Making a GRAPHIC NOVEL! THE BREAKAWAYS Process

How is a graphic novel made? I share how I made my book THE BREAKAWAYS from start to finish! Brainstorming, sketches, script, penciling, inking and coloring!
BOOK OUT NOW! www.thebreakawayscomic.com
Watch the full video on the Prince George's County Memorial Library KZbin account here: • Author Talk and Comic ...
Cathy G. Johnson
Cartoonist, Printmaker + Educator:
Art Portfolio + Comics: www.cathygjohn.net
Email: cathy[at]cathygjohn.net
Store (Buy my work!): www.cathygjohn.net/store
Twitter: / cathygjohn
Education: www.comicarted.com
Twitter: / comicarted
Podcast: drawingadialogue.com
Twitter: / drawadialogue
Music by CGJ

[@ailanisegura]

You’ve inspired me to write a graphic novel! I’m only 14, but I’m not gonna let that stop me!

[@justethan2731]

YOU GOT THIS

[@rmyawhitehead5789]

SAME BUT I'M 13

[@ailanisegura]

@@rmyawhitehead5789 ayyyyy

[@maxkroezen5844]

I’ve started to when i was 14 years old, i’m now 15 and mine Graphic Novel is already clear!

[@shunniebuns7220]

Im 11 and making a gory comic about a host who runs a game show, it has some traps inspired by the horror movie saw.

[@rmyawhitehead5789]

You've inspired me to write a graphic novel I've always loved to read them and I'm a really big fan of them and my dad recently told me to write one and I thought it was an amazing idea so thank you!!

[@cathygjohn]

That makes me so happy to hear! Amazing! You can do it!

[@urbanomartinez3584]

Me too

[@SurprisedPika666]

This is without a doubt the most useful thing I have seen regarding creating a graphic novel (especially from the publishing side.) I have a very tangible idea of my goal now that I've seen the steps. Thanks a million.

[@statuemobile]

Love this. Very informative. This is probably the most straight forward and detailed video on making comics I've seen- having seen and read so many, at this point. 😅

[@cathygjohn]

I'm so glad to hear that!

[@cathygjohn]

Thank you!

[@darioscomicschool1111]

Love that you Worked on Paper. The Writing too.... When I pick up a Pen and Write...that INk... Its magical. Handwriting.... and Drawing! Keep that Magic going Cathy! 12:11 Love the Initial Coloring... the Brown tones...wash like, and the colorfull Coloring in the final book. Also that the Colors stay Simple! 15:51 Music in my ears, when I see those Layouts! 18:10 That Guitar!!! LOVE

[@mustin07doesgaming]

I have been writing comics since I was 10 and I really like coming up with stories and going through them all in my head to make sure they flow correctly. One Day I will write one that I will get published.

[@UNCANNYGEORGE]

Love your creative process! You put so much love and effort into your creative endeavors!

[@jerartist127]

loved this tutorial and all the steps incorporated therein

[@ItsWeinye]

Thank you so much for being transparent and sharing your process. I'm in the midst of getting 2 book pitches completed as well (one for a comic collection and one for a graphic novel). Watching this has helped me know what I have to prepare to have a complete pitch. Had an agent for over 2 years but still no luck getting picked up but fingers crossed that I do next year! Thanks again.

[@lillydoe7185]

Thanks so much! This taught me to break down the plot before adding details making it so much more organized than before

[@notamorfati]

This is amazing. I love how everything is organized carefully. Thank you for making this video 🤍🤍🤍

[@jinzotokens5113]

This is awesome thank you for the information

[@cathygjohn]

Thank you!

[@BJGreene]

I’m in the process of making a graphic novel myself and I love the information in this video it’s really helpful and I actually read this comic as well!

[@cathygjohn]

Thank you so much! I'm glad it's helpful!

[@tribeciye7788]

you really helped me out a lot thanks and it was so refreshing to see so many black and brown charters in your comic, thank you.

[@danielleu2899]

I’m going to write a graphic novel! Finally someone who explains it best! Thanks so much

[@cathygjohn]

You're very welcome!

[@kiethveseyofficial]

How did the process go? It's been a year

[@cjcamba]

loved to see the process behind, great work!

[@whathi1936]

I wish I saw something like this sooner. You showed this process beautifully. Now I really know what I have to do to fully create a graphic novel with confidence!❤

[@FutureMint]

I read the breakaways when I was 11, and I loved it! A year later I'm working on a manga & graphic novels, and stumbled upon this video lmao nice

[@zombiesun44]

Seeing all of your artwork and structure was amazing! It makes so much sense to my artist mind. I’ve never felt more capable of making a graphic novel. Thank you for such a well done breakdown. You’re such a talented artist and I’m going to put your book on hold at the library to read!

