I’ve been working on my own manga project for a while now, and I’m trying to figure out the best way to actually get it out there. Not looking for clout, just legit advice.

What’s the most realistic route for someone who actually wants to publish a manga or webcomic?
>Start as a webtoon? A light novel?
>Try building a following first?
>Pitch to publishers?
>Move to Japan and roll the dice?
I know most of this board is allergic to OC, but figured some of you might actually know what you're talking about. Any anons here actually tried it? I am an unskilled artist but have been working on and developing the story for years now, finally putting it all on paper and properly organizing all aspects of it since the start of this year. I've autistically and meticulously assembled worldbuilding bibles for the different, important aspects of the setting, such as the power system, government, religious organizations, how these all interact with each other, etc., and I've also "storyboarded" the significant character beats that will move the story forward. I realize it will take me another 1.5 years or so of daily practice to get my art to an acceptable level, but I have the time and am passionate about telling this story. Just to shoot for the moon, I looked at how feasible it would be to, as an American creator working in the United States, get my work picked up by Ufotable as an animation studio; I've been entranced since I saw Fate. Turns out it would be incredibly difficult, borderline impossible unless stars align, but I'm delusional enough to believe that the story is compelling enough to maybe one day attract enough attention to make something happen. Any advice is welcome.

>>281122956 (OP)
Light novel probably.
Forget about being mega successful, you arent japanese.
But at least doing the writing thing first you could get some fans if it's actually good and with time -and luck or money on your part- get someone to be the artist on a webtoon or manga adaptation.

>>281122956 (OP)
What's your goal man? Do you just want to be published? Do you want to be published through a real company rather than self published? Do you just want to put it out there? Also, who's your audience? Is this all ages, or for teens, or very adult or what?

>>281123049
>>281123049
>Light Novel
Any reason why? Never read one; is it strictly text?
>Forget success
Damn, that's a shame; from what I researched, it sounds like that would be the only way to even hope to be adapted by a big Japanese animation studio like Ufotable.
>Gather a following
Would releasing a light novel be better that releasing on Webtoon/TAPAS/MangaPlus if this is the goal?

>>281123307
>Goal?
That's kind of what I'm asking here; if I want to release something that ends up becoming popular enough to get picked up by an animation studio that'll do it justice, what would be the best way to go about it? I don't know if self-publishing/published by a company would get me that result more easily. I admit I'm naive on this; I just want to tell a story and have people enjoy it the way I've been able to for years with the anime I've enjoyed.
>Target audience
The story leans more towards teens, though I would say that some parts of the later story delve into topics that a younger audience might have trouble fully parsing nowadays.

>>281123775
>if I want to release something that ends up becoming popular enough to get picked up by an animation studio that'll do it justice, what would be the best way to go about it?
Learn japanese and post it as a web novel/submit it to publishers as a light novel. You have no chance of being adapted to animation in the US, especially not good animation.

>>281122956 (OP)
Not to rain on your parade but you sound like the typical idea guy who dreams of a big animated series before making even a single page. It also sounds like you fell into the world building trap. Meticulous setting details don't mean much if nobody cares about the characters and story.

But to give some constructive advice you could try looking around for contests and publisher calls for submissions. There are some if you poke around. There's the Kyoto International Creators Award Comic Contest which has a cash reward and a chance to get your work officially published. Viz also has an ongoing open submission call for original works. Making something that's viable to submit to either of those with your setting would be a good practice run and a concrete goal to work towards even if you don't end up winning. Can you make a 20-50 page "one shot" that covers one of the story beats you have in mind? If that's too much then start smaller.

>>281122956 (OP)
I have two questions for you OP.
Does your story contain any supernatural elements?
And also do any characters fight each other at any point in the story?
The reason I ask is because now that fiction has been solved there is no point in telling more stories where there is any conflict since this has become superfluous now that the mightiest character human imagination can allow has been crowned.
Of course, as you have already guessed, I speak of none other than that titanic HERO who doth possess INVINCIBLE MIGHT.
One really must wonder...
How can there be such a man?
Taller than the stars.
More profound than the sea.
Faster than omnipresence.
Stronger than omnipotence!
He is a tower.
A titan.
A leviathan.
Whenever he fights, he wins.
That's why he is OUR HERO.
His fame? Eternal.
His power? Absolute.
His name? DECLARE IT.

