So, for awhile I've been considering the idea of writing a graphic novel/manga. So I was wondering if there's anything I should know before I get serious.
I have read two mangas, Maximum Ride and Fruits Basket (I cannot remember the authors' names right now, I'm pretty sure the first one's last name was Patterson and the second one had a Japanese sounding name). Those are the only published ones anyway. There are a few websites I've been on where people have posted mangas that they wrought for the fun of it.
So I have the general idea of what they look like. They seem to be just like a novel, only shown with art and the only actual writing is the dialogue. Is there anything I'm missing that would be important when writing a graphic novel?
Also, I have a few specific questions...
1. How much can be implied to have happened between "frames" (or whatever you're supposed to call the individual pictures)?
Is it sufficient to show Character1 standing on the right side of a room in picture 1, and then show him standing on the left side of the room in picture 2. Or should there be another picture showing him walking between the two positions?
How much detail is needed for the reader to understand what is going on?
2. Does the viewpoint in one picture effect where the viewpoint in the next picture should be? (within the same scene, that is)
Is it okay to have one picture looking at Character1 and a table from the side, and then in the next picture be looking at Character1 from above the table?
How much shift between pictures is okay? Are there any guidelines I could follow concerning this?
3. Is it okay to have blocks of text that talk as if telling a story? To sort of serve as filler (instead of showing the characters taking a train, just say that at so-in-so took a train, and give brief information about the train ride)? Or does that look cheesy and unprofessional?
4. If I were to do this with someone, having me writing and the other person drawing, how much information do I need to give the artist? I know it will probably vary a lot depending on who the artist is, but there has to be a bare minimum. What are some things that an artist would definitely want to know? And are there any things that I might tell the artist that they would probably find annoying?
5. Are there any terms I should know before getting too deep into the world of graphic novels, mangas, and comics?
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