How do you write your comics' scripts?

[idrawstuffx]

If you even write scripts at all? I know comedy based (the one-pager) webtoons don't need much of a script, but what about the plot-based ones? Is it helpful, or just an extra step? Do you just write down the core plot points, and go with the flow? And if you do write your script, how should it be formatted?

[elyss]

I write my story out novel style from start to finish. Until recently, I worked directly from the novel version. Now, I do a script before the art (chapter by chapter) and it's saved me so much headache. It helps work out the logistics and drawing has never been easier for me.

[rokudoku]

Comic script need to be written per each panel like this. for webtoon you dont need to write page number.

[IndigoShirtProd]

If you're going to write a story based comic, you need a script, mainly because it's a good way of keeping track of the necessary information that ends up in the final product. If you write something in the outline, but don't script it, you might forget to include something important when producing pages. The kind of script you make really depends on the format of final comic. If it's going to be in the vertical scroll, webtoon style then scripting panel by panel might be a good idea. I personally script without worrying about the panel structure, feeling that that part of the process can come later when I thumbnail. Scripting is not only helpful, it's practically mandatory if you wan to get the comic produced at a reasonable pace.

[Rhonder]

When writing story based comics, I need to do a script of some sort otherwise it always feels like it's lacking a decent foundation lol. My improv work isn't very strong, imo.

That said I'm sooooo slow at it and find it harder to focus on sitting down and writing them than actually drawing the comic, but it's a necessary step for me so I grin and bear it!

Do you just write down the core plot points

I start with this (this part usually goes quickly), but then after that I go back in and write several paragraphs in more detail under each plot point about what exactly happens. it's similar to a rough draft for a novel, but looser because I can make notes to myself and stuff mid-paragraph since no one will see this anyways.

I also don't spend a long time sussing out very much dialogue or panel-by-panel action at this phase. I prefer to do that sort of stuff when I get to the storyboarding phase. I WILL make note of specific dialogue lines that come to me or are important to be worded a specific way though, as well as any really specific expressions or poses. It's basically a manual to future me to get things the way I want them in the story board.

Then after it's all written out... I try to do a few editing passes, change stuff, smooth rough or awkward parts out, etc. Part of this process is me also trying to guesstimate how many pages each scene will take, and I like to have a rough target of total pages to keep the project scope in check, and then if the estimated amount of pages is like... way more than I was hoping for, I go through again and try to cut/shorten different parts until I'm in the ballpark. Like, I don't technically have to do that since on a digital platform I have as many pages as I want, theoretically. But I find imposing some limits like this helps me to keep the story concise and focused which can help the pacing and also shorten my workload to a reasonable amount.

After that's all in check I'm ready for the story boards~

[phoenixrenaissance]

I used to dive straight into the thumbnailing/scripting phase at the same time but after a few too many false starts on some recent chapters I've started doing a little more prep work.
I've got at least two word files for each comic. One with the "novel" version of the story and one for quick scene ideas and dialogue that I wanna jot down. Sometimes the random scenes don't actually make it in but they're there for use just in case.
I always plan for the thumbnails to be the last spot for changes but sometimes the layout and content of the panels needs changing and sometimes little tweaks to the final word bubbles as well. Some dialogue just sounds better in a novel vs on a comic page.

[AmazementComics]

I find it much more helpful to write down plot points, and then start making an episode. I use the plot points to help guide what gets created. Writing scripts can get really tedious really fast.

[NickRowler]

I find writing standard scripts to be a bit confusing.

So what I do is I start out with brainstorming a plot and replay it in my head over and over again. Once I figured out what I want, I will write a thumbnail/script hybrid by hand. Then I tend to edit the thumbnail by adding and removing pages if needed.

I am going to recommend not winging a series. I once did that and it can get annoying down the line because you will mess up your pacing. I got to a point where I didn't know how to end the series because it was all a jumbled mess in my head.

[Bree_Mana]

I have a bit of an odd way for concepting because I often come up with comic concepts out of order and WAY before they come up in the story. I often doodle these on paper so i don't forget it

What I started doing with my comic is more rough bullet points of plot details in a Physical notebook, I don't bother with detailing every pose unless it has plot significance. I'll script out dialog scenes that need a bit more attention to detail and thought, particularly emotional sections. I find doing it this way allows me to keep the story straight, keep ideas, but still allow for flexibility in my art.

all of the little concept drawings I tape into the back of the notebook, almost like a 'mood board' of sorts.

