All posts by Tim Thiessen

06Dec/22

How To Write a Comic Script (Marvel Method)

Craft of comic creating, , , , , , , ,

A few months ago, we wrote an article on how to write for comics DC style, or full script. This week, we’re talking about how to write a Marvel Style script, also known as summary script or plot script.

I stated in that previous article that I like to write DC style. It just fits with how my brain works. If you didn’t like the sound of writing DC style but want to write comics, then read on. This style may be for you.

Keep in mind, this is not just writing two to three sentences saying “maybe we’ll do something like this.” You will still need to write out your story fully, but with a few key differences from a full script.

 

The Big Difference

If we think about our comic like a road trip, you as the writer are driving with your artist or illustrator to your target destination. That destination being a completed comic. Using the full script method, you’re driving the entire time, or at least navigating the entire time. You’re always dictating the direction the car is going.

With a summary script, you’re splitting that duty. You’re navigating, but the artist is steering. You’re giving them directions, but there’s enough wiggle room for them to take turns or detours when needed.

 

What Does This Look Like?

With the Full Script style of writing, we label each panel on the page. Then we write the description of that panel and then the dialogue. This makes full script a panel-by-panel method of writing.

In Marvel Style, we write page-by-page.

For each page, we write a paragraph or paragraphs detailing the changes that occur on this page. These are changes in the visual, emotional, and dramatic sense. The characters will start the page in one physical or emotional location and end in a different. Stories are just sequences of changes held together by a theme after all.

You summarize the plot and let the artist decide how that plot gets shown. Then you come back and write the dialogue afterwards.

You need to give your artist and your editor a good deal of information in these paragraphs, otherwise they’ll think you don’t know your own story. Don’t think this is a lazy method and you get to just skimp out on details. Also, don’t do this half and half with another style. You’ll confuse everyone on the project.

An example of this method of writing is how Matt Fraction wrote Hawkeye.

Here’s a few pages from our very own Head Honcho’s plot for Cat & Mouse #1. He said to note that it begins “page 5,” but that page 5 is actually the printed page 1 as it was revised.

How Does This Work In Practice?

You’ll use this method if you are fully collaborating with your artist. That means that you want to share the burden of creating the story with your artist and they are okay with making those decisions. This is a conversation you’ll need to have when you work together. Some artists want to co-create the comic, some just want to be fed details and illustrate what you have created.

Your artist will tell you how much or little detail they want to work with.

 

The Dirty Secret of Writing Comics

So after we explained the full script and Marvel methods, are you ready for a dirty secret? They aren’t even proper methods. As in, there are no rules saying what you can and can’t do.

No two people will write similar scripts, even using the same style. At least comfortably. If you’re going to write a comic, then you need to write it in whatever way that you’re comfortable. You might start with something that resembles one of these methods and then it will morph into your own style.

You should certainly try to make a variation of your style that resembles either method. Just so that you can work with any artist and meet their preferences.

The only accurate guide for style and formatting will be your editor’s instructions, if you work with one. They may have their own preference, or they may just want you to deliver a script that is at least consistent and cohesive.

 

What To Do Next As Writer?

The next thing you should do as a writer is experiment. Try Full Script and Summary methods, see what feels right. Change formatting and style to make it your own. Read plenty of comics and comic scripts as well.

The more you read, the more you elevate your taste. As your taste improves, your skills will rise to match that.

Most importantly, have fun.

23Aug/22

New Book Alert! Spooky Season!

News

Hey there Silverline family!

We have a new Kickstarter about to launch! This one is all about spooky books! If you’re like me and never outgrew your goth phase, then this one is a can’t miss.

Follow this project so that you get notified when it goes live and you can snag those limited rewards.

If the link above does not work copy and paste this url: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/silverlinecomics/horror?fbclid=IwAR04z5BhMjpKgeWh1OCdkruPGbOJ_L1_xDh3snRdbNqoSr_F7fzFNh1OzIY

02Aug/22
the entrance of a school

Do I Need to Go to School for Comics?

