After repeated failed attempts at making original manga(or original doujinshi), I've found the process that works the best for me. It's painstakingly long, and I feel like I could skip some steps but really I shouldn't if I want the comic to turn out well. This is my comic-making guide:
The Process:
Step 1: PLOT and SETTING What kind of story do I want to write? If you're like me, you have certain scenes in your head already, but you really have no strong connection as to how they should happen. Also, if you're like me, you have certain elements you want in your manga, but have no strong reason for having it there. Some anime and manga can pull off having nonsense randomness in their comics, but honestly it's difficult.
To connect all the elements I want, I question each event. Let's start with "Aliens are abducting cows." First I ask "Why are cows being abducted?" I answer myself with "Because the aliens want ice cream." Then "Why do they want ice cream?" Well, "Because it's a delicacy on their planet." Then the aliens: "Who are the aliens?" "They're interdimensional transporters." "Does anybody see them?" "Yes, but they don't do much about it; KaidaFaye is the only one who cares." "What does she do about it?" "She gets scouted to help them maintain peace between..." You get the idea: Question until you can fit everything you want in there together and you have a purpose for the main character(KaidaFaye is mine) and a setting. Pick a setting that suits your tastes and satisfies the characters in the plot.
It's helpful to write down your plot and setting once you're got it all figured out.
Step 2: CHARACTERS Honestly, you probably already had your characters picked out from the beginning. If you have, you can now refine your characters and their roles according to the plot you made. I found this on deviantART, and it's really helpful for making sure your characters are balanced:
Balanced characters means balanced comic. This way, not all the characters run together because their traits are too similar. Your main character should stay the main character, being the most complex in order for the audience to related to him/her more.
Step 3: SCRIPT At this point you want to start drawing ASAP...don't. This is where you plan out each chapter of your comic--what they say, what they do: it's essentially a screenplay. By writing before drawing, you keep your story more organized and less room for mistakes that you can't take back after you print copies of the thing.
Step 4: STORYBOARDING Almost at the comicking point!! I use this to help me plan out how I want the comic to be laid out. I draw a very rough stick-figured draft of how I want the page to look, and I write the part of the script the page covers next to it on the lines. I see the storyboarding step of the comic as the final draft of the script, since this is where I make final changes. For example, I changed my beginning scene a bit in the storyboarding phase because it plumb didn't look appealing in the sketch: it was hard to fit and it didn't look nice. I try to make my first page eye-catching.
Step 5: PENCILING AND INKING Now you can finally draw the comic!! Following the storyboard, you draw in your characters, backgrounds, word bubbles, etc. Using the waterproof inks and pens of your choice, carefully ink over the pencil. When the ink is dry, erase with a really good eraser, like Magic Rub, and use white out/white ink/white paint to fix any inking mistakes you made. If you're into screentone and all that, you apply that after the inking, but I never learned how to use screentone since it's $8 a sheet over here. I use GIMP to add my shading and lettering. You could also use pencil, or you can colour it.
If you have a tablet, you can skip a shitload of those steps by making one layer for drawing in "pencil" and another layer for "inking" and add word bubbles and lettering on yet another layer. Your panels will come out better too. Investing in a Wacom tablet will save time and material cost.
Step 6: THE COVER You probably had this done a long time ago since the cover is probably your most favourite part of the comic, amiright? I like to save this for when I'm done planning everything out. The best comic covers all have something to do with the chapters inside and visually striking. If you have an idea, sketch it out whenever, doesn't have to be Step 6. But I wouldn't advise going all out on a cover you're not even sure should be the final yet.
Step 7: THE PRINTING Convert your files to PDF and put them on a flash drive. There are printing shops everywhere, like Kinkos, Office Max, Office Depot, Staples...or if printing is too expensive(cuz it is for me) you can bind them yourself. There's guides and YouTube videos on how to bind your own books.
AND YOU'RE DONE!!
You can sell them online, at conventions, give them to your friends, etc. I hope this was helpful!
-KF
