Story boards

[RoperTrace]

I was listening to a cartoonist this morning talking about using storyboards to move one of his cartoons to a movie format. And I was wondering if any of you make storyboards for your stories? Years ago, in the late '80s and early '90s, I worked for a company that made products for Disney. Their artist teams came in and actually taught us some basics in using storyboards. There were some practical uses for SBs in managing projects.

 

[KeithD]

Usually nothing more than sketchy notes: personal, place names, essential hooks, significant dates.

 

[SamScribble]

I haven't used storyboards for stories. But I have worked on several short films that were storyboarded. I wrote the script, and then I sat down with the director and the art director and talked things through; and then the art director went away and produced a storyboard. The storyboards were absolute works of art. I wish that I had kept a few of them.

 

[NotWise]

I've never storyboarded a story. I do write synopses of my stories before I do the whole thing, and I construct mental images of the characters and key scenes. In effect, I construct a mental storyboard. I don't have a need to organize someone else's effort or sell the story, so I don't need an actual storyboard.

 

[Voboy]

It's not a bad idea, if that's the way you like to do things.

But not for me. I've got vivid images in my mind of all the things I need to picture.

 

[Auden James]

I haven't done it, and I'm wondering also what the use of it would be? Since writing uses an entirely different medium from drawing, I don't see how the drawings would readily translate into words? And if a writer is just making it harder on herself by setting herself a difficult, but essentially unnecessary task in addition to the difficult task of writing itself by now having to translate her storyboards into words too, why bother at all?

 

[TheRedChamber]

I haven't done it, and I'm wondering also what the use of it would be? Since writing uses an entirely different medium from drawing, I don't see how the drawings would readily translate into words? And if a writer is just making it harder on herself by setting herself a difficult, but essentially unnecessary task in addition to the difficult task of writing itself by now having to translate her storyboards into words too, why bother at all?

This was what I was thinking - a story board for a written story would just be notes - maybe a sentence for each paragraph of the story. The point of story boarding in cartoons would be to get things like angles and movements and enivronments worked out.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

Lots and lots and LOTS of point form.

 

[RoperTrace]

I haven't done it, and I'm wondering also what the use of it would be? Since writing uses an entirely different medium from drawing, I don't see how the drawings would readily translate into words? And if a writer is just making it harder on herself by setting herself a difficult, but essentially unnecessary task in addition to the difficult task of writing itself by now having to translate her storyboards into words too, why bother at all?

This was what I was thinking - a story board for a written story would just be notes - maybe a sentence for each paragraph of the story. The point of story boarding in cartoons would be to get things like angles and movements and enivronments worked out.

I should have supplied an example, my bad. Here's how you might do it if I remember how we did it for projects. Imagine something like an organization chart or flow diagram on a whiteboard. You'd make boxes, rectangles, ovals, and instead of names and titles, you'd put an abbrev storyline with possible directions to a new scene(box) or multiple story directions. I will try it on my next project(story) and see what I can come up with. I tend to be a write-on-the-fly type. Not for everyone, I realize that.

 

[BiscuitHammer]

I find I need to, or my stories get so damned convoluted. I'm a series writer, generally, so it's imperative that I remember what I've done and when, to keep from repeating meself.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I use a spreadsheet to accomplish what a storyboard would do. The cells and columns on the spreadsheet serve to position plots, characters, places, and anything else relevant and have the added benefit of being in digital format that I can keep on hand wherever I am when an idea strikes.

This method also allows me to track things back through prior stories since many of my stories are sequels and rely upon people, places, and things from earlier stories.

 

[Auden James]

Imagine something like an organization chart or flow diagram on a whiteboard. You'd make boxes, rectangles, ovals, and instead of names and titles, you'd put an abbrev storyline with possible directions to a new scene(box) or multiple story directions.

So it's more like charting plot points, do I understand that correctly?

 

[Voboy]

I find I need to, or my stories get so damned convoluted. I'm a series writer, generally, so it's imperative that I remember what I've done and when, to keep from repeating meself.

I have one series that's ongoing and fairly long-running, plus convoluted; I make bullet-point notes documents, but every 3-4 chapters those become so unwieldy that I have to cull through them, eliminate outdated material, and add in different stuff. Then I rename the file, archive the old one, and drive on.

It's amazing how much world-building backup matter I've accumulated, just from one 9(ish)-chapter series. But I'm fairly sure I keep my details straight, for the most part.

OP, what you're describing is a flowchart, not a storyboard. If it works for you, it's a good idea. I don't think it would work for me; I'd be constantly looking to add or subtract stuff, but I'd be trying to do it on the laptop. I think that would be a PITA. Instead, the "find" function on my Word note-sheets does me well enough.

 

[SimonDoom]

No storyboards for me, but traditionally before writing I have prepared notes and an outline that includes a quick summary of what the story is about, a cast of characters that describes who they are and their role, and a numbered outline of the plot. Lately, I've been more inclined to internalize the process and I don't spend as much time with a formal written outline.

 

[RoperTrace]

I have one series that's ongoing and fairly long-running, plus convoluted; I make bullet-point notes documents, but every 3-4 chapters those become so unwieldy that I have to cull through them, eliminate outdated material, and add in different stuff. Then I rename the file, archive the old one, and drive on.

