Download or read book Learning to Write Superhero Stories Using the Best and Worst Superhero Movies to Write Better Novels Comics and Screenplays written by Brian McKenzie and published by Hyperink Inc. This book was released on 2012-10-23 with total page 118 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many writers suffer from the depressing misconception that popularity and critical acclaim are mutually exclusive. Encouragingly, from 2000-2012, 20 superhero movies scored above 70 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and 17 of them grossed more than $200 million at the box office. Hopefully, the enclosed reviews of four great superhero movies and two of the genre’s most notorious disasters will help you identify ways to distinguish your writing, sharpen your skills, and broaden the appeal of your work. EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK The Amazing Spider-Man 1. To the extent that you cover a superhero origin story, I’d recommend focusing on things and approaches we haven’t seen much of before. I think it would have helped to either spend less time covering the origin story or make it more different than Spider-Man 1. That said, I thought ASM’s approach to the death of Uncle Ben was smoother and more thematically effective–when Peter has the opportunity to stop the robber, there’s a plausible and immediate threat to bystanders. Peter declines and Ben gets killed seconds thereafter. This makes Peter’s motivation for a life-changing decision (becoming a superhero) more plausible. In contrast, in Spider-Man 1, Peter gets torn up because he doesn’t get involved in a relatively minor situation with a police officer present, with only a faint connection between Peter Parker letting the robber go and the robber killing a civilian. 1.1. Peter plays a more active role acquiring superpowers. He was only in the laboratory because he stole an ID and figured out how to thwart a keypad. I think the scene develops him more than just getting lucky at the science fair in Spider-Man 1. (Likewise, he makes his own webslingers instead of getting them from the spider-bite). 2. Beware the idiot ball – make sure there are believable consequences to actions. Peter Parker displayed his superpowers in public so many times that I think his classmates would have to be idiots not to notice something was amiss. (For example, the NBA-caliber dunk? Or breaking a goalpost with a football? Or lifting enormous Flash Thompson by the neck?) When characters make decisions, there should be consequences. For example, if the character is reckless with his powers, maybe other characters come closer to figuring out what’s going on. Or at least start asking difficult questions. 3. Speaking of consequences, I thought the crane scene was kind of cute. (Peter saves a construction worker’s kid and the construction worker later pulls in favors at the climax to help Spider-Man). It helps build a contrast between Spider-Man’s decidedly limited means and, say, the lavishly-funded Avengers or X-Men. I think it’s also a more subtle and effective way of showing he’s more of an everyman hero than we saw in previous Spider-Man movies (e.g. subway passengers throwing themselves between Dr. Octopus and a crippled Spidey felt sort of hokey to me). Buy the Book to Read More!
Download or read book Comics Experience Guide to Writing Comics written by Andy Schmidt and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2018-06-19 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Unlock the secrets to comic-writing success! "You have a story tell. It's your story... These are ways to help you get your story out, to help you become the writer inside of yourself." This is the book on writing you've been waiting for, a nuts-and-bolts guide to writing fiction for comics. While it is true that there is no set way to write a comic book script, no set format, no industry standard, it is equally true that someone learning to write comics needs structure. That's where Comics Experience© Guide to Writing Comics can help. Comics veteran Andy Schmidt offers sage advice and practical instruction for everything from writing realistic dialogue to communicating your ideas to other comics professionals. Inside you'll find: • 23 exercises to help you put fundamental writing principles into practice • Sample script formats, page-by-page outlines, scene-by-scene outlines and short pitches that show you exactly how to create these important components of the writing process • Diagrams and pages from published comics to illustrate key concepts • Tips on professional development, networking and navigating the comics industry These pages include all the tools you need to write great comics, but where do you begin? Begin with yourself. You have to know--not believe--know: You can do this, and this guide will help. Now, begin with Chapter 1...
