Alan Moore's Writing for Comics
Encyclopedia
Alan Moore's Writing for Comics is a book published in 2003 by Avatar Press
. It reprints a 1985 essay by Alan Moore
on how to write comics
successfully that originally appeared in the British magazine
Fantasy Advertiser
(four chapters from issue #92, August 1985, to issue #95, February 1986).
The book consists of four main chapters, it also includes an additional essay by Moore and illustration
s by Jacen Burrows
.
and plotting a comic book script. The last chapter however, written in 2003, aims to provide an X-Treme writing for comics course and advices; "never to get stuck in one writing style, always be open to try new things."
Avatar Press
Avatar Press is an independent American publisher of comic books, founded in 1996 by William A. Christensen, and based in Rantoul, Illinois.Avatar initially published only mini-series; however, they have since begun to branch out...
. It reprints a 1985 essay by Alan Moore
Alan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
on how to write comics
Comics
Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...
successfully that originally appeared in the British magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
Fantasy Advertiser
Fantasy Advertiser
Fantasy Advertiser, later abbreviated to FA, was a British fanzine which discussed comic books. It was initially edited by Frank Dobson, essentially as an advertising service for comic collectors, and when Dobson emigrated to Australia in 1970 he handed it on to two contributors, Dez Skinn and Paul...
(four chapters from issue #92, August 1985, to issue #95, February 1986).
The book consists of four main chapters, it also includes an additional essay by Moore and illustration
Illustration
An illustration is a displayed visualization form presented as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that is created to elucidate or dictate sensual information by providing a visual representation graphically.- Early history :The earliest forms of illustration were prehistoric...
s by Jacen Burrows
Jacen Burrows
Jacen Burrows is a San Diego born American artist best known for his work on various comic books from Avatar Press.-Biography:He graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 1996 with a degree in Sequential Art...
.
Chapters
The first four chapters are dedicated to establishing a beginner guide about writing, storytellingStorytelling
Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, images and sounds, often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation and in order to instill moral values...
and plotting a comic book script. The last chapter however, written in 2003, aims to provide an X-Treme writing for comics course and advices; "never to get stuck in one writing style, always be open to try new things."
- Chapter 1 The Basic Idea: Thinking About Comics focuses on the idea behind the whole work of art. What the writer intends to express in his/her work.
- Chapter 2 Reaching The Reader: Structure, Pacing, Story Telling is drilling into the readers skull and gives tips on how to keep the reader focused on the comic book.
- Chapter 3 World Building: Place and Personality suggests to possible comic book writers; to examine real life charecters, persons one know throughout their life in order to create real characters. This chapter also gives hints about how to create a detailed universe,even if it means to start from creating economic structures.
- Chapter 4 The Details: Plot and Script aims to demolish the misunderstanding of the importance of plot. Moore delineates plot not as a list of things happening but more like a concept of time, contrubuting to the other elements of the art.
- Final Part Afterwords is more like a sum up and a confession of all the wrong things Alan Moore told the readers about "how to be a good writer". Moore suggests writers who already started their career, to "simply try new and hard things they didn't think they could manage" in order to become a better writer.
External links
- Review at Comics BulletinComics BulletinComics Bulletin is a website with an emphasis on the American comic book industry, updated daily with news, reviews, interviews, and editorial content. Coverage ranges from mainstream to independent/small press comic book and graphic novel publishers.-History:...
- Review at Philippine Online Chronicles