I'm kind of mixed; I can't have either "just scripts" or "just thumbnails." I need both. If I only do a script, then the choreography of the sequence and layout of the panels is usually all wrong; plus I end up laying it out in my head as I'm scripting, but then forget that layout when I do the actual thumbnails. If I only do thumbnails, then the dialogue gets hamstrung by how much space there is left after the illustration, and the proper dialogue doesn't get conveyed. So I do both in the same step; usually script a panel and then thumbnail it out, and keep going until I have a page/strip thumbnail-ed out.
Granted, that's just for me. What about for you guys? *goes back and skims other responses.
I am actually working on a method that works with me to use scripts more. Most likely it will be a combo of written and thumbnails that I can use for notes and to keep the continuation fluid. By going page to page I often forget story elements I might have started before that were important (even if a small thing in the page) and it helps me to plan the future.
Hard to go anywhere when you can't see the path before you that you want to take.
Guuuuys for real, thumbnails and or scripting is kinda helpful.
There is a reason why all professionals use them. If you want to draw comics seriously then planning is essential in the execution. @Claytonlchan's 'names' actually work really well too since that way you actually know how the text can fit in your page too.
Thumbnailing really helps with page flow. Like if you have a battle, you should plan the entire thing to make sure the movement is fluid and it's easier for you not to break the 180 degree rule. I've seen some comments say they don't want to thumbnail bc it's just taking too much time and they'd rather do the real art. For real, thumbnails aren't meant to look pretty, so don't waste too much effort on them. They're your rough drafts so you can draw faceless awkward looking mannequins with a pontytail or a big scarf to differentiate the characters. Your backgrounds could be sketchy as heck. If there are posters in the BG just draw in blank ones. At least you'll have some plan of the page layout afterwards.
Scripts are good for especially dialogue heavy scripts bc you need to make sure the conversation actually sounds like a conversation. Does it flow? Does it keep breaking off into new topics? Again, you can just incorporate this in the thumbnails to make a 'name'
Altho I'm not entirely sure how this applies to gag a day comics since the story literally ends on the page.
The "name" posted is the final draft of the name to lock things down. Up until then i draw the same size but much less detailed. Working on drafts is key it allows you take risk. The first draft of the name you make it for yourself the 2nd is for others. Buf i always work at a size that allows me to consider how the words effect the overalll feel of the pages.
Also some more notes to keep in mind for folks in general
-Fish is right with the 180 degree rule
-Also keep in mind where the eye flows. Even thumbnails with stick figures and basic panels shapes can help
-Scripts, even messy ones, give you something quick to step away from and them come back to with fresh perspective.
-It's alot easier and quicker to modify a script/thumbnail page than it is to redraw/repaint half a page.
-They help you flow from one page to the next.
In my case, I LOVE writing dialogue between people, but it sucks for comics. No one wants walls of text or long conversations. Scripting allows me to write it all out and thumb-nailing lets me better see just how many pages my monstrosity of a convo is going to be.
Even a basic outline script can help someone visualize the story in it's various acts and scenes, helping you to limit them where needed.
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Recently I've started doing scripts before most of my comics (mainly dialogue) and I sometimes go back and rewrite and change stuff up a bit before drawing/posting, to make it sound the best. I think planning like this has made my comics more interesting dialogue/pacing-wise
I studied up a bit on both and tried both out before I started my comic. A script is a pretty organized way to keep each panel organized and well communicated across especially if on a collab. For me, scripts can take forever but I least have an outline to adjust strip by strip and a story arc figured out so that I know how one adventure will end and how to go from there.
Well,
I tried using a script, but the story end up changing as I was producing. When I started Fiery Soul, the first four books were scripted out. However, I had changed my mind and events progressed earlier than scripted. I have tried to do Panel scripting, but it slows me down. The reason is that I don't know right then what the shot will look like.
I create an outline and capture material. Once that is done, I move into the editing stage where I mold the material with a basic story in mind into panels. Then I refine the story and send it to the editor for more refinement. This process works for me.:)
i understand what you mean having a script is very important, but to be honest I don't use a script, on the comic i am working on with my sister. I know we should but i guess i am just following my heart on this, it feels a little more raw than something that is overly structured.
Of course i always talk to her about what we should do and what should come next, we have such big personalities and love stupid humor and i think that if we keep is kind of raw it can be a lot of fun to read. I do have a little worry about the story being a little unorganized or all over te place, but that is why i have a partner we can keep each other on a straight path, but take a few curves when we can! 
Maximu Chaos Comics: http://tapastic.com/danitasibert/series1
deviantART: http://betaofthebass.deviantart.com/gallery/48230625/Maximum-Choas
I usually don't for a lot of reasons- one of them being a horrible writer myself. Most often than not I try to memorize my panels in my head but eventually found out it can get messy and confusing. I also do storyboards like a lot people seem to do here, which is a little bit better but still can get messy because of how I am. When I do try to write though either it leads to me getting a little too detailed or getting tired of the scenarios and lose motivation. I don't know, I guess I balance between the two' haha.
I use scripts because I like staying organized.
