The Super Simple Comic Creator's Guide for Beginners: Your First Story!
Dreaming of creating your own comic book but don't know where to start? Learn how to whip up a hero, a villain, and a world of adventure in just three easy steps.
First Quest: A Beginner's Guide to Storytelling
Hey there, future comic superstars! Are you ready to make your own amazing comic stories? It's easier than you might think. Every story, whether a funny comic, an exciting adventure, or a thoughtful tale, has three main parts: the Setup, the Conflict, and the Resolution.
Think of it like a sandwich:
The Setup is like the bottom piece of bread. It's the beginning, where you introduce your characters and their world.
The Conflict is the yummy stuff in the middle, the challenges and problems your characters face.
The Resolution is the top piece of bread. It's the end, where the problems get solved, and the story wraps up.
Let's make our story sandwich step by step!
Step 1: The Setup - Meeting Your Hero
Every story needs a main character, the hero that your readers will root for. To create your hero:
Give them a name and decide what they look like. Draw a quick sketch!
Figure out what they're good at. Are they super smart, really kind, or maybe they have an extraordinary power?
But remember, no one is perfect! Give your hero a flaw or weakness, too, like being shy or afraid of something.
Decide what they want. Their chase for what they want is the motion that drives your story forward.
Now, give your hero a home. The hero's home is not just a place; it's a part of their story. It could be a real place, like your school or city, which can add a sense of familiarity to the story. It could also be an imaginary world, like a magical land or a planet in outer space, which can add an element of fantasy. Describe a few cool things about this place to make it more interesting. Get specific enough that it sounds believable. Without details, readers will think it's a piece of painted cardboard instead of a vibrant world.
Step 2: The Conflict - A Problem Appears!
Every hero needs a challenge to face, a problem to solve. Without a conflict, your story will be like a sandwich with no filling - pretty dull! To create your conflict:
Think about what your hero wants more than anything. Maybe it's to win a race, find a lost pet, or make a new friend.
Now, throw a problem in their way! It could be a bully trying to stop them, or they get lost, or they have to face their biggest fear. Don't be afraid to experiment with different types of conflicts. For instance, a physical conflict like a fight, a mental conflict like a difficult puzzle, or an emotional conflict like a fear or a loss. The more challenging the problem, the more exciting the story. But remember, your hero should have a chance to win in the end.
The more challenging the problem, the more exciting the story. Don't hold back - the harder it is for your hero, the more satisfying the win.
Step 3: The Resolution - Saving the Day
This is where your hero shines! They'll use their strengths (and maybe even turn their weakness into strengths) to overcome the problem. To create your resolution:
Have your hero try to solve the problem. They can ask friends for help, use special skills, or even learn a lesson.
Make it exciting! Maybe they have to race against time or face their fear head-on.
In the end, if your hero succeeds, show how they've changed or grown. If they fail (because not all endings are happy), did they learn a valuable lesson?
Tie it all together, and voila! You've made your story sandwich.
Extra Toppings: Pictures and Words
Comics tell stories with both pictures and words. As you're planning your comic:
Sketch out what each part of the story will look like. Stick figures are fine to start!
Write down what the characters say and think in each part. Keep it short and snappy.
Use the pictures to show what's happening and the words to tell us what the characters feel or think. Do NOT have the characters SAY what is happening.
The most important thing is to have fun! If you're not having fun telling your story, the reader probably isn't having fun reading it. It can be silly, serious, or anything in between. The key is to enjoy the process and let your creativity run wild. So, get ready to have a blast creating your own adventures!
Get out there and bring your stories to life! I'm gonna do the same. With a bit of setup, a dash of conflict, and a satisfying resolution, you'll be crafting riveting tales in no time.
You've got this!
Charles Merritt Houghton
12 January 2024
