write and draw a graphic novel

I’ve just started writing the first 30-page (or so) installment of an untitled graphic novel. The story is a memoir of returning to my small Oklahoma hometown to care for my mother for the last six months of her life. I had been living in San Francisco (and still do) and decided to stay with my difficult, challenging, crazy yet nurturing mother while she died of breast cancer. I am working on a very rough draft of the text but am struggling with being tired after working all day/week and then sitting down to write rather than relaxing or sleeping.

Hooray! I found my favorite sketchbook, and it has all my best notes in it, and it was lost for the last three months – I was beginning to doubt its existance.

So, now to get to the real work. I think I can do a few pages, because I actually did all the major work on my main story a year ago (but didn’t realize that was what it was). I think I’ll do a series and make a ton of copies of the first one, with subscription info, and give away the first issue at work (we have a free publications rack). That will be the trial run. If it does well, I’ll go from there.

I have been drawing at my bus stops and scouting locations for future sketching. This week I am buying some portable art supplies so that I can upgrade from my collection of composition books. I have been sketching pigeons, buildings, people, cars. trees, clouds, etc.

I have found that drawing in public is a spectator sport – that was sort of unexpected. I get instant critiques from random people at my stops – they have no problem just walking up and looking over my shoulder! This is getting fun – I’m usually introverted, but this project is slowly drawing me out of my shell.

I have been keeping an art/writing journal now for about twelve years on and off, and certain themes and characters keep coming up and interacting and commenting on current events and basically growing into something. I never thought I’d have enough ideas to make a comic book, but now I have novels and novels of ideas and galleries of drawings – I just have to flesh everything out and organize it all. So, I have a little story I’m using for practice so I can get a feel for storytelling with my drawings, and there’s a bigger one I’m working on for when I’m comfortable with all of this. I’m currently studying Winsor McCay (Little Nemo), Will Eisner, Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing series, Frank Miller, and Neil Gaiman. Any other suggestions are welcome.

I have a pretty good idea for one i just need to learn to draw first so i can show to other people without feeling stupid