How To Get Started?

DreamBubble · Oct 9, 2011

I have a few novels that I think might work well as graphic novels. The first is a little on the short side as a novel from what I've written so far (just over 10K words, so I guess not a real novel) but I may continue to write more of it if I find the inspiration to do so. The second is over 35K words and is nowhere near finished. I'll be finishing it up for NaNoWriMo. The third is also over 35K words but is nearly done, which I may finish for NaNoWriMo depending on how many words I write for my other novel. They are all fantasy of some sort (urban fantasy, high fantasy, and supernatural urban fantasy, respectively).

So my question is this: how do I get started? How do I begin converting my novels into scripts for a graphic novel? How do I find an artist who would be able to do the intense artwork required? Would it be possible to have someone beta-read my graphic novel script, or help me start writing? How do I turn my paragraphs of internal monologue into writing for a graphic novel? How would I turn the heavy description into scene and character drawings?

One of my stories is action-heavy, while another is dialogue-heavy, and yet another is probably better off being a series of shorts with an over-arcing character or setting.

I own the latest version of Final Draft, but I haven't checked to see if graphic novel templates are included.

So can anyone help a girl out please? =)

Adrianna Burch · Oct 12, 2011

Well, one thing you can do is look on art sites like Deviantart for artists you like who are willing to do commercial work and shoot them an email/note. I have a project currently in the works and this is how I got all of my artists. Be ready for a lot of rejections. Projects like these are time consuming and if you aren't willing to shell out the money to buy the rights to every single ink mark, then you might have to go with cutting them in on a percentage of sales instead. I spent over $1000 on just 12 pages to pitch the book and I'll still be paying my background artist 50 euro per page throughout the entire project.

On a side note, contracts with your artist/s is an amazing thing.

Also, make sure you know how to write in script format. They're not all uniform, but once you find something that works for you it's magic. My suggestion is to start with the script, then find your artist/s. Do about 5-10 pages (different publishers want different things) and send it in. Getting an agent is up to you, but I've seen plenty of publishers who take unsolicited submissions. Think of those five pages like a series pilot... It might not be worth the expense of finishing the whole thing.

BigWords · Oct 12, 2011

Have a look here for scripts by published comic-book writers, and try to find a style which works for you. Ignore the Alan Moore stuff, as no-one besides him can get away with handing in scripts in that condition.

Axler · Oct 13, 2011

The fact there are so many different ways of working in the "graphic narrative" is one of its appeals.

I really don't like writing scripts and almost none of the artists I've worked with like reading them.

So I prefer the thumbnail/breakdown method...as do all of the artists I'm currently working with.

Bicyclefish · Oct 13, 2011

DreamBubble said:
How do I turn my paragraphs of internal monologue into writing for a graphic novel? How would I turn the heavy description into scene and character drawings?

One of my stories is action-heavy, while another is dialogue-heavy, and yet another is probably better off being a series of shorts with an over-arcing character or setting.

In addition to reading scripts and seeing what kind of script writing suits you, read comics. As far as I know, a standard format for graphic novel scripts does not exist. Look for the kind of graphic novels your story is like and see how they handled it. There's really no quick and simple answer.

What comics (western and eastern) do/have you read, by the way?

I don't think I've read any GNs adapted from books recently. I read one ages ago but felt it was poorly done, leaving out a lot of important information, resulting in flat characters and confusing scene transitions. Has anyone else read a book to GN they liked? Perhaps that might help the OP.

small axe · Oct 14, 2011

Axler said:
The fact there are so many different ways of working in the "graphic narrative" is one of its appeals.

I really don't like writing scripts and almost none of the artists I've worked with like reading them.

So I prefer the thumbnail/breakdown method...as do all of the artists I'm currently working with.

I'd agree: reading a comix script is like reading apples to squeeze them into orange juice (apples vs oranges, whatever).

Yes, you need the script ... but any writer can learn basic "thumbnail scetch" drawing technique, and you'll find that using that also is vastly more fluent when communicating the script to an artist.

