I always had a hard time writing stories until I realized something obvious: figure out the ending of your story and everything else falls into place. Basically, if you know how the story ends, all you have to do is write about the struggles your character faces in order to get to that point.

26:48, You said you had to cut off so much because otherwise the video would be 1 hour long. I just want to say that I wouldn't mind to watch a 1 hour long video and I bet I'm not alone on that.

Missile mouse is my childhood hero bro, it was by far the coolest thing in my small town's library lol

Video Annotation 2:23: Copying and adapting 5:01: The Story Pyramid * Conflict and Resolution * Character and Setting * Plot * Design 8:16: Story Structure - 7 Beats: 1. Normal World 2. Inciting Incident 3. Break Into Act 2 4. *Midpoint* 5. Break Into Act 3 6. Climax 7. Resolution 11:44: The Soul of the Story (Four Aspects of Good Stories): 1. Show change in character’s nature 2. Show character changing society 3. Reveal something significant about character 4. Show something significant about the world -- 14:07: Eight Steps to Hashing Out a Story *Step 1:* Idea Capture - what is your hook? *Step 2:* Establishing scope - length, format, time to produce, a deadline *Step 3:* Finding the conflict: What does my character want? What is stopping my character getting what they want? If my character has an opponent, what do _they_ want? Five Main Things a Character Wants (18:08) * To *Win* (something) * To *Retrieve* something (ie. _Indiana Jones_) * To *Deliver* something (ie. Lord of the Rings) * To *Escape* Something * To *Stop Something* From Happening (ie. Star Wars) *Step 4.* 19:23 The First Draft *Step 5.* 20:05 Work On The Rough Parts *Step 6.* 20:56 Nail Down the Beats - See 8:16 *Step 7.* 21:58 Write the Script *Step 8.*

Another tip for beginners: While you plan out your first comic story just take your favorite comic and copy the pages using the same method you would for your own. By the time you finished 20 pages, you will have found many workflow improvements that will help you make your own comic a reality.

One really weird but solid piece of advice I got from a book was this: if you want to make your story shorter, just make fewer characters. You'll always have to do the basic story stuff (where are we, what's going on, what happens in the story), so the only variable you can actually control is the number of characters. If you have only 2 characters, the story will be shorter than if you have 8 who all need to be introduced, established, resolved, etc. A singular boxing match between a main character and a rival or a bully is short. A series of boxing matches between the main character and a series of villains is much longer. Weird piece of advice, but it felt true to me, especially since my tendency is to create 80000 characters for everything.

To be honest, I'm fighting through a creative block that stems from a severe bout of depression I've been dealing with for some time, now. Your videos are slowly helping me to rebuild the courage to put pencil to paper again.

Before watching the whole thing I've been thinking about getting into short comics specifically and this might be exactly what i am looking for

"I make a pyramid. I like to call it The Pyramid".

This video is like an oasis on a scorching wasteland Gratitude is not enough for the info and hard worked you shared with us Successful or not...I merely want to create something I can hold in my hands and share it with others, that's where the magic lies for me and you just boost one's motivation thousands fold Thanks man

Jake Parker new video? Me: gets ready to be called out and educated! Breathes deep and clicks Thanks again Jake for saving me from that trap!

Hey man just wanted to say reading missile mouse as a kid is what inspired me to start drawing comics in the first place

I have been using your videos in my middle school language arts class to teach the kids about writing comics and the story writing process. They are such incredible videos and so easy to follow

I just found this video yesterday to help with my art block. I haven’t had an education in actual story writing besides for elementary when my teacher broke down story writing, so this helps out immensely. The quote towards the end is amazing and reminds me of a quote of Jack Kirby that I love so much I have it on my arm “kid, comics will break your heart” and when you said roughly that getting frustrated in your story process is a sign of heading in the right direction, it’s given me new hope! Thank you so much.

This is a master class of game delivered in under 30 minutes. Amazing!

Oh my god, I read Missile Mouse back in middle school, I can’t believe I’m now watching the guy who made it!

You’re killing it this year so far. Keep up the good work man.

I'm so glad I came across this video- I've been struggling recently with my own storywriting and how to 'get the ball rolling', for lack of a better term. This video just helped me flesh out the ideas I have in my thinking sack, so thank you so much! Keep doing what you're doing :)

I am literally taking notes off this to use while making my stories. genuinely, thank you.

My method for writing a story is, come up with something interesting, but it also has to make sense. Like cool expositions and fights are neat, but there has to be a reason for everything to happen. As long as you can tell a logical story, that is important to me.

you're killing it Jake!! you're putting out amazing consistent content

Probably the most insightful help I’ve gotten in 5 years. I’m trying to create my first animation

it's pretty incredible that you're out here on KZfaq making these videos Jake! So many people offer advice here, and most of them claim to be some kind of expert or established person. But you're the only guy here whose book I actually read! Missile Mouse was the shit when I was a kid!

