Beyond the Dialogue: How to Write a Manga Script Artists Can Draw
Stop Writing Movies. Start Writing Pages.
I see a lot of writers try to break into manga by sending artists scripts that look like Hollywood screenplays. They focus on dialogue and "camera angles."
Here’s the truth: Manga is about the "Turn." In a movie, the viewer is passive. In manga, the reader is active—they have to physically turn the page. If your script doesn't account for the Page Turn Reveal or the "Gutter," you aren't writing a manga; you’re writing a storyboard for a movie that doesn't exist. In my studio, we use the Panel-First Method. Here’s how it works.
1. The Script vs. The "Name" (Storyboard)
In Japan, most authors don't write a text-only script. They go straight to the "Name" (pronounced nah-meh). This is a rough storyboard where the dialogue and the panels are born at the exact same time.
If you must write a text script first, you need to format it by Page and Panel.
Page 1, Panel 1: Establishing shot. (Wide).
Page 1, Panel 2: Character A reacts. (Close up).
This ensures you don't accidentally put 15 panels on one page (which is a nightmare for the artist and the reader).
2. The "Odd-Even" Rule
Manga is a physical experience.
Right-hand pages (Odd): These are "low tension" pages. The reader’s eye is moving toward the edge.
Left-hand pages (Even): This is where the "Big Reveal" happens. You use the final panel of the right-hand page to build a question, and the first panel of the left-hand page (after the turn) to provide the answer.
3. Dialogue: The "Three-Line" Limit
Manga is a visual medium. If your dialogue bubbles look like paragraphs, you’re killing your pacing.
Pro Tip: If a character needs to say something long, break it up across three panels. Let the "acting" do the heavy lifting.
Vertical vs. Horizontal: Remember, Japanese is vertical; English is horizontal. Write your script with "breathing room" in the bubbles so the text doesn't cover up your art.
The "Sketchflix" Script Template
I’ve put together a Manga Scripting Template that helps you track your Page Turns and Panel counts automatically. It’s part of the Story Feels Empty Bundle, but you can grab the foundational logic right here.
Get the Manga Scripting Template inside the Story Feels Empty Bundle
