HOW TO WRITE A MANGA

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INTRODUCTION

Every project begins with a concept, a basic blueprint. This basic blueprint is the foundation upon which we then build our product, for instance, a house. 

With mangas it is similar. It all starts with a basic plotline. And from there we let our imagination run. 

STEPS TO WRITING A MANGA

On HomeLight.com 35 steps are listed for building a house. From finding and purchasing land, deciding which type of house we would like to build, hiring a building team, to getting the required permits. 

Each step is equally important and following them in a certain sequence allows for the process to be smoother and quicker. 

There are steps to writing mangas too. The steps are similar to writing other texts, material and books, but have some distinctive features. 

PLANNING AND PREPARATION

1. CHOOSE YOUR MANGA TYPE

As with house building, we have to choose the type of manga we wish to create. Will it be a slice of life, fantasy, sci-fi, historical or any of the other types? This will help clarify the type of characters and settings we will have. (2)

2. RESEARCH AND BRAINSTORM

Researching your genre. Read other manga and comic books to get a feel for what works in the chosen industry. It may also give you ideas for your story. (3)

3. WRITE A QUICK SUMMARY

A quick summary will help us stay on track when writing and also help us combat any feelings of weariness and overwhelm. (2)

While your story does not have to be completely original, do try to include something that stands out in some way. (2)

4. CREATE CHARACTER PROFILES AND DESIGN

Develop a profile for each character. Define their personality and characteristics. Describe their appearances and basic background story. Be original. No coping of other existing characters unless permitted by the owners. (2)

5. DETERMINE THE SETTINGS

Determine the setting. Is this a fantasy world? What are the major places? Plan out the locations of the manga where the majority of events will take place. (2)

Design and draw out a world (only necessary for a fantasy world), and town maps. Use simple icons to draw the map and only for locations that are relevant to your story. (2)

If the town and locations are real, taking photos of them is advised. Next sketch out the locations and some important interiors. (2)

6. DETERMINE THE LENGTH OF YOUR MANGA

Write out point-form notes of the major events for each chapter and the characters involved. How much of the story will unfold in each chapter? (2)

7. PLAN FOR PRINTING BEFORE YOU DRAW THE MANGA

Do some research on the standard print sizes that are available to use in our location. Also be aware of the “live area”, “bleed” and “trim” areas when choosing to print. You might want to ask for some help from a graphic designer. (2)

WRITING AND FORMATTING

1. PLAN YOUR PAGES AND DETERMINE THE PANEL LAYOUT

Create rough sketches of each page for a given chapter. The arrangement of these panels can affect the pacing and flow of the story, while the panels’ size and shape can also influence how the reader perceives the story’s events. (2, 3)

There is a wide variety of boxes of different formats, rectangular, but also oblique, and even if the principle of a maximum of four vertical lines applies, you can happily exceed this number. Choose what style you will use. (4)

When drawing these rough sketches, you can help yourself by drawing Chibi characters. Include the dialog that will take place. Dialogue and narration are essential. Dialogue is the spoken words of the characters, while narration is the voice-over that describes what is happening in the story. Dialogue should be used to reveal character, advance the plot, or provide exposition, and narration should set the scene, provide context, or create an atmosphere. (3)

2. CHOOSE SCRIPT FORMAT

The most common format used in manga and comic book writing is the Full Script format. The Marvel Format is also popular. (3)

3. LEARN THE DIFFERENT SPEECH BUBBLES

Different styles of speech bubbles can be used. For instance, regular oval shape tends to be used for normal speech, while jagged ones tend to be used for shouting. Stick to the same style. (2)

4. CREATE STORYBOARD, DRAW YOUR MANGA

After you have planned everything out, you can begin drawing. Do a light pencil drawing first and ink it afterward.  If you have a pen tablet and the right software you can draw your manga digitally. (2)

5. SHOW, DON’T TELL

Instead of telling the reader what is happening, we show them through visuals. (3)

6. PACING AND TIMING

Pacing refers to the speed at which the story is told, while timing refers to the moment something happens in the story. (3)

REVISION AND REWRITE

1. EDITING AND POLISHING

When we are done with writing, the process of editing and polishing begins. Editing includes revising the script for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, as well as improving the flow and clarity of the story. (3)

Polishing on the other hand involves fine-tuning the script for style and tone, ensuring the story is interesting and well-written. (3)

2. GET FEEDBACK 

Get some basic feedback by showing people your character designs and giving them some idea of the plot. Ask for honest feedback. (2)

PUBLISHING

1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT SIZE

Choosing the right size is crucial. It is important for overall appearance and readability.

2. PROFESIONAL DIGITAL PRINTING

It helps comic book creators produce stunning, high-quality graphic novels, manga, and comic books. (3)

3. MARKETING AND SELLING

Choosing the right marketing strategy and company is essential for converting sales. 

CONCLUSION

There are several steps to writing manga as there are in the case of every project. It all starts with research and brainstorming. Creating a summary becomes the foundation upon which we then further build.

SOURCES

1. Image created via canva.com.

2. Anime outline. 10 Steps to Make Your Own Manga or Comic Book. Available at https://www.animeoutline.com/steps-to-make-your-own-manga/

3. Comix Wellspring. How to Write a Manga or Comic Script? March 27, 2023. Available at https://www.grekoprinting-comixwellspring.com/blog/how-to-write-a-manga-or-comic-script/

4. Repaper. How to create a Manga? Tools, Techniques, and Digital Mastery. Available at https://www.iskn.co/eu/discover/54614397/how-to-create-a-manga