Graphic Novel Publishers
Publish Your Own Graphic Novel
Author: Jeff McRitchie
Publishing your own graphic novel may be hard work, but some parts are probably easier than you think. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Study
Whatever your motivations are for wanting to write and publish your own graphic novel, you should have a firm and exhaustive grasp of the genre before you begin. Spend as much time as you possibly can studying the work of those who are successful (both critically and commercially), and make copious notes as to what it is about their work that appeals and endures. What scenes did they choose to illustrate and how did it convey what the artist meant to convey? What is their style and what is it based on? Delving deep into what the artist was trying to achieve and how he or she succeed or failed are the are the kinds of things that will help you get a sense of your own craft.
Your Story
This is the fun part, of course, but also the most work. Things to keep in mind in this stage are to work, work, and work to get your characters fleshed out and nailed down. You should write down complete character sketches (these won’t appear in your book, naturally) so you have a deep and enduring concept about who your characters are, and what each character’s motivation is in any given scene. This helps create consistency and help you and your audience build a bond with your characters.
Team Up If Necessary
If you are a skilled storyteller but your drawing skills leave a little bit to be desired (or you just can’t seem to achieve what it is that you have in your head), consider finding someone or a group of people to team up with. Make sure that these are dependable and creative people who can help you with your vision, and that have some great ideas of their own.
Seek Out Criticism
Before you start publishing large numbers of books yourself, seek out opinions on your work. If you have friends in the business, that is the best place to start. However, you will want to try your work out on a few members of your intended audience as well. When they are through with your book, be prepared to ask them what they liked and what they didn’t and why. Make it clear to them that you are not looking for compliments, but that you want to hear the bad along with the good. If you start to hear the same tings over and over, you will have a pretty good idea what is working and what is not.
Print and Bind
Once you’ve got your book dialed in, you are ready to put it together and pass it around. The printing should be done on a high-quality laser machine, and the cover should use a four color process. As far as the binding, there are several ways you might want to go depending on the length of your book, and what it is you are trying to accomplish. For an old-school comic book look, you can use a simple booklet maker that places two staples in the center of the book (called saddle stitching). If you are going for a hardcover or softcover book, thermal binding machines are inexpensive, easy to use, and create an impressive finished product. Take a look around online or visit your local printer to see what your options might be.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/publishing-articles/publish-your-own-graphic-novel-1988808.html
About the Author
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Meilien is right. It has been many years since I tried to get something published but they want either a track record or a complete package. I like to point out that even if it hasn’t set the world on fire Walter Simonson started work on the Star Slammers as a student, used them in promotional brochures for Discon IV in 1974, in the eighties sold a book about them to Marvel Comics and years later licensed a series for other people to draw. If you have what you think is a good novel, try to find an illustrator. If possible try to find one who likes it as much as you do. That is more likely to create a salable package than a “good” illustrator.
Well, the major publishers of graphic novels are DC and Marvel, and the lines that they publish under (like Vertigo, CMX for manga, etc.) However, getting your work published by them may be very difficult. You might want to start networking with other graphic novelists and seeing if anyone knows an agent who you can submit your work to. Good luck!
SEND IT TO PUBLISHERS OF GRAPHIC NOVELS.
No, you have to demonstrate talent – but you will also have to demonstrate a certain amount of knowledge about the print and production process. If you can find a course that teaches that area, or a sympathetic print or reproduction house, that will help.
You should also know that very few artists/illustrators make their living solely from comic books or graphic novels.
You can deal through any publisher you wish, keeping in mind that to publish through some, such as Marvel or D.C., they own it once they publish it. Image is the biggest of the Independants, but they still have a board that approves putting the image logo on any projects. the best thing you can do is send a sample (no more than 6 or so pages) of the finished work, with a one page synopsis of the entire graphic piece. They should mail you back within a couple of weeks or so to let you know if they’re interested, but no matter what, keep trying!
Good Luck!
try this. http://www.thewebcomiclist.com/latest/
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Who ya know… n’ who ya blow… welcome to the real world!
