New Edition Coming Soon

Such is the fate of works in the publishing industry: if a book doesn’t continue to sell well, a publisher will let it go out of print. That is what is happening with the original edition of Creating Graphic Novels. 

As a result, I am preparing a second edition (for self publishing) that will correct a few minor errors in the text, as well as add a few updates to some of the information about the business. I will be designing a new cover for the book – Professor Exposition will likely be a primary feature of the cover. But most of the updates will concern conventions and internet news sites – not big deals, so rather than mess with the original content, I’ll simply add some addenda pages.

I’ve always been very pleased to have been published by Michael Wiese Productions, and the book would certainly not have turned out the way it did without the editorial guidance of Ken Lee. Where I had originally planned to be a mostly text work, with some photo illustrations, it was Ken who suggested making it “more graphic” – which ended up serving the purpose of introducing people to the comics/graphic novel form of storytelling in an easy to understand fashion.

In the meantime, the first edition is still available on Amazon and remains as useful as it ever was.

Learn About Sequential Art

Have you ever wondered how to go about getting a story you’ve already created into graphic novel form? Creating Graphic Novels will help you through the steps toward that desired end.

sequential art sequenceAdapting a screenplay to the graphic novel form requires learning the mechanics of the graphic novel / comic book form. Even if you have read comics and graphic novels for years, sitting down to write a script that the artist can work from doesn’t come automatically. A graphic novel script has to do some things that are very different from what a screenplay does.

Learning these details are not hard, once you adjust to the different purposes. But it really is not the same thing as a screenplay.

Creating Graphic Novels is the book I’ve been waiting for! It’s actually written with screenwriters in mind, knowing that eventually we’ll be asked the dreaded question by a producer, ‘Is there a book I can see?’ From terminology and creation, to networking and marketing, this book has it all. I can’t recommend it highly enough for screenwriters looking to turn their story into a graphic novel as an aid to getting a movie made, or as a rewarding, tangible creative endeavor in its own right.”

— Trevor Mayes, writer/director of My Demon Girlfriend

This volume, Creating Graphic Novels, will help you go from graphic novel reader to the creator of one. If you know how to tell a story, you will be able to follow how to fit your story into the graphic novel format. For writers who are not artists, who wonder how they can find an artist to help visualize the story, the book also provides information on where to find the artists and how to create a working team with them.

Where to Begin in Creating a Graphic Novel?

I know a lot of writers who have toyed with the idea of creating a graphic novel version of one of their (usually unpublished) works, whether it’s a screenplay, novel, or short story. But they hold themselves back from it because they aren’t familiar with the business side of graphic novels and comic books. It’s a pity because the process, though a lot of work, is not as difficult as they might imagine.

scribblerworks graphic short story tsaloshaThinking Visually

One of the first things to consider in approaching the possibility of turning your story into a graphic novel is the visual possibilities in your story. Since, assuming you are not an artist yourself, you are going to be hiring an artist to draw the images for your story, you want the tale to give that person some exciting things to do: action encounters, emotional intensity in the characters, interesting locations. And while you may be in love with your prose, a graphic novel is about images. You will be giving up some of your wonderful prose in favor of wonderful artwork.

For the script of a graphic novel, you want to make the artist fall in love with the image potential in the stories. If you bore the artist, you will get boring artwork. So you want to excite your artist. To do that, you have to think visually about the story you are telling.

Learning About Artists

Of course, if you don’t know any artists, you may have no idea of what will excite one. To learn about what any artist likes to draw, what they are good at, what their finished artwork looks like, you need to do some research. You can search online and find many artists and then initiate email conversations with them. Or you can go to comic book conventions and cruise the Artists Alley of the exhibit hall, and see first hand the various styles and abilities of many artists. The artist is usually right there at the table for you to talk to and discuss possibilities.

Information Right at Your Hand

There’s no need for you to feel completely overwhelmed by these steps. I give you the basics for getting started in Creating Graphic Novels. In this book, I walk the graphic novel novice through the whole process. I explain the special jargon of graphic novels and comic books, finding art teams, and the options in  publishing.

This books is a great gift for your aspiring graphic novelist, or for yourself. Check it out! (And by the way, if you purchase from the publisher right now, you can get the book at a 25% discount with free shipping! Don’t wait!)

