How do you "write" your stories?

[gateofselidor]

I gradually put together a plan including notes on the characters and setting. This becomes a sort of ongoing process as I work on the comic, because you can never have enough background information, especially when working with a fantasy or sci-fi piece. I also make sketches to accompany them, and start planning any constructed languages I need.

Once I've got enough to start work on the actual plot, I start writing summaries of what will happen in each chapter. Usually I sort out the beginning and end, and a few key scenes, then I fill out all the rest, make some cuts, and make any necessary changes.

After that I write a rough script for each chapter. I refine it and makes changes as I sketch out the panel layout and work on the individual pages.

[nikacomics]

So interesting to hear about everyone's writing styles! ^_^ For my high school romance Love Debut, I took some liberties with my writing because I'm both the writer AND artist, and I continue to work on the dialogue even after I've drawn the page.

My process is this — I start by writing out the story synopsis, and then go into more detail chapter by chapter. I write out exactly what happens in each scene, maybe a few lines of dialogue or plot points that I HAVE to hit, estimate the number of pages for each conversation, and then jump right into storyboarding.

@EdenStar, that's awesome that you get to collab with an artist. Feedback is something I'm always meaning to get, but I'm never organized enough to have anything to show between concept and finished product.

@UzukiCheverie, my writing style is probably closest to yours! I have a text file on my desktop, and just keep adding on to it. I don't get much more specific than the page #s when I write out dialogue, though...

[jonsaintamant]

For my series, Shelby and the Blooms, I start with basic bullet points of what happens in the chapter. Then, I do a script style format, where every panel and dialogue within each panel is accounted for, similar to what UzukiCheverie describes above. I started doing this recently because I've been attending some writers workshops to get feedback from people I don't know, and that format is the most reader-friendly without having the artwork done. The script style also helps me visualize the composition and "camera angles" of each panel and page like a director.

[LTyler]

I work from a standard written script, before going into the thumbnailing process... Since it's easier to make edits in a written script, than it is to change things in a stack of thumbnails. So I prefer it that way.

[ametueraspirant]

I like to make a general outline of the plot so I know where it's going overall, then I sit down and write the story, and usually it will deviate in several key ways from the outline. Then I change things until I can't stand the mess I'm left with and start all over with a new document. multiple times.

[jessiepolfliet]

It is a bunch of chaos how I do it. Some times I draw first and come up with the story after but I also work the other way around. I don't work chronological. But I have a general outline.

[matt30180]

Writing isn't really a thing to force yourself on. It's more like: "I like this and that and this and let's try putting it together!" You look back at past comics or manga you read and you pick some things up. Of course you can't copy completely. But it's nice if you add a kidnapping scene here, a memory wiping scene there and such. HOWEVER! Here's a warning. The story cannot be classic. It can't be Fairy Tail or One Piece or Naruto. You need to make something that's different from them. You can't have cliche scenes. Ahhhh...I spoke too much. This is really my opinion of things. You see achieving mainstream manga is a hard thing to do.

[aFistFull]

I write my stories in script format because it makes me feel like a professional. I mean to start off with a just write a massive block of text. But when I comes to drawing I 'script' it out otherwise I have no idea what I'm drawing. I feel like if certain things aren't in order then my story's doomed from day one.

[IgnightedHell]

I have had rough childhood (to sum it up), but not as harsh as other people-- had a roof over my head with food and water. I started writing as an escape from my issues just to get to the next day. Ideas keep hitting you when you need to express something. Currently I have escaped from my problems and trying to put my life back together so I can finally start to finish a project of the many. Many of my stories start off as a joke and then they escalate (it's hard for me to stick to a short story) it's like I'm programmed to make worlds.

Phase 1:
*Basically it starts with a rough idea and situation.
*I then note events down.
*I start to make the physics of the world.
*Characters start to be made (people, monsters, environment)

Phase 2:
*I then take everything at this point and make a timeline and a direction I want the story to go
*I start to develop characters further if I feel the need, and If I need a character to fill a void I do so. This includes how they interact.

Phase 3:
*when I'm happy with what is developed I take everything and start scripting the story. I plan page by page writing out the story. When that has progressed I then brake down each page into panels and edit it if there is too much for the page or too little.

Phase 4: (With the life I had this I was not able to do with consistently getting new ideas for different stories and had to put a hold on the one I was working on to archive this new one)
*draw it out

I'll hopefully get a "scripted" comic out to everyone by October (currently building my confidence in my art).

[sarahrebecca58]

As crazy as this sounds, I usually write the entire story in prose first. After editing this, that is when I consider what I want my art style to be like. For example for one I decided ahead of time I wanted to do Charcoal.

I also tend to do thumbnails, even if I later on decide on a different layout. This provides me a basic starting point to work from. I still have the thirty two thumbnails of my uploaded story, that I used as the base for the story I'm currently working on.

