Following Saturday’s Guardian Masterclass, we thought we’d share some of the books the tutors recommended to up-and-coming graphic novel creators. These six quite different books form a useful reading list for anyone interested in writing or illustrating graphic novels:
1. Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards
Recommended by: Audrey Niffenegger
What it’s good for: writers who think they can’t draw. (It turns out you can.)
2. Story by Robert McKee
Recommended by: Pat Mills
What it’s good for: developing and refining your plot. (This book might be aimed at screenwriters, but the same principles apply to creating comics.)
3. What It Is by Lynda Barry
Recommended by: Karrie Fransman (if we remember correctly…)
What it’s good for: curing writer’s block.
4. Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction by Patricia Highsmith
Recommended by: Audrey Niffenegger
What it’s good for: knowing what to reveal to your reader, and when to reveal it.
5. Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
Recommended by: Karrie Fransman
What it’s good for: understanding the history of comics and how they are read.
6. How Fiction Works by James Wood
Recommended by: Audrey Niffenegger
What it’s good for: understanding the machinery of storytelling.
And, as if that weren’t enough to get you started, Pat Mills has provided a comprehensive write-up of his masterclass talk on his blog. Take a look; you’ll learn a lot.
Tweet your top tips and book recommendations to @selfmadehero.
