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Step 1
Look at examples of comics or graphic novels and pay attention to the way that the stories unfold.
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Step 2
Organize your ideas for your comics into a series of "shots" for your layouts, just as a movie production team would plan a film. Have a good mix of different types of shots to move the story forward.
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Step 3
Choose a wide shot to establish a setting or a location for your novel. In this type of shot, you convey as much background detail as you can. You may be able to see characters, but they should not be the main focus of this layout.
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Step 4
Select medium shots for your comics layouts when you want to communicate information about your characters. The subjects of this type of shot will take up about as much space as the background.
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Step 5
Consider a close shot for your layouts when you want your characters to display emotions. In these shots, the subject will dominate the frame so that you can demonstrate what your character is thinking.
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Step 6
Think about a vertical layout in which the story advances as the reader follows the action downward. This layout is especially useful for graphic novels or comics published online.
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Step 7
Vary the sizes of your shots or panels to give your graphic novels a rhythm that the reader can feel.
