From Novel to Graphic Novel: Converting Text to Visuals

The Art of Adaptation

Adapting a novel to a comic isn't just about copying dialogue—it's about translation. You are translating words into images. Here is the workflow.

Step 1: The Beat Sheet

Break your chapter down into "beats" or key moments. Identify the emotional core of each scene.
Ex: "John enters the room" -> "John realizes the room has been ransacked."

Step 2: Scripting for Panels

Write a comic script format. Describe the Visual and the Dialogue separately for each panel.
Panel 1: Wide shot. The chaotic room. Books on the floor.
Panel 2: Close up. John's shocked face.
Panel 3: Focus on a specific object—a broken photo frame.

Step 3: Visual Metaphors

In prose, you write "He felt like his world was shattering." In a comic, you might show his reflection in a shattered mirror. Use AI to generate these symbolic images that might be hard to draw manually.

Step 4: Dialogue Trimming

Rule of thumb: Cut your dialogue by 50%. Let the art do the talking. If a character looks angry, they don't need to say "I'm angry".