Transmedia Storytelling Exercises: Prompts Inspired by 'Traveling to Mars' and 'Sweet Paprika'

Stuck turning your comic into anything else? Practical transmedia prompts to expand a graphic concept into a novel, podcast, and short film

If you have a striking comic or graphic-novel concept but feel blocked when imagining it as a novel, podcast, or short film, you’re not alone. Many creators can draw a perfect panel but freeze at the thought of expanding voice, sound, or prose. This guide gives you concrete exercises and prompts, inspired by recent transmedia successes like the graphic series behind Traveling to Mars and Sweet Paprika, to turn one comic idea into multiple, sellable formats in 2026.

Why transmedia matters now (2026): trends that change how you adapt

In late 2025 and early 2026 the media landscape accelerated two major shifts that matter for creators who want to adapt a comic:

• Streamers and agencies are hungry for IP. Major agencies and platforms are actively signing transmedia studios—most notably the January 2026 attention around The Orangery’s deal with WME—confirming value for concepts that can live across formats.
• Audio-first storytelling and serialized podcasts remain booming. Smart-speaker adoption, serialized audio drama deals, and improved tooling for remote production make a fiction podcast a lower-friction format to test character arcs and monetization.
• Short films are a clearer route to discovery. Festivals and streaming shorts programs now function as pilot pipelines for TV and features; a well-made short can be a calling card for larger adaptations.
• AI is a creative assistant, not a replacement. By 2026 generative tools accelerate ideation and draft generation—but rights, authenticity, and voice still require human oversight.

“Transmedia-first thinking—build IP that can flex from page to sound to screen—turns a comic into a business, not just a comic.”

How to think like a transmedia studio: the IP-first mindset

Before exercises, adopt a mindset used by transmedia outfits like The Orangery: treat your comic as an IP ecosystem. That means:

• Designing adaptable core elements—characters, a distinctive world, recurring motifs.
• Identifying the unique value each medium brings (prose offers interiority, audio offers intimacy, film offers visual motion).
• Keeping a central transmedia bible—a living document with timelines, character dossiers, and rules for canonical details.

Quick-start checklist (10-minute triage)

1. Pick one comic issue or self-contained arc.
2. Write a 25-word logline that works for any medium.
3. List the three sensory anchors that define the piece (visual motif, dominant sound, recurring scent/taste if relevant).
4. Decide the emotional throughline: what must readers feel by the end?
5. Create one cross-format pivot—an element that will be transformed differently in each medium.

Section A — Novel expansion exercises

Goal: Use the comic’s panels as scaffolding to build interiority, backstory, and extended narrative arcs. These exercises turn visual beats into page-long emotional scenes.

Exercise N1: Panel-to-paragraph conversion (timed)

Pick 5 consecutive panels. For each panel:

1. Write one paragraph that translates the visual into internal experience (thoughts, smells, muscle tension).
2. Forbid dialogue—focus on internal voice for two of the five paragraphs; allow dialogue for the others.
3. Time limit: 10 minutes per paragraph. Don’t edit—capture impulse.

Why this works: Comics show, novels tell. The exercise forces you to invent interior life where there was only a drawn expression.

Exercise N2: Expand a caption into a chapter arc

Find a short caption or title from your comic (e.g., a mission log entry or a single line of memory). Draft a 1,000–1,500 word chapter that uses that caption as the chapter title and structural anchor. Structure:

• Beat 1 (0–25%): present-tense incident linked to the caption.
• Beat 2 (25–60%): a flashback that explains why the caption resonates.
• Beat 3 (60–100%): a small choice that reframes the caption by the chapter’s end.

Prompt examples inspired by the two reference series:

• Traveling to Mars—turn a brief mission log into a chapter about cultural displacement: add a memory about Earth food, then reveal a small adaptation that signals character growth.
• Sweet Paprika—use a sensual caption (a scent or spice note) to open a chapter that explores longing and a decision that complicates a relationship.

