How do you plan out your comics/novels?

[N1ghtm4r3]

i did kinda write out the full story years ago but as i grow an evolve its has become more of a guideline for the story now

[telari]

I have a general idea, some major events that have to happen, and what goes in-between is pure hog wild invention on the spot. Always worked well for me, so why fix it if it's not broken? I think of what is going to be an episode about, flesh out a 'subject' that needs to be addressed, and write down the script. The 'subject' part is key, I don't want to end up with fillers. While I do like to include laid-back scenes for a breather, there's always something essential happening in each episode that I upload. After the script is done, I make storyboards, and then go on with drawing the final versions.

[kwestlake99]

I like to plan the big points out first, then fill in the little details as I go along, let the story tell itself at times.

[TL_Nonoke]

I love this comment. I also like to fly by the seat of my pants...ok I lie, but I start pell mell and finish with an outline...

[TL_Nonoke]

It's ok to do it YOUR way.

A writer that I admire, Diana Gabaldon (Outlander), said that she wrote her novel in snatches/scenes and in no particular order. She would have a general idea of the shape of the story, it's major arcs and important events, and would fit the written scenes into their respective arcs, and then connect them together up with bridges.

If I hadn't come across her blog saying so I would have NEVER finished my first book as I'm not a linear writer nor someone who outlines well.

So here are the things that I do, having learned a few things over the 2 years it took to write my book:
- write a short plot summary
- write a list of things that have to happen in your story
- do research if you are world building etc. - build your world concept in point form
- do research if you are doing historical things, if you have specific weapons or fighting techniques...all that kinda stuff
- do a stream of consciousness on the plot
- do a chat (in written form) with each of your major characters.I know this sounds crazy, but just do it. I found it especially helpful when I had trouble finding their motivation or there was a plot issue/hole that I couldn't resolve.
- edit like there is no tomorrow, but you don't have to second guess yourself...

GOOD LUCK!!! and take care of yourself.

[Schwarze_Neko]

Usually what I do is make a google docs document for me and my friends (who also work on the comic) and we write a script following what's happening currently and taking into account what will happen in the future since we made a timeline of events. Its usually pretty smooth, but that's us lmao

[sushy00]

For my slice of life comic it is just a few notes in my phone

For bigger comics I make a storyboard (on paper)

[LinQ]

I made demarcations by chapter number so I have like chapters 1-20 then a huge paragraph detailing many of the ideas I have for the first 20 chapters. That's how I split up my volumes. As for deciding elements of the world I went through the plan from above and started to think about setting and stuff and put down my ideas. I basically have a super doc which is not at all organized just called ideas . Needless to say, LOTS of scrolling to remind myself of specific details.

[roguemonte]

I hope this helps. I've been using this technique since I've been competing in writing competitions:

First, sequence what would happen in three main events. Beginning, Conflict, and Ending. After you've sort all of the three, sequence the events what would happen in those category. And when you have sorted them out, do the finer details.

Which is what happens on this and that, should you put a cliffhanger on this and that. And if you can't control the ideas coming in to you, just write them. And sort them later to which part of the big three (Beginning, Conflict, Ending) would you like them to appear to.

And if you're ever writing a novel, well for me, it was ideal to make the characters and places first. Then sort out the whole plot by chapters. It's always great to plot the draft of the chapters first before you thoroughly write them. In short make a guide for what would happen in that chapter.

And this always work with stories, articles etc. To catch the reader's attention, give them the most intriguing first sentence you could pull off, or the first paragraph. Something like:

Tall, dark, and handsome. Those were the qualities I was looking for a man. Who would have thought he would walk in front of me in this chilly day. He made my heart skip a beat, and thus I embarked on a journey to meet who he is.

[CursedBeasts]

Bestia's Wrath, my SWTOR fanfic \ story \ comic, is very planned out. I started with an outline of the whole story, then separated it into 3 parts, did outlines of each and then did outlines of each chapter that I use to write the actual thing. Occasionally I change things around if suddenly something makes more sense.

I have the same kind of plan for Lost Firstborn, altho I changed a few things here and there on the thumbnail stage.

Basically for me it's a top-down process going from bigger chunks to smaller ones.