My Journey To Becoming A Published Graphic Novelist -- creator of "The Sleepover" and Adamsville

In this video, I share my journey to becoming a professionally published graphic novelist.
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#comics #graphicnovel #writing #productivity

[@sambagwell929]

Such a wonderful video! I needed to hear this. I've been "waiting" a long time to "get started" in my graphic novel journey and you've really helped take alot of this nonsensical pressure off my back. Thank you!

[@Michael.Regina]

Oh, man. I'm so glad to hear this! It's crazy how much pressure we put on ourselves for no good reason. I do it all the time as well--still! I wish you all the best as you get to it!

[@NelmArt]

Very encouraging! I love the idea of not waiting for anyone's permission to start making your thing. I'm going to aim to finish my next comic project before I start sharing it online. (A story that's already been rejected by at least 30 agents, haha)

[@CWARrated]

Thank you for sharing the journey. I too have a stack of comics I made as a kid, I relate so much to your story.

[@baronburble]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! A lot of what you said hit me like a ton of bricks. I’ve only recently started studying writing/storytelling after only focusing on art for most of my non-work life. Your realization about asking others for permission to succeed truly hit home for me, too. I stopped expecting others to give me permission to succeed around the same time I decided that I wasn’t going to apologize for things I didn’t do. It makes me happy that the world seemed to open up for you once you solidified your “why.”

[@Michael.Regina]

So glad this was helpful! It's all a long journey of finding your way. I'm glad you're finding it!

[@AndyGaskin]

Good thoughts. Some advice I would have given my past self, and something you touched on-- is to focus on the DOING and the FINISHING. It's easy to sit and wait and think. It's easy to start something and maybe get halfway done. The game changer is following through, creating a finished work imbued with all the quality that 'finished' demands.

[@Michael.Regina]

Yeah, I have been thinking about this a lot too. I do get things finished, but I spin myself in circles for a long time on stuff like this. I need to just get to the work, do it and finish.

[@kana_meraki]

Ahhhh this makes me super excited for my graphic novelist journey! I’m really happy to know that there’s people out there achieving their dreams and getting the support they deserve :)

[@Michael.Regina]

Thanks! Changing what "achieving my dreams" meant really helped. There's things I can't control and things I can't--like whether it's my full-time job. But getting published, making books, etc... I can do that!

[@stevehesselman]

Man, this was fun to listen to, Michael! I’ve never heard your whole art journey story… I really appreciate you sharing it. I think it’s inspiring and helpful. Even at this stage in my art creation where I have one published graphic novel, this is such a good reminder! I resonate a ton with what you said. I think I came to the same point years ago when I was working on my graphic novel. It took seven years to finish that thing! I don’t even know if I would’ve started if I had known how long it was going to take. But looking back, what I always tell other people, is that even if it takes you way longer than you planned for it to take, if you’re working on it consistently or inconsistently even, eventually you’re going to have something to show for it! And I love that advice about just doing it because you love it and you want to do it and you feel like you’re here to do that. Not waiting for someone to give you permission! The project I’m currently doing, I have no publisher lined up, and I don’t know who would publish it except for me on Kickstarter or something. But I’m having a blast doing it, and even though it’s already taking longer than I meant, I’m still so happy I’m working on bringing it to life. And best of all, my son loves it! Storytelling and art is such an enjoyable and worthwhile use of time! I also wish, like you, that I hadn’t wasted so many years thinking I just wanted to be an artist in the comic book cog. There’s nothing wrong with that, but there are very few people who get into that field, and even for those that do, except maybe the most successful, it’s pretty hard to make ends meet. Having a good day job is a blessing. It’s good to try to enjoy that and stability that it brings that allows us to create something that might not have gotten funded by a regular publisher, but we think is a story worth telling anyway. And that’s such a long comment, sorry! 🤣But you inspired me today, and I’m glad I found you on here… didn’t even know you had a KZbin channel! Cheers!

[@Michael.Regina]

Hey, Steve! So good to hear from you. :-) And glad I was able to inspire you!. We're all out here just trying to find our way, lol.

