Storyboarding sounds scary, sort of like snowboarding or wake boarding- all takes training and can lead to someone getting hurt. Sure, it's easy to see how someone could be injure snowboarding or wake boarding,but STORYBOARDING? Absolutely, our hearts are tied to every word that we write and when we have to cut something out, it is like cutting out a part of our heart. We are bonded with our stories. After all it was Ernest Hemingway who said, "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." But we have to do it, we have to story board. Let's get one thing straight, I am an author and only an author. I have absolutely zero artistic ability. With many people knowing this, I was asked "Why do you storyboard, that is an illustrator's job." That is soooo not true. There are many reasons why ALL authors should storyboard. 1. Find where an editor might make page turns. Ensure that you have great lines that leave the reader wanting more. 2. Ensure that your evocative language allows for an illustrator to do their job. Read the words that you have put on each page, are there description, settings, atmosphere that an illustrator can depict? 3. Make sure that you have enough scenes for a picture book. As a picture book writer you need at least 14 different scenes for 2 page spreads and up to 2 single pages. Now, my storyboard may look fancy but you can make it simpler or fancier than mine. I am a Hobby Lobby junkie and found the stand for $27, the large picture frame with a 40% coupon came out to $19.00. Put some black construction paper or magnetic board behind the glass and VOILA- a story board. Use dry erase markers and you are ready to go. Cut your story up into sentences or write scenes on index cards or sticky notes and layout your story and capture the tale. Kristen Fulton Explore Nonfiction www.kristenfulton.net
3 Comments
Michelle
11/6/2013 01:05:52 pm
Thank you for this blog. Our SCBWI chapter had a recent meeting in which we discussed storyboarding for authors and illustrators.
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Charlotte Dixon
11/16/2013 05:00:15 am
Wonderful advice on storyboarding, Kristen-thank you. I love any and all excuses to head on over to Hobby Lobby :)
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9/25/2015 03:01:34 am
Thanks, Kristen! I have never heard about storyboarding before. Now I can use this knowledge writing my papers.
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