HAVING TO THUMBNAIL IT makes the writer think in terms of PANELS, and makes them think VISUALLY, in terms of PACING, etc ...

And that means you and your artist will both be speaking a common language. Avoids problems later, imo.

Good advice too to only do a few pages of it totally drawn and worked out (but THOSE must be finished art, the actual "This is what we can do") ... along with the full script ... to pitch.

Expect to pay your artist up front, imo: Words on paper are nice, but common sense suggests that the ARTIST is doing the work at the early stage and should be paid if they're doing YOUR words rather than their own or someone else's.

(And yes, I'm BOTH a Writer and a Illustrator aspirant/wanna-be ... so I know the work that originating the idea/writing the story involves.

No disrespect to Writers ... but it's a STORY (an idea) until your ARTIST DRAWS IT (turning an idea into the real thing). If you're creating a comic book, money up front goes to the ART. Just my opinion tho)

DreamBubble · Oct 15, 2011

Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions! =) I'll try to do a thumbnail "script" and see if that works better than a traditional wordy script. Aside from deviantart, are there any websites where I could find an artist who would be willing to work with me on a project? Thanks, again, everyone! ^^

Bicyclefish · Oct 15, 2011

Take a look at this thread:"Finding an artist". Just be sure to follow the forum rules and post in the appropriate paid or unpaid section.

Dig around the forum. A lot of useful advice has been covered, such as finding and working with an artist, converting a novel to a script, what publisher submission guidelines, etc.

DreamBubble, what comics do you read? Are you into a particular title or titles, writer, artist, or genre?

DreamBubble · Oct 15, 2011

Bicyclefish said:
Take a look at this thread:"Finding an artist". Just be sure to follow the forum rules and post in the appropriate paid or unpaid section.

Dig around the forum. A lot of useful advice has been covered, such as finding and working with an artist, converting a novel to a script, what publisher submission guidelines, etc.

DreamBubble, what comics do you read? Are you into a particular title or titles, writer, artist, or genre?

Thank you! I'll check it out soon. =)

As for what comics I read, I sometimes read the webcomics "Looking For Group" and "Questionable Content". Actual physical comics...I haven't really gotten around to finding anything I enjoyed, other than "Runaways". I'm very picky about comics, and manga I'm into but that's not the same as a graphic novel, not the kind I'm talking about, anyway. Do you have any suggestions for graphic novels I should read? I've been considering Neil Gaiman's "Sandman" series.

Bicyclefish · Oct 15, 2011

DreamBubble said:
...and manga I'm into but that's not the same as a graphic novel, not the kind I'm talking about, anyway.

Manga encompasses a lot of styles when it comes to art and storytelling: CLAMP's titles, Naruto (Masashi Kishimoto), Monster (Naoki Urasawa), BLAME (Tsutomu Nihei), Vagabond (Takehiko Inoue), Chi's Sweet Home (Kanata Konami) and so on. So I disagree that manga isn't the same as a graphic novel, even the kind you sound like you have in mind -- unless it was the manga you had in mind. Though western and eastern comics do have their differences, I believe it's a matter of what kind of manga it is whether it'd suit your story or not. It's the same with western comics which aren't all Superman and Batman.

DreamBubble · Oct 15, 2011

I meant that every manga style I've seen has a very distinct look that is anime-esque. I want a more realistic type of artwork for my graphic novel and I've never come across a manga that had realistic artwork throughout the book. Sometimes the cover or one of the inserts has a realistic drawing, but it's not the entire book that has that style. I think Hellsing is the closest I've seen to realistic drawing in a manga, but even then, it's still not the same.

BigWords · Oct 15, 2011

DreamBubble said:
I meant that every manga style I've seen has a very distinct look that is anime-esque.

It isn't as simple as anime-esque appearances - Crying Freeman has a much more realistic style than many western comic series, and a whole raft of 50s and 60s Indonesian comics are heavily styled after US comics and newspaper strip styles (think of The Phantom for an idea of the rough, action-focused style used). There are a number of modern manga which are almost photo-realistic, while US comics (especially from indie publishers) have taken a lot of the over-the-top stylistic cues from manga.