I've always found thumb-nailing to be a great outlining method, since I think in pictures anyway.

[Icelug]

I usually get the idea (the plot). Then I think about how the story is going to develop, which happens during shower or walking in circles in my room (I know, this is so sad). With the events still fresh in my head I do the sketch pages on a paper. With the drawings ready, it's time to polish the dialogs.
I usually try to be very careful about what to write, because things on my story are very interconnected (kind like Lost TV show).+
PS: As I don't write any notes, I usually forget about lots of interesting stuff to do. =p

[sarahrebecca58]

Something I'm experimenting with at the moment, writing a script based on lines in a poem. Then use thumbnail sketches to sketch out the rough version. Then I simply need to transfer them into a cohesive whole.

I guess my reasoning is, as the cliche goes, a picture is worth 1,000 words.

[IgnightedHell]

As crazy as this sounds, I usually write the entire story in prose first. After editing this, that is when I consider what I want my art style to be like. For example for one I decided ahead of time I wanted to do Charcoal.

It's not crazy. A good thought out story is great to have. Everyone has some sort of process and I have to agree-- if you can draw different ways it can help with how the story is seen.

I usually get the idea (the plot). Then I think about how the story is going to develop, which happens during shower or walking in circles in my room (I know, this is so sad).

... How can that be sad? I think about my stories and pace too. It is good to get some blood flow to the brain since it will help. When I do notes and my process I take small breaks to eat, go for a short walk, do laundry, make dinner, or play a game. To reset your thought process helps keep it fresh longer. ^__^

[sarahrebecca58]

Just something I've noted to, unlike when I write prose, using a completely text-based script for whatever reason has never been intuitive to me. I feel like I have to draw it before I draw it.

[kazumaoboro]

Well in my personal case, i do think a lot in the bus or while i am in the shower, you could say that the brainstorm phase, and then i decide what i want to do, what i want to tell, as when that is decided i start to do a Storyboard and a Script simultaneously.
In the script beside the dialogs are description of the panel,emotions of the characters and background description.
In the storyboard besides rough draws, i mostly i play with panels distribution and poses of the character

[ErithEl]

Burning Bright was originally going to be a novel, and about half the story was written out in prose before I decided I'd rather make it into a webcomic. I took some time to convert it into script form after that.

My issue with writing anything is powering through the (let's say) "less exciting" parts, so one thing I've discovered that has helped is if I ever get stuck, or if I feel like my writing is just dragging on, I'll stop everything and go write a scene or a part that is farther along the plot line. This has actually really helped me with character and plot development - because sometimes I will rewrite these scenes or parts over and over until it's exactly how I wanted it to be, and then it can really help get out of a writers' block if you have a better sense of where you want the story to go!

I know it seems like a very unnecessary and complicated way of writing, but it can be a lot of fun!

[byJDarby]

I'm no comedian, but for someone who's comic has a comedy based agenda, I find myself going in a cycle.
- First, an idea creeps up on me in the night.
- I write down and perfect it the next day.
- I look at it again a week later,
realize it isn't as funny as I thought.
- And delete it.
- ...rinse repeat.

[jjfresh]

I have a long, SECRET process! Don't tell anyone now...

Like everyone else, I picture what I want in mind. For example, my webcomic Beautiful Lies. To begin with, I write a synopsis of the comic. I need to know the premise, the summary, characters, settings, and so on. Then I think of the chapters. This part takes a while because I'm already trying to figure out what I want to happen in the story before actually writing it out. But once I decided, okay I want say 10 chapters, I write a synopsis of each chapter.

Finally, I use each outline of the chapters to draw my thumbnails. The outlines of the chapters help me remember what I wanted to do. I'm busy with college and work and so much outside factors. While I am drawing my thumbnails, I am also writing the script for each page so I don't forget what they say. This also takes a long time.

Lastly, I draw the actual pages. Most of my pages for Beautiful Lies are digital so that is another process but some pages are done traditionally.

[Spinester]

I use Google Drive to write and organize most of my comics. I can get to it from any computer so I'm not wed to one particular workstation. For serious graphic novel plotting, Scrivener is great. It gives you a place to store reference, has built in script formatting and organization as well as an index card/pinboard fuction that allows you to move plot elements around. Highly recommend.

For plotting, I use something like Blake Snyder's Beat Sheet as a reference. I might not strictly follow it but it's good for reminding you to of why elements should and shouldn't be in your story. It helps weed out ideas and can be reinforcement for 'killing your darlings.'

[SpavVy]

first I write out the script then have my editor go over it and give me feedback, after that I do the storyboards (just recently started doing storyboards) once I'm done with those and reading a new book I just got in the mail today called Framed Ink. Ill start working on the thumbnails. I do my storyboards traditionally and my finalized drawing digitally.