Any writers here? -- i.e. not the artist on his/her manga

[takethebackseat]

Just curious :o

I've mastered the art of squiggly lines and happy faces so I guess that makes me a pure-blooded writer.

I'm blessed to have an awesome artist to work with on my OEL. I tried to break into the US comic book industry as a writer and had hardly any luck at all. Then I hooked up with a manga-ka and things in my professional creative life have taken off.

Any writers with similar experiences?

And to all the artist-writer-do-it-alls out there: each and every single one of you is my hero. Keep on keepin' on.

[QueenieChan]

Yay! :D

Anyway, I was wondering whether this forum should be renamed "Ask the Writers/Artists/Writer-Artists" or something. Right now it sounds as if only artists hang around here, which is not true.

I don't like the idea of having separate forums for writers, artists and writer-artists either, because it splits people up into groups. Any takers?

[larsony]

I started writing scripts in High School and contacted a bunch of cool artists through Digital Webbing. Went frigging nowhere! I figured I couldn't depend on artists and I had so many cool ideas I decided I would just do it all. So I guess my breaking into American comics as a writer did not work either *sob*.

My comic drawing ability was snuff back in 2003, but I worked hard at it so I wouldn't have to be let down by anymore artists. Now I can let my ownself down *sigh*.

You writers being successful with OEL manga get my respect. Thats a lot of work to commit to a project that you then turn over to someone else.

[takethebackseat]

Queeniechan: I was wondering the same thing :confused:

Larsony: I know exactly what you mean!

[chojinlocke]

Just curious :o

I've mastered the art of squiggly lines and happy faces so I guess that makes me a pure-blooded writer.

I'm blessed to have an awesome artist to work with on my OEL. I tried to break into the US comic book industry as a writer and had hardly any luck at all. Then I hooked up with a manga-ka and things in my professional creative life have taken off.

Any writers with similar experiences?

And to all the artist-writer-do-it-alls out there: each and every single one of you is my hero. Keep on keepin' on.

Tony S. of Psy-Comm here.

I have to agree with you. I got a BFA in computer art from SCAD, but my 2d is rusty and there is no way I could do a book. It's really hard to be just a writer, at least until you have some books under your belt. I'm still pitching away, and working on stuff. Having an artist you dig and can trust is a big thing! I do wish I could do my own book sometimes, but I really like working as a team.

On a separate note, I think the writer/artist thing would be a good label change for the forum as well.

[rivkah]

:P Technically, being an artist (http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?sourceid=Mozilla-search&va=artist) doesn't necessarily mean the visual arts. It's any of the fine arts, which includes writing. ;P

I do everything for my book, but I'd love to be able to be just the writer for a series and work with another artist. Writing scripts is much less time consuming than drawing, and I can't imagine what it's like to see an idea given birth by another. I bet it's pretty incredible. :)

[Jo Soo Park]

I can't imagine what it's like to see an idea given birth by another. I bet it's pretty incredible. :)


That's the greatest thing when it comes to comics. Behold, it's great power.

[chojinlocke]

I can't imagine what it's like to see an idea given birth by another. I bet it's pretty incredible. :)

Shane constantly impresses me with his work. I have ideas in my head about how things might play out, and even when it turns out different, it is always as cool, and a lot of times it's even cooler than I imagined it being. I've always been frustrated by not being able to always draw exactly what's in my head. Luckily I've been able to work with artists who one up that on occasions. It is pretty neato.

[Jo Soo Park]

Shane constantly impresses me with his work. I have ideas in my head about how things might play out, and even when it turns out different, it is always as cool, and a lot of times it's even cooler than I imagined it being. I've always been frustrated by not being able to always draw exactly what's in my head. Luckily I've been able to work with artists who one up that on occasions. It is pretty neato.


I seriously think there should be a tutoral, for those who want to write scripts for comics.

[takethebackseat]

That's the greatest thing when it comes to comics. Behold, it's great power.

Totally. Collaborative energy is just something I never knew about...and won't give up for anything now that I do :) My artist Ouch and I have developed a friendship in addition to our working relationship that I really cherish and appreciate.

There's also something very freeing and therapeutic in opening yourself up to share something as private as a dream / idea.

[takethebackseat]

I seriously think there should be a tutoral, for those who want to write scripts for comics.

I haven't read any books specifically on script writing but here are some related to sequential art that you might find helpful:

Will Eisner's Comics and Sequential Art
Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics
Matt Madden's 99 Ways to Tell a Story : Exercises in Style

One other tip I have is to just listen to how others talk and carry on in conversation. Write down anything interesting / funny you hear. It can lead to golden dialogue for you down the road.

[takethebackseat]

I don't like the idea of having separate forums for writers, artists and writer-artists either, because it splits people up into groups. Any takers?

What about... "Ask the Manga-ka" ?

[Joshua Elder]

I'm blessed to have an awesome artist to work with on my OEL. I tried to break into the US comic book industry as a writer and had hardly any luck at all. Then I hooked up with a manga-ka and things in my professional creative life have taken off.

Any writers with similar experiences?

You just described my experience perfectly. I was an intern at DC Comics for two summers in college and then briefly worked at Wizard Magazine as an associate editor. During that period I worked very hard on breaking into to the superhero industry and was told flat-out that while they liked my work, they simply couldn't use me because I wasn't a "name". So I decided to self-publish and do my own thing.