Exercise N3: The 3-voice deep dive

Choose three characters—primary, secondary, and minor. Write the same 400-word scene from each of their interior perspectives. Keep the external actions identical; change only the voice, priorities, and what each notices.

Outcome: You’ll discover unseen motivations and potential subplots that can sustain a novel length narrative.

Section B — Podcast adaptation exercises

Goal: Convert static panels into an audio-first experience. In 2026 serialized, character-led podcasts are a direct way to build an audience and test story rhythms.

Exercise P1: The 90-second cold-open

Write a 90-second audio cold-open that drops listeners into a high-stakes moment from your comic. Include:

• One line of diegetic sound (e.g., radio, street noise, sizzling pan).
• One urgent line of dialogue that raises a question.
• One line of internal narration or a timestamp to ground setting.

Tip: For sci-fi like Traveling to Mars, use ship intercom chatter; for intimate stories like Sweet Paprika, use kitchen sounds and breathing to create proximity.

Exercise P2: Three-episode arc outline

Create a mini-arc: Episode 1 (set-up), Episode 2 (complication), Episode 3 (payoff). For each episode, write:

• One-sentence hook
• 90-second cold-open
• Act breaks and sound cues
• Cliffhanger line

Production hint (2026): Plan episodes between 12–22 minutes. This fits contemporary listener attention and monetization windows for premium bonus episodes — and is consistent with lessons in podcast production.

Exercise P3: Soundscape map

Draw a 3-column table: Locations / Key sounds / Emotional purpose. Fill at least five rows. Examples:

• Ship corridor / hum of life support / unease
• Market stall / sizzling, vendors / nostalgia

Use the map to craft consistent motifs that act like recurring visual motifs in comics—but for the ear.

Section C — Short film adaptation exercises

Goal: Identify a single cinematic beat from your comic and make a 5–15 minute short that showcases tone, character, and visual language.

Exercise F1: Choose the single beat

Pick one decisive moment in the comic that can stand alone as a short film: a reveal, an intimate encounter, an escape. Ask: what is the minimum story that still carries emotional truth?

Exercise F2: 6-shot storyboard

Condense the scene into six camera setups. For each shot, write:

• Shot description (angle, distance)
• Key movement (camera or actor)
• Emotional purpose

Constraint breeds creativity: if you only have six shots, which visual details must you keep?

Exercise F3: One-location micro-budget plan

Create a production plan that uses a single, controllable location. For each required production element, find a low-cost alternative:

• Lighting: practicals and LED panels instead of grip trucks
• Sound: lavs and a single boom; plan ADR if needed
• Cast: two strong actors to carry emotional weight

Distribution note (2026): Film festivals, curated streaming shorts, and short-focused platforms are still viable launchpads. Consider a festival map that targets programs known to option short-to-feature projects.

Exercises that bridge formats (cross-medium growth)

These tasks help you preserve canonical truth while exploiting each medium’s strengths.

Exercise X1: The Canonical Scene Swap

Take a scene and rewrite it three times with constraints:

1. Comic → Novel: No visual cues, heavy interiority.
2. Comic → Podcast: No visual cues, rely on sound and dialogue.
3. Comic → Film: No internal monologue, visual storytelling only.

After each version, list what was added, what was lost, and one new idea unique to that medium.

Exercise X2: The Transmedia Hook

Design an element that rewards cross-medium consumers. Ideas:

• A minor character appears in the comic panels but gets their full backstory in a podcast episode.
• A recipe or scent profile from the comic (e.g., a spice mix in Sweet Paprika) that unlocks an Easter egg on your website.

Make a one-paragraph plan for that element: purpose, format, and how it drives audience migration.

Worldbuilding & characters: tactical prompts

Strong transmedia IP requires a database of repeatable facts and sensory rules. Use these short exercises to build that foundation.