Download or read book Words for Pictures written by Brian Michael Bendis and published by Watson-Guptill. This book was released on 2014-07-22 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Best-selling Marvel Comics writer Brian Michael Bendis reveals the comic book writing secrets behind his work on The Avengers, Ultimate Spider-Man, All-New X-Men, and more. Arguably the most popular writer in modern comics, Brian Michael Bendis shares the tools and techniques he uses to create some of the most popular comic book and graphic novel stories of all time. Words for Pictures provides a fantastic opportunity for readers to learn from a creator at the very top of his field. Bendis's step-by-step lessons teach comics writing hopefuls everything they'll need to take their ideas from script to dynamic sequential art. The book's complete coverage exposes the most effective methods for crafting comic scripts, showcases insights from Bendis's fellow creators, reveals business secrets all would-be comics writers must know, and challenges readers with exercises to jumpstart their own graphic novel writing success.
Download or read book The Everything Guide to Writing Graphic Novels written by Mark Ellis and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2008-01-01 with total page 275 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Create your own illustrated world with The Everything Guide to Writing Graphic Novels! Watchmen. V for Vendetta. A History of Violence. The Sandman. 300. You’ve read them, you’ve loved them, and now you want to write and illustrate them. The Everything Guide to Writing Graphic Novels is your shot at the big time. Whether you want to go as dark as Sin City, as funny as Bone, or as poignant as Maus, this book shows you how to do it all. You’ll learn how to: -Develop memorable characters -Create intricate storylines -Illustrate, lay out, and design panels that pop -Letter your dialogue -Market and promote your work It’s all here for you. Professional graphic novelists Mark Ellis and Melissa Martin Ellis show you the ropes of the industry and how to make your graphic novel matter. They help you to take the ideas out of your head and put them onto the page. Lavishly illustrated with more than 100 drawings, this guide also features full-color examples of Mark Ellis’s distinctive graphic style. Dramatic? Humorous? Off-beat? With pen in hand, it’s up to you. A whole universe of characters and volumes of stories are waiting to be created—now give them life!
Download or read book Save the Cat written by Blake Snyder and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This ultimate insider's guide reveals the secrets that none dare admit, told by a show biz veteran who's proven that you can sell your script if you can save the cat!
Download or read book Guardians of the Galaxy written by Dan Abnett and published by Marvel Entertainment. This book was released on 2016-08-10 with total page 147 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the infinite expanse of time and space, is there room for more than one group of Guardians of the Galaxy? You bet there is! Rocket, Groot and Drax are about to go on an adventure so big it will draw in counterparts from a thousand years away. Not just the Guardians 3000 you know and love but also...the Guardians 1000?! But who are these universal protectors from centuries ago? They're not the only newcomers on the scene, and the other arrivals are gearing up for something that can't mean anything good! The past is under attack, but is any time safe? Put your faith in the Guardians of three eras! Plus, bonus tales featuring your favorite Guardians including Drax, Rocket, Groot and the Thing! COLLECTING: GUARDIANS OF INFINITY #1-6.
Download or read book The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics written by Dennis O'Neil and published by Watson-Guptill. This book was released on 2013-07-09 with total page 175 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For any writer who wants to become an expert comic-book storyteller, The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics is the definitive, one-stop resource! In this valuable guide, Dennis O’Neil, a living legend in the comics industry, reveals his insider tricks and no-fail techniques for comic storytelling. Readers will discover the various methods of writing scripts (full script vs. plot first), as well as procedures for developing a story structure, building subplots, creating well-rounded characters, and much more. O’Neil also explains the many diverse formats for comic books, including graphic novels, maxi-series, mega-series, and adaptation. Of course, there are also dozens of guidelines for writing proposals to editors that command attention and get results.
Download or read book Comics Writing Communicating with Comic Books written by Steven Philip Jones and published by Caliber Comics. This book was released on 2019-07-25 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Comics Writing: Communicating With Comic Books unveils the basics in comics writing from Steven Philip Jones, a professional comic book writer and instructor. Comics Writing shows you the step-by-step process of creating a comics script and how it is turned into a finished comics page. With the help of examples and comic book illustrations, this book will introduce you to: the different styles of comic book scripts; the tools of cartoon communications like panels, borders, and speech balloons; how to write a story as a comics script; the collaborative process between writer and artists; how to find and develop ideas for your comics stories; tips on creating characters; how to avoid common mistakes new comics writers often make; and other tips of the trade. If you're a writer wanting to find out how to write comic books, or if you are any kind of communicator wanting to learn the basics of communicating by using the comics medium Comics Writing can be a valuable tool. A Caliber Comics release.
