My brother is an art teacher and has dabbled with flash animation.

He's getting into graphic novels at the moment and has asked if I want to write some scripts for him to use.

The first one he's interested in is Philip K. Dick's 'The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch'. Obviously this would just be for practise for both of us.

What I was wondering is if there was a particular format for graphic novels - when writing the script. I've just started the book so don't give away the ending haha.

Also, if anyone has a script that they think could work as a graphic novel let me know and I'll pass it onto him.

Cheers

Ste

I wouldn't know about writing format for graphic novels but my scarefest 2 episode, if you remember it cos I think you've read it, has the feel of the graphic novel 'From Hell'.  Mine's called 'From Heaven'...see the connection there lol.

Yeah, I remember it mate. If you want I'll let him have a read of it, I think he's wanting sort of sci-fi stuff but he might wanna give it a go.

Cheers mate, yeah he can read over it.  Dunno if you want me to email you the latest draft (the one that will be submitted).  If nothing comes of it then no worries.

Yeah can do mate

Quoted from stebrown What I was wondering is if there was a particular format for graphic novels - when writing the script. I've just started the book so don't give away the ending haha.

The format that DC Comics used to use was something like this

--new page--

PAGE ONE

Panel 1
Establishing shot of a dark sedan racing down a city street with two police cars in hot pursuit.    Lights are flashing.  Sirens are wailing.
    sfx:  WOOOOOOOOOOO

Panel 2
Two armed men sit in the front seat of the sedan.  The passenger has an uzi in his hand.  The driver looks nervous.
    Driver:  Man, what the hell we gonna do?  What're we gonna do?
    Passenger:  You just drive--

Panel 3
Passenger leans out the window, firing the uzi at the police.  He smiles a sinister smile.
    Passenger:  I'll take care of the cops!
    sfx:  ratatatatatatatata


--next page--

Start each new page of comic book page with a fresh page of script.

Whispers are done in broken balloons (bkn).
Thoughts are done in thought balloons (tht).
Screaming is done in jagged balloons (jag).

Generally, each page starts with a wide-angled shot.  The last page is generally a close up.

Unless you're Alan Moore, leave some room in your description for artist interpretation.

And, if you want to try adapting a script, try The Burnout.


Phil

Thanks Phil

The Burnout was actually the first one I thought of when my brother was mentioning it. I will have a go at that if it's alright with you.

I'll have a look myself but if you have any links to a graphic novel script I could check out, I'd appreciate it.

He's a really good artist and the drawings he's shown me so far for the Philip K Dick book look great.

Ste

Do you have a pdf version of The Burnout? Just won't let me open the rtf file.

I'll send you a pdf copy.

The script format that I posted, btw, is what I used when I wrote for DC comics, many many years ago.

Any chance I can see any of this guy's artwork?


Phil

What I've seen is just in a sketchbook, but I'll see if I can get him to scan the pictures and send them over to you. He's learning a lot about how to portray mixed emotions at the moment. Pretty interesting actually how you do it.

I'll have a word with him tomorrow sometime.

Ste