Writing for Animation, Comics, and Games

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
		Books
		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
		Books
		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