>>281124449
>I have two questions for you OP.
>asks six
Fraud

>>281122956 (OP)
learn to draw, learn to write, learn japanese

>>281122956 (OP)
That’s cool and all but you don’t even have the confidence to post any of your work, even anonymously. Even unrelated work so as not to “get your idea stolen”. Keep dreaming.

>>281123775
Why a LN?
Guess it depends on the person, but I just conceive the idea of writing (and learning how to do it well) easier than drawing (and learning to not suck).
Again maybe you in particular are just the opposite and are better at drawing.
Also, you can post writing in Tapas as well if I'm not wrong

>>281123964
>Learn Japanese
Damn, is this necessary over creating the work and having it translated by someone skilled at it? I'm already learning to draw, and dedicating considerable time to it, so adding learning a language would be a tall order.
>>281124238
>Dreams of a big animated series before making even a single page
Perhaps, but I can't help being motivated by the idea of it.
>Nobody cares about setting details
Even so, it helps me properly envision the world I'm trying to build. To be clear though, I'm also developing the story and characters concurrently; I'm not JUST listing details about the world and nothing else.
>Contests
This was actually something I read about when researching this on my own. I was thinking I could submit to as many of these as possible, but I wasn't able to get a good draal on whether I'd have to choose between publishing on something like Webtoon Canvas and getting a legitimate publisher, or if I can do both/submit everywhere and see what sticks. The other anon here made it sound like it might be a bit hopeless as a non-Japanese creator, though.
>20-50 page one-shot
No, not yet. My art still has a long way to go, not to mention that the story is still incomplete. I'd feel wrong(?) submitting a self contained story beat meant to be a part of something greater, but like I've said, I've never done this before and don't know if this is common practice.
>>281124449
Anon plz have mercy, I'm not at all versed in the memes around these parts yet.

>>281124449
>His name? DECLARE IT.
Phil

>>281122956 (OP)
Try a webtoon. Honestly it's pretty hard for a non japanese person manage it,

>>281124665
Second recommendation to learn Japanese. Damn, I guess it's more necessary than I realized.
>>281124739
What? I don't really have any work worth sharing right now; no art other than the practice sketches I've started recently while learning to draw. I suppose you're right that I don't have the confidence to post those, since it's what I've already said I have the absolute least experience with. The actual writing though is still too disconnected to be worth posting here imo, and I'd need to condense it to not textwall. This actually makes me think I should make a synopsis of the story all the way through to share with anons more easily, so that's something I'll work on.
>Get your idea stolen
Is this some common thing that happens here? I always figured this was an unreasonable worry due to the amount of work required; all you're stealing is an idea.
>Keep dreaming
I will, thanks.
>>281124783
I see. No, you're right, I'm definitely a better writer than artist, I'm just unfamiliar with LN, I suppose. Any recommendations to get an example of a well done LN?

>>281124852
>Damn, is this necessary over creating the work and having it translated by someone skilled at it?
Yeah, probably. If you're self publishing as a webnovel, are you going to be paying for translation out of pocket? And what japanese publisher is going to pay for an english novel that isn't already successful? If you're submitting a comic there's more leeway but unless you're already quite good that could be a long way off.

>>281125028
>Paying for translation out of pocket?
Yes, that was the plan. I'm passionate about this project, but I also have a job and only have so much time in a day. Between work, drawing practice, and actually writing the story, I don't see myself succeeding in learning Japanese. I'd much rather pay for a translation, but now I'm wondering if that's just a shit idea for some reason I'm missing.

