Graphic Novels and Illustrations: Improve Your Skills

Graphic Novel Storytelling

Graphic novel writing takes a set of skills quite unlike any other type of storytelling. There are really three basic components: writing, plotting and drawing. With graphic novel writing one of the most key skills is being able to draw. For those for whom it isn’t intuitive, drawing isn’t just a matter of picking up a pencil and filling in the dots. It requires a unique set of skills to see where the lines go and how they connect. The result should be a picture that is recognizable to the viewer. For those who can draw, it’s the easiest part of writing a graphic novel. For those who can’t, it can often be seen as an insurmountable challenge.

This isn’t a talent that I personally possess. I’ve had friends (and siblings) with the ability to draw two seemingly unrelated lines on a flat surface, and with a few flicks of their wrist create a face, a body, a scene. The ability to do that has always amazed me. For those who have that ability, it seems to be something in their brain to be able to create or form an image without even thinking about it. Some claim that this can be learned, others claim that it’s an inherent talent. But for those who can, you have a remarkable gift that needs to be shared with the world.

The Importance of Illustration 

For those of you with either the talent or the inclination to learn, ask yourself: what will you draw? What story can you tell? The two ideas are intertwined. Just as lines come together to create a face, a person, or a vision, so too do the individual panels of a graphic novel come together to tell a story. One panel alone isn’t sufficient to create an entire story, but one picture after another will come together to create an entire sequence that will create the story—your story. And if a picture tells a thousand words, then what will eight pages of pictures tell? What is your vision of a story that you want to create and show the world? Your story is waiting to be created, and the world needs to see it!

For those of you who want to enter the Graphic Novel Making Contest (GNMC), drawing is an essential skill to have. And although the library can’t provide drawing supplies, it can provide materials on how to draw, or improve the skills you already have. Below are three book lists on books describing how to draw, based on age category—juvenile, young adult, and adult readers. Whatever your age, the San Jose Library has you covered for drawing instruction to make your graphic novel the best that it can be!

Improve Your Drawing Skills 

Here are some recommended book lists for people interested in drawing. Although these have been divided into age category--juvenile, young adult and adult, don't let the categories limit your curiosity! Please take a look at all three lists--there maybe something for you that strikes your interest or might help you approach that next panel a bit differently!