How To Create A Manga Script: The Most Important ??? We All Forget

In Today's video, I went over how to create manga a script. This is the next video in the making manga series. Script-making for mangaka is really the heart of what your story is all about. The scripting and the dialogue and scenes are all important to the context of your story. How you organize the structure of the script and what your characters say really can kill your manga before the script has even left the ground. So I talk about acting and how that elevates your character and their dialogue and also makes the reader more interested in the character and their development. I think we all forget the most important part of creating the manga script and that's just keeping the reader interested as well. Then also thinking about the beta readers who will be reading it and their feedback on your manga script is important as well to cover any errors in your grammar as well as your manga continuity and who that all will work. The process can be daunting but it's good overall to get your manga on the road.

Intro 
Imagine two nations at war. They have lost so many people to this war that they have decided that it is time to sit down and find a peaceful resolution to their fighting. The two nations spoke different languages so they decided on one translator who was tasked with  conveying their thoughts. This person was great at translating but was not good at conveying the general's true feelings in their translation and before they knew it the two nations were at war again .And That brings me to the topic of today's video about How Manga Scripts Are Made.

 But before we get into this video if you're new don't hesitate to hit that subscribe button like the video and hit that bell for notifications when you wanna hear things that I have to say... now let's get into it. 

Hey everyone it's ya boy Vandel and today we are going to get into writing scripts for your manga. This one should be simple but if you haven't watched the other videos in this series I would catch up to make sure you have everything you are going to need for today! Now what are you going to need for creating your manga scripts? 

Where should you write 

When thinking about starting your manga script it's less of what. and more about where and when should you write your script. Now the first thing I would say is that you can use just about anything to create your script pencil on paper, a keyboard, even a hammer nail and stone. Ok well maybe not that one but you get it. Script writing is open to what you are comfortable with. There are a ton of programs out there that you can use and honestly I would stick to a simple word program. For those who are here you know we love to give out templates. So if you're looking for a FREE Template well check the link down below. So Now that you have the Template booted up let's get into how you want to structure the whole script. 

The structure of your script
The structure of your script is super important and should be as clear as possible for yourself or the artist that you are working with to draw your manga. So in a video about how to start your manga I talk about how to structure your manga. What I do there is that I create sections. This Can be seen in your template. The Scenes are going to help greatly with organizing the script and what we are going to put inside of each scene is the dialogue. From your first scene what you can do is put the description in the scene to get an idea of what is happening so the dialogue can flow just as well. Once you have your scene established you can get into what each character is going to say and that is the dialogue. 

This is a side note to people who are just writing the script and that's you NEED to be as descriptive as possible. I promise you you need to put the details of everything as much as possible so that everyone can know what is going on! Please don't just say to an artist to have artistic freedom. The more detailed you are in your additional notes to your scenes and even what a character is doing the better informed your artist will be of the final product. 

Dialogue the heart of script 
Please I am begging you to make sure your dialogue is interesting to read. Don't write what you think the character would say, write what you the character would say. That said it takes knowing who is talking. So know your character, think about their personality and how they would react to the situation and make that natural not forced. I know a lot of manga and anime have done things we have seen but there is always a way to mix it up and that's what makes this so hard. So after you understand your character's personality. We need you to become an actor.

Ok nothing professional but this is going to take some practice. Pretend you are your character and see how they would react to the situation and what they would say. This is really hard because in essence you need to become someone else and that's hard. So keep practicing as you create characters and imagine then talking in your head or act it out by yourself. YOu’ll be surprised what you are able to come up with. 

Now This is going to be the most important part of your dialogue and there are two parts. That's keeping your dialogue meaningful. There is such dialogue that says nothing even though your character in some way has actually spoken but adds no value for the character or the story. That's not to say your character cant be silly sometimes but even in those moments it can be meaningful, maybe it's to break the tension or create a segue for things to come. The point is the intentionality with your words and trying to cut out most of the fluff as possible. 

The other thing that I wanted to talk about was that the character doesn't have to say everything that is going on. Exposition has its place but that's why we chose to write a manga and not a book. So be deliberate here and make sure you are not just saying everything that is going on. The absence of dialogue is best to key the reader into those important moments to be seen. Like a revelation to themselves that they saw what's going on. That's really good. It shows your trust in your reader. I would say practice this more so it can be more fluid. Because sometimes you yourself the author thought you were so clear with your picture but the reader is like what just happened? Work on that exposition it definitely has a place but it's definitely on every page explaining how everything works.    

I think this is a nice point to put in for your dialogue and the scene actions. So what's happening as your character is talking. I like to include them in certain scenes or in general. It will really help you when you get to the story boarding phase. So the more detailed you are able to visualize the scene and what's happening the easier it will be to draw. So as you can see here are some pages in Besieger where I use it but it's peppered throughout the whole manga. Take a look to pause and see how I use it 

Now back into the last bit of dialogue. Sometimes when their character speaks not everything needs to be said at some points. Like when you’re talking you don't always lay out  all of the cards. Just like when you wanna make sure you don't say everything. It can help keep your dialogue concise while making the reader want to know more about what is said and maybe to bring that up at a later point as that may be important. I believe in the small things and rewarding the reader for catching that later. If you have an invested group of people then it'll definitely get to them. 

With that the last part of the organization and dialogue is the page number. That is super important just to know what you are going to put on the page. And how much can you actually fit.  What I like to do is keep it to 6 or so lines of dialogue but I also like to keep that interesting action of dialogue to get the person to want to go to the next page. So I try to pace it out like that. Its not easy to figure it out but the more you make manga the more you’ll get the flow of how many pages you’ll need and the amount of art that is going to go with the dialogue. This is something ill talk about in another video but your flow and pacing   will be impacted a lot think a lot of dialogue will be a slower page and one with less might move faster so that gives you an idea oh how you can arrange what you want to put where. 


Now Let's go into the end game after you finish your first draft. I highly recommend you have a friend read it and not a friend who will say everything you write is the next HxH some constructive feedback is key. Make sure you are getting that feedback and to do that you need more than one opinion and take the notes they give you and make another draft. I think a good idea is to diversify your reader: maybe someone who is familiar with your genre, someone who isnt your friend as well can give you proper feedback and maybe someone who knows nothing at all which is important to see how someone who knows nothing about the genre and how it goes sees your story. They might say a lot, maybe it's too bloated or your pacing is outta whack and it's going to suck to have to keep going back. However what is good here is that feedback is coming from different angles and you can see something that you might have not noticed otherwise. 

I know you spent so much time trying to get this  script together but don't worry you want to create something great you gotta put in the work. So make another version and rinse a repeat to see what needs to be corrected till you get the right version. I will say that it took me about 4- 6 versions before I got to what I wanted in NOTE. Something I will say for those without a deadline at a certain point you will need to just continue on with your  story and not to stay in the revision process too long. Because you wont make it perfect and as great as the feedback is you need to get on to the next stage in creating. Ok done with a Vandel PSAaaaa. 

When you are on that final draft. Let your beta readers go through it one last time. Let them give their final thoughts.But before you get their final thoughts you need to make peace with what you have created and understand everyone will have critiques and that's ok because this is art and art is subjective to people and what might not be for all might be for some. That said you will have them do one more pass and this isn't for the story flow or anything this is for the spelling errors and grammar or just weird speech unless intentional. This is going to happen here and towards the end of the manga but to make sure you aren't making it twice and small errors should be pointed out here to have a clean script. 

Now this isn't necessary but I like to have a physical version of my script made. Just sometimes computers aren't accessible or something isn't charged if you can. A physical copy is always a good backup plus it makes people see you as professional. YOu can be like oh here's my script ooouuu fancy no ok… A digital option is just as good so that you can take it with you but it just might be my old school nature. But its up to you at this point. 

Now once you have gone through this your script should be shaped up at revision 3 which should be good enough to get started storyboarding. Some things to remember: Structure will make your script really easy to read and follow what's going on. Create dialogue that is meaningful to your character and your story. Work with not telling too much and balance that with showing and leaving somethings unsaid to get your reader to wonder. Have some beta readers read what you made, take their notes and make revisions. Overall if you follow these I think the clarity of your script will shine and really help you for the next phase in our journey and that's when we are going to talk about STORYBOARDS! 

But that's all I have for you today ! I hope you enjoyed and learned something you can use in your scripts you can drop a like. If you want to see what we will do with storyboards click that subscribe button and that bell so you can be alerted when we do! But question what's the worst part about scripts? But till then Ill catch you in the next one. peace BYEEEE. 

When you are finished 

Have people read it beta readers are best for feedback
Make another version 
Have some one read for errors in spelling or simple grammar 
Print it our have a physical piece with you  will be helpful later.