>>281125024
>Any recommendations to get an example of a well done LN?
Not sure which one to recommend.
In general, I know that not matter which I name, some anon will say it's trash... And most LN are kinda trashy in a way.
Very light reading, more about the entertainment factor than deepness.
Like, most LN just take a regular novel and just make the narration simple to foloow and in first person, so the main character tells his/her own story, making their thoughts and everything obvious to understand and mo intimate because it's as if a friend were talking with you about something they did
Feels a lot more personal than your regular novel told in third person.
Anyway, I just name some stuff I've read recently and enjoyed
>Watanare (FMC is retarded but fun)
>Yuri Tama (another yuri even dumber than Watanare but FMC is fun as well)
>Arifureta (Entertaining enough if you like Isekai)
Also checked Harihi Suzumiya and Index in their time, but most of the content is already adapted to anime so whatever

>>281125463
Gonna be real with you pal, unless you're already pretty far along your drawing journey, learning Japanese is going to be faster than learning to draw.

>>281125024
>I don't really have any work worth sharing right now
this thread ends there

>>281125566
I see. I think I'll have to familiarize myself with more LNs then, because right now it sounds like they tend to be a pretty different genre than what I'm working on. Still, thanks for the recommendations, I'll check them out when I can. I actually remember watching the Haruhi anime way back in the day and enjoying it, though I didn't know it was adapted from a LN.
>>281127278
Wow, didn't realize I'd need to get my drawing to THAT high of a level. Is it more that I'd need to reach a higher level of technical skill, or that I'd need to reach a level where I can regularly pump out acceptable enough art? I guess they come as a package deal though, to an extent. So would you say I'd be better off learning Japanese and paying for an artist rather than learning to draw and paying for a translator?
>>281127795
No, I've gotten some pretty good advice and been made aware of things I didn't realize were as important as they are. I get the feeling there's a bit of resentment here for people asking this kind of stuff, so I figure it gets asked an annoying amount. I'm sorry to be another one on the pile, but I really am taking this seriously, and this has been helpful. I'll even post some progress when I have progress to show.

My best advice is to practice writing a bunch of short stories before you get into trying to do a LN if you're a complete amateur. A bunch of 1000 word limit stories, then once you're comfortable churning those out move up to longer passages, chapter long stories, and so on.
I'd practice writing before drawing, One managed to make it big purely off of storytelling (even if he also understood visual storytelling well), if your ideas are actually good enough they might get some notice if you're hard set on trying to make it big.

>>281128253
>Wow, didn't realize I'd need to get my drawing to THAT high of a level. Is it more that I'd need to reach a higher level of technical skill, or that I'd need to reach a level where I can regularly pump out acceptable enough art?
Both, realistically. There's a certain minimum level you're going to need to be at(people like ONE are an anomaly) to be published. The reason learning Japanese would be faster is simply that drawing is a such a broad skill with a large skillset; anatomy, posing, gesture, perspective, composition, paneling, mark making, hierarchies, values, and so on. Drawing requires both a lot of time to practice and a lot of time to research, and if you don't have some sort of mentor that's going to take even longer - and it sounds like you don't have a ton of spare time to devote to it to begin with. Learning Japanese on the other hand? You can learn all of the kana during to work lunch break over a week, and start picking up vocabulary pretty fast. Mastery would still take a while, but probably a fraction of the time it would take to get the a good level of drawing.
I'm not saying you HAVE to go this way, just trying to make you aware of the different time investments.

>>281122956 (OP)
Write some fanfic of series similar to what you want to write about and see the reception. Fanfics will get eyes on what you're writing by loaning the franchise name and it's an easy way to get free feedback on your writing.

Even if you were Japanese you would need to become The Next Big Thing to get picked by one of the top studios so give up on that. As for getting published, try writing contests, getting a high placement will get you some emails asking if you have more material you could send them to check and maybe you could get a chance. Either way, I would start with these other things first before pushing out something I would be truly committed to but wasn't sure about quality and appeal.

