We should have an arena battle

[foxmerquise8]

Artists have battles, so why not writers. Anyone want to battle or something?

[Vendetta]

Sounds great... how about a 2 page fight scene due 4/11/04? would anyone be up for that? if so, we could draw names or something to see who faces off (and in what format or what characters are fighting)

please chime in

[Wolfman]

To arms!

Being new to this discussion group (obvious by my number of posts), I'm not sure what a writer's battle is (or an artist's battle for that matter). I assume some kind of story competition, yeah?

Whatever it is, having a battle in general sounds cool. What are the rules of engagement?

[DarkStrife]

I wouldnt mind particpating... Lead on with the rules and so forth! =)

[DestroyAll]

I'm Game.

[banshee]

Sounds like fun :D

what's the "rules"?

(waves a TWD BIG HELLOOOOOOOOO to Wolfman) welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[shipp]

what the hell.

i've yet to really post anything in this section of penciljack, but as a writer i suppose i'll have to sometime.

if you'll have me..

[shipp]

what the hell.

i've yet to really post anything in this section of penciljack, but as a writer i suppose i'll have to sometime.

if you'll have me..

[theory9]

Consider yerself "haved"!

[theory9]

Oh, and I'll give it a shot.

[foxmerquise8]

Now I just have to think of an interesting challenge.

I was thinking, who can make the best 5 page jackie chan action scene.

[shipp]

you mean from one of his movies or an original scene with him as the main character?

maybe you should broaden the idea a little more.

[NickRocks]

im in.

[foxmerquise8]

like original scene.......

how about a martial arts action scene?

[Ben Christensen]

I'm in. I could always use the practice of writing action.

-Ben;onei;

[Logan Myrddin]

Could we do it a little more freestyle?
I'm not overly experienced with "normal" hand-to-hand (I'm a fantasy author-- normally, when a guy get's backfisted, it's a demon or something doing the backfisting and the fight's practically over).
I am pretty good with "normal" sword-fighting, though. How about a samurai battle? Or a fantasy duel? Or a ninja battle? Or maybe just Jackie Chan after he got his hands on a katana and suddenly a bunch of ninja inexplicably showed up in the story?

I guess I'm a little genre-biased. But, hey-- I watch Jackie Chan's movies every time I get the chance (but, being a writer going to college to learn to be an artist while working twenty-two hours a week and playing a miniatures strategy game on the side--- I don't get the chance very often.)

(oh, and-- heads up, guys: I'll be posting my first story for critiquing pretty soon! It's titled "Just a Hobby", and it's about a merchant-- fantasy based--, so stay tuned!)

Logan Myrddin

[MetaMan]

Aw, what the heck. Sign me up.

[element]

hello everybody

this my first time writing in penciljack since a freind told me about it. he is a senior member calles propsdue (artist type). we are in iraq now and he has read a lot of my comic scripts and said i should ask if i can join the battle .he said it will help my writing and that alot of people will enjoy it . if i can join what are the rules if any .i hope u will let me in the battle

[DestroyAll]

welcome to pj element. THis here battle has already taken place, but hopefully we'll do another one soon (I myself am too lazy to get it organized).

[JPJ]

I'm up for the next battle but does the writing HAVE to be done in boring-ass script format? I find it really hard to get into a story when it's written like:

Superman stands up.

Superman flies toward Bizarro. Is angry.

Superman punches Bizzaro. In the face.


If script is what people can write, sure, but what about adding in us more novelist types?

[shipp]

well, this is a comic based webforum and be it as comics are written in script format..

[Vendetta]

The official word on this is... YES!

This site, as mentioned before, is about comic books and it is only natural that the writing done here ought to be in comic book script format. You are not writing for someone to read the script the way you actually write it... you are writing a script for an artist who will present your script visually to the people who will be reading it. There is a reason that movies, plays and comic books all use a script format, because it conveys more easily the visual effects that need to be present in the final product than novel style, which is for curling up and reading.

Sure, the scripts generally may not be as exciting. But that is becuase MOST of what is written in a script will not be read by the public and is there for the art team, providing them with more function than coolness.