I'm sure all of this could be done on a word doc but I like having a physical book, it allows me to write things down whether my computers available or not.

[Bree_Mana]

I have to agree with not winging it, I learned this lesson part way through my current comic on Tapas called TLC around the 6th chapter or so, as the first major arch was wrapping up

[ben]

I’ve never written a script even for my long form stuff. I write out a pretty detailed outline and plan out the beats but I write in all of my dialogue entirely in the thumbnailing stage.

I’ve never really enjoyed the process of scripting and if I’m doing al the work myself it only really needs to be legible to ME so it’s an unnecessary step in the process that I’m extremely happy I can do without.

I also think it’s a good method for me because I plan out the layouts with the speech balloons included and this really helps me paint a full picture of what’s happening on a page before i make the mistake of trying to add too much dialogue into a key panel or something.

[Lucca_Vendramel]

Something a little less workful for you (if you're a lazy pos like me lmao) would be formatting the way i do:

You add enough details for you to sketch something, but not so much that you have no creative freedom. I improvise quite a bit on paneling and shot sizes/angles cause I work better that way

[Shanny8]

I do my scripts pretty much in the same fashion that @rokudoku does theirs; it takes a lot of guess work out of thumbnailing, planning when I do it this way...the only thing I have to do is draw/ink/color/letter the damn thing.

I've only had a few instances where I've deviated from what I originally planned, but for the most part I "stick to the script".

[Mallory]

I had to learn to write ~industry ready~ scripts, but I VERY QUICKLY found it overkill if I'm working by myself.

Normally I'll start out with a very rough scene-by-scene breakdown - something like a few bullet points (major thing that happens in the scene, things I need to show, jokes, etc). Then I do digital thumbnails alongside a text box that contains the dialogue and maybe some panel descriptions/details. If I'm having issues forming the scene in my head, I will "write into" the scene, where I would write it out as if it's in novel format. It allows me to write extra dialogue/write several different versions of the scene relatively quickly and have the characters do/say/emote extra things so that I can then streamline them into a final product.

[draweththeraven]

I write a plot outline in Word (just dot points), print that out and highlight/annotate/make any changes I forgot to, and then turn that into thumbnails. I keep it all printed because I use 4-panel notepads for thumbnails and sometimes do concept sketches on paper and like to keep it all together!

[DualDragons]

I write a script for my new comic project. I don't introduce the term panels and pages during the script though. I want to do that during the thumbnailing.

[Bree_Mana]

Its weird actually, seems most people thumbnail, I completely skip this step unless it was needed as a proof on concept for class back in highschool

I just don't feel the need to do this step????

[phoenixrenaissance]

I do it for myself because it reduces my stress and my workload.
I can get a bunch of my pages panelled out at the beginning of the month and not have to worry about it later. Also I don't have to stare at a blank page without knowing what it's going to be already.
I also know that I tend to reuse panel layouts a lot (I keep them really simple) so being able to look at the whole chapter and check for that is good. I pick out my word bubble placement at the thumbnail stage too.

Blah, blah, blah. Basically, for myself, I find it be a vital step in my process.

[Eskhar]

I don't see the point of doing both a detail script AND thumbnails, unless you work with someone. But I think it can help a lot in the long time,

Without working the plot at first, it inevitably ends up unfinished as nothing makes sense anymore and the drawing process become difficult...

Still my writing is very rough (usually I can't get the dialogues alright so I know I WILL have to rework like 5 times)
I like to use adhesive notes so that I may work the timeline of the story like some jigsaw puzzle and place each scene and not forgetting one in the proces (and adding one is always easier that way xD
So there are "action" notes, "plot information" notes, and I put them on the different settings of the story.

Then, I draw thumbnails of each panel until pages are composed to my liking.
Then, I cheer up because I was so productive !
Aaaaand when 6 months later I'm actually on that part of the story and reopened my thumbnails, I hate my past self because I can't distinguish whatever it was I draw that f**** day xD

[snailienz]

Usually I have a basic outline in mind for what I want to happen. Less like a "here is what is in every panel" and more of a "here are the main story points and a few beats from each part so I stay on track". Then I do thumbnails, with vague ideas of what the dialogue is going to be (bc w a comics medium i find it best to be flexible with that for the sake of visuals). Then once I get the art done I'll set up what is actually being said. Nothing too fancy really.