>>281128409
This is likely good advice; I feel that my story is good on the macro scale, but I'm struggling to get it down on the micro scale, so something like this might be exactly what I need. Would you suggest publishing these short stories anywhere for feedback?
>>281128624
I see, this makes sense. At the moment, I'm dedicating 3 hours daily to drawing, but I am staring from essentially zero and can't reasonably dedicate more time to it at this moment. I've never tried learning Japanese, but I guess I overestimated the difficulty if what you're saying is legit; I'll definitely at least give it a shot, thank you.
>Fanfic
Genius idea. Where would you publish something like this? Only thing popping into my head right now is DragonBall Multiverse, which is a great example of dedicated fans showing their level of commitment. I think that's self-hosted though, so I'm not sure how they got so big in the first place.
>Give up
Is it really so hopeless? I know it's near impossible, but the idea that it can still happen is admittedly a strong motivator. If I know it's 100% not possible under any circumstance, be it because I'm not Japanese or whatever the case, then I suppose I could permanently put it out of my mind, but I would be losing a strong subconscious incentive.

>>281128628
>>281128819
Fucked up the (you), my bad.

>>281128819
/lit/ I saw has a couple writing threads, you could try posting them there and asking for feedback, though I haven't done that myself and don't know what kind of crit they'll give.
There might be more writers there that'll have better advice than me, I only really wrote as a hobby for fun for a bit, and that's just how I might go about writing bigger stories
Mind you the advice here and what you'll get is mostly for writing stories for an English audience, not Japanese, that's another hurdle you'll need to clear

I mean japanese/drawing are great skills to have but this is about writing, no? I'd start with getting some legitimate feedback on your writing first because if that's shit then everything else will fall apart. Submit your stuff to amateur competitions, reach out to publishers and send them a draft or literally just post your shit online for people to read and comment on. That's the most realistic way to start in my opinion.

>>281122956 (OP)
unironically make whatever love interest a man and you will gain a market overnight. it can even be a trap but bl sells especially an actual story. fujos will eat it up and you'll have an instant market share.

>>281129533
>/lit/
Sounds good anon, thank you; hadn't even thought of that for whatever reason.
>English vs Japanese audience
Shit, I hadn't considered this either. The setting of my story is universal, not locked to any particular culture, but did you have any examples of something that would maybe go over well in one place but not the other?
>>281132048
Of course, but if writing is the start, the question was also how to get through the middle and end of the process. I'm basically just someone with an idea I've been developing for some time, writing and drawing skills I've been developing recently, and no idea how to take that from what it is now (essentially nothing) to an animated adaptation that isn't a disappointment (the dream).
>Just post your shit online
Where? Thanks for the other suggestions, I'll look into them, but as for just posting randomly online(?), any ideas other than the /lit/ idea that other anon gave?

>>281132935
ao3 or similar I guess? Just search there should be plenty of shit out there. Nips for example have sites like narou where anyone can post their works.

>>281132918
I'm not in any rush to make money if that's what you mean by "market share", but if you mean I'll get a foothold and be able to use that existing audience to build hype for my next work, the ACTUAL story I want to write, I feel like that'd be super disingenuous and would actually lose me fans more than anything else. Even then, I don't think I'd be very good at writing BL. My actual story does touch on romance, but it isn't the main focus of the work.

>ITT
Too much texto

You don't even know how to draw 100%
You're underage 99%
50/50 this thread is meta bait

Calling it

>>281133049
Sounds good anon, thank you. Completely forgot about AO3, damn.
>>281133144
>Too much texto
Lol yeah
>Can't draw
I thought you didn't read the thread since it was too much, but yeah, this is true.

>>281122956 (OP)
The only platforms where it'll get attention realistically are twitter, pixiv or mangadex

Posting the first chapter on twitter is a must

Then sell it on kindle and if you can make a print run and sell the book on amazon

>>281122956 (OP)
>Westoid slop
Not manga.

>>281122956 (OP)
My first instinct is to say no. you aren't japanese. anything you do is NOT anime or manga. this is straight-up retarded.
>>281125024
that's when I'd tell you, fine, make a WN(web novel). This is when you say you don't even know japanese. why. is this thread. even up??
>>281135313
this faggotron suggesting mangadex kys
>>281136343
you. bumped this??

