Creating a comic book - 5 things you need to go from idea to print

Creating stories is hard, creating comic books can be even harder. But you can most certainly do it, and in this brief blog post, I'm going to tell you how.

1. Get it on paper

   Ideas that stay in your head often end up living there. Get them onto the page - physical or digital - whether it be a drawing a mindmap, a conversation between two characters. That leap is the first step.

2. Figure out what you need

   Not all comic creators are writers and not all comic creators are artists. So figuring out what you need: writers, pencilers, inkers, background artists, character designers and more will help out. massively.

3. Learn

   There's a lot you can do yourself, if you're willing to take the time to learn. You reduce your costs, you skill yourself up, and you give yourself a huge amount of adaptability if you're able to do things yourself. Also don't forget about general learning and research e.g. If you're creating a story set underwater - research about marine biology, submersibles and the science associated with underwater movement and life.

4. Find a mentor

   Guidance from experienced comic creators will always be super valuable and can help you avoid pitfalls and help you from things as basic and designing your characters to finding a good printer. We know how much of a difference it can make, that's why here at Hawthornearts we have mentorship plans to help you along the process. You can book one or multiple sessions today.

5. Organise

   Staying organised is imperative to any successful project. Keeping track of progress, team members, deadlines, and events will help you carve out your place in the comic world. We've created some resources and spreadsheets to help with this. Check them out below:

Comic Book Creation Tracker Spreadsheet - For Comic Artists and Writers

£3.50

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Comic Team Tracker Spreadsheet - For Comic Team Leaders

£1.00

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Event Preparation Pack, Comic Con, Craft Fair Spreadsheet and Checklist

£2.99

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These resources are constantly being updated and upgraded free of charge and You get all of these free when you sign up to a mentorship plan - So be sure to make full use of them!

So regardless of where you are on your comic creation journey, just remember it is absolutely possible and you can absolutely complete that comic book idea that's been rolling around your head!

Keep up the good work, and remember that we'll be here cheering you on along the way!