Download or read book Stan Lee s How to Write Comics written by Stan Lee and published by Watson-Guptill. This book was released on 2011-10-11 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Comics icon Stan Lee, creator of the Mighty Marvel Universe, has set about to teach everything he knows about writing and creating comic book characters. In these pages, aspiring comics writers will learn everything they need to know about how to write their own comic book stories, complete with easy to understand instruction, tips of the trade, and invaluable advice even for more advance writers. From the secrets to creating concepts, plots, to writing the script, the man with no peer — Stan Lee—is your guide to the world of writing and creating comics.
Download or read book 30 Days of Night written by Steve Niles and published by Wildstorm. This book was released on 2011 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Graphic Novel. When evidence of a possible cannibal killer in Wainwright, Alaska draws the attention of the FBI, Mulder and Scully draw the assignment. But all is not as it seems, not only has the long seasonal darkness begun to fall, but there's something unnatural about a few of the locals. And what does a chilling, mysterious black ship have to do with the murders?
Download or read book The Superhero Writer s Collection written by Ukandu Ette and published by . This book was released on 2020-05-29 with total page 297 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Want to write a story that's a page-turner? Yes, all writers want that. We all want to become superhero writers that save readers from being bored. This guide will show you how to do that with it's no B.S. approach to writing fiction. It's filled with easy to understand tips and examples of what readers of any genre are looking for in their next eBook purchase. This guide will help you take your idea and turn it into a novel worthy of being read by the masses. Learn how to create memorable characters with elaborate and exciting backstories using the character profile questions. Create villains that are mired in their attempts to thwart the hero. Create simple outlines to put your thoughts in order and understand how to move your story forward using the example provided for you. There are also links to other examples of outlines used by authors to plot their idea into a workable narration. This guide covers essential elements of writing, providing you with the skills to improve your existing stories and develop new ones. Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action and Resolution are all necessary to any story, but this guide will show you how to keep them interesting for your readers. Show vs. Tell explained in simple terms with examples that will help you finally understand what readers want and need. Learn what a character arc is and why you need to include them in your stories. These techniques are what the best writers use to make money writing romance, mysteries, thriller, science fiction, horror, and more. With the improvement of your writing skills, you can elevate your ideas and become an Amazon Best Seller in no time. You may even make the New York Times Best Seller's list. Others have done it, and so can you. Become the next writing superhero, download your copy and get started on that book idea that been dancing around in your mind. Don't forget to get your copy of the Superhero Writer's Notebook. Need to know how to edit and design a cover for your eBook? Editor cost money and if you are like many new self-publishers, you don't have the budget to pay for professional editing and cover design services. This guide will show you how to edit your novel using simple methods and free software. It will also help you design book covers that look great and cost you nothing. It's a no B.S. approach to editing and cover design for new publishers. Learn how to create clean, simple covers that grab attention in a good way. Find out what software can be used online or downloaded for free to manipulate images for your covers. This guide will also cover some of the legal ways you can use photos found on the internet. Filled with examples of what to do and what not to do when designing an effective cover. Editing tips and instructions that are easy to follow and implement will make your books more enjoyable for your readers. Includes secrets used by real self-published authors to make their books as professional as some well-known authors. These techniques are what superhero writers use to make their fiction and nonfiction books appealing to the masses. By improving your editing and cover design skills, you can give your readers the best reading experience of their lives and have them coming back to you for more professional-quality books. Become the next editing and cover design superhero, download your copy, and get started on that book idea that been dancing around in your mind. Need help organizing your thoughts to write your book? This notebook is the way to do that.
