While working on my panel for AWP I kept thinking about all the resources I used to teach myself about graphic novels while I was an undergrad. Well good writers don't gatekeep, so here is a list of books, articles, and graphic novels that were really helpful for me! Where possible, I linked a free online version of the resource.
Articles Victoria Ying's website is a gold mine of information on graphic novel writing, but this page on scriptwriting was key in helping me figure out my writing style. Also check out her guide on making a pitch packet, which I used as a guide through my Senior BFA Thesis. Books on Craft I have been really enjoying Drawing Words and Writing Pictures by Jessica Abel and Matt Madden. The book is designed like a 15 week semester course and is absolutely chocked full of activities and advice. If you are just getting started with comics and are looking for a straightforward exploration into the genre, Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics is a classic. Graphic Novels These books are amazing examples of what is possible with graphic novels. I've included some observations on how they could be used in a classroom. Alison Bechdel's Fun Home is a great example of a graphic memoir that relies heavily on text without losing the potency of the artwork. Bechdel's thoughtful, devastating observations about her relationship with her father are told in beautiful prose. This book is a good starting point for students who have never analyzed a graphic novel in a classroom setting before. This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki falls on the opposite end of the dial. While Fun Home uses heavy narration to tell a story, This One Summer uses breathtaking artwork and realistic dialogue to guide the reader into piecing together it's story. And finally, I love to recommend Heartstopper by Alice Oseman to any new comic reader. There is a reason that it has a popular Netflix show. Heartstopper's messy, simple artwork has an air of genuineness to it. This book can be used to spark a discussion about how the artwork does not need to look wholly rendered in order for it to tell a clear story.
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