Should I get the fancy books?
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Axler
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It means that I am aware of several books on the market that are about graphic novels, writing graphic novels, selling graphic novels, etc...
But I am also aware that this site has tons and tons of pages I haven't checked out yet, and it will take time to read them all.
So... I was wondering if the books are needed, or if the information in those books is basically on this site in one form or another already.
But I am also aware that this site has tons and tons of pages I haven't checked out yet, and it will take time to read them all.
So... I was wondering if the books are needed, or if the information in those books is basically on this site in one form or another already.
Following the blogs, Twitter accounts, and forums such as AW will provide a lot of helpful information, but those the "fancy books" contain a lot of helpful info too, and often with examples and in greater depth. They may not be "needed", but, be you comic writer or artist, in my opinion they're useful. That's why the same books (There's Will Eisner's and Scott McCloud's books) are recommended by so many.
The more knowledge the better. The more you know...
The more knowledge the better. The more you know...
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You can learn a ton without the fancy books, but I second the recommend of Scott McCloud's books. They're invaluable if you're serious about writing/drawing/etc. for comics.
I'd also say that one of the other best references is just reading as many comics as possible.
Good luck!
I'd also say that one of the other best references is just reading as many comics as possible.
Good luck!
Axler
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It really depends on where you're at in the creation process. Scott Shaw's and Will's books are very helpful if you're starting more or less from scratch.
If you're a bit further along and need to know as much about the process as possible--including printing and distribution--my own The Everything Guide to Writing Graphic Novels could prove very educational.
If you're a bit further along and need to know as much about the process as possible--including printing and distribution--my own The Everything Guide to Writing Graphic Novels could prove very educational.
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Start with Scott McCloud's books. If you feel that they helped you, you can go out and look for others.
If McCloud's books don't help you, then you have the skills already but you need feedback instead of book learning. If that's the case, stop buying books and start drawing.
If McCloud's books don't help you, then you have the skills already but you need feedback instead of book learning. If that's the case, stop buying books and start drawing.
Scott McCloud's book is excellent. I would also like to add that I like Peter David's Writing Comics Book as well. Other than that, I haven't ever seen a book for creating comics that I have found useful at all.
I spent sometime at a bookstore yesterday and looked through a couple of books...
While I do have basic drawing skills, enough for outlining certainly, I am more interested in JUST the writing aspect and not so much anything else... as I have an artist who is interested in doing that end of things.
When I looked through the books at the bookstore, it seemed that a lot of them were concentrated on the drawing aspects... and not so much the writing.
While I do have basic drawing skills, enough for outlining certainly, I am more interested in JUST the writing aspect and not so much anything else... as I have an artist who is interested in doing that end of things.
When I looked through the books at the bookstore, it seemed that a lot of them were concentrated on the drawing aspects... and not so much the writing.
Is there one you would recommend specifically concentrating on the story telling and writing instead of the art and design aspects?
I have a nice outline that I am going to base the graphic novel on, but I have no idea whatsoever how many pages it will translate into in graphic novel form... could be a hell of a lot, might not be as much as I think... though the outline was for a trilogy originally, I have recently thought about making it more concise and just having it be three acts instead of a trilogy.
I have a nice outline that I am going to base the graphic novel on, but I have no idea whatsoever how many pages it will translate into in graphic novel form... could be a hell of a lot, might not be as much as I think... though the outline was for a trilogy originally, I have recently thought about making it more concise and just having it be three acts instead of a trilogy.
Since comics are a visual as well as literary medium, the words are not independent of the images, so I believe in learning what you can about the artistic aspect as well. Knowing what does and doesn't work visually can, in my opinion, aid you in your script writing.
Axler
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No book can "teach" you how to write the graphic narrative. You can learn certain tricks and a few techniques from books.
The best way to learn is to do it.
The best way to learn is to do it.
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