CreateStep 1 Go thereStep 2 Get the story rollingStep 3 Enrich itStep 4 Work with othersEarly BirdLily and the Yellow CakeLetters to Faraway Friends
Trace Balla
Trace Balla
School Program and Resources

Catching stories with Trace Balla

So, you want to write a comic or graphic story. But how do you do it? Trace Balla knows how. She’s written heaps of fascinating stories. Let’s find out how Trace catches a story.

Visit Trace's website to find out more about this wonderful Victorian author and illustrator.

Recommended for Year levels: 3–8

Learning areas: English, The Arts, Media

Step 1 Go there

  1. Find a place that intrigues you. That’s where your story will happen.
  2. Don’t choose some far away or imaginary place. Choose somewhere real, that you can visit and immerse yourself in. Go to the place to experience it.
  3. What’s the weather like? What time of day is it? What plants can you see? What creatures live there? Notice: what’s awake, what’s in season, what noise do they make?
  4. Take notes, do drawings and nature sketches, record sound.

Step 2 Get the story rolling

  1. Create a rough storyboard. You could get started with a landscape scene for your story or “an establishing shot”, including the weather and time of day.
  2. Decide on your main characters. Use stick figures, cross things out, don’t worry about spelling, don't edit yourself; just get all your ideas out.
  3. Take your experiences and use them: include things that could really happen.
  4. You make your storyboard like a jigsaw by using sticky notes, with a colour for each character. Then you can move these around easily.

Step 3 Enrich it

  1. Research is a really good thing. After studying objects and creatures in their space, read up on them to find out more details.
  2. Make sure there are diverse people in your story, people of various ages, people with different abilities and people from a variety of cultural backgrounds.
  3. You don’t have to use the traditional boxes for a cartoon story, you can use silhouettes, or place the characters in scenes from left to right.
  4. Turn the book on its side for tall scenes.
  5. You can include speech bubbles and sound effects.
  6. Include details of local wildlife. Label the plants and creatures that are in the scene.
  7. Make the last picture something that makes the reader want to turn the page.

Step 4 Work with others

  1. The more people involved, the more ideas there are and the richer the story gets.
  2. Consult experts and include their wisdom. Talk to local elders, other traditional owners, rangers and people local to the area.
  3. If someone gives you feedback, embrace it! It’s how we make our work better.

Watch Trace Balla’s animation 'Early Bird'

  1. On Monday, the main character drives her car to work. How does this make her feel? How do we know she feels like that?
  2. On Tuesday, she rides her bike. How does this make her feel? What imagery suggests she feels like that?
  3. Think of a time when you went for a bike ride, a scoot or a walk. Where did you go? What did you see along the way? How did it make you feel? Write and illustrate a short story about your journey.

Watch Trace Balla’s animation 'Lily and the Yellow Cake'

  1. Who makes the cake in this story?
  2. What changes occur in how the cake is made?
  3. Why do you think the yellow cake is special in Lily’s family?
  4. Do you have any special recipes in your family?
  5. Think about something special you have eaten with your family. What did you eat? Who was with you at the time? Why was it special? Write and illustrate a short story about it.

Watch Trace Balla’s animation 'Letters to Faraway Friends'

  1. Where is the main character writing her letters from?
  2. Where is the person she is writing to?
  3. What sorts of things does the main character write about to her friend?
  4. Think of a time when you were away from home. Imagine you are writing a letter to a friend or someone from your family back home. What would you tell them about? What would you wonder about? Write your letter as a short story and include some illustrations about some of the moments of your trip that were most meaningful to you. You could include sights, sounds, smells or things you touched, what they felt like and how you felt at various times.