I think that you have single handedly turned things around for me, I've been struggling to draw a Manga for decades now too much style and character design but the story nevr goes anywhere. I keep getting caught up in this idea that I have to create this massive epic story when I should be focusing on making short story's, suddenly every thing started coming together multiple short story's that actually have conclusions!! within the same universe that all culminate and lead to an epic conclusion and confrontation. Suddenly I see what I have to do ive written my entire story and I've been getting to work THANK YOU!!

THIS IS SO HELPFUL ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? So much of what you said here makes sense to me. It makes me really excited and wanting to work on my own stuff!

Wow. This is the best video on writing I've ever seen. I've been so frustrated with writing for 10 years and I feel like this is going to put me on the right path. Thank you SO much

I LOVE this video! Writing short comics is a great place to start if you're new to writing. I learned this the hard way! I love your work and the channel. It helped inspire me to start putting together Writing Comics content over on my own channel. I appreciate it!

This video id pure gold! The quality of the info just like your SVS lessons! Incredible!

I love all these new videos!

this will be super helpful! I'm not quite ready for the commitment of a 50+ page comic, so I think something like this will help me refine my skills, and prepare for when when I take on a larger comic!

This is everything! Thank you Jake, I’ve had a 10 year old cathedral that needs building & this has helped! Love from the UK ✌️

Thank you for this great video! I love the "leveling up" reference. Yes, each story I write and draw is a challenge to expand some aspect of my debris kills.

I love the comic making process! Great advice creating a storyline using an inspiration or another story is cool and then creating your own or alternative ending sounds like fun! I will be trying this next project I start! Thanks for the inspiration!!

This is honestly the best advice video I’ve ever seen. I’ve been taking notes this whole time. Started by taking notes for my short comic, ended by taking notes for my novel. God Bess you sir, my procrastination hates you

Thanks a lot for sharing this Jake! 🙏🏻This will really help me to find a better process of creating stories that works for me ❤️

I found it very helpful and practical. I feel I can get started on creating a story with your advice. I like the part when you said "humans are natural story tellers, so use that." Thank you for the inspiration.

This is video is gold for me! I've been searching for someone to break down writing in a way that I can understand it. Being more visually oriented like yourself, I struggle with all the complicated bits of story building. Not only are you explain how is works, you're also giving step-by-step instructions on how to move forward. I'm going to come back and make notes from this. I hope to use it to improve my picture book writing. Thanks so much for making exactly what I need!

Dude I remember reading missile mouse constantly as a kid crazy how it inspired me and now I find this video , really came full circle

This video is absolute 🔥. it's really helped me get a grip on how to start writing my comic. I've just finished the first draft, and sure it's not perfect, but it's done.

This is such a great video. Thanks. I'm thinking about getting back to trying writing/creating stories. 15:55 ...I think it's a great suggestion your making to plan a limited set of pages. Years ago I tried limiting a 'chapter' to just four pages or three. It forced me to be concise with the writing. To say what needed to be said and not go overboard. 👍

Jeez dude, this video is MEATY. Packed full of info. I took two pages of notes. I feel so much more ready to tell a story than I did before. Thank you.

This is a really dense, informative and helpful chunk of information. Thank you for making this.

This was so encouraging to listen to because I realized I have a lot more of my story ready than I thought I did, and that without knowing it, I use a very similar mental system for storytelling as you! It was very cool to hear you talking about the different components of a story and be able to assign certain aspects of my story to those components. Thanks so much for making this video 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

I appreciate the time you take to assemble the principles of story telling and illustration into such inspirational videos. Interestingly, while working on my own stories and illustrations I'm never aware of most of these "rules", I just bounce my ideas off of someone else, or myself, and I inevitably find myself inside my characters and most of the time they seem to talk to me, as if they want me to write their stories, so I was never a believer in "follow this rule for good story telling", but in retrospect that doesn't mean I'm not subconsciously utilizing all these steps and others I've learned elsewhere. One other "rule" I think would fit is I thought about a character who was only trying to survive, or keep himself from dying.

lets gooo. loving the consistent vids.

soooo incredibly helpful. I'm in highschool right now and I really want to start making my own comic someday. This helped me feel much more confident about it, so thank you!!

Thank you soooo much! I'm really happy I decided to watch this today. Now I got to get to work.

You have completely changed my life and given me a purpose worth living! You are my sensi now subscribed!

Awesome tips as always Jake! Please do more like this telling about make comics! I took print screens of the pyramid, the steps and so, so that I can follow step by step next time I do comics! Thanks a lot! Cheers!

8:15 😦🤯 and in 30 seconds, you just explained story beats in a way I understand… instead of making it so complex and convoluted, the answer becomes vague… but still needs an hour and it’s own video. 🙄 Thank you! ❤

thank you! cant wait to start and apply all your advice

Thank you very much! amazing video, very detailed and talks about every point extensively with interesting information. I've seen manv videos like this and most youtubers are just listing stuff like "do this, then do that, then do that other thing and you're done" and I'm left like "ok but HOW do I do it? how do I make a first draft? what should I be thinking while thinking of a story before the draft?" and your video was by far the most complete and useful I've ever came across. Thank you very much!

