I honestly don't agree to a point, unless I'm misunderstanding. I know that a lot of the times an artist will have input, even to a large extent, but unless they're writing the book too, the artist tends to take a back seat until the script arrives. Look at say, Geoff Johns for example. His scripts are pretty definitive in what he wants, and it's up to the artist to provide that.
I'm not saying that every writer is like that; obviously the levels of interaction are going to vary, but I honestly have no doubt that writers are able to give the reader something to visualise even without the artist's input.
Imo, in a lot of cases a comic book writer is a writer and a director at the same time.
Gender: Male Location: Planning to take over the WORLD!
you could both be right on, and like i said, it's his idea so clearly if he's looking for script style prose, then that's what it is.
and i agree with you to a point as well--there is certainly SOME level of visuals produced via a script, but the details are explicit and simple--they are directions, as opposed to prose--because he's simply directing the artist what to draw, but the artist brings the writing to life. by that i mean the writer need not describe what the sky looks like beyond "it's night", and loads of other minutiae that would be required from another style. the description can afford to be sparse BECAUSE the artist will finish it. the script is an unfinished product in a movie or play is all's i'm saying.
now, to a different point--do comic writers ever USE scripts of this nature? if so, even more power to bw and his idea. but in any type of submission requirements i've ever seen, there has been no mention of script style submissions. nor was i aware of this style of writing being done pre-artistic rendering. but.....i could very well be wrong in that regard.
like i said, it's a cool idea, just not for me this style, but hopefully it garners a little attention from others.
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Last edited by leonidas on Feb 2nd, 2013 at 05:59 AM
I agree about the level of visual cues needed differing.
Use what kind? the screenplay kind?
This is the kind I've modelled myself on for a while; it's Johns' when he wrote Green Lantern (skip to the fourth page of the pdf for the actual comic):
Like PR posted, the comic-book script is similar but a bit different from the movie script. I remember Kirkman also released some from the first Invincible issues he did.
Gender: Male Location: Planning to take over the WORLD!
huh. those are helpful. makes sense what bw's looking for in light of that. thanks.
still don't think that's up my alley, but i liked the second one better--a little less formal, i like that the panels are left out and there is less overall direction it seems to me. maybe i could do something in that style, but not sure that would be acceptable for this.
on a separate, but somewhat related topic--do you know why this group of forums doesn't have a fan-fic forum? i've seen other comic forums (have never joined or commented anywhere else though i don't think....) but the ones i've seen i THINK have a fan-fic section. has kmc ever considered starting one?
Gender: Male Location: Planning to take over the WORLD!
huh. again i learn something. doesn't seem too oft used though. maybe if this were posted there it might bump some hits over there? i didn't even know that forum existed.
Leo, you have me so confused. The second example - Grant Morrison's - is almost identical to a movie script save how he has the persons name next to the dialogue and a few other minor details. In a script, the persons name is above their dialogue. But that's not that important. I also said not to include panels (mostly because we don't have artists to do anything with them). So, if you want to write in Grant Morrison's style, then go for it since it is just a slightly more lax version of what I had in mind. No one will be judging on margins or be strict on improper form. The idea was just to get as close to comic style writing as possible without worrying about artists (due to the inability to have people draw the stuff.) Thus, movie scripts seemed like the logical choice - or at least a variation of what we can do.
Gender: Male Location: Planning to take over the WORLD!
yeah, i guess they are sorta the same. the one pr posted just had some pretty good between-panel writing. not fully fleshed out, but not simple direction either. i've never written anything like that before, but i may be up to give it try. it's a lot of work though. you likely don't need more than a couple writers though, do you? i mean even if you have just 2 or 3 they can still be read and judged, and that's the point, isn't it? hell, even if just ONE person wants to try their hand, at least it's something for others to read, something we wouldn't have been introduced to without this suggestion of yours.
on that note: do we have any published writers in the forum? anyone with websites that show their stuff?
Yeah, we could technically do it with just the three participants we have now. I guess I just had 5 as the minimum amount of people I'd like to see doing this so everyone feels compelled to write their best - knowing others are doing the same. If no one else signs up, I'll still go through with it.
Let me know if you want to throw your hat into the ring for sure. Like Oliver said, you could write 2 pages a week and still make the minimum page count. And I'll be talking to the judges - this tournament isn't about making anyone feel bad. I don't want anyone to be overly critical of someone's writing - the point of the judging is to guide everyone to be a better writer and reward the person who's done the best overall.
Gender: Male Location: Planning to take over the WORLD!
gimme a couple days to think about it. i do think it would be fun, but getting the hang of the style would be tough. then, you know, there's the whole coming up with a story thing....