Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Looking for advice for a webcomic transcription (self.Blind)
submitted 8y ago by Avistew
Hello, r/blind!
I write a webcomic and there is a "transcript" option on the program I use to post my pages. I've been thinking of adding transcripts to the comics, but I'm not quite sure what would be most useful.
Now, I don't know if any of you would even have any interest in reading my comic specifically or webcomics in general. But I think you're probably the most qualified to tell what to include or not to include.
I realise I should describe what is happening in each panel, on top of writing out all the dialogue. What I don't know is how specific I should be. Should I describe the characters? If so, in how much detail? Height, race, the clothes they wear? Is most of it unnecessary detail, or does it help setting the scene?
I mean, if pages down the line a character cleans his glasses, it will help if I mentioned that he wears glasses when he's introduced. If someone's race, age, height, or otherwise appearance comes into play, it will be good to have it described beforehand. But I'll be honest: I don't know exactly all the details of what may or may not become a plot point in 100 pages. Should I describe it as much as I would to someone was I reading the comic to them (I would describe absolutely everything) or just give a really quick list of what's being said and done? Or something in the middle?
What would you personally prefer? What would make you want to come back for more? What would make you want not to read any further?
Thanks for your input, guys. I would really like to add transcripts but I don't want to do a half-assed job.
I write a webcomic and there is a "transcript" option on the program I use to post my pages. I've been thinking of adding transcripts to the comics, but I'm not quite sure what would be most useful.
Now, I don't know if any of you would even have any interest in reading my comic specifically or webcomics in general. But I think you're probably the most qualified to tell what to include or not to include.
I realise I should describe what is happening in each panel, on top of writing out all the dialogue. What I don't know is how specific I should be. Should I describe the characters? If so, in how much detail? Height, race, the clothes they wear? Is most of it unnecessary detail, or does it help setting the scene?
I mean, if pages down the line a character cleans his glasses, it will help if I mentioned that he wears glasses when he's introduced. If someone's race, age, height, or otherwise appearance comes into play, it will be good to have it described beforehand. But I'll be honest: I don't know exactly all the details of what may or may not become a plot point in 100 pages. Should I describe it as much as I would to someone was I reading the comic to them (I would describe absolutely everything) or just give a really quick list of what's being said and done? Or something in the middle?
What would you personally prefer? What would make you want to come back for more? What would make you want not to read any further?
Thanks for your input, guys. I would really like to add transcripts but I don't want to do a half-assed job.
fastfinge 1 points
Depends on the comic. Something as deep and complex as Watchmen needs a lot more description than something lighter and simpler like Order Of The Stick.
It feels to me like comic transcription is an evolving art, seeing as it's so new and rare, so I don't think there are really any best practices yet. Maybe the best thing you could do is take a look at some examples of people who already transcribe comics.
A transcription of Watchmen:
http://lianaspaperdolls.com/watchmen/
The same person transcribes broodhollow:
http://broodhollow.wikia.com/wiki/Book_1:_Curious_Little_Thing
She's been doing comic transcription for a while, so she might be a good person to ask for advice. She discusses her approach to describing comics here:
http://broodhollow.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:Lianakerr/On_Describing_Comics
The only comics that are transcribed directly by there author that I'm aware of are at:
http://darthsanddroids.net/
The main Darths and Droids comic is described, as well as all of his other comics linked from that page.
If any other author transcribes his or her comics, I don't know of it. There are transcriptions of XKCD and Order Of The Stick, but they're fan efforts done on a Wiki, not by a single person, so style, quality, and detail differ wildly from strip to strip.
Edit: formatting.
It feels to me like comic transcription is an evolving art, seeing as it's so new and rare, so I don't think there are really any best practices yet. Maybe the best thing you could do is take a look at some examples of people who already transcribe comics.
A transcription of Watchmen:
http://lianaspaperdolls.com/watchmen/
The same person transcribes broodhollow:
http://broodhollow.wikia.com/wiki/Book_1:_Curious_Little_Thing
She's been doing comic transcription for a while, so she might be a good person to ask for advice. She discusses her approach to describing comics here:
http://broodhollow.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:Lianakerr/On_Describing_Comics
The only comics that are transcribed directly by there author that I'm aware of are at:
http://darthsanddroids.net/
The main Darths and Droids comic is described, as well as all of his other comics linked from that page.
If any other author transcribes his or her comics, I don't know of it. There are transcriptions of XKCD and Order Of The Stick, but they're fan efforts done on a Wiki, not by a single person, so style, quality, and detail differ wildly from strip to strip.
Edit: formatting.
Avistew [OP] 2 points
Thanks so much! It's exactly the kind of advice I was hoping for.
I realise comic transcription isn't that common, which is why it's difficult to find a howto or some conventions or best practices to follow. Thanks so much for the links, they help with that a lot.
I think working on the transcription myself will result in better storytelling because I'm more aware of what details will be important in the future. On the other hand, of course, because I'm just learning how to do it, the quality may not be up to par with that of a seasoned transcriptor. Then again, practice makes perfect.
I realise comic transcription isn't that common, which is why it's difficult to find a howto or some conventions or best practices to follow. Thanks so much for the links, they help with that a lot.
I think working on the transcription myself will result in better storytelling because I'm more aware of what details will be important in the future. On the other hand, of course, because I'm just learning how to do it, the quality may not be up to par with that of a seasoned transcriptor. Then again, practice makes perfect.
fastfinge 1 points
You're welcome! Feel free to come back and post again once you've got some transcriptions done. Transcribed comics are so few and far between that, at the moment, every new transcribed webcomic is notable, no matter how small or large.
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