If you are a writer and have always wanted to write and design your first comic book, you may be unsure of where and when to start. It takes some money, creativity, and time to write your own comic book or graphic novel, but there are plenty of ways that can make it easier to do this.
Even if you’ve never written or illustrated anything before, it’s easier than you think to get started with writing and designing a comic book. Below are some tips to help you start and create a comic book from scratch.
Determine the Type of Story
You might want to consider what type of story you want to tell. There are some questions you will need to ask yourself regarding this. Do you want it to be a short story or a series? What is the main character’s name? What is their superpower, and how do they feel about the world?
These are questions that should be answered before starting your comic book. Remember, this is the main brainstorming phase that will determine how your book will continue to get reader reviews. So, be sure to write everything down, including story ideas, character sketches, and dialogues.
Develop Your Characters
There are many different ways you can develop your characters, but the most important thing is to know what kind of story you want to tell. Once you know that, then consider how each character in your comic will fit into it.
The next step is to develop your characters exactly as you have imagined them. It will help promote the real meaning of the story that was originally in your mind. If you have characters with a simple look in your mind, you will easily illustrate them for your book.
However, if you have more detailed characters in your mind and you want them illustrated picture-perfect in your comic book, you will have to look for a comic book artist for hire. Comic artists are professional illustrators and will design your comic characters in the best way possible.
All you have to do is to provide them with your detailed thoughts in mind or a rough sketch and leave the rest for them.
Write a Script
The first thing you will have to do after finalizing your outline and comic characters is to pick a story and start writing it right away. Once you have your story, sketch out the comic book pages and put your panels on them.
Your story script will outline all the details that will go into your story. Outline all the events of the story, character development scenarios, and all other aspects at this point.
Research How to Make Comics
Comics are a great way to tell a story through images, but it takes more than just an idea. Whether you’re an illustrator, writer, or both, there’s a lot of work that goes into making your first comic book. There are some tips for how to start and create your first comic book.
- Sketch out your ideas on paper before jumping into a graphic designing app or software.
- Get feedback from friends or colleagues who know comic design better than you do.
- Show some of your comics online in order to get feedback from other artists.
- Make sure to explore different styles while sketching so that people can see what kind of story you are trying to tell.
Find a Graphic Designer or Illustrator
If you cannot design the comics by yourself, it is always better to find a graphic designer or illustrator who will help you make the comic book look good. Finding the right illustrator can be difficult.
When you’re ready to start, there are many online platforms, such as Behance or Dribbble, where you can find portfolios of artists in your area. Pick a few designers you like and get in touch with them about your project. Be prepared with a plan for the artwork, how long it will take, and what your budget is.
If they are interested, they’ll ask more questions before agreeing to work with you. Make sure they have references so that you know their past work before making any commitments.
Create a Set of Rules for Drawing
During your work in writing and designing a comic book, it is important to know how to create a set of rules for drawing. This will help ensure that your work is consistent and will help you stay on track when designing multiple comics in your book.
There are a few things to keep in mind when creating your rules. First, think about the style of comic you want to draw. This will help you determine the look and feel of your rules. Next, consider the medium you will be using to draw your comics. Will you be using pencils, colors, or digital tools?
Each medium has its own set of rules that you will need to follow. Finally, think about the story you want to tell. Your rules should support the story you are trying to tell and not get in the way of your original story thinking.
Once you have considered all of these things, you can start to create comic drawings for your book. Also, if you are working with an illustrator, make sure to discuss all these rules with them in order to ensure consistency in your comic work.
Choose a Format and Publish It
Choose an appropriate title for your comic book that will attract readers of your targeted age group. The last step is to choose a format for your book and get it published on an appropriate platform. You can get your work published by submitting it to publishing companies and try submitting it online through publishing websites.
You will also need to think about the format you are going to publish your comic book. There are three major formats for publishing comics. These are floppies, trade paperbacks, and hardcovers.
Floppies are usually sold in single-issue form, usually at local comic shops. Trade paperbacks are collections of floppies that come out on a monthly basis. Hardcovers come out less frequently than trade paperbacks but have higher-quality printing with larger pages.
After this, you will have to promote your book to make it available to the maximum number of people. Try joining online forums to market your book.
