Another post for the process junkies; this time about writing. On his blog, John Rozum answers a reader's question about trimming fat and killing darlings in comics scripts. It's one of the basic rules of writing, but Rozum relates it specifically to the pre-determined page counts of single-issue comics stories.

Generally, if it's an action oriented comic book, I will cut out some of the action. My feeling is that with over 75 years of super hero comics behind us, everyone reading them has seen two people in garish outfits hitting each other frequently enough that they can fill in the blanks and get the sense that a hefty battle is being waged even if I cut out a page of someone getting beaten with a parking meter or having a bus thrown at them. This seems like something easier to do away with and without the same impact that cutting a scene that strengthens the bond between two characters through their interaction over dinner.

Cutting action pages out of an action comic is an interesting choice, but Rozum is clear about his personal priorities in story construction. " I usually put the characters first and plot serves as a supporting function to develop the characters," he writes, "whether that's something long term like Xombi, or even a 2-issue Batman story." The implication is that writers should identify their own priorities in storytelling and make edits accordingly.

Rozum also talks about what happens when he does have to cut character moments and when outside forces like suddenly reduced page counts and truncated series get in the way of his original plans. There are lots of real-life examples from Xombi, Midnight Mass, and The X-Files and also stuff about how much freedom artists should have in developing pacing. Even though there's a lot there, it's not a long post. Very worth the time of new writers.