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raerae (raerae) wrote in webcomickers,
@ 2007-08-25 11:04:00

The First 20 pages
The first 20 pages are often what makes or breaks a comic idea. In fact, many comic artists don't get past it. Is it just the nervousness of starting out? The effort of getting it out on paper? Time? Maybe a combination of all of them.

What is the hardest part of starting out with webcomicking for you?

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frostflowers
2007-08-26 08:15 am UTC (link)

The script, usually. I have the overarching plot in my head, and I can usually get the visual aspects - character design, environment, etc. - down on paper pretty easily, but my mind just sort of stutters over the script.

It's a matter of finding each characters' voice - what would they say, as opposed to what they wouldn't? How would they say it? Would they phrase it in a certain way? And would they let people interrupt them without being angry? Would they get into arguments easily? Would they lie? Also, how will this particular conversation carry the plot forward? Is it just filler, or is it actually useful?

After the first twenty pages, I'll have a pretty good grasp on the characters - except those who have yet to be introduced, of course - and so it becomes easier to write the script. I just have to sit down, write out the script and then edit it into oblivion until I'm satisfied.

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raerae
2007-08-26 01:28 pm UTC (link)

I have a good enough grasp of the character's voice that I don't do an exact script, just a hard outline(when I do have an exact script, my panelling gets shot to hell, because I have trouble visualizing per-page when it's in script format). I do thumbnails, trying to get as much that's being expressed into body language and say what can't be done silently through dialogue. I usually have a clear idea of what the conversation is, I just have to whittle it down to where it's not huge blocks of text.

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frostflowers
2007-08-27 07:59 am UTC (link)

I try to get down some description of how the characters move about while writing the script - though most of it boils down to things like "Colin frowns" and "Lexie hits Colin" - so that I've got some idea of what they're doing while they're talking. I don't separate things up into pages until I sit down and do the thumbnails/sketches for the pages.

Sometimes, one page can cover two lines of script, and sometimes, it covers ten lines - it's all a matter of how much text I can fit on a page without it seeming cluttered.

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	indigo 2007-09-13 03:41 pm UTC (link)
	I forced myself to buffer 25 pages before I ever posted one. The hard part is lack of feedback for me. (Reply to this) (Thread)

frostflowers
2007-09-14 03:59 pm UTC (link)

That's a very good strategy. I did 24 pages of buffer, and have I ever needed it: sudden illness, unexpected absences from the computer - whatever the reason, it's always good to have a few extra pages in case you are unable to produce a new one when you need to. Also, it means you can take more time to plan, change the script if needed, etc.

Also, re:feedback. That is a really hard part - I'm not one of those people who demand instant replies, or think myself entitled to other people's adoration (which, unfortunately, is rather common on the 'net), but people commenting often spot things in my art or in my writing that I myself haven't spotted. Sometimes, we're too close to our work to see its flaws.

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