Craft of comic creating, , , , , ,

This is probably one of the most frequently asked questions from people who are looking to start in comics. If you’re looking to draw o write comics, then you probably want to know if you need to get “qualified”. For most people, the obvious equivalent of this would go to school or getting a degree in comics. 

The simple answer is – No! 

However, you will need some level of training or self education if you do not decide to go to school. There are advantages to both paths.

In this post, we’ll go over the advantages and disadvantages of going to school for comics and some alternatives. 

 

Advantages of Going To School

Some schools do offer classes, or a degree path specifically focused on comics. Other than those programs, you can find creative writing or visual art programs at most universities or community colleges.

Learn The Rules For Your Tools

The biggest advantage of the school path is that you get context around the skills you develop. You get the history of different creative skills and how they developed. This allows you to know the rules for what makes objectively engaging art and how to break those rules to make art more impactful.

Applicable Skill Development

Schooling also provides a training path for practice and development. The assigned classwork and curriculum will challenge you in new ways and incentivise you to create a lot of writing or illustrations. This is a great way to find the encouragement to create.

Day Job Credibility

Something that new comic creators need to be aware of is that you will probably need a day job. Comics are not the most lucrative trade. Of course, the goal is to make comics your full-time job, but starting out, you will probably need another source of income to cover your needs. 

Having a degree gives you a tool to get a day job that you can still find fulfilling. Plenty of our creators have day jobs in graphic design, copywriting, or art education. Having a creative day job is a great way to keep your creative juices flowing all day long.

 

Disadvantages of Going to School for Comics

There are, of course, downsides to going to school.

Cost of Admission

College tuition prices seem to go up every year if you live in a country where those are a thing. Especially for private art schools that offer degrees tailored for comics. That makes it impossible to recommend the college path to everyone in good faith. 

At the top, we mentioned community colleges do also offer classes. These are usually the typically creative writing or visual art degree path, but sometimes you see specific comics class. Community College could be a good low-cost alternative.

Time Investment

Degrees take time to earn. Of course, there’s nothing to stop you from creating comics with your free time, but your degree path will lock you in for 2 to 4 years. If you want to get straight into making comics or have a family to provide for, then you may not have the required time to go through the program.

You could look at night programs. These will allow you to create or work during the day and then attend courses at night or even online at your own pace. 

Availability

Not every state has a school that offers programs for comics. You can probably find one for creative writing or illustration, but if that’s not what you are interested in, you may not do as well as you would in a program that aligns with your interests. Not everyone can fly to a new state or country to go to school, and that’s valid. 

Online programs can bridge some of that gap now that those are more common. Another option would be to seek a more seasoned creator out, either locally or online, and ask for some of their time on a call or otherwise to learn from them. 

 

Alternatives

So what are some alternatives to going to school for comics? There’s actually quite a lot. 

Some of the most pursued options are:

  • Self-Education
  • Mentorship
  • Translating Adjacent Work

Self-Education

If the cost, time, or availability of school are prohibitive, then you can always educate yourself. There are tons of outstanding books and resources out there to teach yourself how to make comics. We try our best with our podcasts and craft series. The secret is that books on how to make comics rarely cost much. The same books they use in school, you can just buy for yourself. 

Mentorship

There are a lot of comic creators in the world. A lot of them have some sort of online presence, go through the convention circuit, or they may even live down the road from you. You could always ask politely if they can teach you a thing or two. Sometimes they’ll stick with you to guide you along, other times they’ll just give you a few pearls and send you on your way. Either way, you’re more knowledgeable about making comics. 

Adjacent Work

Here’s a secret: You don’t have to learn how to make comics to make comics. You just have to be a fan of the medium and know what comics are. Words on art in panels on pages. If you have experience writing any other form of fiction or drawing anything else, you can translate that to comics. However, you’ll need some practice to get the idea of sequential art down. 

There are plenty of people who just stumbled into making comics after illustrating cartoons or writing commercials. 

