or near the castle of Empyrean near or next to queen Catriona. The Wylde Grass factions have risen up all over the country. The Lieutenant, Cobus is urging the Queen to take action to root out these Weeds. Captain Wyld tries to convince the queen to let him speak to the leader of the Wylde Grass to resolve the matter peacefully. The Queen trusts his word and allows him this chance. He Takes his leave and Cobus makes his move. Cobus asks a supposed innocent question does Bernhold hold the queen's interest at heart? Can we trust him to deliver justice to a family member? The queen asks which family member does captain Wyld seek to protect? To which Cobus replies His Cousin. They even name the revolts in his name. The seed of suspision is planted and the queen allows Cobus to investigate Berhold. Cobus has his own hench men detain Captain Wyld with other business.  The revolt goes off as planned and Cobus asks the queen about Captain Wyld's absence. The Queen is still unsure, but knows she must act to secure the peace of her kingdom. Cobus is suggesting the death of Captain Wyld but the queen issues his arrest instead to determine his involvement in the revolts. She then promotes Cobus temperarilly to the title of Captain. Cobus smiles and feigns obedience to the queen. Later we see Cobus meet with Nolan Wylde leader of the revolt and plots with himto overthrow the queen. Captain Wyld mean while is chasing Cobus' henchmen and finally cornering them. When he advances he realizes too late that he is caught in a trap. The revolt goes on as planned and Nolan makes his way to the queen. Cobus had set up the troops positionto the bulk of the revolters, but Nolan came around a route that he and Cobus had planned out. As he reaches the queen Nolan laughs and asks her if she would like to be planted or roasted. Cobus double crosses Nolan and kills him instantly on the spot. The Queen is tricked and gives Cobus the authroity to hunt down rebel factions. Captain Wyld is now viewed as an enemy to the state and is to brought to justice dead or alive. Meanwhile the captured Captain Wyld learns of the plot against the queen and the country. He escapes his bonds, and dispatches of his captors. He reclaims his horse and rides to as fast as he can to the Queens side. When He arrives he is surprised to see that he is enemy of the state. He avoids capture making his way to the queen.  He grabs the queen demanding that she come with him so that he can protect her but the queen calls out for the guards and Cobus arrives on the scene. Captain Wyld makes a plea to Cobus and Cobus responds that he does not listen to the pleas of known criminals. Captain Wyld ecapes capture fighting his way out of the castle and heads to the Docks. He takes a ship and heads out to sea. In the next port he hears news of Empyrean, the kingdom is in civl unrest Cobus is doing all he can to silence the revolts so the rumors are told. A man in the bar has news for Captain wyld. He was a Wylde grass rebel under Nolan and was hidden when Cobus made the deal with Nolan. When Captain Wyld rushes out of the bar he hears a few soldiers talk of plans to invade Empyrean,now that it has become weak. Captain Wyld rushes to sea to protect the Queens honor.

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