At a glance, what is this?
It’s a celebration of storytelling in manga. It’s an analysis of craft elements that can be applied to all forms of storytelling. You don’t have to read manga. You also don’t have to be a writer. Everyone takes in stories in one way or another, I’m just here to explore one of those ways and extrapolate (fun word) that way into a broader scope.
Why I’m here, asking you to care
There are two things in this world I’m rather passionate about—creative writing and manga. I’ve spent ten years teaching creative writing both in the classroom and one-on-one, I’ve almost added an MFA in Children and Young Adult Literature to my utility belt, and I’ve also spent the past ten years pouring over all the manga I never knew existed as a kid.
In reading manga, and in studying creative writing, I’ve become keenly aware that far too few writers consider manga a serious subject of study. Maybe it doesn’t feel like a serious medium, maybe reading tons of volumes doesn’t appeal, but manga, above any other medium, is a shining example of the craft elements we all need to learn. Don’t worry, you don’t have to read or even understand manga to get something out of what I’m offering you here. I’ll do all the reading for you. Please. Let me read more manga. I’m begging you.
That said, not everyone is a creative writer. If that’s you, fret not, because along with craft elements pulled from manga, I’ll also be here, just celebrating storytelling elements in all your favorite manga. When I fall for a manga, I fall hard. And maybe I’m the odd one here, but when I fall, I want to know why. That’s what I’m doing here. Exploring the manga that capture my mind and understanding why.
Cool. But why should you care?
Do you love manga? So do I. Let’s explore why.
Are you a creative writer? So am I. Let’s learn stuff from a medium you probably don’t know that well. Just a hunch.
What you’ll get out of this
Insight. Fun. Maybe an appreciation for a medium that you haven’t dipped your toe in. Maybe a deeper appreciation for a medium you’re already obsessed with. Let’s find out.
Also, all my favorite, out-of-context manga panels.
Personally!
This is also my journey through manga. This is a medium I adore. That said, I fully recognize that I’m a late bloomer. I didn’t even know manga existed until about, oh, 2016. I finally decided to read One Piece because everyone else was. And I didn’t really fall in love with manga until Demon Slayer.
So yeah, I’m 100% jealous of people who grew up with manga. Mine was not such a household. As such, there are millions of people out there more well-read in this space than me, so there will be times I make claims in my posts that may get muddied or even disproven by series I haven’t read yet, or haven’t read fully. Please feel free to drop a note if this happens, and you can even insult me, that’s perfectly acceptable.