It's amazing how much world-building backup matter I've accumulated, just from one 9(ish)-chapter series. But I'm fairly sure I keep my details straight, for the most part.

OP, what you're describing is a flowchart, not a storyboard. If it works for you, it's a good idea. I don't think it would work for me; I'd be constantly looking to add or subtract stuff, but I'd be trying to do it on the laptop. I think that would be a PITA. Instead, the "find" function on my Word note-sheets does me well enough.

I actually said that above except I used flow diagrams, or flowcharts same difference to me. I was an engineer and liked visual types of charts, rather than outlines, so I may try to adapt them just to keep my themes and characters better organized. My ADHD has reared its ugly head again, now in my golden years. HA

 

[Priscilla_June]

I typically use a chronological list of posts (a timeline) it you would gor arranging my story. Helps me a lot for controlling the progression of my story and ensuring I don’t jump to fast from one plot to another or without it making sense. Also good for keeping my scatter brain in check. Its great too because I can add and expand as much as I need.

 

[AWhoopsieDaisy]

I use storyboards for traditional writing on occasion although I'm an animator so that shouldn't be surprising.

 

[Rob_Royale]

Who ever heard of erotic stick figures?

 

[RoperTrace]

I've never storyboarded a story. I do write synopses of my stories before I do the whole thing, and I construct mental images of the characters and key scenes. In effect, I construct a mental storyboard. I don't have a need to organize someone else's effort or sell the story, so I don't need an actual storyboard.

Any chance of sharing one of your synopses for a story?

 

[NotWise]

Any chance of sharing one of your synopses for a story? I've been dealing with some family health situations (older sister & wife) and have frequent, unplanned breaks in my time while working on a story, and I'm depending on my memory to tell me where I was at, or where it was going. Your idea would probably help.

Sorry, but the synopses never survive. I write the story in the same document the synopsis is in and delete the synopsis as the story grows. It does help me keep track of stop-and-start efforts, but the only example I have is for an in-progress story for Chloe's Mike Hammer event.

Best wishes for you and yours.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

Sorry, but the synopses never survive. I write the story in the same document the synopsis is in and delete the synopsis as the story grows. It does help me keep track of stop-and-start efforts, but the only example I have is for an in-progress story for Chloe's Mike Hammer event.

Same here. Basically when I'm in brainstorming mode I just jot down point form. I end up with a list of point form in my document and I cut/paste to arrange the order of the notes. When I revisit, I edit or add more notes and when there's enough to inspire a particular scene, I pick one out from the notes and flesh it. Once it is fleshed, the note is gone (it is a paragraph or a scene now) and I move up and down the skeleton of notes to add/edit more or to flesh out the next one that inspires me. I jump up and down the skeleton and almost never write chronologically. This way you have the advantage to weave a certain concept all the way through the story. For instance, if you come up with a clever event or theme that ties the ending, you can go back and foreshadow it towards the beginning, or even hint it again in the middle. It also helps with brain flow. If you're stuck or blocked, study your notes for inspiration. Conversely, if you have too many ideas bottlenecked and can't write it all down quickly enough, type them in point form to get them down fast and flesh them out later.

My Hammer piece is two scenes and a tangle of notes right now too. (blush)

 

[yowser]

Same here. Basically when I'm in brainstorming mode I just jot down point form. I end up with a list of point form in my document and I cut/paste to arrange the order of the notes. When I revisit, I edit or add more notes and when there's enough to inspire a particular scene, I pick one out from the notes and flesh it. Once it is fleshed, the note is gone (it is a paragraph or a scene now) and I move up and down the skeleton of notes to add/edit more or to flesh out the next one that inspires me. I jump up and down the skeleton and almost never write chronologically. This way you have the advantage to weave a certain concept all the way through the story. For instance, if you come up with a clever event or theme that ties the ending, you can go back and foreshadow it towards the beginning, or even hint it again in the middle. It also helps with brain flow. If you're stuck or blocked, study your notes for inspiration. Conversely, if you have too many ideas bottlenecked and can't write it all down quickly enough, type them in point form to get them down fast and flesh them out later.

My Hammer piece is two scenes and a tangle of notes right now too. (blush)

Nicely said and similar to my own approach. And you provide some useful diagnostics/getting unstuck options.

Only other thing I'll sometimes do, particularly with more complex offerings, is a notebook page or two, handwritten with arrows and annotations, that sometimes helps to keep things organized and linear (when that is needed - proto-storyboarding maybe.)

'My Hammer piece is two scenes and a tangle of notes right now too. (blush)'

Between us we probably could create the perfect Hammer gordian knot, my thing's a mess at the moment.

 

[NotWise]

Between us we probably could create the perfect Hammer gordian knot, my thing's a mess at the moment.

I update my synopsis as details come to mind, but I usually write the final text chronologically. I get less confused that way.

My Mike Hammer story got set aside in favor of a Summer Loving story that I'm just finishing now. I was quite aways into it before I figured out how my male protagonist was going to make money off his adventure. But it's still there, all synopsized and waiting for me to put flesh on the bones.