Want a great technique for breaking down a comic book story after you’ve written it down? First write out your story on paper like you would a short story. It should make sense to you or the reader as a short story so make sure you include any dialogue that you want, basically you are writing a manuscript of your book.
Once you have your story written out read through it and draw lines where a page would end. You may want to make photocopies so you are not ruining your original copy. Once you know where each page will stop go through the same process to show where each panel will stop. At this point is when I would start drawing my comic. If you would like to go one step further then write out a script for each page or panel as well. I usually do my script after I have drawn the comic page, but I have an idea who should be speaking in each panel, I may just change the phrase at the end. You now should have a good idea of the flow of your story.
About the Author
Bruce Outridge is an illustrator, cartoonist, and comic artist from Canada. He created the Pride Junkie comic series and teaches in his local area. You can find out more about Bruce on his websites at www.bruceoutridgeproductions.com or www.pridejunkie.ca
