In the past few years, a lot of TV shows and movies have been based on graphic novels. What is a graphic novel? It is defined as a work of fiction that is depicted in comic book form.
The key difference between a graphic novel and a comic book, is that a graphic novel is far more complex and long-form than a comic book.
If you have a great concept, and have some illustrating skills as well, you could try writing a graphic novel as well. Before you start on your graphic novel though, you should have a set strategy. Here are essential ways to write a graphic novel of your very own.
- Read some great graphic novels for inspiration
If you want to write a graphic novel that you could be proud of, you should look for some inspiration. Remember that a lot of graphic novels have been published, and a good number of them have attained a great deal of success.
If you have the budget, you should invest in a few graphic novels. These will not only be a worthy addition to your book collection, you will also have a priceless resource during the writing process.
- Come up with a main concept
While you should get as much inspiration from other graphic novels, you should never really base your overall story on them. Remember that there are already a lot of graphic novels out there. So you should do your best to formulate a main concept for your graphic novel. The main concept should be as unique as possible. Refrain from using overused tropes, and try to come up with something truly original.
- Decide on a specific drawing style
If you are going to be the one who is going to draw the illustrations for your graphic novel, you should make sure that your drawing style is up to standards. It should not only be aesthetic, it should also fit the concept and feel of your graphic novel.
- Choose a good artist
On the other hand, if you are not going to draw the illustrations for your graphic novel, you should make sure to choose a good artist. Aside from the overall storyline of your graphic novel, the illustrations are just as important.
When hiring an artist for your graphic novel, it is important that you choose wisely. Don’t be surprised that artist’s services can be a bit pricey. Drawing art for a graphic novel is a lot of work, and takes a lot of time and effort to do.
- Start on your first draft
Now that you have the key concepts for your graphic novel, it is now time to start on your first draft. The first draft of your graphic novel will count as a kind of testing ground for your concepts.
After finishing your first draft, you should have your graphic novel reviewed by fellow writers. Seeing as this will be your first draft, there will be some corrections and criticisms. Take these comments to heart and implement them in your work. Remember that you are just starting out, so any advice is warranted.
- Make sure the visuals are on point
When you draw the illustrations for your graphic novel it is important that it is as on point as possible. The background, the characters, and the action sequences should be consistent. You should also make sure that all the panels are as easy to understand as possible.
Remember that you will be adding the dialogue balloons later, however, you should not just rely on the dialogue balloons in order for the panels to be understood. If possible, you should treat your illustrations like a silent movie. They should be easily interpreted even without the dialogue balloons.
- Dialogue is key
While your visuals should be able to stand on its own, this does not mean that you should ignore your graphic novel’s dialogue. Remember that your use of dialogue will affect how your readers will read your graphic novel. While you should add key details into your dialogue bubble, this does not mean that your characters should go into very long monologues. Try to make your dialogue brief yet impactful. The dialogue should also fit perfectly with your visuals.
- Choose the best publishing option
After finishing your graphic novel, you should choose the best publishing option. As this is your first graphic novel, you should be careful on which option you choose. You could either choose to publish with a traditional publishing house, or self-publish your graphic novel yourself.
If you are going to publish with a traditional publishing house, you should choose a publisher that works with graphic novels. Just remember though that traditional publishing houses won’t really be accommodating to new writers. You may have to wait and gain a following for your work before you could get a publishing deal.
As a new graphic novel author, you should first try self-publishing your novel. While you will have to pay for the project, there are many affordable self-publishing companies that could help you during the process.
Conclusion
If you are planning on writing a graphic novel of your very own, it is important that you have a set strategy. Writing a graphic novel may seem like a lot of fun, however, it takes a lot of time and work in order to write one. With these tips, you’ll be able to write a graphic novel the right way.