Cartooning Exercises: Storytelling

Now that you have designed a character, do you need inspiration to go further?

What is your characters' history and personality?

EXERCISE: Write the details of your characters and their history so you know them well.

What about....:

  • Name:
  • Age:
  • Alias(es) they go by:
  • Relatives:
  • Friends:
  • Pets:
  • Education:
  • Birth place:
  • Where they live:
  • Occupation:
  • Special skills or powers:
  • How did they get that special skill or power?
  • How do they relax?
  • Do they have any hobbies?
  • What do they fear?
  • What makes them angry?
  • What is there belief/religion system?
  • How is their health?
  • What is there most precious possession?
  • How do they see themselves?
  • How do others see them?
  • How do they get along with others?
  • Are they introverted or extroverted?
  • What do they want from their life?
  • Who do they love?
  • Who loves them?
  • What sacrifices have they made?
  • What sacrifices are they willing to make?

Now that you've thought about it, show the same characteristics by drawing them, rather than writing them.

Family Ties

EXERCISE: Create the children of one of your characters or from a favorite one in the media. Do they look/act similar to there parent(s? Alternatively, create a drawing of how a parent or relative of a certain character looks like.

Put Your Character in a Scene

EXERCISE: Now that you know all about your character, put him or her (or it!) into a scene. You can make one panel or several panels of drawings.

If you need some more ideas, there are a number of online idea generators:

Do you have any other ideas? Send them to staff@atomicbearpress.com.

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