>>281136490
>My first instinct is to say no. you aren't japanese. anything you do is NOT anime or manga. this is straight-up retarded.
What about Dingle? He's published in COMIC Mugen, doesn't live in Japan, doesn't even speak nipponese.

>>281122956 (OP)
>>>/co/

Delusional weeaboo chuunibyous who make threads like this one really need some harsh reality check (pic as example of reality check) and not reddit tier cocksucking and cheering from other retards like ITT.
If you can't draw you can't even crawl. And ironically people who can draw wouldn't make such retarded threads because problem solving and hard work are basic requirements for learning such skill.

>>281136926
Ok man, we get it, you're so cool.

>>281122956 (OP)

>>281122956 (OP)
Can you give us a keyword we can search for for updates on your work?
I'm very curious what kind of work comes out of such passion.

>>281136343
>>281136490
Alright, anime/manga inspired then. I'm too much of a novice here to know if this is legitimate advice or rabid zealotry, but I hope it's the latter.
>>281136490
>>281136926
I don't know what to tell you guys; it's not like I need this to happen within the next year, or I only have a few years left to live. This is a multi-year investment. I'm not sorry for asking about a later part of the process before having done an earlier part, because I'm not trying to say I plan to skip it or it'll be easy. Case in point, I've gotten great advice here already, and it hasn't been mindless cocksucking; if you think saying "this is going to be near impossible, but you could at least have a hope of being seen if you do XYZ once you get the art and story basics down" is people circlejerking, I disagree.
>pixel
Topkek

>>281138207
Yes, actually: "Concordance". I hope to start putting content out soon, but as I've said, my art isn't up to level yet, so it likely won't be.
>>281138580
>pixel
picrel* sorry, phoneposting

>>281122956 (OP)
Love Ya

>>281122956 (OP)
Learn to draw like pewdiepie did

Use AI assistance (not a lot but let it assist you and speed stuff up)

Even better than AI
Learn blender as well , then you can use the custom shaders to make 2D manga shots

>>281122956 (OP)
What does the Blue-Eyes White Dragon have to do with this nonsense?

>>281122956 (OP)
Just start putting stuff out there.
Start small, maybe on webtoon or even just a social media account. Hell even something like mini comics on youtube shorts or tiktok.
Don't think "I've spent all this time completely silently working and now people will care" because they will not. Just throw some stuff out, have some fun. Slowly build up a follower base. A lot of recent big indie hits have years of smaller content behind them that gave them the viewership they got to today
Don't be the idea guy who wants to make a 20 volume epic and then nobody fucking cares because you appeared out of nowhere vs if you just trickle out stuff so people know you exist.

>>281139903
Thanks, this was unexpected and hella cute.
>>281140708
Don't follow him so I had no idea about this; thanks for the tip.
>>281142208
YGO was one of the big ones for me growing up, the art had me drawing my own cards all the time. That said, you're right: Dark Magician > Blue Eyes.
>>281143078
>Don't be that guy
Yeah, thanks for this, I'm getting the impression that that's definitely not the way to go, and it was what I was planning on doing; work quietly at it for a couple of years, then kinda just dump it all. It's good to know that's probably a shit idea.
>Years of smaller content
Do you mean just random, unrelated art from the same creator? Because I don't know if I can really find the motivation to work on art other than for the story. If you mean concept art and whatnot for it, I'd love to do that. Wouldn't fans get kind of impatient being drip fed stuff over potentially years before seeing anything solid?

>>281122956 (OP)
You physically cannot make manga, you can make a manga inspired graphic novel or comic at the absolute most.

>>281146055
Alright. Speaking seriously, is this objective fact, or just a purist belief? From what I've researched, the Japanese manga/anime pipeline seems way more insulated than at first glance. Would a Japanese publisher NEVER consider non-Japanese work manga, or is that just common?