I write down the first draft by hand with a pen and paper, I write a little over 10 chapters before I go over to the computer. The reason why is because writing it by hand feels more natural for me to spew out all sorts of ideas and it kinda feels like I'm drawing so I get some sort of satisfaction plus it helps me improve my handwriting. When I go into my Word document I make all sorts of changes as I write.
Pretty soon I will be sending them off to my friend of mine who is more skilled in writing than I am and I'm going to have her do some edits.
I can understand that scripts are a bit daunting sometimes but I personally don't think it's a good excuse to say "My writing is crap so I don't use them." I'll admit my writing is a little weak at the moment too but I'm using scripts to help improve my writing and it's actually working! Scripting in my opinion along with thumbnails is super important if you're really serious about your story. This video right here shows why this is super important.
This is geared more towards manga but it's good for western comics too.
I agree with some points. However, I believe that the same goal can be accomplished in a variety of methods. I generally create an outline like I would for a novel. It helps gets the big ideas into a structure without getting a fully blown script with action, dialogue, and such.
A good comparison is actors who improv and read scripts. There are some actors who do better ad-libbing their lines and coming up with better material than the script writer. In my case, I write down a sequence of things I want in the graphic novel. When I am setting up the shots, I have an idea of what dialog I want and what is happening. When I get the material ready, I do the editing to get the story I want with dialog and stuff.
I think what more important is finding that process that tells the story. It will be different for each person because we are all unique individuals. Once you find the process, continue to refine it.
I can agree with that. As long as you have a method that works then its fine, Ive tried methods similar to that and it didnt work well for me but the method I have mentiond is helping me vary well and since I plan to contact publishers in the future I kinda need this because gold fish memory xD
I definitely can understand that. I think about each process like Movie Editing. While the editor will try to form the story from the material gathered, it would ill-advise to through random scenes in with no reason or rhyme. It might have worked for Bon Scott of AC/DC fame, but it is terrible for storytelling.:)
Weather you're looking to organize a script better or be a better writer, or learn more about panels and pacing of the story as well as avoiding cliche's or adding more interest, or a dozen other things, I recommend "The Art of Comic Book Writing" by Mark Keneece which is part of SCAD.
Been reading it as a expanded supplement to DC's Guide to comics and am loving it.
Boop.
But there's alot more to writing comics than scripting. And there's many types of script. If you wanna stick to webcomics for funsies or write for something you're drawing yourself, any way you go is prob fine because you're organizing it for yourself. If you're writing to communicate to an artist weather it is a partnership or for professional publication, you'll need to learn formal ways to write it. This doesn't always mean panel to panel, but you would need to have an idea of what needs to be on each page and how many pages each scene should be.
One example would be for my comic, which I write and art myself mainly for practice. I had the nest scene, which takes place in the kitchen and includes conversation, at around 6 pages.
Is the scene important? What value does it have?
-It sets up a bit more about the main character's every day life, and how it is pressing down on him whether he knows it or not.
-It introduces new characters who affect his life and add to his own story.
-We learn several important facts about the character's life, including one which will provide motive/explanation for what he does next.
Ok, so I obviously need the scene. How important is it? I wrote it out as a choppy, fragmented, story in words. Then, I thumbnailed the scene using half-assed stick figures and rough boxes to get an idea for how much space it would take. If you think about it, and this was a on-the-shelf comic book which averages about 20-25 pages, this little simple scene would be taking up at-least a 5th of the book! Really, it's not THAT important! In a three act structure (of which even a smaller plot line will have a beginning, middle, and end) the middle journey should take up roughly 65%
Let's pretend this was a 20-25pg comic book about a kid who gets bullied and gets super powers. Would you spend the entire allotment of pages on his origin, or would you spend far less to give you room for an action scene so he can show those powers off along with how he reacts to such an event (which he obviously do in later stories).
It is 99% guaranteed that if you write things down or script them, and even if you thumbnail them too, you WILL change things before the final draft. I mean, why not? How many times do you do a thing like a page or just draw a picture, and then look back a few days later and wish you had changed something? What if you HAD the chance to spend a little time before hand to work it out better/right before going back to change it later after inks or colors?
In the case of the kitchen scene, it is important, but in no way 6 pages important. I lament at the fact that I let 4 pages pass for him to simple wake up, get out of bed, get dressed, and go downstairs. From a readers POV, such a simple task took a long time to do, putting an importance on it when there isn't one.
Important panels should be larger than others and being big often forces them to have more details. This is because a readers eye will linger over the larger panel longer. NOT because they're just prettier. In the same way, long scenes will either be placed as important to the reader, or may be boring and cause the reader to loose interest.
Because of scripting and thumb-nailing, my 6 kitchen pages are now 4, allowing for all the visual ad story information I need to tell the reader (with an emphasis on visual information over speech) and I can move on to more important parts of the story.
And.... it's midnight so I gotta scram. Been sketching my pages based on pencil thumbnails for about 2 hours tonight in Manga Studio 5 multi-page whatever and can certainly see an improvement since chapter 1. Now to sleep cause work in the am.
12 days later
I work from an outline when I'm working on my weekly webcomics. It leaves me some room to be spontaneous, craft something that's enjoyable on a weekly bases. Whenever I'm working on something with the idea of print as the first medium I prefer to work with a script, so I can retool it and make it work more cohesively.