[@domesticatedpunk]

Ready to release my graphic novel. Thank you for sharing your story

[@Michael.Regina]

Hey! Congrats! All the best to you as you release your book. :-)

[@OJR-vs1fg]

Great story. Inspirational way to look at things.

[@Michael.Regina]

I am glad it was helpful!

[@Torlian1978]

Great video. Your final point really resonates with me. I teach my students that they must decide which mindset they want to embrace--victor-mindset or victim-mindset, but the victim is seldom the victor until they take charge of what they can take charge of. Thanks for sharing your story.

[@Michael.Regina]

Thanks, man! Those are good lessons to learn. :-)

[@talimediaart]

As someone who has now subscribed, thanks for making the encouraging videos! Especially hearing how you got be where you now.

[@Michael.Regina]

You're welcome! Thanks for being here :-)

[@inquizitive1]

Thanks man you got a new sub. I’ve been working as an animator\illustrator since I was 18 and completely forgot why I got into this job 20 plus years ago. In my student days when I just discovered drawing cartoons can be a job I wanted to make books and eventually animation of my stories. I’m now hitting my forties with only a few books of my own which happen to be from when I was in my early 20s😅 the urge was always there after that but I had kids and I didn’t believe I could do it without $. This vid helped me remember my why so thanks again bring on the forties💪

[@Michael.Regina]

Oh, man. This comment really hit me. I'm so glad my journey was encouraging to you! That means a ton. I hope all the best for you as you step into your 40's. No better time to reassess and get going! :-)

[@inquizitive1]

@ you’re content is great as it’s always nice to hear the reality of the job from people who are actually doing it. I just tried to subscribe to your newsletter and am waiting on the planner spreadsheet thing you created with your mate. It still hasn’t come through tho not sure if you know. I’ve done it three times and no email back😅

[@Michael.Regina]

@@inquizitive1 I'm sorry you're having this issue. Can you send me an quick email through my contact form and I'll get it sorted out? Here's the form: www.michaeleregina.com/blog/contact/ It's at the bottom of that page.

[@inquizitive1]

@ done thanks a bunch 🙏

[@typewritermark]

Thanks for sharing this. Love hearing other folks experiences.

[@Michael.Regina]

You're welcome! I'm glad it was helpful to hear.

[@madcatart4310]

Thanks for sharing your journey! Super encouraging!

[@Michael.Regina]

I'm glad it was helpful! :-)

[@Aluenvey]

My experience is similar in some ways but also different: I came from a writing background first, having before that wanting to pursue game design specifically. But I found I had trouble finishing game I wanted to make, so I spent a lot of time writing stories, and gave up game design for the longest time. I started pursuing game design again as I hit kind of a slump with comics, mostly because I'm not sure there is a market for the types of comics I want to pursue: my preferred format is closer to comic strip format ( think Zits and Charlie Brown ), but my art style just seems to gravitate to stuff more like what Dark Horse or Image wants. Thus in practice in means producing "off-market" comic strips that a smidge depressing or bleak for the comic strip format. I have half a graphic novel languishing, because I can't seem to picture it drawn by anyone else besides me, even though a more experience artist may be better suited. It's in the same camp as stuff like The Crow or Johnny / Invader Zim.

[@Michael.Regina]

Oh wow. That is interesting. It's so hard to say what people will or won't like. but if there's an idea there that you think is interesting, it might be worth doing it and seeing what happens! My entire next book is basically me asking if you can make a Lovecraftian-style cosmic horror story for kids. Lol. I have no idea if it will work, but I know I would love to read that!

[@daxbashir6232]

💛 🧡 ❤ 💜

[@pivoune]

thx for sharing 🙏

[@Michael.Regina]

Thank you for being here!

[@edmdoodler]

i think im at the point you were at, where i have part 1 of a book and want to finish it, whether i have a publisher or not, when i get it done i have to get it out there but i suck at social media and selling lol...i will keep posted to your channel though thanks

[@Michael.Regina]

I am awful at social media! It never worked for me. This KZbin channel has been my strongest social media platform, lol. But good work finds a way! Can't worry about how your book will be received if you've never finished it! :-) If you want to see it exist, stick with it!

[@turnerluke]

I might still have my 3 hour darkness CD somewhere . . . .

[@Michael.Regina]

Vintage!