26Jul/22

Roland Mann Interview on Two Geeks Talking

Content Spotlight, Creator Appearances, Creator Spotlight, , , , , ,

Hey Silverline Family,

This week is another quick update while I work on the history book for Wolf Hunter.

Recently Roland Mann had an interview with Two Geeks Talking. Since they did us the favor of having him on, I figured we’d do them the favor of shouting out that interview.

Give it a watch and we’ll catch you next week!

12Jul/22

How to Write A Script for A Comic (DC Style)

Craft of comic creating, , , ,

Writing with a pen on a note book

A question that perhaps should be asked more often is “How do I write a script for my comic?” A lot of people get a great idea for a comic and sit down at their keyboard only to realize that they don’t know how to write a comic. So if you Googled this and stumbled across this post, good on you. You’re ahead of the game.

The secret to comic scripting is that you can do it any way you want to. Whatever works best for you and your artist, is the right way. If that’s half coherent notes on a napkin then so be it.

However, if you want more guidance, there are two more structured schools of thought when it comics to writing a comic script.

  • DC Style (Full Script)
  • Marvel Style (Page Summary)

I’ll do a post for both styles.

Today’s post is about the style that I prefer to write in. Full Script, or DC Style.

Is It DC Style or Full Script?

The detectives among you would have already noticed that I used two names interchangeably. DC Style and Full Script. Full Script is the more formal name and it’s more descriptive.

The two different schools of thought became more popular with different editors at the big two. Full Scripting was more popular at DC for a time. Page Summary was more popular at Marvel for a while. Thus, they took on new names for a time.

It’s Full Script Now

The idea of the different styles being defined by DC or Marvel has become outdated. Not only do they share so much of the market with other publishers now, but also editors are less picky. If the script gets turned in on time and meets their standard of quality, that’s what they care about.

So for the most part, we’ll be referring to this style as Full Script.

What Does It Look Like?

Full Script looks how it sounds. Before you turn anything over to your artist or managing editor, you have the entire script written on the page.

That means that each page is labeled and broken up into panels. Each panel has a full description of the background and the action taking place. All the characters have their dialogue written out and attached to the panel it should be in. Every sound effect is listed and defined for the letterer and artist to collaborate on.

I’ll attach a picture of Wolf Hunter’s script since that was how I wrote the book.

Comic Book Full Script

 

How Do I Do It?

So no you know what it looks like. How do you put it into action and write your first script for a comic book?

Step-by-Step

  1. Start with your page header. It should look something like Page 1. Put that as the very first line. Remember, comics are typically 22 pages, but with today’s technology feel free to go hog wild and be as long or short as the story needs to be. You can always break it up into issues later.
  2. The second line will contain the panel header. Panel 1. That’s it. For an action comic, you can expect a page to be 4 to 7 panels. If it’s a more methodical literary piece, anywhere between 5 and 8 panels.
  3. Then underneath that header, begin to write the description of what’s in that panel. Tell us everything that you imagine happening in that panel. “James Willard exits a town car in front of a large hotel.” With practice, you’ll learn what details are important and what is not. Also, ask your artist how much detail they need.
  4. After that write out all your character’s dialogue that should go in that panel. Do each character as a separate line. And try to keep each dialogue bubble contained to a sentence. This will make it easier to read for your creative teammates, and also for the reader. Any sound effects also go in this section.
  5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 until you finish a page and then do it all over again until you finish your book.

 

 

Pros

 

Clear Communication With Your Artist

Media ComparisonThe idea book is scripted out by the time it gets to your artist. It is much easier for them to visualize what you had imagined for each scene. It also gives them more context to use if they want to offer changes. It makes the experience feel more collaborative since everyone has the same amount of information as to what the end product will be.

 

Dialogue Leads Action

Having the dialogue written first allows the characters to come alive as written and use that to lead the actions in the illustration. It prevents the problem of having to rewrite dialogue and possibly change the flow or outcome of a scene based on illustrations that came as a result of your intention being unclear in a summary.

