Shoujo Manga Techniques: Writing Stories

By Mako Itsuki

"This book is oriented in its original right to left reading format."--P. [4] cover.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 156970970X
• ISBN13: 9781569709702
• Release Date: April 2005
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 1.12 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.3" x 0.5" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

Great for beginners

I love to draw manga, it is my dream to become a professional I had many stories in my head which I think would be great to show and tell. However, I had one big major trouble actually writing them to be in comic form. This book however has changed all that it, clear and easy to read and understand fully I'm now on my way to making the next big hit in manga (okay maybe not but I'm getting somewhere). I had many How to Write books with big words a technical terms but none has broke it down so simple as this book has. I recommend it to anyone who wants to write there own manga and just too novice to understand the long winded terms that other How to write novels use.

A good book on how to CREATE manga stories.

Firstly, it's HARD trying to find a book explaining the basics of creating manga. There are tons of them of how to create characters and how to draw different things involving manga but not any that teaches you how to create. This book is wonderful in teaching you how to gather your ideas, how to set them up, how to organize them and how to keep things consistant. I also like that it's not BORING. I thought this book would have been step one do this, step two do that, etc. But it's in a really neat manga format, told in the story so there are also charts and illustrated examples of what the chapter is about. There are also summary points and tips at the end of the chapters which are really helpful. My only twinge about this is that they don't spend much time on story panels and pages but there's enough to give you a decent idea of how they should go (though I suspect it's in the drawing basic's books). All in all I'm very satisfied with this book. If you want to learn about developing a story and a script then this is definiately the book for you.

Beyond the Big Eyes: Shoujo Art AND Storytelling

A good introduction to storytelling, and drawing, for shoujo manga. I appreciated the teach-by-example nature of this book, which is written/drawn as a manga comic. Although directed at those interested in created shoujo (girls') manga, the graphic and storytelling techniques described can be applied to many other genres. How-to-do-manga books that I've read have a strong tendency to display a great deal of enthusiasm and relatively little useful content. I don't give five stars lightly, but "Shoujo Manga Techniques" deserves it as a useful, well-written book on manga techniques.

Had to have, so I got it!

I really loved this book. I like how the book looks like a manga, and the characters are cute as well. This book is really helpful in telling you the do's and dont's in the approach of creating a unique story. It tells you step by step of the things that would benefit you as well. I enjoyed the book from beginning to end. I truly recommend getting this book. I believe it will further advance you in writing better and more interesting stories.

JUST what I was looking for!

I've been looking HIGH and LOW for the right book to explain how the pros CREATE manga. Not draw manga. I've got THAT down. It was creating the right story with all it's interconnected stories that had me at a standstill and the little leaves behind me in the wind making more progress than me. The book actually flows in a manga format, and you follow the story of Kyoko and Alisa. Kyoko shows little Alisa through illustrated examples of how writing techniques are done for manga. The illustrations are drawn superbly by an actual japanese manga-ka. The book continues all the way to about thumbnail sketching your ideas out. All the techniques are useful. It's a benefit to read them over and over and try all the "lessons" or "One Point Advice" with smaller ideas to get the hang of it. It's a contagious learning experience! If you are wanting to learn how to draw manga figures, or how to actually draw pages with tone. This book is not what you're looking for. And the first page establishes this for you. If you are looking to help a wounded one legged story along and nurse it back to running status. THIS is what you need to get back on track!