Book or Webcomic?

[Callirai]

So I have recently come up with a story that I am really interested in writing. I have started to write a script for it. I am still fleshing out a lot of the story. I was talking to my husband about it and he thinks I should write it as a book. However, I wanted to write it as a webcomic because I am also an artist. I am still working on refining my craft but I do hope to make a webcomic at some point in my life. I wanted it to be a webcomic because while I love reading books, sometimes I wish that it could be visualized better than what I can imagine in my head. I think it would be great for me to be able to visualize my story as I see and be able to share it with others. I also feel like there are many resources to get a webcomic out there and noticed that there are for full on books. How do you choose between making your story a book or a webcomic? I know I could do both but that would mean writing a separate script vs book to fin the outline I would need. I would love to hear anyone's thoughts on the situation!

[Greetings]

You could always do it in light novel form where they have both images and text!

[keii4ii]

Time is a factor you could consider. If it's going to take 20+ years to draw to completion, you might wanna make it into a novel within 2-4 years instead. If it's "only" going to take, say, 3-5 years to draw, then making it into a webcomic might be feasible!

[Callirai]

Thanks, I will keep that in mind.

[Callirai]

I am not really sure how long it will last but I don't imagine it being that long. Maybe just lasting a few years as a webcomic. If I were to make it into a book I can't imagine being a series. Thank you for your input. That helps put it into perspective!

[joannekwan]

Sometimes I'll chalk it up to: Do I want to draw this? Do I have to have a concrete image to present to readers, say for a character design, that shows that's exactly how this being looks and cannot be subject to their own wild imaginations?

Like I write a lot of historically-based things. I know myself to be quite a stickler for historical accuracy. Do I want to research every piece of clothing, furniture, building, transportation, etc. from the era I'm working in to draw them? Not really. So I'm more likely to turn those into novels.

If I have very particular designs for characters or a way of viewing my story, for example if it's very cinematic, then I will likely slate the story for a comic.

[Callirai]

I thought about that too, I am definitely looking at it more as a webcomic in my head. I am imagining the characters and the world I want to creat alongside them. It wouldn't be anything too difficult and I would love to visualize for others as well as myself. I think I will turn it into a webcomic and save my book writing for another story! Thank you for your input! It's nice to know what helps others make that sort of decision!

[LordVincent]

Like I write a lot of historically-based things. I know myself to be quite a stickler for historical accuracy. Do I want to research every piece of clothing, furniture, building, transportation, etc. from the era I'm working in to draw them? Not really. So I'm more likely to turn those into novels.

....casually inserts image of an 1800s demon holding a cell phone

Nani?

[ble]

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[Mari]

Book. That way when people tell your work sucks they'll only insult one of your mediums instead of two lol.

Not that I'm saying your stuff sucks, just how my personal experience is.

[unknown_user]

Both options are good, if only you enjoy them. I would suggest the following: try to begin with sketches of your characters, objects and scenes, related to them. Maybe make some short prologue as a text with an illustrations. So you will understand better, what part of work on your story you enjoy more - art or writing,

I had the same dillemah, and decided to make a comics. But now, after a year, I'm not sure anymore, if it was a right decision... I'm drawing my comics so slow. Maybe, I would already manage to tell more of my story as a novel with illustrations. At least, I think, that it would be faster.

[Callirai]

I like that idea. I am currently writing the script for it, imagining it as a webcomic. I plan to start character design soon. I also decided that if I were to make it into a comic that I would create many episodes before starting to post it. That way I would not only have a buffer for when I did start posting it, but also so that I could get the feel of what it might be like drawing it out and how much time it would take up. Thank you for the advice!

[lartianmartian1]

I'm currently in a similar predicament. I've been developing my webcomic idea for a well over a year now, but I'm seriously considering the novel approach. It's taken me this long to want to follow through on an idea I actually like, but it will surely take me decades to see this story to it's proper conclusion... if I were to keep it as a comic.

I mean, it took me until just the other day to make this stunning realization. I could honestly only ever see this as a webcomic before then. I've dropped other story ideas over the years because I could only see them as animated series or what have you, and translating them into comics or anything else just seemed... wrong? But with this story, at least, having it written simply makes more and more sense the more I think about it. Plus there is the option of the occasional illustration.

Hey, it may take you that long, or longer, to change your mind as well. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! Or heck, keep it as a comic! A good story can shine through in any medium (though obviously each one has it's strengths and weaknesses, and you should always take that into consideration, yadda yadda, you know all that ).

[Callirai]

I have to say, I feel much better thinking about the fact that I not only have time to make the decision, but I also can change my mind even if I have started a comic. If I start a comic and it soon becomes to long or what ever the case may be, I could always find an ending or tune it into a book at that point. For now I am thinking of it as a webcomic, but really I think my mistake was trying to decide. I will keep it as what I want it as for now, and if I change my mind later then no big deal.