Great For Slower Character Dramas or Suspense

This style of scripting gives you room to set up large changes or reveals. You can purposefully place small details throughout the script to be paid off later. As stated in the point above, dialogue can shine through in this format. If you write strong characters and want to use their voices to tell personal stories, this format could suit you.

Cons

Time Invested

This format is much more time-intensive than writing in Page Summary. Make sure to cut out and protect your writing time to make sure you can complete your script.

Can Feel Overbearing (Easy to Get Attached To Your Writing)

Your artist may want more freedom with their illustration. Don’t get too attached to every single detail you write out. Remember, comics are collaborative.

While writing Wolf Hunter, AJ made tons of changes to panel layout and certain panel elements. I used this format as a way to give him context so that he knew what was important and where I wanted to go. All of his changes got us there in a way that was more visually appealing. I didn’t quash his feedback by saying, “that’s not in the script.”

Easy to Get Wordy

It can be all too easy to get wordy in with this method. Either your dialogue runs on too long, or you stuff too much detail into one panel description. Keep your internal editor on the lookout. If you feel like you’ve written too much, you have. Don’t be afraid to cut something or get feedback and ask if it’s really necessary.

Final Words

I hope this post gave you the information you need to write your first comic book script. If have any more questions or feel like I missed something, leave a comment. I hope to catch you very soon.

Until then,
Make Mine Silverline

 

28Jun/22

What Is The Cost of Collecting Comics?

Comics Culture, FAQ, , , , , ,

How Much Does Collecting Comics Cost?

Hey there, Silverline family. Today’s an interesting topic that doesn’t get brought up too often despite it running almost every aspect of our lives. Money. How much does it cost to collect comics?

This is one of those questions where there is no real answer. As unsatisfying as that is, it’s for a reason. Not everyone collects comics the same way. I’d wager that no two comic collections are alike. Comics are considered to be one of the more expensive hobbies for us nerds, but I know of some collections that were purchased so frugally that it’d make an extreme couponer blush.

To make matters even more convoluted, there is a multitude of different product types that are all still considered comics. Taking that into consideration and you start to see why there’s no definitive answer as to how much money you can expect to spend if you want to start collecting comics.

To start let’s learn what types of comics are out there are what they cost.

Cost of Single Comic Issues

Your classic comic is the single issue, sometimes called a floppy. This is equivalent to one chapter of a story and ranges between 18 and 32 pages depending on the publisher and how much goodwill they have with their printer. This costs anywhere between $3 to $6 for a new issue currently. You can also find old, not valuable issues in bargain bins for 99 cents around the world.

The next level up from that is a trade paperback or trade. A trade will usually collect 5 or 6 issues of a series. The average price for a trade is between $13.95 to $17.95. Of course, depending on publisher and brand value, that price could go up or down by several dollars. This serves as our smallest and most effective form of a collected book.

Cost of Collected Comic Issues

The next level from that is going to get split into two different categories. It also has the broadest range of content so getting an average is tricky. This will be our Collected Editions sometimes called Complete Series or just big books because we’re lazy. They come both in paperback and hardcover and combine entire story arcs or entire runs of a comic into one publication. This can be anywhere from 12 to 36 issues or more.

For a paperback, you should expect to spend anywhere between $20 and $40. This number can vary greatly because the amount of content inside the cover can vary greatly. A hardcover will usually run between $35 and $65. Again this number can vary greatly.

The total cost of your collection can change drastically based on what comic products you choose to pick up. If you are okay with not following a new series month to month, you could save yourself a chunk of change by waiting for it to get collected into a trade or a collected edition.

Buying Comics To Read

The next big determiner of how much money you’ll be spending is whether or not you are buying to collect or buying to read. If you are buying comics purely to read and engage with the storylines, you’re probably buying just what interests you and are not hunting down super rare back issues. This means that your cost for entry is at most going to be the market averages we discussed above.

