Novel to graphic novel - where to begin?

[Capes&Corsets]

Hi all! I need some advice on what to do next and figured here would be the best place to ask - if I've posted in the wrong thread, please forgive me. I wasn't exactly sure where to put this.

Anyway.

Last year I finished my first novel. It's a chicklit novel in a specific genre. Lots of agents were interested but did not take it on, until February when I managed to get a three-book publishing deal. (Cue the excitement!) The publisher liked the story, though wanted to go with something a bit more true to the chick-lit genre, and advised me to make some changes.

Basically I got the deal based on my writing style.

I'm currently rewriting the book after starting from scratch. Even though the basic plot is the same as my original novel, I'm changing everything - the characters, the location, etc.

However, I'm still fond of my first idea and changing the book entirely means I can still keep my first project.

My boyfriend and I are huge fans of graphic novels and I feel that this first book may work as one. I love the idea - however, where does one begin?
I mean, writing a book is straightforward enough - you write it, you submit it. But what happens when you write a graphic novel?

Do you pitch it to a company who has their own artists, or do you find/pay an artist and THEN go about submitting it? How does this all work?

I was planning on making some calls after tha bank holiday to get more of an insight but wondered if any of you knew. Any advice on this would be a great help! :)

[dpaterso]

You could get more answers if this thread was in Comic Books and Graphic Novels (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=89) forum (or the answers may already be in existing threads). Shout if you want it moved, is no problem.

-Derek

[Capes&Corsets]

That would be fab! Thank you. :)

[Ken]

... what I might do is just wait. After your books come out you will have a much easier time launching a graphic novel relating to them. Publishers do have in-house artists, and definitely might be willing to take a chance on a story with a track record. So all you'd have to do is submit the text and visual descriptions where needed. Between now and then you might read a book on writing graphic novels so you're prepared. G'luck and congrats!

[sunandshadow]

A graphic novel is usually a novella-length story, a 60-80k novel might be 2-3 graphic novel volumes.

[myrmidon]

First of all, congratulations on your deal - that sounds fantastic.

Second, I think you've got a couple different questions going on here.

The first is that if you've already sold the book in a three book deal I think you should make sure to review your contract - and verify that you haven't sold your graphic novel rights (you probably haven't) and what you're allowed to do in regards to basically re-selling this same material in a different medium. My guess is that there must be some kind of restrictions on it - especially since you're currently re-writing the book. Basically I'm sure they don't want your graphic novel of the same material to come out before your actual novel that they have purchased - and in the hands of a capable artist with one of the many smaller graphic novel publishers out there - it could totally happen as the turnaround time in my experience is far less.

Of course if you have an agent (I'm not sure from your post?) they could certainly help you the most on these contract issues and rights questions.

The best option, once you've reviewed your contract, may be to publish the book straight, and then once it comes out, assuming it does well, try to have it adapted into a graphic novel. You'd likely get a better deal this way, and have an easier time getting through the process if you already have an established book with an audience. You also might have more clout to get a better artist on board if you're an already published author.

Additionally (and this may not be true of your novel specifically) graphic novels and comics are still not a great fit for "chick lit" as the market remains pretty small and focused and generally (sadly) not geared towards women. There are certainly exceptions to that rule and plenty of books out there that fit a more 'chick lit' feel, but they're still a niche of a niche. Manga is probably a bit exception - but I'm not that familiar with Manga specifically. Being a 'chick-lit' graphic novel might make your book harder to sell, and harder to find an audience for - but it certainly doesn't mean it's impossible.

As for submitting to graphic novel publishers - once you figure out what you can legally do at this point with your material - they all have their own guidelines and you should research them each to see what you would need to send. In general my experience is that they want the script (in full or in part) and a full synopsis. They generally also want an artist attached and sample pages - anywhere from 5 - 20 sequential pages so that they can see what they're buying.

There are publishers that have their own in-house artists, but in general with comics and graphic novels I find they want the artist already attached to the project. Certainly there are exceptions to this rule (as with all rules), but I suspect it will make it easier to get int the door and published if you've already got a talented artist on board and strong sample pages.

Here are some really respectable more independent publishers that might be worth a look, both at their submission guidelines and what kind of work they publish: TopShelf, Fantagraphics, Drawn & Quarterly, Oni, First Second, Slave Labor Graphics, Tokyopop (they may have gone under), Boom!, Image and Vertigo are also worth considering - but are considerably bigger in some ways and might be harder to get on board.

There are plenty of other small presses worth considering of course - but those are some of the more well respected big dogs of Independent Publishing. I would suggest going to your local comic book shop and looking at graphic novels that seem similar to yours and seeing who the publishers are, to help gauge interest and tone.

As for finding artists, there are several threads on this board that have advice and links to put you in the right place.

This got really long - sorry! Take what you can use, leave the rest, and good luck in whatever you decide to do.

[Bicyclefish]

Ditto what myrmidon (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/member.php?u=24272) said.

Some AW threads that might be worth a read:

Submission guidelines
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=170041
Trying to start a webcomic
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174355

The second gives advice on where to find an artist.

[Axler]

Here are some really respectable more independent publishers that might be worth a look, both at their submission guidelines and what kind of work they publish: TopShelf, Fantagraphics, Drawn & Quarterly, Oni, First Second, Slave Labor Graphics, Tokyopop (they may have gone under), Boom!, Image and Vertigo are also worth considering - but are considerably bigger in some ways and might be harder to get on board.

Image and Slave Labor are basically "fulfillment houses", in that you give them a completed project and if they publish it, your monies are based on a backend royalty deal.

[myrmidon]

Image and Slave Labor are basically "fulfillment houses", in that you give them a completed project and if they publish it, your monies are based on a backend royalty deal.

Yeah, that's what happened with my friend whose book was picked up and published by Image, but I wasn't sure it was ALWAYS the case.

His book was pretty niche and not about superheroes - definitely a relationship book, and he made just about zero dollars. Very frustrating. But he still got out there and published. And the book looked great.

[Axler]

With Image you at least get decent exposure.

[Bicyclefish]

Yeah, that's what happened with my friend whose book was picked up and published by Image, but I wasn't sure it was ALWAYS the case. His book was pretty niche and not about superheroes - definitely a relationship book, and he made just about zero dollars. Very frustrating. But he still got out there and published. And the book looked great.
A friend with SLG, not one of their "big names" mind you, did get a few (two or three I think) hundred in royalties last I knew*.


*There were issues with the writer claiming full ownership and thus full royalties though both signed the contract. Not SLG's fault, mind you, but the mistake of not signing a separate contract w/your partner even if you're friends. My friend can't afford a lawyer, they're in two different countries, so I'm not sure if there's been more payments.