Writing a comic scirpt jargon guide

The_JP

Does anyone know where I can find (preferably online) a resource that explains how to format a comic book script ... you know so that the artist knows what type of shots the panels are, sound effects and other formats.

Thanks,
JP

fredzilla

Er... what's a scirpt? (Please see last paragraph. Really, I can't help it.) :D

I think most writers have their own style. I believe Alan Moore's scrpts are just chunks of text that intricately describe the layout and story information, probably in a panel-by-panel manner. I've seen some scripts that are just thumbnail sketches with dialogue underneath, to the side, or somewhere on the page. I think the most popular way is to format it much like a screenplay script. You can take a look in the back of some of your deluxe trades for script examples and sometimes the panels that the artist then created from that script (a very interesting process to study). There's also good ol' Google...

I typed "comic script writing" and this was the first hit. There's plenty more examples and even some images.

I think the best piece of advice would be to think of what you want if you are the writer or the artist. What I mean is, if you're the artist, explain to the writer how you would like the script, or what you need to draw the best panels, and hopefully he/she will accommodate, and vice versa if you're the writer. Try to accommodate each other as much as possible. Leave the lines of communication open so if there is a problem or question, you can easily ask. You know, a measure twice, cut once kinda thing.

I am not really a writer or comics writer, but I'm an English major and have taught high/middle school for four years. So take from this what you will. Cheers!

Torchsong

Find a writer you like and see if they have any versions of how they script a book in the back of a trade somewhere. I'm a big fan of Greg Rucka and he'll often do this. I've found he has just the right amount of description without going overboard to let the artist play where needed. And his formatting is really solid.