Why comics are not like writing.

Comics differ from other methods of storytelling in many ways. As such, the process of storytelling in comics is as different as one media is from another. The primary issue created by comics is one involved with editing. In non-visual forms of story telling it is relatively easy to go back and re-write or edit previously written material. This is substantially different from the prospect of being forced to re-drawing a particular scene in a comic. The implications of this do not become clear until they translate into practice. Let me put forward an example.

You want to draw a scene in which two characters are having a conversation over lunch. Halfway through the scene you decide that the scene is really better suited for a bar than for a restaurant.

A re-write is in order.

If you are writing a book you can go back and change the setting of the scene, rework some of the details, and adjust the story accordingly. Now, I do not consider myself a writer. I have always focused on visual arts, and visual storytelling. It isn't that I can't write, or even that I don't, rather I have chosen to focus my time and energy on other things. That being said, I have written before. I have personally experienced the difference between these two media. I am not putting writers down when I say that it is much harder to edit comics. Allow me to continue with the example.

You are creating a comic book. You want to switch from a restaurant to a bar. Unfortunately you are not working with an idea made up of words. You are working with a physical product sitting on the table in front of you. The ink is drying, seeping into the page like an oil stain on your driveway, and now that you see it, in practice, you realize the truth. The only way to make the switch is to redraw everything. The entire page, for as many pages as you have been working on this scene, must go. Let us now take this to its logical conclusion.

Do you want someone sitting instead of standing? You can't change it. Do you want your two characters to shake hands instead of hugging? You can't change it. Do you want you characters to wear sweats instead of suits? Guess what! You can't change it. The only way to fix something that is in any way important to the scene, is to redraw the entire scene. You can't just keep the parts that you liked. If you are a writer, you could change the setting and keep the dialog. No problem. Making a character stand or sit would be as easy as re-writing the action. Comics are different. Comics are like a concrete sidewalk. A lot of preparation goes into the job before you start pouring, but once you do start, it sets up fast. And once your sidewalk has set the only thing you can do is to get out your sledge hammer.

What is the lesson that we need to learn here? Do your prep work right. Plan ahead. If you are used to writing a story as you go, take a word of advice. Don't. You can't have a curving walk once you've given it corners. If you don't think it all the way through before you start you will wind up with a mess.

So what kind of prep work do you do? Ah... Now we get down to it at last.

Process.

Process is everything. Everything we have been discussing until now has just been to lead up to the specific mechanics involved with story creation. Next time, we'll get down to the nuts and bolts.