Introduction

I recently participated in a storytelling expertise week where I delved into the world of creating stories. This journey was filled with mindfulness exercises, brainstorming sessions, and the exploration of various storytelling techniques. As a novice in storytelling, I faced the challenge of crafting an interesting and cute short story. Here, I document my experiences, challenges, and the process of creating my first comic.

Mindfulness and Brainstorming

The week began with mindfulness exercises that aimed to unlock creative thinking. Engaging in brainstorming sessions allowed me to put my ideas on paper and explore different narrative possibilities. These exercises played a crucial role in shaping the foundation of my story.

Storyboarding Methods

Among the various storyboarding methods introduced, I chose the „this happens, but this happens, therefore this happens“ model. This framework helped me structure my narrative and maintain a logical flow in my comic.

But...therefore

The story

My comic revolves around a girl who wakes up from a dream where her cat is seen conspiring with aliens. The narrative takes unexpected turns as the girl contemplates her cat's intelligence and humor. Moments of the cat's silly activities, from using a laptop as a butt warming machine to hunting rats, create a lighthearted and amusing atmosphere. The story concludes with a humorous twist as the cat advises the girl to „get a boyfriend for god's sake.“

Challenges

Crafting a short and engaging story proved to be a significant challenge. Overcoming this obstacle involved additional brainstorming, feedback from peers, and multiple revisions to refine my initial ideas. The process of finding the right balance between humor and cuteness was both demanding and rewarding.

Learnings

**Storyboarding Techniques**

Learning to scale different elements in the comic was an enlightening experience. Understanding when to zoom in and out on characters added depth to the visual storytelling aspect of my comic. This newfound knowledge enhanced the overall presentation and impact of the narrative.

**Printing and Panel setup**

I gained insights into the technical aspects of printing and panel setup. Knowing how to arrange panels and considering printing requirements were essential for bringing my comic to life. This knowledge will undoubtedly prove valuable in future creative projects.

Conclusion

So, that's my storytelling week journey! It was like going on an adventure where I learned a lot about making comics. I started not knowing how to tell a good story, but now I can create a funny and cute one. The mindfulness exercises and brainstorming helped me think creatively.

Choosing the right storyboard method was tricky, but I went with „this happens, but this happens, therefore this happens.“ It made my story flow nicely. My comic is about a girl who dreams her cat is teaming up with aliens, but it turns into a funny and cute story about the silly things her cat does.

The hardest part was making a short and interesting story. I had to redo it a bunch of times, but with help from my friends and some changes, I got it right. Learning how to zoom in and out in the comic was cool and made my drawings look better.

Understanding how to print and set up panels was important too. It's like learning the behind-the-scenes stuff to make sure my comic looks good when it's finished.

In the end, I feel like a mini storyteller now! I'm excited to use what I learned for more comics and maybe even share them with others. This week was like unlocking a door to a whole new world of storytelling fun!