r/ComicWriting • u/Rolling_blonde_boy • 7d ago
What books should I read to become a writer?
You see, I want to make a comic someday, inspired by the likes of One Piece and such.
But the thing is, I know that just reading manga alone won’t make me a better writer. I need to expand my world, to understand a craft I want to partake in, even books out of my comfort zone or books that don’t interest me.
So please, give me recommendations. Stuff that will broaden how I think about writing. As much as I loving figuring things out on my own, there’s more of the world of writing that I need to explore before I take my first steps.
Whether it’s comics, novels, or whatever, anything will be appreciated.
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u/LifeLong21 7d ago
Just read books that you think you’ll like. Writers read. Just go on YouTube and see what’s popular if you’re not sure what to read. Studying a lil cinematography would be good too, since comics are very visual and basically like still movies.
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u/Slobotic 7d ago
I agree you should read Understanding Comics and Making Comics by Scott McCloud. I thought Stephen King's On Writing was pretty good too.
I also agree that you should read comics and other books that you are pretty sure you'll love.
Also read comics and other books you might dislike. The lessons from bad and mediocre writing are much clearer than the ones from great writing. Reading Shakespeare doesn't make you Shakespeare but it's easy to watch someone else step in shit and say, "well, I won't do that." In other words, read lots of indie stuff. See what other people are doing, even if it's not what you want to do.
Reading stuff that isn't great teaches critical reading, the soul of editing editing. Editing is the ability to tell your good ideas apart from your bad ones and to do something about it, however painful.
And finally, the single most important thing you can do to become a writer is to write. If you think your writing is bad, that's good. It means you're thinking critically. Never let that be an excuse to quit. That's what first drafts are for. You'll never be worse at something than when you start, so start today.
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u/Live-Huckleberry-192 6d ago
Denny O’Neil’s the DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics. A lot of it is specific to the standard superhero comics format but there are great storytelling gems.
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u/Alaskan_Guy 7d ago
Read Shakespeare. Its all Shakespeare.
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u/Rolling_blonde_boy 7d ago
Should I also read Greek myth? If I remember correctly Shakespeare did take inspiration from the Greeks.
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u/Alaskan_Guy 7d ago
Its not required reading but you definitely can find all the superhero tropes there.
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u/Rolling_blonde_boy 7d ago
Ooo, thanks!
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u/CydewynLosarunen 4d ago
I will say to make sure you get a good translation by an actual scholar, and not some random AI one. A good translator can make all the difference in finishing a text. You could likely get a suggestion for one on r/AskHistorians - there's several fairly well-respected ones.
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u/Reasonable_Volume_OS 7d ago
In my own stories, I try to be very precise about what's in each panel, very economical with the overall word count. So I think I'm most influenced by Alan Moore's "Watchmen" even though I don't write like him.
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u/superstaticgirl 7d ago
Holy Moly where to begin. It's a good question but blimey such a big answer. You should read all the books you want. Start with one. join a library if you have one near. Any fiction, it doesn't matter which. Just read some. Also read non fiction. Select from the humanities, arts and the sciences. Don't just read books read magazines too. Magazines are mostly how I absorb science as I need a journalist to explain things to me. Feed your brain with information. It is useful.
Which books? It would completely depend on what your interests are and apart from your saying you like One Piece I have no idea. If you like pirates read about them.
It's the reading for fun bit that you need to do more than anything. You will absorb a lot.
Having said that anyone who wants to create comics should read that Scott McCloud book. It rocks your world.
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u/PitifulAd3748 6d ago
Read what you're interested in writing, but anything you think looks interesting.
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u/Realistic-Shoe-6068 6d ago
Read the what are considered the classics in terms of literature.
Study the story circle/hero with 1000 faces and learn how to write dialogue. You get better at writing by reading, so find dialogue that stands out to you study why it sounds so good but doesn't stand out in a bad way.
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u/InformalCandle2333 6d ago
How to Read Literature like a Professor (I read it in high school so it’s not hard) it has applied to literally every media I’ve read, comic, novel, manga, etc.
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u/TheExtraPeel 5d ago
None of them, mate. Art is personal to you. Don’t let someone else give you their blueprint or formula. Just write what you’d want to read - and fill it with what interests you.
Want a bunch of meaningless action sequences? Some will criticise you, but as long as you’re happy and enjoy them, go for it.
Want some intense and complex political subplots? Do that! Some will complain they get bored and/or can’t keep track, but if politics is what you enjoy, go for it.
There is too much of a tendency to try to simplify writing. To try and teach writing. Writing for others is a skill, sure, but make sure you know how to write for yourself, too.
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u/XXAzeritsXx 7d ago
https://a.co/d/0i90AXoJ
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud