The Graphic Writer: Collaborating, Producing, and Pitching for Comics with Josh Wagner

Course Summary

This course provides a comprehensive roadmap for navigating the graphic novel industry from a writer’s perspective. Moving beyond “storytelling with pictures,” we examine the unique architecture of the medium, from panel transitions to the collaborative relationship between writer and artist. Participants will master the technicalities of comic scripting—learning how it differs from prose and film—while gaining practical insights into the business of comics. From world-building and character development to pitching publishers and self-producing, this course equips emerging creators with the tools to launch their own graphic properties.

Course Outline

• Week 1: The Landscape. A brief history of the medium and an overview of modern forms, genres, and the specific roles within a creative team.
• Week 2: The Architecture of the Page. Understanding the structure of comics: panels, gutters, and the flow of time. How layout dictates narrative pacing.
• Week 3: Scripting Part 1 (The Mechanics). Technical formatting. We look at the ‘Full Script’ vs. ‘Marvel Style’ and how to write clear descriptions for an artist.
• Week 4: Scripting Part 2 (Dialogue vs. Visuals). The art of the ‘silent’ panel. Balancing text-heavy pages with visual storytelling and lettering considerations.
• Week 5: Character and World Building. Developing protagonists and environments that are visually distinct and narratively sustainable over a long-form graphic novel.
• Week 6: The Art of Collaboration. Finding an artist, navigating creative chemistry, and the logistics of contracts and shared ownership.
• Week 7: Industry Culture. An insider’s guide to the comics community: conventions, the ‘direct market,’ fans, and the role of the digital press.
• Week 8: Producing the Book. The ‘DIY’ path. We cover self-publishing, crowdfunding (Kickstarter/Patreon), and the basics of print-on-demand.
• Week 9: The Pitch. How to build a ‘Pitch Packet’ (synopsis, character designs, and sample pages) to capture the interest of major publishers. How to develop relationships within the industry.
• Week 10: Portfolio Review. A final workshop where participants present their work-in-progress scripts or pitches for peer and professional feedback.

Work Production: Participants will draft a 5-page script and a 1-page ‘High Concept’ pitch over the 10 weeks, with shorter weekly exercises focusing on specific panel-writing techniques.

Course Outcomes

Participants will leave this course with a partial ‘Pitch Packet’ and a technical understanding of the graphic novel format. Specifically, they will have:

• Learned what differentiates graphic storytelling and world building from other media.
• Mastered the requirements of comic script formatting.
• Developed a strategy for finding and working with illustrators.
• Gained a clear understanding of the publishing landscape, from indie-press to ‘The Big Few’.
• Acquired practical skills in marketing, convention presence, and self-production.

For over 25 years, Josh Wagner has been a multidisciplinary creator, producing award-winning work in fiction, theatre, and film. His comic career includes the creator-owned series Fiction Clemens, the work-for-hire Image title Sky Pirates of Neo Terra, and contributions to the Eisner-nominated anthology 24Seven. Now based in Ireland, he combines his extensive industry experience with a UCC PhD in Creative Practice to help writers navigate the technical and professional nuances of transdisciplinary storytelling.

Booked out? To be added to the waiting list for this course, please email bookings@irishwriterscentre.ie.