I'd say if you've already got the short stories written down in your head, it's worthwhile having some kind of script to base your shots off, otherwise you could end up with 175 photographs of something of nothing
You might get 5 really great shots to do a story you didnt intend to do. which is always kinda cool about this hobby but it wouldn't get you anywhere near close to putting the story across that you intended to do to the community
So you have a story, a base point, how many characters? Where is the threat coming from? What are they intending to do?
How many episodes, or chapters are you intending to seperate this into? It's great to leave reaction or action scenes open but i feel it's quite integral to have script in the build up to stuff.
I'd suggest either the old fashioned way with a jotter A4 pad, or use wordpad on your pc.
I usually write mine down like a play? from school. That sounds daft really but probably the best method to add in directors notes. When doing your story cast yourself in the role of director, because essentially thats what you are really. Director & Cameraman.
Example from one of my recent stories. - In the beginning
In the Beginning - Lupin meets the footless time traveller, while on his adventure he is asked by the Time Traveller to keep a look out for a spare pair of feet. Lupin is to off to search for a recreated entity named 'Gold', who was created when Lupin was trapped in the duplicator machine.
Packing up his equipment he sets off on his adventure!
*Image 1* - A profile picture of Lupin - profiling his character strengths and weaknesses by naration.
*Image 2* - A shot of Lupin, with the time traveller sat down behind him.
*Image 3* - Time Traveller looks up at Lupin.
TT: "So let me get this right, theres another copy of you somewhere, and he's stolen my crystal and feet?"
*Image 4* - Shot of Lupin turning to answer him.
L: "Right, I have this friend named Fujiko, If I could find her, I bet she could be able to help me. I will do my best to find your chest crystal"
That is the dialogue as well as image notes I prepared, here is the page I was referring to:
So. As you can see, i've used the ** symbols to state an image note and used short hand for the characters in my scene, in this case TT is the Time Traveller and L is Lupin. In more complex scenes involving more than 6 or 7 people you might only need 2 or 3 to be speaking, so its a good idea to have abbreviated or shorthand figured out 1st so you can direct who is saying what to who in whatever scene your writing/making.
As I go through each panel/page I think about the photograph, sometimes even have the figures with me to hand while acting out the scene, i've always viewed the figures as miniture actors really, with me being the director. If i have an idea I want to put that idea over the best I can.
The final tip here from me is that with wordpad you can colour up certain words or bold stuff, especially if you are setting reminders on a scene. If you need anything explaining or any how-to's I'd be happy to do a brief write up.
PM me if you need any help. Best of luck with your story. The great thing about writing the scripts in this style is that you can shorthand write them in a notepad and take them with you when you do shoot the scenes/photographs (assuming you go outdoors). I usually add them to my blackberry notes before I leave.
In friendship
Rich