Tips for Story Planning?

[Mayyor]

Hi all! I've already looked through quite a handful of posts related to this subject, but since I'm brand spanking new to this community I figured it couldn't hurt to ask some of my own questions for a change. (And to say Hi!) Now that I've gotten to a point where I'm (mildly) comfortable with my art and tools, I'm starting to head down the road of actually telling the story I've been wanting to tell.

How did y'all prepare for it, story wise? How detailed do you plan ahead of time when it comes to dialogue, twists, and art? How did you figure out pacing? I'm worried about drawing/writing myself into a hole or burning out part-way through. Back when I was big on writing I would often experience burn outs and abandon projects left and right. I'm determined not to do that this time!

This is something I've always aspired to do and I want to enjoy it every step of the way as much as I can.

Any tips would be appreciated!

-May

[skicoak]

I don't think there's a solid one way to plan for these things.

Some people want everything mapped out, every line of dialogue written and all the panels roughed out. Others like room to improvise like visual jazz. Both extremes have their merits but most find a personal balance somewhere between the two.

I've enjoyed the last year and a half of doing shorter story arcs so I could try different ways out... found out I was more of Jazz guy than a tight story bible type. I have certain beats/scenes I know I want to get to but I don't always take the straight line between them anymore.

So my tip would be to do some short stuff and test drive different approaches.

[Buurd]

There's definitely a million different ways people prepare themselves, you just gotta find what works best for you! However, there are different things you can try - so I'll share my personal experience here haha, hopefully it'll be useful for someone?

For my comic I usually have a scene/character/rough idea to start, so my advice is under the impression you've got this much going. Now I went through lots of different methods while fleshing out my story so I'll just list them at random:

• Follow a plot diagram. Like the weird mountain looking thing they make you learn in school. I try to figure out where the ideas/scenes I have can be put on this. (i.e inciting incident, rising action, climax, etc) and try to begin filling in the blanks.

• Write out a list of plot points I have in mind, with a (+) or (-) in front, signifying if the event has a positive or negative effect on the protagonist. I tried to keep in mind that my character will struggle more and more towards their goal, so the payoff of completion is more rewarding for them and the reader. This doesn't only apply to physical "real world" challenges like a dragon guarding something precious, but for my comic (a romance) it as more about emotional struggles and the relationships between the cast. It also helped me fill in the blanks on spots where it was getting so sad, its a romance/drama - I need some fluff and stuff too

*edit: THis can also be useful in figuring out how one event may lead or result in another. Like consequences for certain actions n such.

• I list out my characters goals and motivations. It makes me think deeper on what they're trying to accomplish in the story and how they might get there. Not only the protag, but any characters of significance.

• Sometimes when working on characters I like to look at zodiac sites. It lists various weakness and strengths people have that I might not normally think of. Sometimes I try to see if the idea for a character falls under one of the zodiac personalities, and chose their birthday that way for fun ^^

Aah this is getting long sorry! But those are various things I try while developing a project. As for how much I have planned - I have the big points of my plot and some smaller stuff planned out on one big outline. And a more in depth episode by episode script done up to about three episodes further than where I currently am. (THo I'd prefer to be a bit further ahead in this personally)
It depends tho, some people do better having more planned. Some find it sucks the fun and inspiration out of it. Whatever works for you ^^ Goodluck!

[Mayyor]

Thank you both for the help!! I think I may try the jazz approach and also take a look back at the story mountain to figure out rising action, climax, etc.

[baasinsimple]

Well everyone is a mix between plan and not. I like to figure out a summary and hammer out loop holes, Past there it's all just train of thought stuff for me.

[DiegoPalacios]

I have planned many of the key events of my story, because i think is important to have an idea where the story is going to avoid getting stuck and plot holes. Having a clear idea of the themes of the story also helps.

After that, i do scripts for the specific scenes before drawing, because is easier to erase a written note than redrawing stuff.

I also plan a lot for the character design. Not only for solid characterization, but also for their dynamics. For example, if two members of the hero team don`t get along, they need a really good reason to work together and to keep it in-character. I try to keep the actions of the character consistent with who they are and character development to make sense with who the character is, unless it is a parody of bad character development.

[Mayyor]

Thanks Diego! When it comes to scripts, do you write word for word what dialogue you plan to have? Or do you just plan key dialogue and fill it in as needed?

Edit: I may be overthinking everything too much

[DiegoPalacios]

is more simplified.

I write down what characters say in each pannel and which character says it. Sometimes i write word by word to think about the best and more fitting way for a character to say something.

(if something happens or someone does something, i write it down in parenthesis like this)

and for action scenes, i do a quick sketch of the actions happening....a really quick sketch.

[SamuelCharcot]

A basic way to make a story is planning an overall plot, and knowing how your story is going to start, and how is going to finish. With that, now you divide all in sections, and add little pieces to these sections to complete them.
In my case I think about the start and the ending, and also I have in mind some little moments I want to have in my story, usually related to the feeling of the story or interactions between characters.
Also, there is a japanese method called Kishōtenketsu that is about having 4 parts to complete a story, these include Introduction, Development, Twist and Conclusion.