Comic Book Art Lessons Applied to Novel Writing

In comic books drawing outside of the frame is crucial to proper sketching. Artistic rules guide where your eye goes in a frame. In novels, world building and character backstory, know more than you say. 'Draw' outside of the frame, but then cut down and frame what is required for the story to be told.

Focus can be highlighted or faded into the background as necessary. In drawing lines in the foreground are often boldened and thinner lighter lines for the background items. You can also find the same principle in movies and tv with colors that the main character wears vs the background crowd. If you pay attention to the background often times you will find that there are psychological prompts surrounding a character. Such as the room in this scene from the Pick of Destiny. Note the muted color of the background and clothing. Also 'bolded focus' such as the posters on the wall. Finally Dio is shown and brightly in center of the frame as the most highlighted. Much like how a comic will have a two page spread to highlight major events.

Often times in comics a punch is often shown a frame before and a frame after the actual hit. Much like watching a shadow of a transformation in a movie. You can leave out details and they will be automatically filled in by the reader. Not a hard and fast rule just an observation.

Each issue of a comic book should be self contained while being part of a larger narrative. As with any book in a series should be able to be picked up at any volume and be self contained. Refreshing relevant points in history or character motivations. 

As with sketching there comes a time when over editing can do more harm than good and you need to learn to pull away and let the drawing be.