Writing for Comic Books and Graphic Novels

Sat Dec 03 2022 at 10:00 am to 05:00 pm

Raindance Film Training Centre | London

Raindance
Publisher/HostRaindance
Writing for Comic Books and Graphic Novels
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Turn your idea into a comic book or graphic novel and take the steps you need to take to get yourself published
About this Event

Have you ever considered how Comic Book or Graphic Novel can help scriptwriters?

Do you think your novel or film screenplay could be adapted into a graphic novel?

Does your project have a Transmedia element that could include a digital or webcomic?

In this unique workshop, #1 New York Times Bestselling List and Eagle Award winning comic book and graphic novel writer and screenwriter (Doctor Who, Superboy, 2000AD, Spider Man, X-Men, Battlestar Galactica) takes you through the steps to turn your idea into a comic book or graphic novel and the steps you need to take to get yourself published, in a revised for 2021 version of his acclaimed one day masterclass.

With over thirty years experience as a professional writer, and almost eighteen years worth of experience as a comics creator for both UK and US publishers, Tony has worked in all areas of the industry, from DC to Marvel, and Image Comics to Titan Publishing, and with a new career emerging in film and TV screenwriting in both the UK and the US, Tony has written for BBC One, ITV Studios and Amazon / Audible among many others.

This is your chance to learn from a master in writing for comic books and graphic novel script writing, while at the same time discussing other medias such as film, TV, audio and games.


10:00: Introduction
10:15: It’s Not The Easier Option

What stumbling blocks a writer can find in their way when moving from screen to sequential art storytelling.

  • Why scripting comics isn’t ‘easy’ – and why a comic of your screenplay won’t sell your screenplay
  • Comparison: Screenplay / Novel / Script, using an example
  • Visual Thinking and why it’s great – the original spark of an idea
  • The ‘Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda’ moment
  • Who? What? Why? When? Where?
  • Why ‘working backwards’ helps you move forwards
  • Storytelling: The characters – what do they want? Why do we care?
  • Storytelling: The conflict – protagonists and antagonists
  • Storytelling: Keeping the reader invested over time
  • Describing your characters – how will an artist know?

11:45: Writing The Story

Now you have the initial idea, it’s time to build on that frame.

  • Comparison: Anthology / One-shot / Mini Series / Ongoing / Graphic Novel / Web Series
  • The High Concept / Elevator Pitch
  • The restraints of a comic script (length, page turn etc)
  • The importance of the full synopsis
  • Chekov’s mantelpiece rule – and why it’s vital to comics
  • The rising act structure
  • Subplots and supporting characters
  • Is your story all it can be – the joys of hindsight
  • Devil’s Advocate – does your idea stand up to scrutiny?

13:00: Break

Your chance to network and form new alliances with like minded screenwriters and filmmakers.


14:00: Writing The Script

Now you have the story, we now master the dos and don’ts of scripting it.

  • The full synopsis – the ‘treatment’ for comics
  • Breaking it down: Scene by scene
  • Breaking it down: Page by page
  • Comparison: Full Script / Plot-Art-Dialogue (‘Marvel’ style)
  • Know your comic terms – the language of the comic script
  • Types of panel / how many to a page
  • The Temporal Flux of Panel vs Time
  • Dialogue: Why a writer should always letter at least one page.
  • Comparison: Screenplay dialogue / Comic dialogue
  • Action Versus Spoken Word
  • Adaptations of existing material
  • Licensed Properties and Preexisting Characters

15:30: The Industry

Now you have your script, what do you do with it?

  • Self Publishing: finding an artist.
  • Self Publishing: Percentage or Page Rate
  • Getting known: Webcomic / Vanity Press / Small Press
  • Conventions / Networking – the dos and don’ts
  • Submitting to the established comic book companies
  • Know your target – does your story match their style?
  • How much does an agent help a comic creator
  • Selling yourself rather than your story

16:30: Graphic Novel and Comic Book Live Ammo!

Students pitch their ideas in front of the class to get individual feedback.


End of Play: Networking

Join us for a beer or a glass of wine to mingle and create (drinks not included).


About presenter Tony Lee

A #1 New York Times Bestseller and Eagle Award winning graphic novelist and screenwriter, with licenses under his belt including Doctor Who, Star Trek, Superboy, 2000AD, Spider-Man, X-Men, Battlestar Galactica, Shrek, Wallace and Gromit, Megadeth, Joe Satriani and Ozzy Osbourne, Tony also works in television, film and audio where he has written for BBC One and Amazon UK / Audible among others, working with both US and UK producers and studios as a go-to ’script doctor’.With thirty five years experience as a professional writer, Tony has created stories in pretty much every medium to date.In 2010 he became a #1 New York Times Bestseller for his graphic novel adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. In 2014 his Doctor Who / Star Trek Graphic Novel ‘Assimilation Squared’ reached #2, and in 2019 his full cast audio drama of Dodge & Twist was #4 in the New York Times Audiobooks Bestselling List.


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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Raindance Film Training Centre, 10a Craven Street, London, United Kingdom

Tickets

GBP 0.00 to GBP 149.95

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