Download or read book A Once Crowded Sky written by Tom King and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2013-07-09 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Tom King's debut novel opens in an imaginative world of comic book superheroes struggling to take on normal lives after sacrificing their powers to save the world"--
Download or read book What is a Superhero written by Robin S. Rosenberg PhD and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2013-07-01 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It's easy to name a superhero--Superman, Batman, Thor, Spiderman, the Green Lantern, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Rorschach, Wolverine--but it's not so easy to define what a superhero is. Buffy has superpowers, but she doesn't have a costume. Batman has a costume, but doesn't have superpowers. What is the role of power and superpower? And what are supervillains and why do we need them? In What is a Superhero?, psychologist Robin Rosenberg and comics scholar Peter Coogan explore this question from a variety of viewpoints, bringing together contributions from nineteen comic book experts--including both scholars in such fields as cultural studies, art, and psychology as well as leading comic book writers and editors. What emerges is a kaleidoscopic portrait of this most popular of pop-culture figures. Writer Jeph Loeb, for instance, sees the desire to make the world a better place as the driving force of the superhero. Jennifer K. Stuller argues that the female superhero inspires women to stand up, be strong, support others, and most important, to believe in themselves. More darkly, A. David Lewis sees the indestructible superhero as the ultimate embodiment of the American "denial of death," while writer Danny Fingeroth sees superheroes as embodying the best aspects of humankind, acting with a nobility of purpose that inspires us. Interestingly, Fingeroth also expands the definition of superhero so that it would include characters like John McClane of the Die Hard movies: "Once they dodge ridiculous quantities of machine gun bullets they're superheroes, cape or no cape." From summer blockbusters to best-selling graphic novels, the superhero is an integral part of our culture. What is a Superhero? not only illuminates this pop-culture figure, but also sheds much light on the fantasies and beliefs of the American people.
Download or read book The Complete Idiot s Guide to Screenwriting written by Skip Press and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2000 with total page 365 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Provides advice for aspiring screenwriters on how to write scripts for television and motion pictures, including what topics are popular, how to rework scenes, and how to sell screenplays in Hollywood.
Download or read book How to Write a Comic Book written by Nel Yomtov and published by Cherry Lake. This book was released on 2013-08-01 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book teaches readers how to plan and write comic books. They will discover ways of brainstorming ideas for a comic book story, how to outline a plot using a three-act organizational structure, how to incorporate dialogue and descriptions, and how to write clear and detailed instructions for an artist to draw the accompanying illustrations. A variety of activities provide hints and tips along the way to support the process of planning, organizing, and writing the narrative of a comic book story.
Download or read book Creepshow 4 written by Chris Burnham and published by Image Comics. This book was released on 2022-12-28 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Creep scares up two all-new standalone stories in this star-studded anthology based on the hit Shudder TV series. KYLE STARKS (I HATE THIS PLACE) and FRAN GALÁN (Lucky Devil) deliver the story of a ragtag group of kids who hunted a nest of vampires in their neighborhood...and the one who lived to tell the tale. HENRY BARAJAS (HELM GREYCASTLE) and DANI (Detective Comics, COFFIN BOUND) drop a hellacious tale of a fallen luchador who will do anything to claw her way back to the top!
Download or read book Secret Weapons written by Eric Heisserer and published by . This book was released on 2018-01-02 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Eric Heisserer - the Academy Award-nominated screenwriter of ARRIVAL and Valiant's upcoming HARBINGER and BLOODSHOT feature films - joins Harvey Award-nominated visionary Raúl Allén (Wrath of the Eternal Warrior) for an all-new Valiant adventure...launching Livewire and an extraordinary new team of heroes into the fight of their lives! The government has dispatched Amanda McKee - the technopath codenamed Livewire - to investigate the ruins of a secret facility formerly run by Toyo Harada, the most powerful telepath on Earth and her former mentor. In his quest for world betterment at any cost, Harada sought out and activated many potential psiots like himself. Those who survived, but whose powers he deemed to have no value to his cause, were hidden away at this installation. But Livewire, having studied Harada's greatest strengths and learned his deepest weaknesses, senses opportunity where he once saw failure. A young girl who can talk to birds... A boy who can make inanimate objects gently glow... To others, these are expensive disappointments. But, to Livewire, they are secret weapons...in need of a leader. Now, as a mechanized killer called Rex-O seeks to draw them out, Livewire and her new team of cadets will be forced to put their powers into action...in ways they never could have imagined...