That's when I hooked up with the incredible Erich Owen and we did "Mail Order Ninja". Right as we were finishing, TPop began the 5th Rising Stars of Manga contest. I decided to submit MON to it on a lark and the rest is history.

TPop is the most forward looking company in the whole comic industry. And the OEL manga scene in general is more vibrant and fluid than the superhero scene. So yeah, if you want to break into comics, I say go manga all the way.

Plus you can actually tell stories that don't revolve around guys with capes hitting each other all day (Not that there's anything wrong with that.).

[beanclam]

See... this is what I'm trying to explain to Ash (my friend and the writer of MotS). She's afraid of chiming in 'cause she thinks only the illustrators hang out around here.

I'll have to point her in this thread's direction...

[PeNCILz]

Tell Ash to get over here! tis so much fun! She is more than welcome to post in the novels section too. There is a thread about writing in there...

Or you should go up to her and be all like "You are making PeNCILz cry!" and don't explain why and she might think you have lost it from over working yourself but then you could explain afterwards and stuff... Sort of planning an awkward conversation... Or she could end up taking it completely wrong and think you are talking about her writing and she would be all like "Arrgh or something" but I don't know Ash sooooo I dunno what that reaction could be...

(I drew a cat with a moustache today!)

Anyway I have been working on my own manga since 7:00 this morning! WOOT! And I have three characters designed and also have mindless scribbles. But my story is so original and cool! I love it! (You will have to wait until I submit it to get more info! I ish so evil!)

[takethebackseat]

I decided to submit MON to it on a lark and the rest is history.

I was at a bookstore last night that was selling everything 40% off because it was closing down so I bought TONS of manga. I picked up RSOM5 and have to say you did a wonderful job. It's one of my favorite short stories. I was wondering what you're doing at the moment.

So yeah, if you want to break into comics, I say go manga all the way.

I couldn't agree more. So many of the smaller comic book publishers are falling to the wayside. Tokyopop is as stable a place I've seen and they're open to submissions. Awesomeness :p

[Rednal]

Heh. >.< I'm not a hero, then. I can't draw AT ALL. But yeah, congrats to those who have made it so far. And rest assured... I'm coming. *Lets out a maniacal laugh*

[loveTOwrite]

so um, how would one find an artist for a book? where would one go? (other than here i guess)

[NearlyMello]

I'm writing, writing, writing. Mabye someday I'll get an artist and we can work on a oneshot or a RSoM entry. Probably not. I'm very set in my ways and delude myself into thinking I can do page layouts. XD

[takethebackseat]

so um, how would one find an artist for a book? where would one go? (other than here i guess)

Some advice: http://www.tokyopop.com/takethebackseat/blog/8729.html

[DragonX]

Well... I used to write whole books (but never tried to publish it - i was a kid then). They were good (as everybody else says - i don't think they're so brilliant). But then i've switched to 3D modeling and after that i switched to manga and never written long constant stories again (i mean, stories, not scenarios).
PS. If you want writers and artists forums to be merged write to the admins ;).

[YourFallen]

I'm strictly a writer, but I can draw decently, just not good enough for my own manga. Maybe one day I'll find someone to help me in the drawing department, but until then, writing fiction is my game.

[HolyVampire32]

I'm strictly a writer, but I can draw decently, just not good enough for my own manga. Maybe one day I'll find someone to help me in the drawing department, but until then, writing fiction is my game.

Keep at it! You have to kick around, and sometimes it might take a while, but after turning over enough stones you'll find someone. I can't begin to tell you how many times this scenerio has played out:

Me: So ya that's the idea, what do you think about the plot?
Potential Artist (PA): Wow that sound great!
Me: Thanks, hey you draw right?
PA: Yeah
Me: Cool, why don't we team up it'd be awesome. My story and your art, we can't lose!
PA: Yeah about that.... *insert generic excuse here*
Me: *cries a little on the inside*

Don't worry you'll find one it just take persistance. Until then keep working on your stories and dialogue. You gotta work hard, personaly I think writers don't get enough credit in creation process. That is, not to say that writers are more important than artsit, but show us some love once and a while ^_^

Anyways, since we have all these creative minds pooled together, I might as well ask. What do you all do to get your creatie juices flowing and start making thoes wonderful plots and characters.

I personally ask the question "What if" to real live scenerios:

What if gravity repelled rather then attract?
What if the internet didn't exsist?
What if the atom bomb was never created?
What if chocolate was better then vanilla?

Asking "What if?" with regards to characters is also a great way to disecting them to better building up their personality. It'll be painful to cut certain aspect of a characters personality (or whatever you are trimming) from a character. But hey, like gold through the fire they will becoming more refined ^_^

So what are some techniques you guys/gals have?

[kimmiD]

Characters are real, live people who live in your head, so treat them like real people. Follow them around, think about what they do and how they do things. Write letters to them, sit down with them and ask them questions. They got a story to tell, if you'd listen to them. And never, ever make them go into a direction they don't want to go. But instead, let them write the story. You get out of the way. And so what if folks look at ya funny. Just tell them I'm a writer. And they all nod their heads and say, ahhhh . . .

And an added note, I can't draw to save my life. Ahh . . . the joy of stick figures.