If you are looking for artists, and are intending to move forward with this project, then bookmark Whitechapel. There are a lot of inventive and eager artists who are more than talented enough to carry a full length work hanging around there. Good luck with the comic.

small axe · Oct 15, 2011

Do you have any suggestions for graphic novels I should read? I've been considering Neil Gaiman's "Sandman" series.

Anyone wanting to see a beautiful blending of word and art (I've never seen word balloons used so elegantly to mirror the illustrations, or add pacing): HABIBI by Craig Thompson (675 pages)

http://www.habibibook.com/process/

The subject may not be to everyone's tastes (it's graceful and often understated, while also surprisingly sensual and for mature audiences) ... but my gosh Craig Thompson is a genius at the artform!

Rob Lefebvre · Oct 17, 2011

I would say you need a script before you get an artist. The only way to get started is to just do it. In my experience there are quite a few difference between novels and graphic novels. I know for me it is a lot easier to get inside of a characters head wit a novel, but with a graphic novel you are more of an observer. Unless you go with lots of internal dialogue and captions and what not.

The big advantage you have is that it is already written, or at least a good portion of it is. You just have to visualize what is going on and write it in a series of panels. The main things is to be sure to convey all the key points with pictures and actions. A lot can be told with facial expressions. The main thing is to get the story across. Just go for it and see what happens.

I notice some other people on here posted a link to scripts, definitely check those out.

DreamBubble · Oct 17, 2011

Thank you for your suggestion. I'll start planning out a script and see if I can add in little thumbnail sketches to make life a little easier in the long run. =)

Sharii · Oct 17, 2011

DreamBubble said:
I meant that every manga style I've seen has a very distinct look that is anime-esque. I want a more realistic type of artwork for my graphic novel and I've never come across a manga that had realistic artwork throughout the book. Sometimes the cover or one of the inserts has a realistic drawing, but it's not the entire book that has that style. I think Hellsing is the closest I've seen to realistic drawing in a manga, but even then, it's still not the same.

In which case you should read a lot more manga, because manga is probably the MOST versatile medium and most misunderstood. Hellisng isn't really close to realistic compared to other titles. Have you ever seen Blade of the immortal? Berserk? Just to name a few. And manga usually have same artist doing covers as well as interior, unlike western comics.

Bicyclefish · Oct 17, 2011

BigWords said:
It isn't as simple as anime-esque appearances - Crying Freeman has a much more realistic style than many western comic series, and a whole raft of 50s and 60s Indonesian comics are heavily styled after US comics and newspaper strip styles (think of The Phantom for an idea of the rough, action-focused style used). There are a number of modern manga which are almost photo-realistic, while US comics (especially from indie publishers) have taken a lot of the over-the-top stylistic cues from manga.

This to a power of 100. There's increasingly, imo, cross pollination between western and eastern comics.

It's difficult for me to suggest comics when I don't have a good idea of what you like, other than "Hellsing" and "Runaways", nor much about your story, because in my opinion it should be something that fits your story but also something you'd enjoy. I strongly encourage you to Google some of the comics and artists I mentioned (Naoki Urasawa, Tsutomu Nihei and Takehiko Inoue) in addition to Kuraingu Furiiman if you're interested in a more realistic style. Regarding western comics, you may want to look beyond the Big Two (Marvel and DC).

How To Get Started?

DreamBubble

Adrianna Burch

Angry owl is judging you.

BigWords

Geekzilla

Axler

Bicyclefish

Pedaling Pescado

small axe

memento mori

DreamBubble

Bicyclefish

Pedaling Pescado

DreamBubble

Bicyclefish

Pedaling Pescado

DreamBubble

BigWords

Geekzilla

small axe

memento mori

Rob Lefebvre

Ass kicker

DreamBubble

Sharii

I draw comics, lots of comics.

Bicyclefish

Pedaling Pescado