Becca Hillburn
Since I'm both an illustrator and a writer, when I get blocked on one project, I just switch to another. I'm always working on something- sketching, writing my blog, working on 7" Kara, creating new illustrations for the children's book I'm illustrating, Gizmo Grandma: A Twisty Tale. I think writing for comics, especially if you're also illustrating, makes it easier to avoid writers block than writing prose, because I'm less concerned with how something sounds mentally and more concerned with how I can make it come across visually.
When I write for comics, I have quite a few steps. I have a long form synopsis that includes ALL of 7" Kara. I break that synopsis into chapter chunks, and I flesh that out into individual chapter synopsis as I come to each chapter. I have my editing crew of friends and comic artists read over it, and when plotholes have been filled, I move on to scripting, which includes dialogue and page direction. I have my friends check that, then I start thumbnailing. This method lets me stay on course, allows me to be flexible if I want or need to make major story changes, and I'm not forced to think about the entire story at any time unless that's what I want to focus on. The long breaks from writing (spent drawing and attending shows, of course) give me plenty of time to mull over where I want to take the story, and what I want to happen in individual chapters. While I'm not focused on writing, I keep lots of notes, so I'm always ready for inspiration to strike!
When I write for comics, I have quite a few steps. I have a long form synopsis that includes ALL of 7" Kara. I break that synopsis into chapter chunks, and I flesh that out into individual chapter synopsis as I come to each chapter. I have my editing crew of friends and comic artists read over it, and when plotholes have been filled, I move on to scripting, which includes dialogue and page direction. I have my friends check that, then I start thumbnailing. This method lets me stay on course, allows me to be flexible if I want or need to make major story changes, and I'm not forced to think about the entire story at any time unless that's what I want to focus on. The long breaks from writing (spent drawing and attending shows, of course) give me plenty of time to mull over where I want to take the story, and what I want to happen in individual chapters. While I'm not focused on writing, I keep lots of notes, so I'm always ready for inspiration to strike!
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