Some random things I’ve learned while making graphic novels
Disclaimer: I'm making it up as I go!
Don’t create stories that are overly complicated. Graphic novels are a lot of work, and the advances are not astronomical. The money is not enough to spend years finishing a book.
When designing characters, make sure they are easy to draw and well-designed so that they can be drawn hundreds of times and from every angle. This way, the character designs don’t limit what can be done in the story. Also, if the characters are easy to draw, it will make the book easier to produce, so again, it can be completed in a reasonable amount of time.
Keep the characters active in every panel. Push their facial expressions. Have them doing something while they’re saying their dialogue. This not only brings the characters to life on the page, but it also makes them feel like they truly exist, which will hopefully make the reader care about them.
Give the characters an internal flaw or multiple flaws. This gives them something to struggle with and possibly overcome during the course of the story. This also makes them more relatable, which again helps the reader connect with them.
Start developing the next graphic novel idea while working on the current graphic novel. This is very important. Publishing is slow. It takes a long time for books to get published. Don’t wait till the current book is finished to start working on the next idea. Otherwise, there may be a year or more between book releases and the next advance (money) for the next book.
Not every panel has to be perfectly drawn. The reader will not notice how well the character’s hand is drawn. Focus on the big picture, not the tiny details. Embrace imperfection. It’ll make your life easier and you’ll age less.
Take care of your body. Take breaks often. Make time for exercise. It will increase creativity, idea creation, and make you feel better.
Spend time outside in the real world watching people and having a life. That’s where story ideas live.
Learn something new. Try a new hobby. Take an improv class. Learn a new skill. It may inspire new book ideas, or at the very least, refill your creative spirit.
The key to making anything is to start. Don’t wait for permission or a secret formula. Just make it. Then, when you finish, make something else. And then something else. Rinse and repeat.
Not everyone will love what we make, and that’s okay. It only takes one agent, editor, art director, or friend to champion the book idea and help it come to life.
Don’t give up. Rejections suck. Making books can be hard at times. Take breaks when needed to get through the low points, but don’t stop.
Make friends with like-minded artists and encourage each other. I’ve been in a group with two other artists for over fifteen years, and we’ve been through lots of ups and downs together.
AI will not replace your point of view. Create stories that draw on your unique life experiences; setbacks, heartbreak, and failures are goldmines for character conflict. And conflict is story gold!
Don’t wait for opportunities to arrive. Write stories. Create characters. Put them out in the world. I would never have found my agent if I hadn’t been selling my self-published books at the San Diego Comic Con.
When addressing notes, you don’t have to do exactly what is being suggested. Look at what’s not working and fix it in your own way. And occasionally, it’s okay to say no if you have a good reason for it. It might also be a good time to get on the phone and talk it out with your editor. Who knows, maybe something new will come out of the conversation that you hadn’t thought of before. I don’t always agree with the notes I receive, but they almost always make the story better once I’ve processed them and addressed them in my own way.
Pick your battles. There are numerous ways to do the same thing. The suggested note may not be the way you initially wanted to do it, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. When working with others, we have to occasionally make compromises. If you’re not willing to compromise, then you might want to self-publish instead of working with a publisher.
When receiving advice, take what works and discard the rest.
Make up your own process. I don't always know what I'm doing, and I learn through trial and error.
Enjoy the journey!
I'm embarking on my first longer GN in a couple of weeks (under contract and written) and this was great new advice and great reminders, too.
What great advice! I finished two graphic novels (unpublished) and decided that the five-year slog to see one published is too much. Congratulations on your successes. I’m adapting one of my GN’s into a Chapter Book. Still writing and drawing but much less! I love your style and appreciate the glimpses into your process.