The A to Z Challenge asks bloggers to post every day except Sundays during the month of April on a thematic topic. This year, my second year with A to Z, I’ll cover thirty more writing genres (I covered thirty last year!).
Today’s genre:
Graphic Novel
Definition
Graphic Novel: a novel in comic-strip format
Tips
- It doesn’t matter if the art inspires story or vice versa. Start with either.
- Think comic book only longer.
- Start with a script. Storyboard it.
- Start with a strong character and compelling plot.
- Show the characters and the setting in your story to readers in graphic detail.
- Pick a setting that will give the novel depth and make it interesting on a visual level.
- Pick a particular drawing style, one that suits you.
- Keep the character’s features and characteristics consistent throughout the novel.
- Include dialogue that identifies the character.
- End with a resolution or realization.
Popular Books
- Ant Colony by Michael DeForge
- Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
- Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware
- Mooncop by Tom Gauld
- Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea by Guy Delisle
- Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi
- Scott Pilgrim, Volume 1: Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O’Malley
- Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1 (Twilight: The Graphic Novel, #1) by Stephenie Meyer
- Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
Click for complete list of 2018 A to Z genres
More G Genres:
If you’re doing the AtoZ Challenge, please add your name and blog address to this interactive list. I’ll be sure to visit you each day.
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Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy, the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers, and the upcoming Born in a Treacherous Time. She is also the author/editor of over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for TeachHUB, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. You can find her books at her publisher’s website, Structured Learning.
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Graphic novels are truly gaining mainstream popularity! There’s so much you can do with them – I remember reading the “classics” in graphic novel format – great introduction to them, so you want to return to them later when you can get through the original. (As an interesting sidenote, I just finished reading a book that was part text story, part graphic novel. Very interesting combination, though I’ll admit that at the beginning I wasn’t very convinced it would work!)
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I’ve never read a classic in graphic novel format. I’m intrigued–what a great idea!
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Maus by Art Spiegelman and Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, two very famous graphic novels that portray political and social upheaval through personal visions.
One of my personal favorites is The Arrival by Shaun Tan, the story of immigrants told told only through some of the most gorgeous charcoal drawings ever rendered.
Stitches by David Small is a graphic biography, telling the story of his childhood when a supposedly benign throat surgery leaves him unable to speak. Thus his world becomes one of images.
Then there is Aliceheimer’s by Dana Walrath, not quite a graphic novel but it might interest anyone who likes this genre. Actually, it’s a graphic memoir, the story of Walrath’s mother, Alice, who has Alzheimer’s, told through narrative and an incredible series of art pieces constructed of torn apart books with pencil work overlaid. Tender and prophetic as Alice is losing her ability to understand language. Her words are garbled as are the images, yet Alice shines through everything, a warrior every bit as courageous as Don Quixote.
These are not your grandpa’s comic books.
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What great additions, Shari! You make a good point, that many graphic novels have political/economic goals, not just entertainment.
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Lovely
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There’s a lot to love about graphic novels, isn’t there?
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Silly me. I’ve never read a graphic novel. I passed over a couple at the charity bookstore where I volunteer. Never gave it a second thought. Next time, I’ll take my time and investigate. 😀
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I too, Tess, considering them comics. But–as my son educated me–they aren’t. They’re much more.
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I have found some interesting graphic novels. Though still not a big read for me, I try to read some every year.
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I read them for probably the same reason you do–to keep my finger in on what they are. But that’s it!
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Graphic novels are great for kids! 🙂
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They sure are–and adults. My 30-year-old son likes them! and he’s a voracious reader of texts like the Latin classics.
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🙂
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I have read several powerful books in this genre. Maus, Message to Adolf and Persepolis are three that readily come to mind.
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So the myth that graphic novels are for millennials isn’t true. Good to hear. I haven’t heard of any of the ones you mentioned. I’m checking them out…
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Jacqui,
I thought while doing my sketches last year that I wanted to illustrate my own children’s story but after I tried doing it, I lost confidence and drive. Perhaps I was expecting too much of myself too soon. I’m sure when the time is right then I will rise to the occasion but until then I’m just going to have fun sketching. Thanks for enlightening me with these points on what a graphic novel is and oh yeah for visiting my iPad Art Sketches ‘Goofy Faces’ post.
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This sort of novel takes a huge investment of time in the graphics, as much as a typical novel does in text I think.
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My son certainly loved graphic novels as a youngster (he still has some up there) but I’ve never seen the appeal. 🙂 http://www.poetryroundabout.com
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Anything to get them to read, right? My son loved StarTrek novels–it worked too!
