Comic artists who also write their comic: How long did it take to do the script and artwork?

[andrew17]

I do a gag comic three times a week, which occasionally allows itself to spread into storylines lasting a month or more. Since plotting is less important than making sure there's something approaching at laugh at the end of every episode, I tend to write and draw as I go along, but make sure I have a script buffer of around a month's worth or so. That way, once I come to draw a comic, I can look at the script with fresh eyes and make any tweaks that are necessary. Scripting a week's worth (by which I mean making thumbnail sketches of each comic) usually gets done during a single lunch break once a week. But those gags have been percolating in my head for the previous few days. Drawing takes quite a bit longer. As the strip is about animals it also helps to do the scripting outdoors, sitting on a park bench - the wildlife and pets prowling around quite often prompt new ideas.

[comics.resTart]

It took me 3 months to form and clear my concepts of the story. Then took me another 5 days to do the script of season 1. Then, 1 chapter takes me a week to complete.
Cheers!

[7epts]

It does take a long time to do the script and artwork especially if it's your first time! But you know, effort never lost! Take all the time you need until you are satisfied with it
Check out my comic: Dinny's world of dreams

[sarrowsmith10]

No one taught me how to do comics, so i probably skip several steps lol.

I don't think there is a right or wrong way to make comics. There isn't anyone policing this haha.. If it works for you to just draw, then why not right?

I'm not very creative story-line wise, so I've never written a comic script, I work with a writer and we do it together. She writes the story, then we sit down together and sketch/panel it out. Then I move onto the busy business of actually drawing pages. She flats and does the speech bubbles.. its very much a group effort. Sometimes the script doesn't match what we actually put together on the page, but at least we have a sort of guide.

I think she works on the script for each chapter for a couple of weeks, then we create pages about a page/week or so.

[AmysGames]

For Aiiro No Kunoichi, I've been writing the script as I go. I wouldn't recommend it because writer's block = indefinite hiatus.

For my short comics, I try to write the whole script in advance. A lot of them I drafted during Camp NaNoWriMo, which is under a month by nature, but the editing process can take a few months.

The drawing process usually takes about 1-3 days.

[IndigoShirtProd]

For the comic I have on Tapas now(https://tapas.io/series/The-Black-Belt-Society-), I wrote the outline in I think a week during last fall. I script chapters as I go, and the finished result is still ongoing.

As for my passion project which I'm working on in the background, I've been writing, rewriting, outlining, and scripting for almost three years. Haven't even started drawing it because I lack confidence in my skills.

I think is all comes down to how much you care about a project. I love my comic, and the idea's been in my head for a few years now, but I haven't put the same amount of effort as I have in my passion project.

[Zer0]

My advice is to drop the pride, and collaborate with an artist/writer, instead of being a juggler.

[joannekwan]

Is that you again I see?

[Mari]

Oooooooh boy

Have you considered we do both because we want to, and not because of our pride.

I sing covers sometimes, however I know I'm not good at singing, but I do it because I enjoy it. I could collab with someone who actually knows how to sing and instead of do the mixing, but then I wouldn't get to sing even though I enjoy it

[AniStaciaArt]

Juggling here meaning working on 2 skills at once?

[Zer0]

Yeah.

Don't pay any attention to this. I'm just doing this because there's a twenty character limit.

[Zer0]

Oh, okay. So I guess whatever you're juggling is for fun, right? Not an actual comic for people to read?

[joannekwan]

Uh huh

So anyway …

[skicoak]

Personally, since the group I work with does short anthology stories, so... when I'm doing a short solo... I like to experiment with different processes. And so far, my best feedback has come when I'm working from the loosest structure with a few key story beats I want to hit.

[azzy-m]

okay, so my comic is divided into 5 parts; 3 parts for the first season and 2 partss for the second, with at least 50 episodes each part

I did the first 55 episodes for the first part in about three months (i started creating the outline on december 2018) and i do the script for the other parts in between drawing the pages (usually whenever gets too late to continue drawing, or when i'm too tired to draw)

i don't think my method is the best way of scripting, but it works i guess? i mean, there are people out there who deadass wing their either book/comic and i'm wondering how they keep up with that, because i did that before, and it ended up horribly before lmao

[kaikeagan]

It generally takes me about 4-5 hours to write a script for a single chapter. I start out by brainstorming some ideas and refering back to my outlines to ensure that I'm following the plot. Afterwards, I write out the script, edit it for like, 2 hours straight, and there ya go!
For the art work, I usually do some rough sketches on paper, then I switch to digital drawing and I lay out the panels and everything to make it look good. Everything else, such as coloring, lineart, speech bubbles, etc. follows until I'm satisfied with the result

[IndigoShirtProd]

You're implying that there aren't people, myself included, who are fully capable of writing their own story and illustrating it. Even if a person is better at one aspect over the other and feels the struggle, let them decide when to "drop the pride". No need to be so harsh about it.

[indagold]

My current story took 3 years to write and 2 years to make. Granted its a short story so I didn't expect it to take too long. Most of my other comics I just kinda winged it so I wouldn't count them.

[IdiotWithPencil]

Not an actual comic for people to read?

you do know most manga artists are both writers and artist right?
and that the best selling comic world wide is drawn and writing by 1 guy right?

[Mari]

//Edit aww you fixed your typo.