Graphic novels, long stories told in comics format, have enjoyed the fastest-growing sales of any category of book in the U.S. over the last four years. This modern renaissance of comics has produced a library of substantial works, whose subjects are not confined to superheroes or fantasy but are as varied and sophisticated as the best films and literature. Graphic Novels presents an accessible, entertaining, and highly illustrated guide to the diversity of contemporary comics in book form. Featuring striking graphics and explanatory extracts from a wide range of graphic novels, the book examines the specific language of the comics medium; the history and pioneers of the form; recent masterpieces from Art Spiegelman's Maus to Chris Ware's Jimmy Corrigan; the impact of Japanese manga and European albums translated into English; how artists have overcome prejudices towards the genre; and the ambitious range of themes and issues artists are addressing, including childhood, war and survival, politics, the future, sexuality, and the supernatural.

Presents guidance for creating graphic novels, beginning with establishing characters and continuing through storytelling, drawing technique, composition, inking, coloring, lettering, and strategies for getting the finished product published.

A practical guide for beginner and advanced comic book writers that outlines the steps needed to successfully craft a story for sequential art. With this latest book in the SCAD Creative Essentials series from the esteemed Savannah College of Art and Design, comics writer and instructor Mark Kneece gives aspiring comic book writers the essential tools they need to write scripts for sequential art with confidence and success. He provides a practical set of guidelines favored by many comic book publishers and uses a unique trial and error approach to show would-be scribes the potential pitfalls they might encounter when seeking a career in comics writing. Supported by examples of scripting from SCAD's students, faculty, and alumni,The Art of Comic Book Writing strips away the mysteries of this popular artform and provides real-world advice and easy-to-follow examples for those looking to write for the comics medium.

For an aspiring novelist, nothing is more intimidating than a blank page or computer screen. This step-by-step guide helps you get past that hurdle, start writing, and cross the finish line to first draft in only twenty-six weeks! This guide covers the entire novel-writing process--from polishing an idea to finding an agent and submitting to publishers. This practical guide takes you through the ins and outs of writing and publishing your first book, including how to: Create authentic characters, engaging plotlines, and believable settings Edit for tone, structure, and pacing Find the right agent Market and sell your work to publishers Build a career as a novelist Complete with writing exercises, inspiring examples, and expert advice from bestselling novelists, this book is an excellent starting place for anyone interested in the art, craft, and business of writing fiction.

For any writer who wants to become an expert comic-book storyteller, The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics is the definitive, one-stop resource! In this valuable guide, Dennis O’Neil, a living legend in the comics industry, reveals his insider tricks and no-fail techniques for comic storytelling. Readers will discover the various methods of writing scripts (full script vs. plot first), as well as procedures for developing a story structure, building subplots, creating well-rounded characters, and much more. O’Neil also explains the many diverse formats for comic books, including graphic novels, maxi-series, mega-series, and adaptation. Of course, there are also dozens of guidelines for writing proposals to editors that command attention and get results.

Dramatized sequential illustrations with dialogueQan art form once confined to production of comic strips and comic booksQhave recently graduated into the popular, fast-growing, and often financially rewarding genre of the graphic novel. Now, this authoritative instruction manual offers more than 400 illustrations to take students step by step through the process of creating their own publication.Barron's Educational Series, Inc.

Suitable for all abilities, from complete beginners to experienced artists. Covers all essential elements of making sequential art, including concept and composition, characters and backgrounds, expressions, emotion, atmosphere and action. This book gives

Create your own illustrated world with The Everything Guide to Writing Graphic Novels! Watchmen. V for Vendetta. A History of Violence. The Sandman. 300. You’ve read them, you’ve loved them, and now you want to write and illustrate them. The Everything Guide to Writing Graphic Novels is your shot at the big time. Whether you want to go as dark as Sin City, as funny as Bone, or as poignant as Maus, this book shows you how to do it all. You’ll learn how to: -Develop memorable characters -Create intricate storylines -Illustrate, lay out, and design panels that pop -Letter your dialogue -Market and promote your work It’s all here for you. Professional graphic novelists Mark Ellis and Melissa Martin Ellis show you the ropes of the industry and how to make your graphic novel matter. They help you to take the ideas out of your head and put them onto the page. Lavishly illustrated with more than 100 drawings, this guide also features full-color examples of Mark Ellis’s distinctive graphic style. Dramatic? Humorous? Off-beat? With pen in hand, it’s up to you. A whole universe of characters and volumes of stories are waiting to be created—now give them life!

Whether you're writing self-help, memoir, or the Great American novel, you'll need a professionally prepared book proposal to sell it. In The Everything Guide to Writing a Book Proposal, author Meg Schneider and literary agent Barbara Doyen team up to provide the inside scoop on getting your name in print. Schneider and Doyen fully explain how to: Create a proposal for any genre Know what agents and publishers look for Get out of the slush pile and onto the right editor's desk Rework a proposal using suggestions from an agent or editor Understand and negotiate your contract Deal with rejection-and keep writing! The Everything Guide to Writing a Book Proposal takes you behind the closed doors of the publishing world, revealing the tried-and-true tips, techniques, and shortcuts that can help you get published sooner rather than later. Reference materials and resources for writers are also included, as well as a list of writers' organizations and clubs. AUTHOR: Meg Schneider is coauthor of three published books and has more than ten years of experience in television, radio, and print journalism. She is the recipient of numerous writing awards, and has written several book proposals on a variety of topics, both as sole author and collaborator. Barbara Doyen is president of Doyen Literary Services, Inc., an agency representing 100-plus authors.

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