Depending on if you prefer digital or physical comics you could get all your reading down through a subscription to an online service. Making your total cost for the hobby a monthly flat rate of $9.99 to $15. If you prefer to have paper in hand, your friendly local comic store might have sales or a loyalty/rewards program. Either way, you can greatly reduce the amount of cash you’ll be investing in the hobby while still supporting the creators and their sales/online reading metrics.

Buying Comics To Collect

If your goal is to have the biggest or most impressive collection, you’ll find that you’ll be spending a pretty penny on the hobby. Even if you are only hunting down a specific publisher or superhero, the hunt can be costly. Many comics and their creators have long and storied histories. That means a long history of books to collect. Many of these issues are no longer going to be in print, so that means you have to get into trading circles and find the collectors auctions.

Rare issues that are out of print can range anywhere from $25 to several thousand dollars. The further back you go, the more it’s going to cost.

You can also get your issues graded or slabbed. This is another investment that you will have to pay for but if you want to know that you have the best quality comics in your collections, the value could be there for you. The standard cost to grade a single comic issue is going to be around $75. To have a comic slabbed you can expect to pay anywhere between $22 to $120 depending on the value of the comic. Once you get into an issue with a value in the thousands though, the price can go up from there.

Bottom Line: How Much You Can Expect To Spend on Comics

Hopefully, now you see just how much the cost of collecting comics can vary. If you’re just a fan of the medium and want to read a storyline or two here and there. You might spend $9.99 a month, or $60 to get the entertainment you want. If you want to have the biggest collection of your favorite superhero you can be looking at $3000 plus the cost of grading/slabbing.

The cost can vary even more when you take into account Kickstarter tiers but those usually include additional rewards, so you’re getting more bang for your back in terms of total content and SWAG.

There’s no wrong way to enjoy comics. Whether you’re a trade reader or a floppy collector, you’re both engaging with this phenomenal medium. The only advice I can give is to buy what you like and buy within your means.

Until next time,

Make Mine Silverline!

21Jun/22

Can I Read Comics Online?

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Can I Read Comics Online?

Hey there silver Fam! This week I wanted to answer a question that pops up now and then. If you’re asking this question, you might be new to the comics hobby or maybe you have a kid or family member who likes comics and are trying to get them a way to read. Online comics are also a great solution if you live in an area without a local comic shop and have a hard time having books shipped to your address. For some of us with a lot of time spent in the comics sphere, this might seem obvious, but this is a question that gets asked. Not everyone knows where to look or where to start. 

So to answer the question – yes, with some exceptions. We’ll get into that as well as some additional context on platforms and why online comics could be a good fit for you. 

 

Are Comics Available Online?

Yes! There are a ton of comics you can read online! Some are free, some with a subscription, and some you need to buy individually. This includes comics from the major publishers, books from a lot of independent publishers, as well as books from individual creators. Comics online, let’s list out a few of our favorite sites to read comics on. 

This is the site for your indie darlings. A lot of the comics on this site are made by one or two individual creators. These books are free to read and are usually updated weekly. The quality can be hit or miss depending on the title but the same can be said for comics platforms. The lack of project editors just means that the lack of polish can be more apparent at times. If you’re looking for something unique and never done before, this is a great place to look.

Comixology is a digital comics shop that sells books from all the major publishers as well as a lot of independent publishers. It also has a line of independent creator-owned projects published as Comixology Originals. Many of these books can all be read with a Comixology Unlimited subscription, while the rest of the shop catalog requires the digital copies to be purchased individually. That being said, they regularly run sales or even offer comics for free. Offerings include floppies, trades, and collected editions, as well as curated bundles. 

  • DC & Marvel

If you or the person you’re shopping for are diehard fans of DC or Marvel, and that’s all you’re looking for, both publishers have their own online comic services: DC Universe Infinite, and Marvel Unlimited. Both sites offer a large collection of comics from their respective publishers as part of a monthly subscription.  If all you need is The Bat or Cap, these sites could be your solution. 

