Any wise and world-wearied webcomic script writers available?

[xanedis]

What tips would you guys give for someone who is writing a webcomic script, and has a good eye for things, but hasn't written a webcomic script before?

[Wumbl]

Hey! I've written multiple comics and even screenplays and stageplays. Here's a few tips from me.

1. Write comics as if they're movies - everything has to flow well if read out loud, to make conversations work. You should also use the same kinds of shots that you use in movies. This includes establishing shots, extreme close-ups, high angles... Just do some research about cinematography terms and you'll find that going from script to page is far easier. Above all, your script should easily translate to pages.

2. Make sure you split it into pages. This means either using "page 1, page 2 etc." markers, or if you're using google docs you can highlight/select each page's script and mark it down as an add-on. This lets you work out how your pacing is working, so you can get as much as you can out of each page. If you are going to have someone else draw the pages, split it into panels as well.

3. Reread comics that you already like from a more analytical standpoint. Study the stuff you're going to make.

4. Format it in a way that won't swamp you, that you can navigate easily with a quick glance. That way working on it will always be easy. For example, I like to put names in bold, and stage directions in italics so that it's really easy to quickly tell it all apart... like you can see below:
   (this is just a single page I have written, that I haven't formatted into panels yet)

1. (something you don't get told) Sometimes scripts get long, so try to keep a note of how you organise it. I like to split my longer scripts into either acts or chapters, titled "CHAPTER ONE" and so on. Then, I use the search function on google docs (ctrl and f) and type in "chapter". From there, I use the directional buttons on the search bar to instantly move from one to the other without having to scroll.
   To some people that might be obvious but hey, I didn't know it before I started writing long scripts.

Hope that helps. I'm majorly info dumping.

[xanedis]

I like info dumps! And thank you for this great data! I did notice that formatting my scripts makes it easier to read them, I'll be taking some of your formatting ideas to make my format even better!

And yeah, I kinda noticed that using movie angles works(was doing that subconsciously, I've probably read too many webcomics and watched too much anime), but analyzing other people's work sounds like a good way to pass time, not to mention learn. I'll be doing that.

If you have any other advice, I'd love to hear it later! For now, thanks for your great input!

[Harmony-S-S]

Hi, I've written 2 comic scripts, and let me tell ya there are many different ways to a comic script. My tip is to separate your script. Envision what you want for each panel then write it out, It's a lot easier this way, trust me. When you have everything laid out in your mind you can just write it out. I would suggest in this way..

Example: Page 1 (4 Panels)
Panel 1 (What's going to be in the first panel)
Wide, exterior view of a mansion in the dark of night.

Caption (What's the 1st panel describing)
A mansion hidden in the darkness, under the faint stars of the night.

Narrator (This is where you put a character name or just a narrator. Then underneath you would put what they say)
"Once every 4 years, the planets a line. They reveal a secret that was believed to be a myth. But actually the myth was all too real."