This was so generous of you to share, K! I found myself really studying your process here, and thought it was especially helpful to know that you thumbnail before you have a complete script. It makes sense that the thumbnails would inform the writing and vice versa. I get in the weeds with that stage often because I tend to write too much detail to start, and then when I go to thumbnail it, it either doesn't work or needs to be drastically altered/reduced. Thanks so much for sharing all of this excellent (and so well organized) material!
I was joking around with another Substacker in comments this morning, and inadvertently blurted out an idea for satirical graphic 'zine. Then I spent a lot of the day filling in the plot points and other brainstorms. And now this: Pure gorgeous intelligent beautiful process. Ipso facto production ho! With thumbnails!
I’ve found recently that I like to thumbnail on the iPad. It’s especially useful if I’m still trying to figure out layouts or poses because I can try multiple options without having to redraw pages. I work quite roughly at this stage so doing this on paper usually leads me to getting lost haha keeping it all in one file helps me keep my thoughts in order. I have a template similar to your digital one. Once I’m done, I can quickly port each one off to its own file at full size ready for a cleaner rough pencil pass :)
I don't know if it's a toxic trait I have with myself that I am having a hard time committing to the thumbnails I work on. Somehow as soon as I start to put them together for real on the page, there's some more items I want to "solve", and I end up making changes to the thumbnail ideas, delaying the page completion further.
I certainly don't feel beholden to my thumbnails and will change them if I don't think they're working. But if it's slowing you down a lot, maybe experiment with a different process? Or even try limiting the number of times you change them?
I just sent a pitch to my agent for my very first early reader graphic novel, so seeing your behind-the-scenes work here and in earlier posts has been and will be such a gigantic help. Thank you for sharing all this!
Incredibly helpful - thanks so much. I badly need to organise a way of drafting and planning for storylines and posts that's basically visual and this has given me such useful suggestions! Much appreciated.
Always so cool to see a creator's process--thanks for this fascinating breakdown of how you do thumbnails. Especially cool to see how an 11 by 17 sheet can hold a chapter's worth of spreads. Wish I could manage to get this loose: even my tiny drawings end up with waaaaay too much detail. Will save these images for inspiration!
Thanks for the shout-out! See you this week as a Special Guest in my Graphic Novel Boot Camp online workshop where I hope that you will share some of these very images.
This was so generous of you to share, K! I found myself really studying your process here, and thought it was especially helpful to know that you thumbnail before you have a complete script. It makes sense that the thumbnails would inform the writing and vice versa. I get in the weeds with that stage often because I tend to write too much detail to start, and then when I go to thumbnail it, it either doesn't work or needs to be drastically altered/reduced. Thanks so much for sharing all of this excellent (and so well organized) material!
I'm glad you found it useful, Heather! I also tend to write way too many words if I'm not thumbnailing at the same time.
This is exactly the post I needed. I've been noodling on a similar planning process this week, and seeing how you put it in action is a huge help! ✨
I'm so glad to hear that, Joshua!
As always, incredibly helpful! I’m well into thumbnailing my book, but learned some great tips from this piece. Thank you so much!
So glad to hear it, Carol!
I was joking around with another Substacker in comments this morning, and inadvertently blurted out an idea for satirical graphic 'zine. Then I spent a lot of the day filling in the plot points and other brainstorms. And now this: Pure gorgeous intelligent beautiful process. Ipso facto production ho! With thumbnails!
Ha! Thanks, Peter!
What a great process, thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome, Deb!
I’ve found recently that I like to thumbnail on the iPad. It’s especially useful if I’m still trying to figure out layouts or poses because I can try multiple options without having to redraw pages. I work quite roughly at this stage so doing this on paper usually leads me to getting lost haha keeping it all in one file helps me keep my thoughts in order. I have a template similar to your digital one. Once I’m done, I can quickly port each one off to its own file at full size ready for a cleaner rough pencil pass :)
It's cool to hear your process, Sam!
It’s cool to see your process and oh my gosh, to see that picture of our class! I love it!
I know! So long ago now!
This is amazing and so helpful!
Thanks, Haley!!
Really cool, thank you for taking the time to share your process with all the lovely photos and step by step descriptions.
You're welcome, Lauren!
So helpful for breaking a BIG project into small parts!
Work small to think big :)
I don't know if it's a toxic trait I have with myself that I am having a hard time committing to the thumbnails I work on. Somehow as soon as I start to put them together for real on the page, there's some more items I want to "solve", and I end up making changes to the thumbnail ideas, delaying the page completion further.
I certainly don't feel beholden to my thumbnails and will change them if I don't think they're working. But if it's slowing you down a lot, maybe experiment with a different process? Or even try limiting the number of times you change them?
I just sent a pitch to my agent for my very first early reader graphic novel, so seeing your behind-the-scenes work here and in earlier posts has been and will be such a gigantic help. Thank you for sharing all this!
Congrats on getting a graphic novel pitch off, Sarah! I'm so glad this is helpful to you!
Incredibly helpful - thanks so much. I badly need to organise a way of drafting and planning for storylines and posts that's basically visual and this has given me such useful suggestions! Much appreciated.
I'm so glad this is helpful, Deborah! I agree that organizing visually is so helpful!
Always so cool to see a creator's process--thanks for this fascinating breakdown of how you do thumbnails. Especially cool to see how an 11 by 17 sheet can hold a chapter's worth of spreads. Wish I could manage to get this loose: even my tiny drawings end up with waaaaay too much detail. Will save these images for inspiration!
Thanks, Rebecca! Yeah, I find it really satisfying and helpful to see the whole chapter at once.
Very helpful detail of the process
Thanks, Suzi!
Thanks for the shout-out! See you this week as a Special Guest in my Graphic Novel Boot Camp online workshop where I hope that you will share some of these very images.
You're welcome, Paul! Learning thumbnails really was so incredibly helpful. Can't wait to speak with your class this week!