ComicDraft

I’ve tried a lot of writing apps over the years, for a multitude of mediums. Beyond the boring likes of Word and pages exist apps geared toward specific formats, like novels, screenplays, and blogs. There’s also no shortage of writing apps built for Markdown nerds, and believe me, I’ve tried them all. It’s a shame how many of those apps are now subscription-based.

You know what I don’t see much of in the market? Writing apps focused entirely on comic scripts. There are a few apps that feature “templates” aimed at comic writers. The Highland app has a decent script template. Final Draft also has one, though I think both apps refer to the templates as Graphic Novels. I’ve read many blogs from comic writers who’ve hacked away at one app or another to bend it to their specific workflow. There must be a better way than bending a sub-optimal workflow to your will.

There is one app I discovered that was designed entirely around the comic script format - SuperScript. I quite enjoyed using that app while writing the scripts for my series “Future Emails.” What I liked about it in particular was the ease of use - the keyboard shortcuts equated to comic script elements. It’s a great app. However, I really wanted a Mac-native app that could also run on an iPad with a shared iCloud library, which it didn’t offer. It looks like that app is no longer under active development, sadly.

Research & Design

Given the lack of what I was specifically looking for, I thought, why not build it myself? I knew exactly what I wanted from a comic writing app after years of experimenting. I’ve seen enough scripts from prominent comic authors to know what format seems the most consistent.

For the past couple of years I’ve been sketching out app layouts, writing down feature ideas, and just doing a lot of thinking. If I try to put myself in the shoes of a working writer, I think about multiple titles, juggling arcs, tracking to outlines, and maintaining draft versions.

There are lots of writing apps that focus on one document at a time. But if you’re working in comics, you’re likely writing two to three different series at a time. You may need to go back three or four issues to reference a plot line you’ve forgotten. Continuity is king in comics, after all.

And so, I designed the library sidebar to hold all the context of your current titles. It takes series, volume, arcs, issue numbers, and more into account. You can separately work on independent graphic novels.

Keyboard shortcuts were also paramount. Command 1 through 9 will generate script elements in the order they usually appear. Pages and panels are automatically numbered. Character names autocomplete. You can even assign characters across an entire series, arc, or issue. I tried to make writing comic scripts as simple and as fast as possible.

Available now on Mac & iPad

After mapping out the design, I decided the app should be available on both Mac and iPad. I use both devices interchangably, so I wanted to leverage iCloud for library syncing. And after many months of prototyping, building, bug squashing, and user testing, I’m happy to say that the app is available in both stores as a one-time purchase. I’m a firm believer in owning an app, not subscribing.

So you’re aware, I’m not putting any AI features in this app - you have to write your own story. This app also doesn’t invade your privacy by tracking your usage, or what you write.

If you write comics, I hope you will try it out. I’m excited to read what you create! And if you have any feedback about the app don’t hesitate to reach out - shawn@anti-villain.com

Links

• Download it now from the App Store
• Learn more at the ComicDraft website.

Thanks!