The Comic Writer's Reference Guide

[ghost-x]

comic book writer's sites

Mark Millar (http://www.millarworld.biz)
Neil Gaiman (http://neilgaiman.com)
Devin Grayson (http://devingrayson.com )
Chuck Dixon (http://www.dixonverse.com/)
Fiona Avery (http://www.fionaavery.com/ )
Jay Faerbar (http://www.jayfaerber.com/)
Ed Brubaker (http://www.edbrubaker.com/ )
Sean Mckeever (http://seanmckeever.com/ )
Jim Krueger (http://www.jimkrueger.com/ )
Warren Ellis (http://www.warrenellis.com)
Rob Schamberger (http://www.sixshootercomix.com )
Marv Wolfman (http://www.marvwolfman.com/ )
Andrew Dabb (http://www.wolsi.com/~wix/ )
Christopher Priest (http://digital-priest.com)
Judd Winnick (http://www.juddwinick.com)
Denny O'Neil (http://www.oneilobserver.com/)
Steve Niles (http://steveniles.com )
Jeffery Stevenson (http://storyboard.darkora.net)
Harlon Ellison (http://harlanellison.com/ )
James Hundall (http://www.jameshudnall.com/)
Brian Michael Bendis (http://www.jinxworld.com/ )
Jerry Ordway (http://shazam.imginc.com/jerryordway/ )
Grant Morrison (http://www.grant-morrison.com )
Dwayne McDuffie (http://www.dwaynemcduffie.com/ )
Brian Wood (http://brianwood.com/ )
Marie Javins (http://www.mariejavins.com/ )
Steve Gerber (http://stevegerber.com)
Steven Grant (http://web3.foxinternet.net/sdgrant/)
Alan McKenzie (http://www.thestoryworks.com/)
Peter David (http://peterdavid.malibulist.com/)


books & peridoicals

Comics & Sequential Art (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0961472812/qid=1032042389/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-0184592-2408026)
Will Eisner's Shop Talk (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/156971536X/ref=pd_sim_books/002-0184592-2408026?v=glance&s=books)
Graphic Storytelling (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0961472820/qid=1032042389/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/002-0184592-2408026)
Understanding Comics (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/006097625X/ref=pd_sr_ec_ir_b/002-0184592-2408026?v=glance&s=books)
Reinventing Comics (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060953500/ref=cm_bg_d_25/002-0184592-2408026)
The Dc Comics Guide to Writing Comics (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0823010279/ref=pd_sim_books/002-0184592-2408026?v=glance&s=books)
The Writer's Guide to the Business of Comics (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0823058778/ref=pd_sim_books/002-0184592-2408026?v=glance&s=books)
Writers on Comic Scriptwriting (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/184023069X/qid=1033100833/sr=2-1/104-6565892-6522358?v=glance)
Panel One: Comic Book Scripts by Top Writers (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0971633800/ref=pd_sim_books/002-0184592-2408026?v=glance&s=books)
The Art of Comic Book Writing (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1569715793/qid%3D1032043150/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/002-0184592-2408026)
Getting into the Business of Comics (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0941613607/qid=/sr=/ref=cm_lm_asin/002-0184592-2408026?v=glance)
Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture in America (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/080186514X/qid=1032986369/sr=5-4/ref=cm_lm_asin/102-0324559-2420101?v=glance)
Digital Prepress for Comic Books : The Definitive Desktop Production Guide (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0967542308/qid=1032986369/sr=5-1/ref=cm_lm_asin/102-0324559-2420101?v=glance)
Comic Book Culture: Fanboys and True Believers (Studies in Popular Culture) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1578062012/qid=1032986369/sr=5-4/ref=cm_lm_asin/102-0324559-2420101?v=glance)

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0684853523/qid=1032986369/sr=5-1/ref=cm_lm_asin/102-0324559-2420101?v=glance)
2003 Writer's Market (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=158297120X/madhousemanor/) Conflict, Action and Suspense (Elements of Fiction Writing) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0898799074/madhousemanor/)
A Dictionary of Modern English Usage (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1853263184/madhousemanor/)
The Writer's Survival Guide (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1884910238/qid=1032986369/sr=5-1/ref=cm_lm_asin/102-0324559-2420101?v=glance)
Characters and Viewpoint (Elements of Fiction Writing) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0898799279/madhousemanor/)
Every Writer's Guide to Copyright and Publishing Law (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0805048049/madhousemanor/)
How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy (Writer's Digest Genre Writing Series) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0898794161/madhousemanor/)
Roget's International Thesaurus (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0062700146/madhousemanor/)
Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060391685/qid=1032986369/sr=5-1/ref=cm_lm_asin/102-0324559-2420101?v=glance)
The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0941188701/qid=1032986369/sr=5-1/ref=cm_lm_asin/102-0324559-2420101?v=glance)
Howdunit Series (http://www.writersdigest.com/store/booksearch.asp?category=Howdunit+Series)
Zen in the Art of Writing (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1884910327)
Writing Dialogue (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1884910327)
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0062720465)

Comics Writing Resources

Warren Ellis' "Come In Alone" archives (http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/archive.cgi?column=cia)
Sixshooter Comix (http://www.sixshootercomix.com/)
Dixonverse (http://www.dixonverse.com/)
Digital Priest (http://digital-priest.com)
The Comic Book Writer's Info Page (http://members.aol.com/jayjay5000/WritersGuide.index.html)
Writing for Comic Books (http://www.williamsullivanadvertising.com/joeedkin/writing.html)
Dave Law's Creating Comics Writing Links (http://www.members.shaw.ca/creatingcomics/writers.html)
Writing for Comics (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/9925/)

writing software

Final Draft (http://finaldraft.com)
WordPerfect (http://www3.corel.com/cgi-bin/gx.cgi/AppLogic+FTContentServer?pagename=Corel/Product/Details&id=CC1RKIKAEKC)
Dramatica Pro (http://storymind.com/store/dramatica.htm)
Movie Magic Screenwriter 2000 (http://storymind.com/store/)
StoryWeaver (http://store.yahoo.com/dramatica/storyourstep.html)

Power Structure (http://store.yahoo.com/dramatica/powstrucbrst.html)

[ghost-x]

I realize that there's a link directory on the main site where there's a listing of artist's websites, but this isn't quite that.