Heading to the Portland Comic Con

This coming weekend is the Wizard World Portland Comic Con, and I’m driving up to attend it. Even though I was not able to get a slot on the program (I made that approach too late in the process), I mean to talk up the book as much as I can.

scribblerworks-portland-ww-2015

I hope to connect with a few professional friends at the convention, plus show my book around at least a little bit.

Might Head to Portland Wizard World

I just realized that the Portland Wizard World is January 23-25, 2015 – which will be during the tail end of my stay in Oregon. It may be possible for me to attend, and possibly even do a presentation or panel or two at the con. I’m going to jump on that and see what I can pull together!

If the pieces come together, I’ll be taking the Creating Graphic Novels show on the road!

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Writers Store Signing – Aug. 30!

CREATING GRAPHIC NOVELS by Sarah Beach
BOOK SIGNING AT THE WRITERS STORE
3510 West Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank, CA (just east of Hollywood Way)
AUGUST 30, 2014
1 TO 3 SATURDAY AFTERNOON

CGN-final-cover-netSarah Beach will help launch you into a new dimension of storytelling with her book CREATING GRAPHIC NOVELS. This new release from Michael Wiese Productions will introduce screenwriters to the basics of graphic novels, from the specific nature of a graphic novel script to how to find your art team, and onward into the basic business of getting your work before an audience.

Color headshotIf you’ve ever heard a producer say “I wish there was a graphic novel of this so I could see what the film would look like,” then you need the information in this book.

Sarah will be at the Writers Store on Saturday, August 30th, from 1 to 3, signing copies of the book and answering questions. Come mingle, chat, ask questions! She will give a brief talk about what screenwriters can gain from learning about graphic novels, and then answer as many questions as she is able.

Screenwriters! Broaden your horizons and increase your options by learning about graphic novels.

scribblerworks-writers-store

The Writers Store, Inc.
3510 West Magnolia Blvd.
Burbank CA, 91505 (map it)
Phone: 800-272-8927
or 310-441-5151
Fax: 818-566-8644

Thanks to the Golden Apple staff!

Well, I had my first outing with the new book, at Golden Apple’s After Con Party last night.

I really want to thank Ryan Liebowitz and the rest of the staff at Golden Apple. I was one of a number of creators with special books to show and sell to the folks. The staff did a great job giving us space, and making sure all ran well.

scribblerworks-golden-apple-signing

Admittedly, my “how to” book wasn’t as immediately grabbing to most of the customers coming by, but a good number did check it out for future consideration. And we even sold a couple of copies!

Ryan is an enthusiastic supporter, and he believes that in the long run, the book will do well as more people become aware of it. That’s an encouraging thing to hear!

Go to the MICHAEL WIESE PRODUCTIONS page right now! They’re offering a 25% discount when you order the book directly from them! Check it out (and their many other fine titles)!

Come Party at Golden Apple Comics!

For everyone who has gotten over their Comic Con fatigue and are now ready to talk-talk-talk about all the stuff they saw in San Diego, come to Golden Apple Comics on Wednesday evening.

CGN-final-cover-shortMore importantly (from my point of view), come because I’ll be signing copies of my book!

The great folks at Golden Apple have been very supportive. Here’s a chance for all aspiring writers of graphic novels get the book fresh off the printing presses. Be the first to learn all the “secrets” of how to write, publish, and distribute your graphic novel!

Golden Apple Comics

Golden Apple Comics is located at
7018 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 658-6047

STORE HOURS:
11AM-7PM DAILY EXCEPT:
TUESDAY: 11AM-5PM
WEDNESDAY: 10AM-9PM

PARTY TIME IS 6 TO 9 P.M. Come and enjoy the friendly people. Maybe even buy some books! Buy MY book, and I’ll sign it for you!

The Books Have Arrived!

My author copies of the book arrived! They go out from Amazon this week, with the official publication date of August 1. I have a list of folks to send complementary copies and review copies. It means things have moved to the next stage in spreading the word.

My personal mascot, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, had to check out the books.

Creature-checks-book

I spent some time looking through it myself. It’s gratifying to see that it works the way I wanted it to work, particularly in certain two page spreads.