[@e.mu.s]

This is such a good video. Thank you very much for uploading it!

[@cathygjohn]

Thank YOU!

[@SketchbookTimeMachine]

Great video, Cathy! I love the sepia tone original artwork in the pitch.

[@carolinamorrison3618]

Thanks Cathy!!!!!

[@omdraws7325]

Thanks Cathy, well done on creating and communicating your story ✌️ - Looks great.

[@Alise23]

This is an amazing book! My mom got me it for m6 birthday and it is just perfect!

[@cathygjohn]

Thank you!

[@1995yuda]

This answered all the questions I had in mind, thank you so much.

[@Jenny-lt7zj]

I love this book!

[@JFadel]

This is incredibly helpful for beginners like me! Thank you for making it. I’m buying your book, looks very intriguing! :)

[@cathygjohn]

Thank you!

[@cotaotamao]

Thankyou! I read this book and absolutely loved it and I’ve always had a passion of drawing graphic novels.

[@cathygjohn]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Sa1din]

Cool stuff. Thanks for sharing!

[@cathygjohn]

Thanks for watching!

[@justethan2731]

THIS IS AWESOME

[@malumarzagao]

Amazing Job! Thanks from Brazil! 🥰

[@pitchcanker]

I met you at the Zine fest at the steelyard in Providence! Awesome video dude!

[@rawpomona]

It was really helpful to see your process from start to finish -- thank you!

[@cathygjohn]

You are so welcome!

[@snarksss]

Amazing info and I love ur energy!! This was sooooo useful

[@cathygjohn]

Thank you very much!

[@user-nd7rg5er5g]

Thank you for showing off your process in this video! It was very cool learning how a comic gets made and pitched. :)

[@charalambos]

Thanks for your knowledge, very helpful information. ❤❤

[@linganesan]

Very insightful, thank you

[@limaomaisvelho]

Thank you for sharing your process with us. It's a great collaboration and I'm thinking to get some tips you did for use in my work.

[@gmcmullins3251]

Im glad the algorithm recommended this. Very clear, and very interesting. Thanks for sharing the process.

[@gabrielaonate5637]

I enjoyed it a lot! Great process!💯

[@CoolShishirAlways]

Loved the process. All the best for more and more success in the future.

[@cathygjohn]

Thanks a ton

[@Lilacandtulip]

I got this book today at the library and I could not put it down I just had to keep reading I literally read the whole book just in one day now I'm thinking about making a graphic novel

[@dawndid5972]

CGJ is amazing artist all around most certainly the educational arts you go!!! The Breakaways should be mandatory at school

[@dajhedi]

Thank you for this. Very helpful and congratulations on a cool graphic novel

[@Cherry-Bomb._II]

I loved this book! it's awesome! **says this while having the book to my side**

[@cathygjohn]

You are so sweet, thank you so much!

[@melodic21]

This book looks great. Thanks for sharing, great information. I’ll have to share the book with my younger cousins.

[@cathygjohn]

Thank you very much!

[@dewberry150]

Neat and insightful!

[@cathygjohn]

Thank you!

[@Soda_bomb1]

I never knew you had a KZbin channel! I loved the breakaways and it was such a good read!

[@faith.t2302]

I really loved ur book and I really want to one day make one too❤ this my favorites so far!

[@mitalipanganti7813]

Thank you for this, very helpful!

[@cathygjohn]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mitalipanganti7813]

@@cathygjohn your art is amazing. Loved the watercolour ❤️

[@cathygjohn]

@@mitalipanganti7813 Thank you!

[@wilsonmatute6661]

Hi Cathy, Thank you for posting and sharing to the world. This video was very informative and inspiring. It has helped re-spark my artistic endeavors. I also just made an Amazon purchase for Breakaways. God bless and thank you!

[@solocup1624]

This book made me love reading I got it at my book fair a few days And this book is like my kryptonite thank you for making this amazing book and if it’s possible could you maybe make a sequel

[@thegalaxysistersdolltime3520]

I just bought this book! 😁

[@cathygjohn]

Thank you!

[@evisceratemtg6141]

Wow a lot of work went into that comic, good job!

[@cathygjohn]

Thank you!

[@ML-dk8xl]

As someone making their own graphic novel, this was very helpful, thank you.

[@cathygjohn]

I'm so glad!

[@stackflow4007]

Awesome

[@UNCANNYGEORGE]

Thank you for sharing. If possible could you discuss the publishing process? If you self published, did you submit to Diamond Distribution? Where did you get your barcode/isbn?

[@eroane]

❤❤❤❤ As I am watching this video…I am working in my sketchbook for thumbnails of my own comics…❤❤❤❤❤❤ Please keep sharing your comics and how you make them as you’ve given me some good ideas❤❤❤THANK YOU❤❤❤❤

[@MariJadeWrites]

Thanks for sharing, it's so interesting to learn more about the process :) I am thinking of making either a comic/graphic novel or a visual novel game, or... both, eventually :) it's helpful to learn about storytelling, character design, and more.

[@cathygjohn]

You can do it!

[@Primal_Saiyan]

currently trying to polish my process on how I create my stories/ comics and this way felt much cleaner. i love it! I do have a question as to what program you used for creating your script? i know that there are many kinds and you can even skip the program and just use plain word doc if you're that lethal. plus i started listing to your podcast. Drawing A Dialogue episode 40 was my first one and i loved it! it was extremely informative so thank you for that and the citations to the websites you mentioned. thank you .

[@rychartist]

Your book is so well put together. Do you have template for your pitch?

[@twixie__5651]

thank you. this was a helpful video :) your book looks so good! the time and effort paid off! i hope you can make a video about some terminologies when working on a graphic novel. i am new to illustration and would like to start to make a graphic novel for kids. but i don't know what double page spread means. when googled it i found the answer but i was thinking what about the back of it? the publisher said, i should make a max of 3 double spread on a pdf. i was thinking should my pages be 6 pages on pdf? or 3 pages with drawings on the back?

[@1995yuda]

Wow, you've put a lot of work and effort into this and succeeded. Cheers, Cathy ;)

[@LxvelyLia.]

I’m actually starting to right a graphic novel with my best friend! I am hoping that we will be the youngest to ever write one! The book is about a girl who was raised by plant people and the plant people get in war with humans ETC. it’s gonna be called plant VS. People!

[@ariaa101]

How do you get your ideas for stories?

[@BlueOysterStan]

wait a minute I remember this book

[@gojibbq]

this is great! you have a very relaxing manner of speech. i'd be interested to know how you went about finding an agent/publisher! i'm currently outlining a gn, but where i'm personally stuck is with knowing how much i have to have 'done' on my own before i can start monetizing my work--it would be great if i could just steamroll ahead, but i need to get groceries lol! at what point would you say a gn is ready for pitching, and how do you determine who to pitch to?

[@TheVeyZ]

I have a question: I'm creating a graphic novel in Clip Studio Paint. When I'm done with it, it'll roughly be around 200 pages. How do you save or work on a file that has so many pages without slowing the program down? Do you only do a certain number of pages with multiple files and then combine them all using a different program?

[@MrEmanuelw]

really interesting. ive been an illustrator for 20 years...I'd love to finally start working on my graphic novel. I do have a story in mind however, i am curious...did you start thinking of characters before you had any idea what those characters were gonna be starring in?

[@cathygjohn]

My method of writing generally starts with a basic story concept, and then characters to populate the story, who lend their personalities to how the story will be shaped.

[@game-enjoyer13]

My dad, who wrote some books and is where I get my storytelling passion from, told me to “Build the road, then design the cars.” Think of the plot, theme, world, settings, etc, then create characters who will be in that world and story. First the road, then the cars.

[@Bowl-0f-Soup]

This is amazing, I’ve always loved drawing and making comics, so I’ve always wanted to know how it’s really done. Maybe one day I’ll even make a real book

[@cathygjohn]

You can do it!

[@omdraws7325]

I really dig the methodical approach to your process, thanks for sharing. Would you mind answering: what percentage of the final sales (profit) does the publisher split with the creator? Much appreciated.

[@Jupiterintgestars]

Love the book it really good and the breakaways is a good book❤❤❤

[@RichieS83]

Is there a link you can share to the "Create Your own comic book page" workshop you did with the library ?

[@cathygjohn]

In the video description!

[@zombiegaby]

This is so cool and educational, I draw webcomics so it's really interesting to see how much more work is needed to actually publish a graphic novel. Thank you for concretely showing those steps!

[@cathygjohn]

Your welcome! Keep drawing!

