Designing Comic Strips:
Step 1: Create a Story
Contents
When creating comic strips, the first step is writing the story. Many students come to me and ask: "Can't I just make the characters first?" You need a story to know who the characters are.
For this assignment your teacher is asking that you draw from your personal experiences. Since this is a middle school, your comic strip should involve middle school life or middle school students. Now, before you get disappointed, your story only should involve a school environment or students your age, which means you can come up with the zaniest story you can think of as long as it involves either students your age or a middle school environment. Monsters can attack the school, the students can do battle with cafeteria food, or you can poke fun at ridiculous fashion trends. The story is entirely up to you. Still trying to think of ideas?
Try brainstorming!
Take some time right now to come up with as many topics as you can that relate to middle school life. Work with a partner if you wish. Write these ideas down on a piece of paper.
Still not happy with your list? You can take a look at this sample list of brainstorming topics that a previous art class came up with.
Keep in mind that your teacher does not want you writing a graphic novel! You will find that even completing one page of a comic will take you several hours! Please try to limit your story to one page with no more than 10 panels (boxes where the pictures go).
Once you find a topic that you like, try writing your story summary. After you write the summary think about what the individual characters may say. Then try writing it out in script form. Writing out the dialogue in script form will help you organize your panels later.
Show your plan to your teacher. She may offer suggestions to you before you begin
Step 2: Designing Characters.
Questions? Please e-mail Sarah Showalter: [email protected]