Exercise W1: The 12-item world checklist

For your world, answer these twelve prompts in one sentence each:

1. Dominant technology and one thing it cannot do.
2. One daily ritual that reveals culture.
3. One taboo and its consequence.
4. A market or commodity that drives conflict.
5. How outsiders perceive this world.
6. Primary law or governing principle.
7. One environmental constraint (climate, scarce resource).
8. Most common melody or sound you’d hear in public.
9. One scent that triggers memory here.
10. A proverb people use when scared.
11. How children are named.
12. A superstition that still affects business or politics.

Exercise W2: Character dossier template

Create a dossier for your protagonist and antagonist with these fields:

• 3-line physical description
• Core need and core fear
• Secret they won’t admit
• Three sensory triggers
• One object that defines them
• One lie they tell themselves

Use these dossiers across formats to keep portrayal consistent.

IP development & business-minded prompts

Successful transmedia is creative and strategic. These prompts help you think like a founder.

Exercise B1: The 3-slide pitch

Write three bullet-heavy slides (one sentence per bullet):

• Slide 1 — Concept & hook (25 words)
• Slide 2 — Why it expands (list 3 formats and one unique asset per format)
• Slide 3 — Audience & monetization (who, where, how: subscriptions, licensing, merch, adaptation deals)

Exercise B2: Rights & partners map

Draw a simple map showing who owns what (you, co-creator, publisher). For each medium you plan, list whether you need to:

• Clear additional rights
• Hire adaptors (screenwriter, audio showrunner)
• License music or sound libraries

Note: In 2026, agencies and studios prefer clean rights or clearly negotiated splits. This is why model deals—like the WME partnership with The Orangery—are headline news.

Using AI and tools in 2026—practical guardrails

AI is useful for ideation, drafting, and sound design mockups. Use it this way:

• Prompt for variations, not final voice. Ask an LLM for 10 opening lines, then pick and rewrite.
• Use AI-generated voice prototypes for casting discussions only; avoid publishing synthetic voices without actor agreements.
• Use music/ambience generators for temp beds—but secure rights for release-ready audio.

Always document AI involvement for transparency and legal clarity — see resources on privacy-friendly documentation and disclosure best practices.

Case study snapshot: What The Orangery’s move shows creators

When a transmedia studio with IP like Traveling to Mars and Sweet Paprika signs with WME in January 2026, it’s proof that companies and talent agencies are prioritizing adaptable IP. For creators, the signal is twofold:

• Develop concepts with cross-format potential from day one.
• Keep canonical elements flexible enough to be mined for novel scenes, audio episodes, and short films.

Use the exercises above to create assets that demonstrate that flexibility—treat every prompt outcome as a portfolio piece.

Actionable takeaways — what to do next (your 2-week sprint)

1. Day 1–2: Pick one comic arc and complete the 10-minute triage checklist.
2. Day 3–6: Complete Panel-to-paragraph conversion (N1) and one chapter (N2).
3. Day 7–9: Draft a 3-episode podcast mini-arc (P2) and record a 90-second cold-open.
4. Day 10–12: Storyboard the 6-shot short (F2) and write a one-page film synopsis.
5. Day 13–14: Build a one-page pitch and rights map (B1 & B2), then seek feedback from peers or a trusted editor.

Final notes on craft and courage

Expanding a comic into other formats isn’t about faithfully recreating panels—it’s about discovering what the story wants to be when it has more room to breathe, hear, or move. The exercises above are designed to push you out of the comfortable frame and into new creative muscles.

Remember: the market in 2026 rewards creators who can demonstrate a concept’s adaptability with tangible assets. A three-episode podcast pilot, a single compelling short film, and a novel chapter are tangible proof of concept for partners and platforms.

Call to action

Ready to expand your comic into a transmedia IP? Pick one exercise from this article and finish it this week. If you want tailored feedback, submit your cold-open, chapter excerpt, or 6-shot storyboard to our community review. We’ll give case-specific notes on adapting your work for novel, audio, and film formats—fast, actionable, and focused on launching your IP into the world.

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