Starting a Graphic novel

Depends how well you draw, ink and color.

And by that, I don't specifically mean that you have to follow the styles of the mainstream comic companies. Depending on the story, that style might be completely inappropriate.

Also depends on your experience and what you wanna do with it at the end.

I would recommend checking out the "how to thread" here. I'd also recommend writing in 22 (comic) page chapters, because that gives you the option of breaking the book up and selling it as a mini-series as well as a GN.

Also, when you're all done, what's the plan? If you're gonna self publish, Axler has some insights there. If you're gonna pitch, I have some insights.

Another reason to do the 22 page sections is that it's easier to entice an art team to do 22 pages that you will then pitch/sell than, say a 96 page GN. Of course, if you plan to do all the work, that doesn't matter (though I'd do it that way for the other reasons).

Of course, if you are gonna pay the art team, then it's not really an issue, but again, for selling/pitching, I'd still do the chapters.

Scyther said:

Ok, so I'm about to start writing a manuscript for a graphic novel. Does anyone recommend also doing the pencilling, inking and coloring on my own?

Click to expand...

Only if you can do all of those things well. However, if you're serious about creating a graphic novel, you might want to order this when it's available:

[URL]http://www.amazon.com/dp/1598694510/?tag=absolutewritedm-20

It pretty much has everything in it you need to know, if I say so myself.

And I do.[/URL]

There are options beyond professional inkers and artists and all that. Hang out where artists hang out, make friends, talk, talk. If it were a bar, buy drinks. Make friends, see if THEY want to work on the project together. It's more fun than paying someone anyway.

Just a thought.

Scyther said:

Thanks for the replies.

The main reasons for wanting to do both the writing and the illustrating is not only because it's good for experience, but because I don't afford an entire team of professional inkers, colorists and such, and they aren't easy to come by where I live either.

You're right that I should probably read up more first.

I'm thinking of publishing online, with POD. I just don't think I'd be able to get this out to actual publishing houses, as I lack experience in this field.

Click to expand...

I both write and illustrate my own comics, not only because of the expense of a whole team, but also because I prefer it that way.

However, you don't necessarily have to have "professional" artists if you want to look for one. There are some pretty good ones on DeviantArt who do fanarts and comics that are talented, but they don't necessarily have a career in it (I'm an art student, for example, no way am I considered a pro just yet ).

And I would also research POD. They say Lulu is good, but I had my issues with them printing out my black and white book (The black was pretty scuffed) and they take more in royalties and to keep your book low-priced, the most you get is about $1 or $2 for sales. Plus, you have to pay for an ISBN and insert it on your cover yourself.

I went with CreateSpace in the end because not only is the ISBN free, but they list you on Amazon if you choose. My mature content book was only available to Lulu.com users and no one else. Amazon is available to anyone. The only catch is that your book can't be pornographic (which mine is about like an R-rated movie, really). That's about the only limit CreateSpace really puts. Also, you get about half in royalties, which means you can make your price more reasonable and you get more money from it.

There might be others, but Lulu and CreateSpace are the only two I can think of at the moment.

It's big work. I'm doijng the same and discover that the more I plan, the more I realize what I have to do.

Best to you.

Scyther said:

I've heard about Ka-Blam, though I don't know anything in regard to print quality and service there. CreateSpace sounds very good from what you're saying.

Click to expand...

Ka-Blam's print quality is excellent. Top-notch, as is their bindery.

I've had good luck with Death Hawk: The Soulworm Saga through their online store, Indy-Planet.

Ka-Blam the show? I loved that show... had to do with comics too. I wonder if there was a relation.

PeeDee said:

There are options beyond professional inkers and artists and all that. Hang out where artists hang out, make friends, talk, talk. If it were a bar, buy drinks. Make friends, see if THEY want to work on the project together. It's more fun than paying someone anyway.

Just a thought.

Click to expand...

Is that done often? If I were writing a graphic novel, how likely would it be that I'd find an illustrator to collaborate even if there were no deal in sight?

One of the new sticky threads here is listing Web sites of comic book interest. That will include publishers, self publishers and anything else that might helo help the Comic Book writer along. ETA: If you might have some experienced insight to assisting fellow writers here, please PM me with info.

I'm also going to see what I can go about creating a writer-to-artist/artist-to-writer network from sites like DeviantArt to AW to link would-be artists and writers. That could give you and AW some good milage in the end. FYI, that's something I'm working and it'll take time.

C.bronco said:

If I were writing a graphic novel, how likely would it be that I'd find an illustrator to collaborate even if there were no deal in sight?

Click to expand...

Not very, I fear, unless the artist is completely enamoured of your concept and has no problem working on-spec.

One option is to find an artist willing to work up character sketches/model sheets and maybe a couple of pages of continuity that you could include in a proposal package to shop around.

jst5150 said:

I'm also going to see what I can go about creating a writer-to-artist/artist-to-writer network from sites like DeviantArt to AW to link would-be artists and writers. That could give you and AW some good milage in the end. FYI, that's something I'm working and it'll take time.

Click to expand...

That's great! If there were a Meet and Greet thread on AW, and artists were notified of it through artist sites, that might be easier than starting a whole new site.

Thanks Axler too. I'll have to look into it more. I like to try new genres, and I thought my current work might be most appropriate as a graphic novel.

By the way, can anyone tell me the desirable word count for a graphic novel?

The defintion of a graphic novel is defined by the page count, not word count.

Generally to be considered a graphic novel, the minimum page count should be between 90 and 120 pages.

Thanks! Duly noted.

A place where artists and writers could meet sounds great!

FR