Tips for Making a Living as a Cartoon Writer

William Henderson reports:

"Writing for cartoons is more than creating the dialogue that characters speak. You have to first bring to life in your head the entire story, from scene and setting to characterization and conversation. Then you have to translate your mental pictures into words in such a way that an animator can readily add images to your words...[T]he only real qualification that matters is how good your script is and if someone's interested in making it. Pinaki Ghosh, a screenplay writer, also touts an interest in -- and history of reading -- comic books: 'Writers who have vast knowledge of comic books and graphic novels will be better animation screenwriters than the ones who have never really loved reading comic books and graphic novels.'...[T]he writing-services website Screenplay Writers recommends minimizing dialogue, writing vivid action scenes, keeping your story moving toward its end and avoiding scenes that have more than two or three people in them. You should also learn standard scriptwriting formatting and the programs most often used, such as Final Draft. Finally, if they're available, read the screenplays of cartoons you like and think worked well...Joe Barbera, of Hanna[-]Barbera fame, notes that he learned during his career that clever dialogue and well-written scripts are key for engaging an audience in a cartoon. 'Whether full-length animated feature, prime-time animated sitcom or Saturday morning cartoon, it all begins with the script,' he writes...'[A producer] has to have someone who understands story structure, character development and dialogue. In other words, he has to have a cartoon writer.'...Novices need not apply [to work for Disney]...as major studies, including Pixar and Sony Pictures Animation, seldom -- if ever -- give a newbie a break. Make a name for yourself in smaller features, and sometimes the door opens just enough for you to get your shot...Before that happens...cartoon writers [are recommended to] write, finish and sell screenplays and make a name for themselves."