How do you write the plot of your novel/comic?

[Bulalakaw]

A mix of both! I plot out major events and important moments for the characters, but after that, I just dive right into writing the initial draft. I've tried structuring stuff back when I wrote fanfiction, but I learned that there are just some things I won't catch until I put them down to paper (or in this case, google docs ).

In my current story, there was actually a major development I was so excited about, but when I started writing it down, I realized that it just wasn't working with the way things were going. I realized that something else entirely fit the flow more, so I had to kill my darlings, as they say.

[marnieed92]

Having a plan makes me feel pressured and like I have to follow it. If I did that I wouldn’t be able to write. But writing without a plan is better for me personally.

[Hayka]

I fokkingg LOVE this

[Hayka]

I kinda do both
I only plan 50% of what's about to happen and after having an outline, I'll just handle the rest as I go through each chapter

[river121693]

I start with an interesting idea— for Sao and the Glow of Memory, it was “what if memory is like a ghost that can interact with people, and people can also steal each others memory?”
I think about what this concept would mean personally for me, and how it would work thematically for the comic. Then I consider how a character arc can form around this concept, which gives me a beginning and ending. Everything else is just free writing to fill in the blank with more characters, concept, worldbuilding etc. I worked on my idea for like a year before i wrote the first outline, which was 130pg in a week
Then I go back and edit continuously

[a_cosmos]

I like planning a, and yet I'm still caught off guard sometimes

Recently I developed a process using obsidian, although it isn't a 'writing app.'

Basically I plan out the ideas and topics. Plan out the basic story structure using 7 plot points and/or the 3 act structure. Then I start writing a brief summary of everything I want to happen in the story, as if I'm telling it to someone. Noting down the characters feelings and whats going through their minds. I'll then rewrite that going into more details.

I'll make an outline using this summary, separating everything into scenes. Then I'll write the scenes, already in the character's or narrator's voice.

When I have that first draft of the scenes, I'll start organizing them into chapters. Each chapter can contain 1-3 scenes, depending on what they tell, and their theme. And that's it.

A lot of writing and rewriting.

[allisoncandraw]

A little bit of both. Having a slice of life comic makes things a bit easier since each strip is a different plot (mostly). Usually I'll get an idea out of the blue and write it down in a Google doc to use later.

[Norman_Lee]

Usually when I write a plot or an arc, I have it planned out in my head and never write it down. Its stuck inside my head for a few months or even years before drawing anything! It just rattles around my head, adding or removing plot points or jokes. Right now the arc I'm working on was in my head for almost five years!

[system]

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