STEP 1:

The Script

The most important thing a comic can have, of course, is some decent writing.

Most of the writing I do for 8 1/2 by Eleven is done while in transition: on the bus, in spare time or when an idea pops into my head. Rarely do I sit and deliberately write comics.

I often write several comics at once... for example, I may write a week's worth of comics in one go, or sit down on the bus and pound out two or three on my way to school.

As you can see, I do my scripts with little short-hand versions of the characters' heads drawn in. The two characters to the left are my short-hand versions of Jessica and Scott.

I hardly ever draw bodies, but when special poses are needed, I may sketch a little body in (as Jessica has in the first panel).

I label the comic with the day that it is meant to run on.

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