[@legolasgreenleaf1961]

Hi Cathy! Just watched your video and gotta say thankyou so much! Im trying to get started on a graphic novel myself, but its incredibly daunting especially as i have a busy family and work life. Yet your explanation of the processes are really inspiring. What i wanted to ask specifically is, before i get to the 'final' panneling stages, do i need to conform to a specific page size for eventual publishing? I didnt want to get into the detailed stuff if the page size and margins would be wrong for printing. Is there a way that you make sure that your artwork will be the correct page parameters before you start? Thankyou so much❤

[@cathygjohn]

I would suggest measuring the pages of graphic novels you like, and matching those dimensions. If you do sell it to a publisher that would then be a discussion, but there are generic sizes you can draw in that will put you in the best position.

[@hellonurd8957]

Your art style is cool! Reminds me of Calvin and Hobbes.

[@justincowgill8875]

Great video

[@cathygjohn]

Thanks!

[@Delphadae]

I have a question. Did you have an agent when you did your pitch? Or did you present your pitch to publishers yourself?

[@cathygjohn]

I did not have an agent before I pitched to publishers! I got my publisher interest and then found an agent to help with the deal, which is a common way for authors to find literary agent representation.

[@vikasalfeo3410]

After the rough thumbnails ,do you redraw the final pencil or you use a lightbox by tracing your thumbnails ,in your vide you used lightbox only for inking ?

[@cathygjohn]

For The Breakaways, I used the lightbox only for inking, yes. My thumbnails were drawn by pencil on paper and were small. In the graphic novel I'm working on now, I have drawn digital thumbnails, and I have been printing them larger and using them to trace over for my pencils. So I've done it both ways! I'd suggest doing whatever works best for you.

[@vikasalfeo3410]

@@cathygjohn thanks a lot .what a great artist you are ! very inspiring

[@Its_me_hi_its_me]

I love the book it was a really good book that I like to read

[@Rynziie]

WAIT OMG U MADE THAT BOOK?? I LOVED IT

[@cathygjohn]

Thank you!

[@emmaslife1874]

I READ ITTTT

[@jules9644]

Hi! So I saw that you drew your final version by hand. Does it have to be that way, or can you draw the pages digitally? Btw love the video its super helpful!

[@cathygjohn]

Thank you! You can absolutely draw everything digitally, there are no rules!

[@williamroach1762]

I actually like the artwork from the pitch script than the book. The art and coloring looked more unique. Both aren't bad at all, I would've preferred how you did the artwork for the script. I hope to pitch my graphic novel to Image among other agencies in a couple months. I like your story.

[@riyotravels9946]

Hi , what supplies or techniques did you use to do your first drawing to make characters look so real ?

[@cathygjohn]

You can learn more on the FAQ at my website!

[@Thesionshow]

Did you hand draw the pitch pages?

[@cathygjohn]

Yes!

[@bawihmung3544]

How do you get better at drawing

[@deboshmitabarman861]

I have a full story but I don't know where to find a publisher

[@jaybored2024]

what platform did you write your script on?

[@cathygjohn]

Scrivener!

[@MilesSheahan]

Can you say what writing software you prefer using?

[@cathygjohn]

More info on the FAQ at my website!

[@erwynmorales2609]

Can you read the book?

[@Slatt.Cortez]

The book was cool

[@marcelinevelde2079]

How did you publish through first second comics? As an unknown author I want to publish traditionally but im afraid my work will be rejected.

[@cathygjohn]

Don't be afraid of rejection! I was rejected from FS for my first graphic novel that I then went on to self publish, but they knew me through my rejection, and that's why they bought this one! Rejections create relationships!

[@samikshakhilari1092]

Thank you mam you tech .e assume it is so good way to tech us mam please ulod video like these hope have a good day to you 😀😀

[@NeliahBoBeliah]

OMGGGG I read your book it's so inspiring I love the way you put so much detail into the main character cuz I could litterally relate to faith ( the main character)

[@shobharaghuwanshi3576]

Can you teach me plsssssss

[@somethingbambi875]

I just don't know how to handle the patience though. I just want to do with shortcuts, I just get annoyed buy all the steps, but then it just turns out ugly and weird. Thank you, this may be the best video on this topic so far!

[@barbara_leo]

see people in comments running after their graphic novels inspires me to do the same

[@COMICO13]

Wow that's so cool, I got your book today at the school book fair. And to be honest I was surprised to see trans representation,but so far this has to be one of my favorite graphic novels so far! Keep up the great work! :)

[@ahilikedinos]

I love your book I shared it with some of my friends because I’m a trans man and one of the characters is trans, so thank you for making a trans character.

[@cathygjohn]

I'm so happy to hear this!