[JPJ]

Not all comicbook writers stick with the usual script format.

i.e.
Neil Gaiman and Garth Ennis

Not every even really writes out a story at all. Most of the writing done today is done in old Stan Lee's Marvel style of writing the story in a few paragraphs, getting the art later that month, and then adding in whatever dialogue/text that you'd want.

Script seems these days to be more for the movies.

Unless you're Kevin Smith, who writes out his comics like a movie script.

[DesertFox07]

I actually start out my scripts in screenplay/movie format. It's just much more comfortable for me and allows the story to flow better for me. I go back after and arrange it into Pages and Panels format and break down the dialog, captions and sound effects more thouroughly and clean up and condense my visual descriptions. Some might say it adds some work, but for me, I think it generates a better script over all.

BTW if this is still on, I'm game. I could always use a chance to sharpen my skills. Have the rules and deadline been posted yet? I didn't see it looking over the thread.

[element]

I NEVER WRITE A SCRIPT FORMAT CAUSE IT HURTS THE ARTIST .IF U CONTROL WHAT GOES ON ENTIRLEY THE ARTIST CAN NOT CREATE HE IS JUST MIMCING YOUR IDEA INTO A PICURE AND THE BOOK BECOMES ONE SIDED WITH OUT SHOWING THE ARTIST'S LOVE OF T.HE CHARCTER UNLESS U DO YOUR ON ART . A COMIC SHOULD SHOW AS MANY SIDES OF A STORY AS POSSIBLE.

[Ben Christensen]

Okay, first off, a script only "hurts" an artist when you dictate EVERY LITTLE THING. If you purposely leave open designs and ideas, then the artist can fill them in.

Second off,

Not every even really writes out a story at all. Most of the writing done today is done in old Stan Lee's Marvel style of writing the story in a few paragraphs, getting the art later that month, and then adding in whatever dialogue/text that you'd want.

Well that's interesting to hear. Since TopCow asked for full script for its contest, Dark Horse asks for a full script for it's talent search, Bendis writes all the 8 or so of his titles in full script, so does Moore, everything at CrossGen (during the heyday) was written in full script.

Seems to me that a lot of the "pros" really do full script these days.


Back to the artist thing for a minute, read Bendis' Powers script book to see what I'm talking about with the open writing for the artist. He leaves A LOT for Oeming to fill in.

Are scripts boring, oh hell yes, but they are what the evolution of this artform has required and writing a good script is just as hard as drawing a page, inking said page, coloring said page, and lettering said page.

-Ben;onei;

[shipp]

i think, after a relationship with the artist comes to pass, then an open script is a good idea.
to begin with though, when neither the artist or the writer knows the others abilities and habits, i think you give them a full script so they know exactly where you're coming from.

[Ben Christensen]

That makes sense.

It goes with something I've heard before. The more professional the artist, the less you have to dictate in a script. The more inexperienced the artist, the more you have to tell them what to do.

My personal rule of thumb is that if I don't need a character to look a certain way for the story, I let the artist come up with what that character will look like. That goes for everything, characters, buildings, powers, cars, etc.

-Ben;onei;

[element]

i agree on alot of what u are saying ben and i should have told u i write my comic work out in a page by page stle and just let the artist handle everything else until i see somthing that effects the story.iam working on a small 6 page peice that i will post soon that i hope u will give it alot of your attention and tell me some of your pointers .

[Ben Christensen]

I'd be happy to, element. I'll keep an eye out for it.

-Ben;onei;

[Propsdue]

(oops) wrong log in .

[element]

hey thanks Ben i will finish it up tonight and proof read it so it will be ready in two days from now so everybody will be able to cric it and show me all the stuff i have missed and i hope to learn from everybody .p.s. Props had log in and i forgot to change my log when i came on

[DesertFox07]

As the book I'm writing right now was originally going to be drawn by me as well, I wrote it in full script so I could remember all the imagery I was coming up with. While I have complete confidence in the artist working on the book and his ability to do a really amazing job, I left it in full script so he could read my ideas. I like an artist who can take the writers vision, add his own elements to the mix, and knock out something amazing. So just like in any art form, personal preference really becomes the guiding principal.