Writing for Animation, Comics, and Games, 2nd Edition

Length: 312 pages
Edition: 2
Language: English
Publisher: CRC Press
Publication Date: 2021-08-04
ISBN-10: 0815379382
ISBN-13: 9780815379386
Sales Rank: #0 (See Top 100 Books)

This second edition of go https://townofosceola.com/9pqbs0yrq Writing for Animation, Comics, and Games expounds on the previous edition with more information on how to construct narratives for these three forms of visual storytelling media. Christy Marx’s book offers an in-depth look into scriptwriting and how to break into each of the featured industries. The text goes into detail on visual storytelling: how to compose exterior storytelling (animation, games) and interior/exterior storytelling (comics and graphic novels); as well as considerations for non-linear videogames. The advice within these pages can be used to build a transmedia career across animation, comics, graphic novels, and videogames.

Key Features

An insider’s perspective on career rules of the road on writing for comics, videogames, and animation
Written for beginners and professionals alike
A nuts-and-bolts guide to script formats, terminology, networking, and valuable advice on writing for each medium

Author Bio

Based in Northern California, Christy Marx is an award-winning writer, story editor, TV series developer, game designer, and narrative designer. Her many credits include https://musicboxcle.com/2025/04/hfo2kvrah9 Babylon 5; https://audiopronews.com/headlines/vjnsf01t Captain Power and Soldiers of the Future; https://faroutpodcast.com/h5zok4h The Twilight Zone; https://www.psychiccowgirl.com/p4hw4ab3 G.I. Joe; click here Jem and the Holograms; source site Spider-Man; see url He-Man; http://jannaorganic.co.uk/blog/2025/04/03/743y8ygz X-Men Evolution; https://reggaeportugal.com/obcuoc03v Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; https://kanchisilksarees.com/pyesulfa Conan the Adventurer; https://kirkmanandjourdain.com/6r5ozwj94j8 Birds of Prey; Buy Clonazepam Usa Amethyst; go here The Sisterhood of Steel; Sierra On-Line adventure games; PC, MMO, and console games; Zynga mobile games; and more. For full credits, visit www.christymarx.com.

Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Author
Introduction
Transmedia Overview
Animation
    1 History/Evolution of Animation
        Genres and Categories
            Features
            Television Series and Shows
            Children’s Animation
            Animation for Adults
            Anime
            Alternative Forms of Animation
    2 Terminology
        Script Terms
        Other Animation Terms
    3 The Basics
        The Television Animation Process
        Script-driven Shows
        Board-Driven Shows
        The Script Process
            The Springboard
            The Premise
            The Outline
            The Script Format
            The Basic Layout
            The Title Page
        The Differences
            Difference #1: Calling Out the Shots
            Difference #2: Dialogue and the Lip Synch Factor
            Difference #3: Script Length
        Writing to Length
        Working Out Act Breaks
        The 3D Script versus the 2D Script
        Restrictions Breed Creativity
        Other Things You May Be Expected to Do
        Scriptwriting Software
        The Animated Feature Film
        Beyond the Basics
            Keep Your Story Editor Happy
            Be Kind to the Storyboard Artist
            Present Tense and “-ing” Words
            Verboten Words
            Everybody Gets Out Alive
            Imitatable Behavior
            Subtle Emotion
            Use of Slang
            Dialect
            The Other Translation Problem
            Getting around the Lip-Synch Problem
            Capitalizing Character Names
            Be a Good Net Citizen
        The “Spykecam” Outline and Script
    4 Breaking and Entering
        Breaking into Television Animation
            Spec Scripts
            Networking
            Ways to Network
            Writing Contests and Other Outlets
            Script Database Services
            Internet Searches
            Learning about the Business
        Breaking into Feature Animation
        Selling an Animation Series Concept
            The Animation Bible
            What Goes into an Animation Bible
            Using Artwork in a Pitch Bible
            What Will Sell and Why
            Getting in the Door
        Getting an Agent
        Once You Have an Agent
        Getting Paid
        Unions and Organizations
            The WGAw and the Animation Writers Caucus
            IATSE Union 839 aka The Animation Guild
        Location, Location, Location
    Animation Resources
        Trades and Magazines
        Organizations
        Contests and Competitive Writing Programs
        Script Networking Sites
        Film Festivals for Writers
        Schools
        Informational Sites
        Copyright and Legal Information
        Writers on Writing
        Entry Level Industry Jobs
        Obtaining Scripts
Comics
    5 History/Evolution of the Comic Book
        Publishing Options
            Genres and Categories
    6 What Is a Comic Book?
        Web Comics
        Mobile Platform Comics
        Newspaper Comic Strips
        The Production Process
        Terminology
        The Comic Book Script
            Script Style (Plot-Script-Art)
            Plot Style (Plot-Art-Script)
            The Script Format
            Instructions for Letterer and Colorist
            The Visual Elements
            Script Length
        Beyond the Basics (Advice, Tips, and Tricks)
            The Page and Panels
            Be Kind to Your Artist
            Panels and Gutters
            Panels and Text
        Comic Book Script Sample
    7 Breaking and Entering
        Conventions
        Social Media
        Workshops, Seminars
        Clubs or Associations
        Email Contact
        Personal Appointment
        What If You’re Invited to Pitch?
        Create Your Own Comic
        Web Comics
        Finding an Artist
        If You Absolutely Cannot Find an Artist
        Copyright and Ownership
            The Trade-Off: Ownership versus Making a Deal
        Getting Paid
        Location, Location, Location
        Agents
        Unions and Organizations
    Comics Resources
        Talent Searches and Submission Guidelines
        Legal Help
        On-line Courses
        Websites about Comics
        Digital Publishing
        Organizations
        Conventions (A Short List)
        Copyright and Trademark
        Literary Agents that Represent Graphic Novels
Videogames
    8 History/Evolution of Videogames
        The Boundaries of Interactive Entertainment
        The Evolution of the Videogame
        Story-Driven versus Gameplay-Driven
        Game Genres
        Game Categories
            Adventure
            Action/Adventure
            Arcade Games
            ARG: Alternate Reality Games
            AR: Augmented Reality
            Battle Royale
            Casual
            Educational
            First-Person Puzzlers
            FPS: First-Person Shooters
            Hypercasual
            MMOG: Massively Multiplayer Online Games
            MOBA: Multiplayer Online Battle Arena
            RPG: Role-Playing Games
            RTS: Real-Time Strategy
            Sandbox
            Serious Games
            Sims: Simulators
            Sports (also eSports)
            Strategy
            Third-Person Shooters
            Virtual Worlds
        Need for Story Summary
    9 Design Roles and Terminology
        Game Designers
        Narrative Designer
        Game Writer
        “We Can Do Anything…”
        Videogames and Hollywood
        Terminology
            Terminology for Writers
            Game Development and Game Playing Terms
            F2P (Free-to-Play) Terms
    10 Deeper Dive into Narrative Design
        The Pizza Box Metaphor
        Linear versus Non-linear
        Choice
        What If…
        Variables and Flexibility
        Easy to Learn, Difficult to Master
        The Interface
        Game Verbs
        Narrative Tools
        Localization
        Three-Act Structure in Games
            ACT 1
            ACT 2
            ACT 3
        Game Parameters
            Zone
            Time or Phase
            Player Level
            Player Race, Faction, or Class
            Acquisition of Game Objects
            Acquisition of a Quest
            Predetermined Events
        Quests
            Quest Givers
            Quest Logs
            Quest Stages
            Repetition
        Visual Storytelling
        Immersion
        Virtual Reality Storytelling
        The Player’s Mindset
    11 Story-Driven Games and Branching Dialogue
        Branching Dialogue
            Pruning Branches
            Weighted Dialogues
            Faction Systems
            Timed Dialogues
    12  Game Writing
        Game Writing as Haiku
        The Script Format
        Game Writing Jobs
            FMV/Game Intro
            Game Bible
            Quests
            Cutscenes and Cinematics
            Dialogue
            In-Game Text
            Naming NPCs and Game Objects
            Story or Script Editing
            Technical or Game Manual
            Website and Promotional Materials
        Beyond the Basics (Advice, Tips, and Tricks)
            Version Control
            Recording Dialogue
        Game Bible, Game Story, and Cinematic Samples
    13 Breaking and Entering
        The Million Dollar Question
        Publishers and Developers
        Looking for Work: Freelance or Employee
            The Employee Track
            The Freelance Track
        Where to Network
        Timing
        How to Find the Who
            The Employee Track
            The Freelance Track
        Quality of Life
        Getting Paid
            The Employee Track
            The Freelance Track
        Location, Location, Location
        Agents
        Unions and Organizations
    GAMES RESOURCES
        Books
        Trade Shows and Conferences
        Networking
        Websites about Games
        Game Writers
        Unions and Organizations
        Tools
        Looking for Jobs
        Schools
Index