Hey, if you’re interested in writing and drawing your own graphic novel, here are the steps I follow:
Step 1: Create Your Character
Readers like to follow the adventures of a main character, so think of who you want your character to be: a fourth grader, a hamster, a banana, anything! Then, you have to think of what the character wants: a dog, friends, pizza, to save the world. And if it’s a graphic novel, you need to draw your main character. Try drawing your character from different views: front view or side view, and draw them doing stuff, like running!
Step 2: Brainstorm Obstacles
Obstacles are things in the way of your main character getting what they want. For example, if a fourth grader, Grace, wants a dog, maybe 1) her parents don’t think she’s responsible, 2) She may not have money for the dog and 3) one of the parents may be allergic to dog fur!
Step 3: Brainstorm How your Character Can Overcome Obstacles
Brainstorm How your character may overcome her obstacles, so she gets what she wants. For example, our main character may 1) do chores to show her parents that she can take care of a dog. 2) Make a lemonade stand to raise money or do extra chores for relatives, such as wash cars. And 3) maybe she can research hypoallergenic dogs, or choose a different pet.
Step 4: Think of a Satisfying End to Your Story
Since you’re the creator, you get to decide whether your character gets what they want or gets something better, or learns something about themself, such as maybe they’re more of a cat or hamster person.
Step 5: Thumbnail Your Story
After you know what’s in the story you can write it out using just words, and then you can use all the details you write down to create a sketched out version of your story in comics form. I draw it out small first and with quick sketches so I make sure I leave enough space for the words and I have space to include the pictures I need so the reader can follow what’s going on.
Step 6: Draw Your Final Version
After you have a sketched out version, you can get feedback from another reader, such as a friend, teacher or relative. Make sure they can follow what’s going on without you explaining it to them. You have to let the words you wrote and the pictures you’ve drawn show what’s going on in your story. After one or two other people can follow along with the sketched out version, you can take your time and draw a more detailed version and then ink it with a felt-tip pen, or a digital drawing tool.
Happy creating! I am available to come to your school or library to give you more writing and cartooning tips. Visit this page for info on my school visits: https://www.jtstories.com/service-page/school-visits
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