Gathering Stories

Stories exist all around us, but it is usually not easily apparent when one sees a good story. A key skill to have is to be able to pick up good stories as they come and record them. A good habit is carrying a notepad around with you.

Types of Stories

There are many paths you can take, romantic stories, horror, adventure, fantasy, mecha, war... the possibilities are endless. But a brainstorm helps you figure out the key elements of each and what you want in your manga.

Brainstorm by Sight

Take a large piece of butcher's paper and scribble/doodle on it, drawing out shapes and images related to a central idea (e.g. Love). No words yet, this is just a visual exercise for your mind to get used to the motifs you might use.

Brainstorm by Mind

Stories all have a focus, try to find it in your mind and focus on it, then slowly sift through all the emotions associated with the focus, and what range of them you would like to bring out. Is it laughter? Tears? Now write out related words to the theme/s of your story.

Brainstorm example: Love Related Words.
Anger, Fire, Rain, Heart, Chocolates, Honey, Sugar, Sweet, Bitter, Jealousy, Tragedy, Revenge, Light, Hope, Warmth, Journal, School, Hands, Shops, Cafe, Cage, Wings, Clouds, Feathers, Birds, Chains

Love >> Tragedy
Hate, Disappointment, Tears, Hair, Hands, Storms, Rain, Thunder, Darkness, Despair, Grave, Skeleton, Hope, Life, Death, Rebirth, Reason, Logic, Insanity

Love >> Wings
Angel, Seraphim, Birds, Heaven, Sky, Blue, White, Black, Devil, Magic, Feathers, Doves, Peace, Tranquillity, Death, Life, Light

Combining

After you have your ideas in mind, think of the feelings and thoughts alongside the pictures as you go back to them, anything that doesn't seem to fit together should be taken note of and set aside for later. Now go back to the notes and stories you've gathered or created and use the appropriate imagery + emotions you've developed for this piece.