Then, during one writer group meeting, someone asked me if I had ever considered making a graphic novel. A light went on! I was an illustrator first and a writer second. I felt comfortable doing sequential art, and I loved comics! I knew it was another skill I would have to learn, and I had been focused so hard on being a novelist that I forgot my strength of visual storytelling. I had to, once again, restructure my story. I took ten pages, penciled it, and placed word balloons so my writer group could see my story in comic book form. When I presented it, I could see they were excited. I knew I was on the right track but still had a ways to go. I researched my characters and gave them rich backstories. I have about four chapters storyboarded and nine chapters written out of sixteen.
Some books that have helped me a lot are Save the Cat by Blake Snyder, Growing Gills by Jessica Abel, and of course, Making Comics and Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud! It was a long road to get to this point. To save you time, please remember these things I learned the hard way.
• Always be honest with yourself.
• Your creative ideas matter a lot!
• NEVER beat yourself up for trying and failing!
• Doubt and self-criticism are part of the process. Go for a walk!
• You are NOT alone!
I am at the point where I am querying my story. I know as long as believing in this story, it will get better. You are now all caught with the peaks and valleys of LUNA LILY. Thanks for reading and I hope to see you next time! -Bob :)