21 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
You usually split time between idea work and paper/phone/computer work. Morning might be research and reading briefs or interview notes; mid-day you sketch or write scene descriptions and transitions; late afternoon is for meetings with directors, producers, or editors to get feedback.
Expect to switch tools: Google Docs for beats and script text, Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator for visual frames, and Asana to track tasks and deadlines. Days vary—one day you meet clients, another you draft 15–30 storyboard panels.
Start with Google Docs for writing beats and draft scripts, and Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator for drawing thumbnails and clean panels. Many teams also use Adobe InDesign or Acrobat to assemble and export full sequences as PDFs for producers.
Canva can work for quick mockups, but pros expect Photoshop/Illustrator files. Learn Asana or another project manager to follow assignments and deadlines. If you plan print or packaging tie-ins, add InDesign.
You read research notes, product specs, or interview transcripts to decide which selling features or story facts to show visually. That means checking factual accuracy, character details, or product measurements before you draft panels.
Interviews with directors, subject-matter experts, or clients guide tone, pacing, and what images to emphasize. Use Google Docs to store transcripts and highlight lines you need to show in a scene.
BLS reports for related occupational groups list 47,940 employed storyboard/creative writers with a median annual wage of $76,910. The lowest tenth earns about $44,310; the top tenth about $139,870, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Pay varies by industry (film, advertising, games), freelance vs staff, and your portfolio. Use these BLS numbers as a range, not a guaranteed salary.
Use AI to generate idea prompts, quick scene lists, or alternative slogans, but treat outputs as rough drafts. Always revise for tone, factual accuracy, and client needs—AI can invent incorrect facts or bland wording.
Never submit AI art or text as final without editing. Keep source files in Photoshop/Illustrator and track versions in Google Docs or Acrobat so you can show what you changed and why during feedback.
A storyboard writer focuses on sequencing visuals and describing camera moves, pacing, and scene beats—mixing writing with rough or finished art. A scriptwriter writes dialogue and scene directions but may not plan shot-by-shot visuals. A concept artist designs look and style but not the narrative flow.
In practice you’ll overlap: storyboard writers often produce written outlines (Google Docs) and drawn frames (Photoshop/Illustrator). The key difference is that storyboard writers organize how the story reads visually.
Show clear storytelling: readable scene outlines, pacing, and transitions. Provide a portfolio with sequence samples—15–30 panels that show beats, camera angles, and timing—exported as PDF via Adobe Acrobat or InDesign.
Also show you can work with feedback and project tools: track changes in Google Docs, manage tasks in Asana, and use Photoshop or Illustrator files. Good research, simple copywriting for ad work, and the ability to rewrite sections for clarity matter a lot.