By Editorial team
Start with one character who wants one small thing. Give the reader enough information to understand that wish in the first panel.
In the second panel, put something in the way. The obstacle can be practical, emotional or ridiculous, but it should follow from the world you have shown.
Use the third panel for a decision. Let the character try something that changes the situation. A surprise works best when the earlier panels make it feel possible.
Give the last panel a result. It might be a joke, a quiet exchange, a changed relationship or a useful discovery. The reader should understand what happened without needing a missing fifth panel.
Keep dialogue short enough to read at phone width. Give each balloon a clear speaker and leave room around the words. Check panel order, character details and important props after the artwork is complete.
Write the transcript from the finished page. Include visible dialogue and any written sign that matters to the story. Describe what the artwork actually shows, even when it differs from the first script.
Before sharing, ask: can someone follow the page without my explanation, and does the ending answer the question raised at the start?