Scripting Advice

[someguynamedjoe]

BWAHAHAHA REMEMBERED MY PASSWORD- err... I'm not quite sure this fits here but here goes nothing.

I'm writing a short graphic novel (graphic novella?). I need advice on how to script or at least start it. I have a bunch of these sort of "oh that seems cool"-sort of ideas but next to no idea of how to organize them or even if they're going to work with the mood of my story. Any advice anyone has to offer on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

[Snowleopard]

Well, I've heard of people using index cards.  Each card gets one idea or scene.
Color code them in some way - action - exposition - explaination...etc.
Then you can lay them out in front of you or pin them up on a wall and look at them.
See if there are any obvious flows of motion from one scene to the other.
You can move them around until you get something that works for you.
Suggestion - get a BASIC idea - a frame to fit these things into.  Having a great scene idea
is nice but having a whole story to fit the scene into is better.

[BobForPresident]

Structure-wise, find out how everybody else does it. You don't want to try to sell a project that's presented in anything but industry standard formatting.

I know that the Celtx program (I got mine at download.com) offers comic book/graphic novel formatting.

[Bottom The Weaver]

You can also just start by writing it as a basic script, a screenplay or a stage play, and split it up later into panels and pages.

[meg_evonne]

No idea, but i agree with the others--especially Snowleapard approach. Having the cards and being able to shuffle or pin them to the wall or story arc board would be valuable in any case.

Best wishes and happy writing...