Anna, it’s very much the same as finding any publisher. First, you go to bookstores and online to identify which publishers do graphic novels at all. Take note of their author-illustrators’ names.
Then you get online and find each publisher’s website, seeking submission guidelines, which you’d follow exactly.
Some may well not deal directly with the creator but with an agent. Now you get to seek the author-illustrator name plus the word agent in a search, to determine who represents them to these publishers.
Most often, you’ll need to write a query letter and enclose a small sample of your work to entice either publisher or agent.
But first things first. Make the graphic novel, and when it’s complete, come back for more on query letters.
Personally, I like Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead that chronicles the odyssey of several characters. I haven’t been able to keep up with the series because of lack of money lately, but the first several trade paperbacks are really good. The publisher is Image.
Other than that, I know Marvel Zombies, a zombie series that takes place in an alternate reality where recognizable superhero characters have succumbed to a zombie plague. I haven’t read it myself, but I hear it should be quite entertaining.
Most zombie books are, to me, shock literature in that the books’ only purpose is to be gory and scary. They don’t really have any themes, though I personally think that zombie books could be so much more sophisticated than that. However, one book is called Dying To Live, and I’m still waiting for it to arrive. It’s written by Kim Paffenroth, and it is supposed to be ‘a thinking man’s zombie book’.
In general, you should finish the book before you submit it.
Also, see this- http://www.ehow.com/how_2109762_submit-comic-book-project-publisher.html
How can I influence distributors to distribute my graphic novel to AFFES stores and Navy Exchanges ?
As a small publisher from Europe (www.aircomics.com), I am interrested in having a great Belgian graphic novel called “Buck Danny” distributed to AAFES stores as well as Navy Exchanges. I am having a hard time convincing those private distributors such as “PMG Intl., Anderson News or The News Group. Some advises would be greatly appreciated !
After i get my Graphic novel book done. how could i get it publish?
I am just a starving artist who wish to get my own graphic novel book publish. what can i do and what publisher can i deal to?
Where can i find a graphic novel publisher?
Does anyone know where i can find a good publisher cause i have a book that i would like to publish.
what i do to publisher my graphic novel?
I’m 18, live in Manchester and i like do draw,and making graphic novels and I would like to publisher
What is a good zombie book/graphic novel?
Preferably one that can be bought some where like a bookstore or Comic Book World, not online. But if it is online only, that’s fine :]
Please include the title and author, possibly even publisher :]
Does any graphic novel publishing company provide illustrators?
I wrote a graphic novel and I don’t have an illustrator. Someone said that some graphic novel publishers provide illustrators. Is there any graphic novel publishers that will provide an illustrator? My story genre is mystery/supernatural/action. If there is any publishers, should I copyright the book then send it to the publisher?
Me and my friends are writing a Graphic Novel?
(if it is good) how do you submit a book to a publisher to see if they like it. (like Marvel, Dark Horse, Image,or DC)
I know you Finish it I just am exited cause (at lest in are mind it’s good)
How do I find a publisher for graphic noves?
If I made a graphic novel I would want to get it published.
what are the odds of having my graphic novel published?
it steps away from the classic ‘good guy, bad guy’ superhero genre, and deals with realistic topics that people can relate to.
also, if anyone knows of any publishers that deal with this type of comic let me know.
Do you have to go to college to have a graphic novel publisher publish your comic?
I’ve been working on doing graphic novels or even writing books for a few years, thus I know little about the process of publishing things like graphic novels or books. Obviously, you don’t have to go to college to be a writer since there are many children and teens who have published books, for instance, Nancy Yi Fan (teen author of the Swordbird series) had her books published through HarperCollins.
But I’ve been wondering about graphic novels. I know very, very little about the publication process of comics/graphic novels though my intelligence on publishing books has expanded. Do you have to take a certain course or something in college in order to even step into the process of publishing your graphic novel with a, more or less, “major” graphic novel publishing company?