>>281146384
Radiant. it's a french manga that got an anime adaptation. some famous japanese mangaka read it and did fanart of it. you do not have to be japanese to make manga. manga is a medium with many many many different stories, art styles, and audiences.

>>281146384
>Speaking seriously, is this objective fact, or just a purist belief?
Purist belief. It's entirely possible to break into the manga scene, it's just hard. As for anime, there's a number of non-japanese animators/background artists working at various studios( and probably more working semi-anonymously as tweeners). Thomas Romain(French) did spaceship design for Space Dandy, Abel Gongora(Spanish) works at Science Saru and was the animation director for the OP of Eizouken and did animation on Devilman Crybaby. You could consider it an uphill battle(not living in Japan, not knowing the language, culture, ect.) but that's all shit that can be overcome.

>>281146384
While it's not impossible people like OP are delusional and fishing for attention instead of seriously putting in effort. Humoring them with some technicalities and exceptional cases is doing them a disservice. You can see it in OP's replies. It's just nonstop simplistic questions despite admitting he can't draw and doesn't have an actual story yet. He'll just pat himself on the back IMAGINING the possibility of being a popular Authentic Japanese Mangaka and then go back to not sharing anything about this supposedly amazing idea. Typical behavior of someone in love with the idea of being something but never making actual steps towards it.

>>281146384
It's very much a Western concept. The Japanese language itself doesn't even distinguish between manga or comics, both can be called either 漫画 or コミックス interchangeably in Japanese. As other anon said, it's very hard but possible even for western gaijin to become published mangaka in Japan. But a western gaijin is at a disadvantage in multiple ways in an industry that's already competitive and takes a lot of effort or luck even for a native to make it in.

>>281145256
Its not always completely unrelated
Even smaller skits or stories about the characters you plan to write can help establish a connection with readers.
>Because I don't know if I can really find the motivation to work on art other than for the story
That's...a very awkward statement. That's a very "idea guy" statement. Like, its a journey. Not a destination. You can focus on the destination if that's how you work but understand that if you didn't bother meeting anyone on the journey I don't know who you expect to find at your side at the end. Post things like your character design process. Draw your main character in some various outfits or poses. If you're not great at drawing this extra work is only going to help in the long run and its also letting people know that you exist. Two birds (drawing progress, putting yourself out there) with 1 stone.
>Wouldn't fans get kind of impatient being drip fed stuff over potentially years before seeing anything solid?
If they did, I know like 20 patreons that should have died 5 years ago.
If you have a good hook, people can be very patient. Especially if you interact with them a bit, people love that parasocial shit. It doesn't even have to be like directly talking to them, even just making a poll and gauging what people like or dislike or things that they like seeing can be useful to understand who your audience is. Make them feel like you actually care about their opinion.

>>281146544
Yes, thank you, that's exactly what I was referring to when I asked the other anon if it was fact or just purist belief. Radiant came up a lot in my research as one of the only examples of a foreign creator breaking into the scene, and I wanted to know if that was just a one-off or, hopefully, a rising trend.
>>281146789
Thanks anon, it's motivating to read this.
>>281147120
>People like OP
lol, that WAS me who asked that. I assume you're one of the anons that's been upset that I haven't shared details, and I'm sorry that it's bothering you so much, but this thread has been incredibly helpful.

just do what the deltora quest author did and get your own annie may

>>281147464
>Awkward statement
I probably just expressed myself incorrectly. What I was saying is that I feel the urge to work on the story's art and nothing else, at least for the moment. I thought you were saying I should make random doodles to practice, unrelated to the story, and I was saying I'd rather just practice with the story characters. Long story short, my bad, I'm retarded.
>Should've died
I see. Thanks anon, this is really helpful.

>>281125024
If you don't have any work to share it's better to start there. I get wanting a direction for publishing your work, but if you have nothing to show for it it's useless to try to do anything else. Once you've at least got something then you can move on to try and find someone willing to publish your work. Get it out there and someone will notice eventually