I've always wanted to make comics in the past, since it sorta combined my two favorite hobbies – writing and art. But it's always the same thing: I get into it, and I just lose interest way too fast. I don't know if this is something I really don't want to do, or if I need to put more elbow grease into it.
Are there any essential pointers that I should know before I get into it? Some things that I should always do? Things I should never do? Suggestions? Can anyone help me out here?
(commenting so I can find this later)
@Young-Dusty
They might be able to help you, they've been running their own comic for a while now ^^
Oof I feel ya with the getting discouraged really fast thing. I'm not an expert, but here are some things I learned the hard way:
-Start with a small project–like, 20 to 50 pages max. If you can finish that, you'll not only prove to yourself that you CAN finish stuff, you'll also learn a ton about the process and you'll have a completed project to show for it.
-Don't make your first project your favorite. Start with something that has lower stakes, because inevitably your art and storytelling abilities are going to change dramatically as you figure out what works. Then, when you do your magnum opus, you're already at the end of the learning curve.
-As with any story, plan out the WHOLE THING before even drawing the first page. Don't slack off on the ending either, it's the most important part. Assuming "I'll figure it out later" will always come back to bite ya.
-Write yourself a nice clear outline–no need to go into a ton of detail yet, but make sure to write down any specific details you think of right away. Don't assume you'll remember anything months later when you finally get to the scene.
-Figure out how fast you can draw pages without burning out and without sacrificing the quality of your art. Making comics is a major commitment and it takes a lot of time. I've been working on my comic for like two years now and I'm only on chapter 4. (Note that I did not follow my own advice and start with something small ^^;) (Also I'm working pretty slow rn–a page every two weeks, which is definitely not my top speed. Life gets in the way sometimes)
-Do a more detailed, page-by-page script of every chapter before you start on it. You may have to take a break from drawing for a bit to do this right. That's fine. (This step is waaayyy easier if you did the outline well.)
-Draw a handful of pages in advance so you have a buffer in case you get sick or fall behind. It's such a nice feeling to have a safety net, believe me.
-Staying motivated on a story requires two parts: Being really excited and passionate about the story, and having the work ethic and accountability to power through even when you lose sight of that passion. Nine times out of ten, it's worth it, trust me.
-In your outline, put a star next to your fave scenes. Add extra description to that part, maybe even draw some sketches and thumbnails of your vision. When you feel like giving up, go back to those scenes and remind yourself that you'll never reach them if you don't keep working. At that point you'll know, deep down, if this is something you really want or not.
Whew, that was a lot, lol. Hope that helps! If you have any more questions feel free to let me know! ^^
O-o
lots of text. But that's okay.
I've heard of planning it all out before drawing, but everything else is new. And honestly, even 20 pages seems a lot to start out with, haha. But maybe all of this'll help me in the long run. I won't start right away because it's almost bedtime, and I truthfully hope that making comics will be a tad bit more fun for me. (Or funner, if that's a word.)
I know a lot about what you mentioned was about planning the comic, but are there any tips about panel layouts and text bubbles/boxes layouts? I also find myself kind of troubled with that.
Glad to be of use! Yeah, if 20 pages seems daunting, definitely do whatever you're comfy with.
I know a lot about what you mentioned was about planning the comic, but are there any tips about panel layouts and text bubbles/boxes layouts? I also find myself kind of troubled with that.
Hmm, that's a slightly trickier question. I think it kind of depends on the type of comic you're trying to make, but there are some general tips and guidelines I know of (another info dump lol, sorry):
-Obviously make sure you leave room for the speech bubble in the panel when sketching it out.
-Don't put a lengthy speech in one bubble. Break it up and use each panel to illustrate the points you're making. Don't just flip back and forth between character faces endlessly, unless it's important to show their reactions.
-Try to make the size of your font mostly consistent so it's easier to read. (When in digital format, you can usually make the font smaller than you think.)
-Make sure it's easy to tell who's speaking. if more than one person speaks per panel, try to line up the speech bubbles left-to-right or top-to-bottom.
-When setting the scene, put a lot of effort into the backgrounds. After a few pages, you can get away with much simpler bgs, especially in panels that are just somebody's face or whatever.
-That said, be careful not to make the panel so detailed that it's hard to understand at first glance. The focus of the panel should always be very obvious.
-Don't show the same angle/perspective of a place/person every time. Break it up. Change the "camera" angle depending on the mood you're going for.
-Values are your friend. Use light and shadow to add atmosphere, clarity, and aesthetic appeal.
I could ramble on, but I think I'm losing my train of thought and I don't want to overload you. My best piece of advice is to really study some comics/graphic novels/manga that you'd like to emulate, and figure out how they do it. Eventually you'll start to pick up on the patterns and storytelling tricks that are common and effective.
Some awesome examples I'd like to recommend (idk what style or genre you're going for but maybe you'll like these anyway):
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (not the movie, although it's good too.) A japanese comic by Hayao Miyazaki. Content warning for violence and dark themes, but this one's a 7-book masterpiece imo.
Bone - A bit goofier, but the story (and the ink drawings) are amazing.
Stand Still, Stay Silent - This is a really good example of a successful long-form online webcomic. It's in full color, has superb art, and one of the fastest upload schedules I've ever seen. This one really showcases the potential of digital art in comics, I think.
Okay, I'm done now. Hides
I used to be quite interested in the technical aspects of comics, even if I never got into it myself, and I really recommend the book Making Comics by Scott McCloud (this links to a pdf, though I personally preferred reading a physical copy idk). It's an incredibly detailed, and in my experience quite practical, guide to approaching this kind of thing.
(Following cuz I wanna make comics too)
I've tried making comics too (nothing I've ever published but still) and I must say! Use a ruler! For making panels! I swear, it helps and if you're working with digital, most programs have one. Also, backgrounds, however hard they may be, are a MUST. A good example-and yes I'm promoting my hyperfixations here-is this webcomic call The Glass Scientists. The author is really good at making detail backgrounds and it's highly inspiring for me to work on my own. It's also a good example of expressions and is just a good example for a good comic. Generally when you're doing a close-up of a character's face you can be a bit lazier on the backgrounds. Also, expression is important! Make the gestures you use unique to each character and make them very big and open and clear of what you're trying to convey. Study cartoons! They're good for that! And above all else, when you're making comics you HAVE to take care of your basic needs while doing so. Set a timer for breaks, and make sure you stay well fed and hydrated. Burnout really is no joke, and it makes you lose interest faster.
Wow! Thanks guys! This is a lot of help, I gotta say.
Now, what if I wanted to make a humorous comic-strip style comic? Say, like Garfield or something? Would anything change as far as the advice you've given me? Or would most of it stay the same?
I have not much experience with comic strips, but I'd say most of it's the same, although usually you don't have to worry so much about backgrounds and fancy angles on those. As for humor, I'm doing a (hopefully) humorous webcomic atm, and all I'll say is that timing and visual comedy are your greatest weapons no matter the format. Good luck! ^^
Thanks! Actually, I'm making a short 6-panel page for an art contest on a forum I'm part of, so I guess I can say I've started it. So far, it's going pretty well! But I gotta say, details and perspective are NOT my thing…..
Anything to improve detail or perspective (in general, I guess.)
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