Writing for Comics

Discuss the future, present and past of sequential art.

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Tim Mallos
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Post by Tim Mallos »

Hey gang. The <I><A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... 76-1049624" Target="New">DC Guide to Writing Comics</A> </I> has finally been published. I was thinking about ordering a copy. Can anyone suggest other resources for learning about the craft of writing for comics? I'm focusing more on long-form comics, but interested in any links / titles people care to suggest.

Thanks!
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Post by Max Leibman »

Well, an oft-cited, never-updated, popular and useful online site is <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/9925/"><I>Marc Fleury's Writing For Comics</I></A>.

Several good links can also be found at the <A HREF="http://www.cadvision.com/dega/main.html">Creating Comics Resource Page</A>.

There was an interesting physical resource I haven't yet had the opportunity to check out -- in an interview with <A HREF="http://www.bluelinepro.com/sketch.htm">Sketch</A>, Brian Michael Bendis cited a film, I believe called "Visions of Light," which was just a bunch of film industry pros talking about filmmaking; he said it was one of the best resources on comics writing he's ever seen (though it obviously wasn't intended for that purpose).

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Post by Greg Stephens »

Some more thoughts on the book and a couple of other resources suggested here:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=pipeline&article=1029
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Post by Max Leibman »

I thought of a couple more:

First of all, your basic comics theory books:

I'm assuming you're read <A HREF="http://www.scottmccloud.com/">McCloud</A>'s <I>Understanding Comics</I>. If not, do so. Now.

Also, Will Eisner's <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... <I>Graphic Storytelling</I></A> and <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... "><I>Comic & Sequential Art</I></A> are both excellent.

It's out of print, but if you can snag a copy of <I>Writers on Comics Scriptwriting</I>, it's well worth the time and expense you may spend hunting for it.

Also, <A HREF="http://www.avatarpress.com/">Avatar</A>'s <I>From the Desk of Warren Ellis</I> has some useful thoughts in a section of comics writing, some of which are mirrored in some of the essays in <A HREF="http://www.ait-planetlar.com/cia.htm">Come In Alone</A> (the specific ones on writing can be read online <A HREF="http://www.comicbookresources.com/colum ... 7">here</A>, <A HREF="http://www.comicbookresources.com/colum ... 7">here</A>, and <A HREF="http://www.comicbookresources.com/colum ... 5">here</A>, but I recommend picking up a copy of the book for your shelf, anyway).

Peace out,

Max Leibman

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Max Leibman on 2001-07-10 08:19 ]</font>
Tim Mallos
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Post by Tim Mallos »

I did buy the <B>DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics</B>. I breezed through it (actually read it) in one sitting. Nice general info, but, as others have observed, pretty shallow. I think their "out" was using the term "guide" in the title. Still, an attractive little book.

It's become clearer that beyond the basic script formatting, story structure and sub-plot management techniques, comic book writing is like all writing and you just have to do it to really get better.

(edited for layout)

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Tim Mallos on 2001-07-11 09:26 ]</font>
octavio aragao
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Post by octavio aragao »

In the book by Alan McKenzie, How To Draw And Sell Comic Strips, are a chapter called Mastering the Comic Strip in which the author goes step-by-step in a five pages script. Very well done!

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Post by Greg Stephens »

Now that's a book I hadn't been aware of! The Amazon link is here, but they do list it as 'out of print':

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0891349111/qid=994962693/sr=1-1/ref=sc_b_1/107-2076885-2188521
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Tim Mallos
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Post by Tim Mallos »

Howdy!

Just an update: I have found the DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics (link in first message) to be more helpful than I first thought is would be. For what it's worth...

Second point, Scott, did you know they used a page from one of your Superman scripts to illustrate a writer using thumbnails in the page margins to communicate layout ideas to the artist?

That was a fun surprise during a closer use of the chapter on script formats.

Anyway, re-reading my review of the book, it sounds less positive than I feel about it as a resource. I find myself reviewing it frequently as I start an overly ambitious project.

Tim
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Post by Sean Frost »

It's true.

The DC Guide won't make a writer out of you, but it points out some very useful approaches that should be obvious but that need to be pointed out.

There's nothing earth-shattering in its content, but it's a great book to refocus your thoughts.
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Post by Scott McCloud »

Scott, did you know they used a page from one of your Superman scripts to illustrate a writer using thumbnails in the page margins to communicate layout ideas to the artist?
You bet. They even got permission first and dropped me $100!
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Post by wendi »

I will second the Alan McKenzie book, and "Understanding Comics". (I used the McKenzie book as the basis for an independent study in college, and put the comic pages in my BFA show.) :wink:
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