This is just _me_ listing a bunch of artists' that _I_ think are good along with a short list of artist directories and portfolios sites. So, if you're looking for an artist or just like looking at good art look here, because my ego says so. Some of them have been published - some haven't. Some aren't even what you might call comic book artists. Just look.


Arnold Tsang (http://arnistotle.com)
Khary Randolph (http://kharupt.com)
Ale Garza (http://www.ale-garza.com/)
Flo0d (http://www.flo0d.org)
Tom Rhodes (http://tom.validus.ca/)
Alan Tew (http://www.beeba.net/)
Francis Manpaul (http://www.francismanapul.com/)
Phil Noto (http://www.notoart.com/)
DJ (http://www.dig-ev.com/DJ/)
Imp Head (http://www.imphead.com/)
Fate (http://fateomega.freeservers.com/)
Nivbed (http://www.nivbed.com/)
Sean Clauretie (http://www.fnaok.com/)
Justin Sweet (http://www.justinsweet.com)
Devilman (http://wtfrank.com)
Bryan O'Malley (http://www.radiomaru.com/)
kig (http://www.misfiring.net/gallery.php?owner=kig)
Matthew Childers (http://www.matthewchilders.com/)
Estrigious (http://www.estrigious.com/)
Isaac Buckminster Owens (http://www.buckminster076.com/)
R.A. Height (http://www.harmonixmedia.com/ysr)
Wesley Bent (http://www.stormpages.com/wes9000/)
Hyun-Tae Kim (http://nitty.beramode.nu/miscellany.html)
Doug Holgate (http://www.f1-comics.com/)
Bill Regal (http://www.20regal.com/dsm/)
Andre Szymanowicz (http://www.geocities.com/astrobrain/home.html)
LeSean (http://lesean.defuser.net/)
The Art of Zid (http://yazid.seraphseven.com/01news.html)
Locke (http://damaged.anime.net/)
hopeless.resnorm.org (http://hopeless.resnorm.org/) martinredmond.com (http://www.martinredmond.com/)
mijka (http://www.kurwandor.com/mijka/)
podcollective.com (http://www.podcollective.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=index)
solstice.killerart.net (http://solstice.killerart.net) Ed Tadem (http://pmayhem.com/edtadem/)
tonikoro (http://www.tonikoro.com/fp.asp?nav=menu&content=20)
kristian.defuser.net (http://kristian.defuser.net/)

[Phil Meadows]

...if I may.

dixonverse.com is now dixonverse.net (http://www.dixonverse.net/)

[ITDGage]

A friend suggested I read 'Politics and the English Language' by George Orwell (http://www.george-orwell.org/Politics_and_the_English_Language/0.html). The title alone got the printed copy he gave me put away into a file and forgotten about. I came across it again the other day, for some reason decided to read it. It's a bit out of date, so the examples he uses aren't always relevant, but the points he makes are dead-on, in my opinion. It's a bit long, as well, but it's well worth the read, especially if you're trying to find your own 'voice.'

Just in case you can't make yourself read the essay, as I once couldn't, here's a list of rules from the conclusion that Orwell gives as a tool to prevent 'bad writing':


(i) Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.

(ii) Never use a long word where a short one will do.

(iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

(iv) Never use the passive where you can use the active.

(v) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

(vi) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything barbarous.

[hallogallo]

more writing software:

Celtx - www.celtx.com
Freeware scriptwriting tool. I use this right now on a project, works great. For both Os x, Windows and Linux. Very neat, and free. Also has a great feature – celtx lets you upload your project to their server, then you can specify who should be allowed to download and edit the script. Great feature for collaborations.

Scrivener - http://www.litaratureandlatte.com
Os x only, great program for creative writing. I use this for everything from short stories to comic scripts.

[Dunhamart]

for that celtx program i just got an email back from one of the developers and she said that they are making a comic book specific template add on to the program for then next release some time in may

[Sharpie]

great links, thanks. Its nice to see more writing links finally.

[alveraz]

Quick question. I see Final Draft software listed above. I don't see a comic-book setting in FD, where is it located?

[Avery]

It is the great experience for me to download the Comic writer's reference guides from your refered sites which are unique and amazing sites for it.

[robertmartin]

My favorite comic book writer is Frank Miller. He is an American comic book artist and writer. I like his all comic books..

[cresc]

Would like to mention. The Art of Dramatic Writing by Lagos Egri.

He has a very simple effective way of developing characters. Then he takes plays by Henrik Ibsen and other writers and breaks down the dialog to illustrate his theory.

Really brilliant, changed how I write completely.

[karacho]

http://www.celtx.com/index.html

It is a free writing software for several purposes, writing comic scripts is one of them. There are little things you can buy to upgrade it, but i dont think anybody needs them. And IF you think you need them there is a pack that is like 10$.