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Marsh-Pan
Mar '18

Hi!
I'm a comic beginner and I am a regular reader on Tapas who got inspired a long time ago. I have a hard time with developing certain things within my comics. I know comic making isn't much of a thing you can teach but, for example, I have one paranormal comic with many interesting characters, but no clear plot and another with a nice setting and plot, but not very interesting characters. I have a lot of ideas too, but end of dumping them usually due to missing something. I don't know what my problem is, but I just don't know what to do.

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    Mar '18

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    Mar '18
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TomorrowShines
Mar '18

If this is some sorta multiple guess question, I go with C: Characters.

Interesting characters can pave over all sorts of logical fallacies and uninspired dialogue. See: Television.

joannekwan(ง ˙o˙)ว here to help~
Mar '18

Well if you really like one aspect of a collection, don't just go and dump them. Save them for when you do come up with an idea for that missing piece!

I often run into the problem of having interesting characters but no plot attached to them yet. So I ask myself what is their backstory? What do they want in life? And many times a plot can spring from that.

VibrantFoxRegular
Mar '18

I think one thing that'd help is to try and get those ideas organized; see what you do and don't have and then see what you can work with. I've been experiencing this myself where some ideas have some parts but not others. It's just a matter or putting those existing puzzle pieces together and figuring out how to fill in the gaps. I'm not sure what to recommend to get things organized but it's the one piece of advice that I can think to give and I hope you're able to work something out.

Rhonder
Mar '18

This is super useful advice! I'm struggling with the cohesion of a one-shot story that I'm writing currently, but I think trying to define those aspects a little stronger for my main character could help a lot :]

Swamp
Mar '18

As an idea jumper, and somebody who's prone to making characters without plots, I find it super helpful to have a scrapped idea folder.
When I'm working on a new project with parts of missing, I'll often go through my scrapped ideas and see if there's anything I want to steal. Honestly, a lot of it will stay in there forever, but just having a place for it lets me go of that great character that doesn't fit anywhere.

I tend to start not with plot or characters, but concept. Rethe started with "I want a story about why somebody would choose to be the Watson to somebody else'd Sherlock, and why we give up our own dreams from other people" (Most of the original story is lost now, but that was the grain that got me going).
Often picking a story that really let you down, why it did, and what kind of story you wanted it to be, can help you figure out the story you want to tell.

Masterman
Mar '18

This may or may not be helpful, but:

Characters, plot and script aren't actually separate things. A fictional character is literally just the sum total of what they say and do in the story, which is quite literally the plot and script. We separate them as a way to talk about the craft, but it's also important to remember that they aren't different things. For example, if you have a story with interesting characters, then I would say that that story, by definition, has interesting plot and script. So maybe you are thinking of some additional quality that plots and scripts need to have, but maybe that's not necessary. On the other hand, maybe your characters are interesting to you, but that's not coming across, because they are not saying and doing the things that make them interesting. Just another way to think about your problem.

In general, I'm a fan of the idea that you create characters that you love, and then be merciless to them. Writing stories should constantly break your heart.

Marsh-Pan
Mar '18
TomorrowShines

Sorry! Should have said something about that. It was a question. I basically mean: Which do you most likely begin with or think helps develop a comic the most?

Marsh-Pan
Mar '18
joannekwan

Oooo! I like that idea a lot. I think I have plenty of things to sort of 'recycle' like characters and settings.
This advice was very helpful!

Marsh-Pan
Mar '18
VibrantFox

I do need some sort of organization instead of just writing things on sheets on paper and losing them.
I'm very all over the place when I'm working, because I'm constantly swapping characters in between stories that they'll be better in, and often I'm still trying to figure out who a character is, etc. And, thank you, I appreciate your advice!

Anthien
Mar '18

I would just read a bunch of series and see the feedback on people's opinions on the characters and you'll eventually see the kind of characters people tend to like and the traits that are unappealing to others. Some can be said for the script and plot. I personally like stories with quirky characters that express strong individuality. Like they have complex thoughts that make them feel multi-dimensional. If the plot and script have a lot of foreshadowing, it shows the author really planned ahead, rather than making it up the last second. I would just write down any line of script and it'll help trigger new ideas the more you look over them. That's how it works for me lol.

fuyudust
Mar '18

My 2 cents, just do it, write/draw what ever the heck in your mind down first, stop thinking, stop trying to make it perfect IN YOUR HEAD, you will know what you need to do or what to fix when you have everything on the paper.

Dont know which story to choose ? do both and post both, whichever get more subs, go with it.

shazzbaa
Mar '18
Masterman

I think the trick here is that you can have a character who seems interesting in your head -- an interesting concept -- but is not given the opportunity to be an interesting character. Which is why nailing down their desires and their fears and all that can be a big help -- if you know what's interesting about your character, you have an idea of what your story/plot needs to do to highlight those qualities.

The easiest example for me is, if you have a character who's a big grumpy jerk, but he'd sacrifice his life without a second thought to save an innocent -- that's an intriguing side to that character! but in order to play that out on the page, you need something to put an innocent in danger or else we'll never see that other facet of him. So if you have that character, you have to figure out, what's going to put innocents in danger in this character's world?

I think a comic kind of can't do without good characters. Like, you can have the most interesting plot in the world, but if we feel nothing for the characters, then we can't care about the story.
But I don't think that means you need to START with characters when you're developing. A good idea can start anywhere -- whether that's a world concept or a piece of story or a neat character thought, if you keep building off that initial idea you can end up with a good story no matter which element you start with.

Marsh-Pan
Mar '18
Kamikaze

Thank you for the advice!
This definitely helped my character development a lot and I sort of found a good way to outline my characters in the process. It was as if they were an actual person and I were sort of interviewing them in a way, to be honest.
I'm a fan and regular reader of your comic too! :+1:

Marsh-Pan
Mar '18
Swamp

I really like that term.
'Idea jumper.'
I'll happily start doing both of these when I begin to think about tossing a certain element next time.

punkarsenic
Mar '18

go with characters

here's why:

What Writers Should Learn From The Lord Of The Rings

tl;dr: plot is things that happen, but story is how the characters react to it, and story > plot imo. an earthquake happens is plot, the characters scrambling to find their loved ones or leave the city is story. if you have good characters, the rest will slowly fall into place.

also,

this isnt true! im sure everyone here could recommend you a brilliant book or blog post or video thatd change your entire outlook on some part of comics, and theres more classes and courses in comics every day.

Allanbrito
Mar '18

Plot and characters, both of them must work for or against each other, the plot have to be builded by the characters. When you have an interesting development and make the reader feel like the caracter or atleast comprehend the reason of why the character acts like that you have succeded. A character doesn't need to be likable, it just need to be interesting and or relatable at some point.

Kamikaze
Mar '18
Marsh-Pan

@Marsh-Pan I'm so glad the advice was helpful! My team and I love doing the 'character interview' type of work. It really helps us get to know them better. Funny how that works right? :wink:

Hella glad to have you as a reader and a fan of the comic! Thanks so much :heart_eyes:

@Rhonder So glad those tips were helpful for you too! \o/

I can't wait to see what you both do with the info. Please keep us updated!