Opening scene

While it is easier start a story with a random dialog, it would be even better if it starts with an opening scene filled with tension and emotions. A situation to start of your story and later on added scenes to make it more interesting and fun would be ideal. However although this is simply a story and you have the opportunity to wave the pen wherever you want, you have to keep in mind that being realistic on the situation is the key, no matter how much dramatic you want to be. However it doesn’t mean there need not be any drama, it means over exaggerating a plot or situation will not help at all to make it a good story.

Characterization

Characters are an important part of a story, it gives meaning and life to the plot. Choosing your characters and their personality wisely to build your story is the key. Unlike a story with pictures, it is unable to portray a character other than with words. Hence the descriptions and details should be given in a way it clearly expresses a character and their personality. The details you provide should be relevant and meaningful. Let your plot lead you and be open to new ideas and choices as you go through with your story.

Point of view

A story needs to be told in a point of view. It may be one of the characters or even the author himself. But choosing a character who has the most to lose and has strong emotions, would be my suggestion. The character is after all part of the story and he/ she sees only their side of it. Hence the chances for them to be mistaken on situations and read certain moments wrongly while being unaware of anything else that is going on, is high. This provides an opportunity for the writer to create the suspense he’s aiming for when writing the story, and is able to make it more eventful and dramatic.

Plot twist

What good is a story with no plot twist that adds the icing to the cake? Choosing these twists as well should be done while considering the ongoing story and its characters. A twist is able to change an entire character’s personality or even a situation. It is powerful on its own. Hence using it wisely to create the moments you want in your story is key.

Climax and the end

A good story has your characters developing into better people, shaping them to be someone better than who they were, throughout the story as the characters undergo various situations and changes. Ending with scene rather summary is also another better way of completing your story giving it the option to be open minded on the reader’s point of view and the ability to start a sequel if necessary in the writer’s point of view.

Consider the above and create your own story with lots of twists and turns. Be realistic too when conjuring up situations to help better your story. Don’t forget that if you don’t enjoy your work then you are not doing it right!

Adding value

Each piece of accessory you select, whether it’d be a simple pair of studs or a plain clutch, should add value to the outfit you are wearing and complement the look you are going for. If the outfit is bright and sparkly and able to stand out on its own, accessorizing it more would ruin the entire outfit and make it look like a total wardrobe malfunction. Hence choosing your pieces to match the look is very important. If it is a plain denim and a white t-shirt look you are going for, adding a charm bracelet, a long silver pendant chain and maybe even a few other colorful yet simple jewelry like some fancy studs would give a whole new look to the plain outfit you are wearing. Hence accessorizing can also help in reducing your cost on a whole new outfit!

Body frame

While it is necessary to accessorize according to your outfit, it is also important to pay attentions to your body frame. If you have a small and petite figure accessorizing with heavy jewelry will help you stand out obviously, yet not in a good way. For those with small petite figures it would be advisable to choose light and simple jewelry to perfect the outfit, while those with a large body frame choosing equally large and highlighting jewelry to match the outfit would be best. For those with medium figures it would be advisable to choose jewelry based on one’s outfit. However though adding too many of anything would not complement the look yet do the exact opposite of it. Therefore choose wisely!

Skin tone and outfit

The skin tone too affects not only one’s outfit but also accessories. It is advised for those with a darker skin tone to stick with light colors rather than going for dark colors. Similarly, if you have a darker skin tone, choosing your accessory to match your skin tone and outfit is an important point to be considered. Using more highlighted and neon colored accessory should be reduced, going for a more simple and charm look with accessories to match accordingly. And if you have a lighter skin tone playing with a range of colors would be ideal. You don’t necessarily have to stick with bright light colors but also can try out darker or neon colors based on your outfit. This will help you add value to perfect the look you’re going for.

Occasion

Considering the occasion or event you’re going for and accessorizing accordingly is another very important point. If you don’t want end up wearing high heels, paired with a ballroom worthy gown and accessories to go with it, to the beach, ensuring you’ve got the place and outfit to match the event is essential. Not only will it help you go with the theme of the event, it will also help you to make the right choices on accessorizing as well. Another important thing that shall complement the entire look would be to make it more personal. Accessorizing to match the event is key, but styling and perfecting it to represent who you are makes it even better rather than having to imitate the celebrity looks at the Grammys!

Consider the event, the place, your outfit and most importantly, yourself! Perfect your outfit with little accessories to complete a look and make sure you’re comfortable with whatever you choose to wear only then will you not only look great but also feel great!

Outline

Unlike in a novel, it is hard to remain with in plot line when it comes to a comic. However planning clearly your plot line, its beginning, middle and end may definitely help to remain within the frame as much as possible. Draw out an emotion graph, graphing out the arcs of your main and secondary characters to help better the plot. Start from there and carry your characters throughout the story.

Be open minded

It is clear that when writing a comic you’d tend to deviate from the plot or may even change your entire plot based on the way how you think the story ought to go, therefore being open minded and ready to accept change too is important. There might be different new characters that could be added or new plot twists that could help better the comic, so the willingness to change should be built within you, only then can you improve.

Characters

Just like in a novel, a comic too gives loads of importance to its characters, after all it is they who will be carrying out the story. Building exciting characters is vital if you want to write an amazing comic. However though making them more realistic and relatable shall make it even better. Although these might just be characters of a comic, they are human, so making them only look like one and not act like one might not exactly help. They’ve got to possess both strengths and weaknesses, desire and fear and be able to make decisions in a human like way in order to make them more realistic. Whatever choice that ought to be made should be chosen considering the character and how they would make it. After all you can’t have a villain who chooses to save a kitty from a tree rather than blowing up the entire city!

The twist

This is definitely an essential part of a story whether it’d be novel or a comic. The twist changes characters and even the entire story, choosing it wisely to help better the story would be advisable. After all isn’t this what makes you stay on the edge while reading a good book or a comic?

Visual

Unlike in a book with no pictures, a comic is able to provide the reader with imagery. Choosing the characters and every little detail of theirs to suit their personality should be done in a manner where it complements the plot, otherwise it would only look like an unwanted baggage that is being carried around.

Filling the dialogs

The story in a comic is built through dialogs. Reading out these dialogs in the character’s perspective would help a lot, especially when you want to know if it sounds weird or not. It should after all be a dialog not a whole speech! Get down a few friends and make them read it out to see if it sounds natural and suits the character.

Make the best out of what you’ve got. Keep motivating yourself to improve further to write better. The above pointers are only relevant in helping you to write your plot, but a comic is not all about plot, it is about visuals and imagery. Keep your script by the side when working out on the art and design of the character, read through it to help perfect the comic and match with the dialogs. Don’t forget to enjoy while perfecting the next superhero and villain series!