This video is perfect. I’m about to make my first planned out comic and I feel way less lost now. thanks !

Praise this channel. could not come at a better time! Thank you ! :D

I think I'm not the only one who wants the remaining of the hour. #NoCutsAway

At last a really great tutorial on storytelling!

Extremely insightful! I really liked your book reference in regards to embracing the struggle of creativity. Thank you for making this video. Sincerely, HS Media Arts Teacher

Great advice Jake! Thank You

I’ve been making so many short comics recently and this really helps

Am feeling fairly stuck with my story. This helped out. Thanks Jake that got you a sub and much gratitude.

Really good advice! I've wanted to try comics for a long while!

This is great advice for stories longer than 24 pages as well as other types of narrative in general but there is actually a more concise technique to make eight page and 24 page comics, which is probably recommended for aspiring comic artists.

Thanks so much for your videos and for sharing your vast knowledge. This video is so rich in content i couldn't stop taking notes. it really helps! Thanks again!

Amazing video. The pyramid tip, wow. The copy (to learn) from other pages, wow. Totally awesome stuff in here. Thanks a lot.

Such an awesome video Jake. Im writhing for my portfolio and have little experience!! This helped me SO MUCH! this stuff is so fluffy and it hard to navigate in writing a story. THANKS!!!! You'r the best! Your work make a big difference! keep up the good spirit and the great work. We love it!

Wow, thank you YT for your recommendation! I'm looking for the way to draw a noir comic and there is your film, thank you! It will be very helpful to me 😍

Love this videos as well as your work! God Bless

Thank you so much for share all this beautiful knowledge

Thank you so much for making this. Very helpful.

I'm working through a doodle script, drawing basics panel design with sticks and circles, basically and dialogue balloon, writing the action, wore me out completely, using doodles is faster and help my vision to improve and make better page design and panel to panel time movement decision. Incredible video, man, keep them coming.!! Thank you.

Wow, just saw my name in the credits! Jake, you da' man! Great info in this video, thanks for sharing your wisdom.

Thank you. This video was inspiring and it was actually emotionally moving for me in a strange way. Time to go and create.

Thanks for the video, youre the man Jake

This came at such a good time. Thank you so much!!!

Hey, Jake! I want to express my gratitude for the useful info about how to get a comic or graphic novel done. Out of all the channels I'm subscribed to, these are the videos that give me the most important information and are very direct, with no bs added. This is why I subscribed. I'm serious about my comic, and you are someone who has been in it, been through it, and offers the help with no sugar coating or weird flexing added. Thanks. Once I'm there, I will possibly send you an email, if I could, and compile my info together to maybe see if I have something good enough for the public. Or maybe just to see how your approach creating it? I'm a traditional artist, like you, so I'm not really doing any digital stuff.

I'm gonna have to go back to this video several times in the future

love that you did another video, if u could I'd love to see more of your full draw-throughs, so like instead of just inking or coloring maybe start by sketching? I love your creative process and I have you one of your drawings books, I'd like to continue to learn from you. love your work can't wait for more :D

Cardinal rule of story telling at Pixar (when it was good!) “Make me care”. If reader cares about your main character they’ll care about reading the story.

I go out of my way to find channels like yours and I'm only just now seeing your videos in my recommended list. Oh well better late than never

This is cool, very informative. I am currently working on my first Comic book and this will really help.

This is what I needed

you are such a inspiration to us sir, We artist follow and shine one day as you JP...

Great, concise info. Thanks!

Awesomely helpful! Thanks!

Thank you, this is incredibly helpful.

Your so insperational i subbed a while ago and im so thankful to you... and your son...!

Caught your dialogue...enjoyed the pyramid pointer...thanks

Incredible content, thank you very much!

Great work keep it up please love the videos

Beautiful work.

Seeing Agent 44 and Missile Mouse takes me waaaaay back.. Been a fan for a long time.

You’re so motivating ! Thank you 😊 I’ll subscribe

Awesome video Jake!!! I've been experimenting with the process of writing for comics as well.It's a really tricky balance between writing too much upfront (taking away a lot of freedom during the long haul of the comic process) and writing too little (giving TOO MUCH freedom and being overwhelmed by choices in the comic writing process). *edit: After researching a scriptment, I realized this is the method I've naturally ended on, however the main difference is I write all my scenes and beats on note cards. A full on screenplay is nice, but it also feels like you have to "fit" the comic into it's writing, rather than naturally progressing to writing within the context of the comic.

Don’t click just saving my spot 3:14

Awesome video with lots of really good information...cheers

Very honest and good advice... thank you for posting... I just wish you were available

This was all very helpful! I have a small comic project slated for next year when I’ll have more time, so getting my brain joggin about it now. It might be interesting to talk about the business side of short, small comics. I want to get into Freelance this year, on top of creating my own work, so I’m curious to know how you would navigate those decisions.

I do ghostwriting for clients on Twitter and Linkedin and this taught me a lot about storytelling, surprised I found this while drawing a gift for my gf

Pls keep making these videos theyre very helpfull!

Thank you so much for this video! 🙏🏻