 

Why Would I Need Digital Comics?

Well, we all need comics, that’s a universal truth. Some of us are lucky enough to live close to an FLCS (Friendly Local Comic Shop), are in good enough health to get there, and are lucky enough to find what we want in stock. If any one of those criteria is not met, online comics try to remedy that. While you can order some trades or collections online and have them delivered, that’s still reliant on that book being in print and carried by a store that can afford the overhead of shipping. If you recently moved to a rural area, had an accident, or are into something niche, you may be able to scratch that same itch by collecting digital comics

Another fact of the matter is that anyone can make a digital comic and post it online. As mentioned earlier in the segment on Webtoons. There are some unique stories that you will not find anywhere else. The digitization of comics has democratized publication as it has with so many other forms of media. 

 

Why Aren’t All Comics Available Online?

If it does so much to meet the reader where they are, it would make sense for all comics to be published online, right? Unfortunately, it doesn’t make the most business sense in every situation. As with anything, there is a cost involved. It could be the monetary cost for scanning and formatting, server upkeep, publishing dues, or even just time invested. To get that cost back, the comic needs to sell enough to cover that cost on top of the costs that are already incurred in making a book. 

With how many books are available online, that is sometimes not the case, especially for small independent publishers. There are so many options presented to readers, that they can’t possibly look at or purchase every book. Small publishers also do not receive the same priority for marketing or placement, so they are effectively hidden from the reader. If a book can’t be seen by the reader, it can’t be purchased, and therefore can’t cover the cost of making the digital copy.

 

Are Silverline Comics Online?

Unfortunately, we do not currently offer a catalog of comics for online reading. It is something that gets brought up with some frequency in our internal conversations. At the moment, we feel like we need more growth to justify that cost. In the meantime, our comics can be bought online and shipped to your address. Our Kickstarters do also offer PDF copies. If you are in a situation where you rely on digital comics for your reading pleasure, check out our next Kickstarter and select the PDF reward tier. You will receive a digital copy to download and read on any device. 

If you want more digital copies of our comics, let us know! Post in the comments or message us on social media and we’ll keep that in mind the next time it comes up. At current, you can still support us by backing or sharing Kickstarters to help us reach the growth we need to make it worthwhile!

 

Who Are Silverline Comics

A bunch of nerds trying to give you some dope reads and take you on fun adventures through comics. If you want to catch up on what we have going on, follow our socials. If you want to hang out with us, check out our live shows on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday. 

Make Mine Silverline!

 

14Jun/22

How Do I Get Better At Making Comics?

Craft of comic creating, , , , , , , , ,

How Do I Get Better At Making Comics?

Hi there Silverline Fam!

Last week we talked about what the craft of comics is (link). In the end, I teased about how you get better at the art of making comics. This week is going to be a bit more in-depth about how you get better at making comics. I’ll try to make this comprehensive but without going overboard. Don’t want to be dozing off or crossing your eyes halfway through. We’ll go over both free and paid routes to improve your craft.


Is There A School For Comics?

Almost surprisingly, the answer is yes! There are colleges and universities specifically for comic books are the different art forms used to make them. As far as attending an art university that specifically has degree programs or a course path for comics, some things need to be considered.

Art Schools and Speciality Schools are typically more expensive than a traditional universities.
They may also not have the same accreditation.
The degree they offer will be hyper-specific to comics or that art form.

That’s not to say that they don’t offer good information or that they won’t set you up for a career in comics. It just means you may need to be more conscious about managing your finances and student loans. You will also need to figure out how to leverage that knowledge for your day job. Starting full-time in comics happens to almost no one, so you will need to see how you can apply those skills to a different day job in the meantime. I know a lot of comic creators who work in marketing, copywriting, graphic design, education, or eSales because there is some carryover in the skill sets.

That all being said, you will probably receive the most focused education on comics available. It is likely that your instructors will have years of experience working in comics or may still be working in comics. If your educators are good, you will be receiving all the best wisdom and guidance their experience has taught them. They will also serve as professional connections that could get your work. Working comic creators and publishers are also aware of these schools and will sometimes recruit from them.


