So you want to write comics! Well Austin Comic Con had a panel on that with Daniel O'Neil (Batman; Iron Man), Danny Fingeroth (Spiderman; Darkhawk), and Paul Benjamin (Pantheon High; Spiderman). So what did these veterans have to say about delving into comic book writing?
1. Do not be afraid to add details to your characters that may seems unimportant, especially if it adds to the plot because it shows how important that detail is to the character
2. Everything should stick to the spin of the story. Every scene or panel should move the plot along.
3. Don't get hung up on a title. It can always change. Give the story a title and move on; spend more time on developing the story. Finish the story as good as you can get it and then focus on naming it. Sometimes you find a title that inspires a story but usually the story comes first.
4. Establish conflict no later than the page 2. This is an archaic rule but it basically just means you need to establish conflict as early as possible in the story. This will hold your audience's attention.
5. You also want to keep ramping up the conflict as you go through the book. You should constantly be building and building.
6. Cliff hangers are good!
7. Get characters talking as soon as possible to hold the audience's attention.
8. You've got to be ruthless! If it is not pertinent to the plot, cut it! If you are not attached to the character and they don't move the plot along, cut them out!!
9. Sometimes dialogue comes first before you figure out the action and that's fine.
Sounds good right?! What would you add?
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