Comic Book Script Archive and Formatting

Comic Book Script Archive

One of the great things about writing comics is that there's no set format for writing a script. Unlike screenwriting, where there are lots of set rules that have to be applied to formatting. I've been playing around with my own template for writing comic book scripts in word, and I've been getting inspiration from The Comic Book Script Archive, which is a part of Andy Schmidt's Comics Experience.

What I like about the archive is that has lots of scripts from some of comics' greatest writers, as well as a template from Comics Experience for newcomers to use for their own scripts. While picking the same scripting style as another writing won't make you a better writer yourself, sometimes it just helps to see how some writers tackle different panel descriptions and how they communicate to the artist.

Some of the writers that are featured are Warren Ellis, Jason Aaron, Matt Fraction, Neil Gaiman, Mark Waid, and Brian K. Vaughan.

I actually used the Comics Experience template as a jumping off point for my own script format, which is pictured below.

Kenny Porter's Current Script Template

If you want more information on how to format scripts or create your own template I'd suggest reading Make Comics Like the Pros by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente. They lay out how to create your own template in a very simple, concise way.

Writing Improvements for Mr. Porter

I've been really lacking when it comes to writing up posts on this blog, but I do have a good reason for that. You see I've been putting my nose to the grindstone so much that I now only have a hole on the front of my face. I knew that I had the whole summer to write comic book scripts and pitches, but I didn't know I was going to spend the entire season doing exactly that.

I regret nothing!

Don't get me wrong, I go outside all the time. Between walking the dogs, going for runs, and taking strolls with my headphones on, I keep active. And a good book and a tall cup of iced coffee usually get me outside in the evenings.

The stories I've been working on are some of my best. Do I think that the things I've written in the past were bad? No, not at all. But I have seen an increase in creativity and skill from myself that I've never noticed before. Usually after a year or so I would notice a jump in my craft, but lately I've been jumping by leaps in bounds.

How can I tell without sounding like I'm giving myself fellatio?

That's a hard question (laughs like a schoolgirl at that pun), but I think I can answer it. The help that I've received from fellow writers and people in the comics industry has been phenomenal this year. The Comics Experience Workshop has been a huge help to me. The staff of Comics Experience, led by Andy Schmidt, is so knowledgeable and willing to push others to succeed that it should be criminal. Monthly challenges and critiquing other writer's scripts has kept me on my toes this year and I'm very thankful for it.

If you'd like to know more, here's a video for a bit of a visual appetizer:

Learn more about Comics Experience courses and the Creators Workshop community from Comics Experience on Vimeo.

If you're thinking about writing or drawing comics I can't recommend Comics Experience enough. They have classes for every aspect of the comic book industry and workshops each month that delve deeper into the creative and business sides of panels and gutters.

Instead of sitting around and asking yourself if you should create your own comics, why not just sign up and see if you like it?

Also, I want to point out that I'm not getting paid for this. This is pure opinion. Andy Schmidt has no idea that I'm writing this post.

So as I sip on this tall iced coffee before I go for my daily run, I want to remind everyone that they should always pursue what they love and surround themselves with others looking to succeed.

PORTER OUT!

*Drops invisible microphone*

The World at Large

It's been a really long time since I updated on here, so I thought I should start using this blog a little bit more. Con season is upon me and I need to keep this site fresh and new so that my business cards don't direct people who a whole lot of nothing.

I've been working really hard for Visionary Comics as a Social Media Marketing Associate (fancy title). It's an aspect of the business I never really saw myself in, but it has some advantages in mixing creativity with business.

They say don't mix business with pleasure, but that always worked out well for James Bond.

Writing has been slow going. School has taken up way too much of my time to the point where I'm starting to get mad at it a little bit. I like the idea of having a Bachelor's Degree from GVSU, but I don't like the idea of my time being wasted so much with extra general education classes.

The actual stories I've gotten to write lately have been shorts that I plan on submitting to anthologies. Let's hope and pray that goes somewhere.

Meanwhile there's been some great progress with creators that I've seen come up in the world of comics in the past year. Mainly writer Justin Jordan (of Luther Strode fame), who is now killing it as a writer for DC. It was just announced that he'll be taking the new Deathstroke title, which I think will work well with his edgy writing style.

Congrats to him and anyone else who has progressed in the past year. If so, I'd love to hear with you and swap stories. I know I never would have guessed my resume would grow so much in twelve months. Let's have a beer sometime and talk it over.

Sincerely,

James Bo -- er . . .

Ken Porter.