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Hi Jackie – I see the Walking Dead started as one of these … well live and learn, and then I see the one about North Korea – that sounds interesting – cheers Hilary
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There’s a lot of crossover in genres isn’t there.
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I’ve browsed through a couple of the Batman graphic novels. They were all right, just not my cup o’ tea….
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There are so many pictorial fiction genres now, I’m not sure of the difference between comics (like Batman) and any others. To me, anything with pictures to tell a novel-length story are graphic novels. Me too, as far as comics, though I do like the Marvel series and movies.
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I haven’t read a graphic novel, yet. I don’t think I’ve even seen one (beyond comic books). They sound interesting. I’ll have to give it a try. 🙂
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If you google ‘graphic novel’–or any of those I mentioned, you find some great examples. I kind of like text’s ability to let readers see what they want to in the words.
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I’m sure I’ll pick one up before too long. 🙂
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Not my favourite genre, but have read one for a reading challenge. One of reasons could be that I read it on Kindle which wasn’t easy. Then read it on Kindle app for PC which isn’t my ideal way to read books. Must read a physical book and try again.
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Yes–I think you’re right. There are a lot of behind-the-scenes formatting in Kindle that makes it difficult to add pictures (as well as tables and charts) to those books. This I know from personal experience.
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I’ve only read a few recently because of the PopSugar reading challenge that I was doing. Graphic novels was one of the categories. I don’t even read the comics much so that’s probably why I am not a graphic novel reader.
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It’s amazing how big graphic novels are these days. I don’t write them either but I’m intrigued by them and the audience they attract to reading.
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My elder son is an animator so I’ve seen him story-boarding – it’s a HUGE process. I’ve never come across a graphic novel but I can see the purpose in it. Maybe illustrated books eg Winnie the Pooh or Roald Dahl or Dr Seuss are some kind of graphic ‘novel’ for younger readers? Interesting post thanks Jacqui –
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It is a huge process and I have nothing but respect for those that do it. I think to draw the illustrations correctly requires a deep understanding of the story.
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GREAT POST ! Graphic Novels great choice
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I can see that! I love your signature.
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Reblogged this on ❧Defining Ways❧.
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Thanks for sharing!
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I’ve been collecting the Dark Tower graphic novels of late. Obviously that gives me away as a King fan of said book series!
I think for young minds comics and graphic novels are a great way of engaging them into fiction and reading too.
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That’s exactly right, Gary. Dark Towers–good addition to the list.
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Whilst it’s something I couldn’t possibly do, it is a genre I used to enjoy. Perhaps it’s time to take another look!
My Friend Rosey – G is for Grannie
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I wouldn’t have thought twice about any sort of graphic storytelling if not for being a teacher. Under that hat, I’m always looking for ways to engage readers. This is a great one.
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I just started watching AMC’s The Walking Dead and was interested to learn that it began as a graphic novel. The complex issues that come up in it are amazing.
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I didn’t know that. I’ll have to check that one out.
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It’s extremely gross, (not something I’d normally watch). But my 19 year old starts telling me about the things that come up in the show as a result of this “zombie apocalypse.” Things like racism, when do we cease to be human, gang warfare, etc. It really is a deep concept.
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Ah. Maybe I’ll skip it and simply enjoy your review!
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I’ve only read a couple of this kind, but I liked them. Personally I don’t have the drawing skill to do one myself, but I admire those who do.
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I’ve never been into graphic novels but they have become immensely popular. It’s hard to ignore them anymore!
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Great posting! Graphic novels really took the comic book to new heights. It made it okay for the kid in all of us to enjoy this media.
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That highly visual nature is appealing in a multimedia world. I like that kids can get all the good that ‘reading’ offers in a less word-intensive way.
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Absolutely right! Anything that gets a book in their hands is good!
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I’m not a reader of graphic novels, but I do admire the art. Great list of tips as always, Jacqui.
G is for (The) Gifts of Imperfection
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That’s exactly where I am, Karen–admiration. My kids are much more open to them as novels.
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Nicely done, Jacqui. I love to storyboard.
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It starts there, be it comics or graphic novels. Anything that visually lays out a story. I should do more of that.
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I have to say I am rubbish at this kind of thing, but at least I feel guilty about not doing it !
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A lot of people think they have to be graphic artists to write graphic novels. Well, maybe you do but the bigger picture is communicating ideas visually. They’re excellent at that.
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Errr, last I checked, Sailor Moon was classified as a manga, not a comic. The art wasn’t always in comic strip style.
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You are probably right. Maybe I need to add a category for ‘Manga’.
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Pyongyang A Journey in North Korea sounds really interesting.
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I thought so too. It’s unusual to say the least.
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