Tips For Fellow Comic Writers

  As far as comics go, ask yourself this...How many times have you read a professional printed manga or comic and not known what the heck is going on for most of it?...I've read a few like that. This occurs mostly during action based scenes. Sometimes taking the time to draw an extra panel with an explanation or even showing the scene from another angle can make all the difference.  

  Drawing style is all you, trying to draw in another style will just make life harder for you in the long run. Although drawing in other styles occasionally can be fun, I'm all for originality. Finding your style will come naturally, don't force it. I find that taking parts from other styles I like and adapting into my own is a good way to get started.  

  When first starting a comic your art probably won't be to your liking, I put that down to the fact that you are still learning how to draw your characters from all these new angles. Learn when to say enough is enough! when you find yourself redrawing over and over, things will get dull fast. As time goes on your style will improve on its own, don't worry about perfection.   

  most important CONTENT, GRAMMAR and SPELLING. Whilst your art maybe pretty, people are reading your comic for the story. Needless to say, if your story is boring or overdone people will be less inclined to stick around until the end. To keep people engaged, I suggest Surprises, plot twists and even randomness can work to your advantage. As far as comedy goes, I find that if it makes me laugh, it will usually have the same results with others...or at the very least make them smile. People like to be happy, so give them something to smile about . 

  How to keep motivated. Music....Listen to a lot of music. Turn off the world and dive right in. If you're not in 
the mood MAKE YOURSELF START ANWAY!. Starting a new day od drawing is the hardest part, However once you start, you wont want to stop. But back to the music, music help sets your mood. If you are drawing action, listen to fast paced adrenalin pumping music. When drawing a softer scene listen to corresponding music. Another trick I use is telling myself to quit being lazy and finish something for once in your life! lol. However I would say this, just have fun with it, take breaks and don't over work it. When something becomes a chore it stops being fun. Don't dedicate your life to one project, it's okay to take a few days off now and then. If Anything you will come back more refreshed and your art will thank you.   


   Work for yourself and not for others, don't sell out, you will never please everyone. What's important is that you are happy with your work and that you enjoy making it.   

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Planning your story:

 

Ok so you have an idea in your head. Let's say that your OC is a wolf. They were kicked out of their pack and now they are forced to walk alone, fighting off entire packs of wolves single pawed. An alright start, but it's been done...a lot, so how can we jazz this up a bit?.

Girl friend? yeah ok, still been done though

Find a pack of their own?. so we have a goal, good.

Takes place in a giant forest...Yea, wilderness set..for now

Ok, so now we have a character and a basic plot idea.  But it's still been done to death. Soooo here's my new proposition!   

Our Oc....idk let's call him Mikazuki, Japanese for moonlight. I'm a fan of Japanese names in case you have not noticed XD. 

Mikazuki is the son of the Alpha, However he was born of an affair with another female in the pack. As a result he was never treated as a rightful air and never knew his father. Until now, which is where the story begins. Perhaps a cub friend reveals it, having heard Mikazuki's mother discussing it with another. Thus leading Mikazuki confronting his father about the subject in his naivety. As a result a fight ensues and he flee's. HOWEVER his injuries are minor. Why? because no one cares about him that much at the moment. Please don't make your character a pity me character from the start. Just because they are soaked in blood, doesn't mean people will care. Perhaps the father cares for him deep down, so he could never hurt him badly. Yet he would never admit or show it.

Right, so a minorly injured character. Now he questions where he came from and why he was rejected. NO. STOP! FOR IT'S WORLD BUILDING TIME!...Enough wolves, let's have a mountain lion attack or something....Yes a vast forest with mountains. I know you want to get to your OC's big emotional conflict, but it's still too early. Your audience has to build a connection with the character, before they can feel or even care about their emotional issues.

Back to the mountain lion. Perhaps  it's not an attack but a defensive battle. Mikazuki dives in to save a young deer. Yes I like wolves as much as the next person, but verity is always good. After fending off this giant cat twice his size in a heroic battle, Mikazuki becomes friends with the young deer.


(Original the Character is original lol. But character design is a whole different story)

He is tired from his battle now, so the deer...um Sakura? leads him to a small lake at the foot of a waterfall. There are more deer are roaming around the area to (her heard). At first they are ready to attack, however Sakura leaps into defend her new friend. This is more world building and we learn a little more about Sakura.

Up until this point Mikazuki has only known the life of a wolf, so he's surprised by the change of pace. Everything here is so calm and peaceful, different from the chaos and frantic wolf life he once knew. Both character and world building.

Having spent a few days among the deer he finds himself once again reflecting on the past. Idk maybe he's staring down into the lake. When his mind is drawn back to thoughts of his mother, whom he was very close to. He wonders. What happened to her? is she still with the pack?. He wishes that he had the chance to say goodbye or even just had the opportunity to catch a glimps her again, if only for a moment.

BOOM! reason to return to his old pack. Sakura insist she goes with him despite the danger. Mikazuki realizes that he is not alone for the first time in what seems like forever.

He returns and picks out his old friend (the cub that told him about his mother). He tells Mikazuki and Sakura that the mother was banished shortly after the conflict. They hear noises forcing them to  break up the meeting. The cub is running, when shadows appear infront of him. He skids to a stop and looks up at them scared....CUT AWAY! CLIFFHANGER! What happened to him? NUU POOR ADORABLE CUB WHY?! .....pretty much the reactions you will get.  

Go back to our main characters, as they begin their quest to find Mikazuki's mother and build up their own pack along the way. Not just with wolves, but other crazy animals too. Oh and yes... crazy wolf pack vs wolf pack vs crazy misfit pack if you must...but that's more of a final battle scenario.

Mikazuki learns to be happy and more chill as the story progresses and dreams that one day, he will grow strong enough to be worthy in his father's eyes.

GIVE EVERY CHARACTER SOME KIND OF BACK STORY! even if it's only minor.

AND THERE WE HAVE IT!....a Basic plot that can easily be built upon, you are free to roam the planes of the globe. Leave that forest and travel the blistering hot desserts, dangerous mountain terrain and Snowy peaks. The world as they say IS YOUR OYSTER! Hell put a penguin in the pack, because who doesn't love penguins right?.  

Well I went a bit crazy there, but you see what I mean right? When creating a story it's all about character and world building. Just because your character is injured or sad, doesn't mean the audience feels anything towards them. Unless you make them! Build upon the old stale ideas and make them into something new and exciting. Build an amazing world that people will be drawn back too time and again!


Happy Comic making and writing everyone!