Can I Learn Comics At A State Or Community College?

If the cost of specialty is too prohibitive or there just isn’t any in your area, you can learn how to make comics through another school. If you’re pretty sure that college is the path for you, but not a specialty school, you can still take a major that sets you up for working in comics or even take electives that will improve your art or writing.

Degree programs in creative writing, English, or art are pretty common. A state or community college will likely offer one or all of these programs in your area. Some colleges do also offer Art for Comic Books as an elective the community college in my home city does.

While these programs may not be specifically tuned for making comics, the basic tenets of good writing and good art still apply. The adjustments you would need to make as a creator will either be to tune your dialogue for comics or to get used to creating sequential art.


Are There Online Courses For Comics?

Absolutely! There are plenty of online courses for those looking to pay for some sort of education but don’t want to begin a new college career. These courses can usually be completed in several weeks, and do in-depth on illustrating or writing for comic books. This means that the knowledge you pick up here will directly apply to comics without much adjusting. There are also courses for just writing or art if you are looking for a broader field of study that is still applicable. Some great courses exist out there and can be found at:

Lynda through LinkedIn
Masterclass.com (I recommend Neil Gaimen’s course)
Skillshare.com
udemy.com



How Do I Learn To Make Comics For Free?

If the money is something that is not feasible for you, or you just prefer self-study, there are free alternatives.

The first option is the most important method of improvement for anyone regardless of education. That is PRACTICE. You get better by doing. That’s a universal truth. You develop a taste by reading comics, and by creating comics you bring yourself more in line with your taste. You will never truly be as good as your taste, but you never get closer without practice. Of course, that also means you can’t get discouraged with your practice.

The second thing to look at is free resources online. Hey, that’s us (link). Free articles from professionals in the industry are a great way to ingest the knowledge they have to offer. These resources are typically more common among writers, but artists may have similar articles on their websites or deviant art page. Sometimes these are more general FAQs but they could also be a step-by-step “how do you do this?” type subject. Another type of free resource is Youtube videos. A lot of artists and letterers have free videos or series that go into the process of what they do or how to use a particular piece of software. If you are a visual learner and want to see how an artist does their type of illustration, this is a great path to go down.

 

Are There People To Help Me Make Comics?

In more ways than you probably think! A lot of comic artists or writers typically don’t take on mentees, but some do. You can also look to your peers. Once you start making comics, you can also lean on your editor and the rest of your team.

Sometimes comic pros will have a public email that they receive questions at. These are usually listed in their Instagram or Twitter bio, or on their website. They may not be looking to become your full-time mentor, but they may be more than willing to spend a couple of hours answering your questions on craft or practice. Just remember to be kind and respectful.

If you have peers in your area, or online that also write or create art, they can also be a resource. Practice is best paired with FEEDBACK. This could be a writing group, art collective, a constructive criticism messaging group or subreddit, etc. Make sure these are people you trust to help you elevate your work. Also, make sure you’re honest with yourself and know that you can take feedback without getting defensive. Be aware that sometimes you will receive bad feedback that you need to disregard. If you can do all that and can follow feedback earnestly, you will find your work might sometimes exceed your taste.

Lastly, is your editor. This relationship is something that will go into more depth later, as it is a more advanced subject. Once your craft is already at a point where you are getting comics work, you will likely be working with a project manager. If not in the title, at least someone that fills that role. This is the person who will help elevate your craft on this particular project. All the advice I gave earlier, applies doubly so to this particular dynamic.


I hope that all helps you find a path to help you get better at making comics. Whether through school, self-study or working with others, there are plenty of ways to learn how you can improve.


Who Are Silverline Comics

A bunch of nerds trying to give you some dope reads and take you on fun adventures through comics. If you want to catch up on what we have going on, follow our socials. If you want to hang out with us, check out our live shows on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday.

Make Mine Silverline!