A Question about Light Novels

[velderia]

I'm not sure where to post this. Feel free to move this if I violated something.

I was just really wondering though... and I did some searching too.

Has there been an American who created a light novel (in English, with manga-styled illustrations)? Or, maybe I should ask has there been a English-speaking person who has created a light novel?

I've been wondering about making one myself when I have the opportunity. I'm good at drawing, but doing comics can be exhausting sometimes... I'm faster at writing than at drawing. Maybe I can self-publish through something like Lulu.

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by velderia

I'm not sure where to post this. Feel free to move this if I violated something.

I was just really wondering though... and I did some searching too.

Has there been an American who created a light novel (in English, with manga-styled illustrations)? Or, maybe I should ask has there been a English-speaking person who has created a light novel?

I've been wondering about making one myself when I have the opportunity. I'm good at drawing, but doing comics can be exhausting sometimes... I'm faster at writing than at drawing. Maybe I can self-publish through something like Lulu.

I don't know of any American who has published a light novel that was picked up in Japan (though Megatokyo was recently picked up as an OEL manga to be produced in Japanese for Japan manga readers) .... Tokyopop keeps pushing the O.E.L. stuff so you might check their offerings. I could argue that English "light novels" have been around a long time.... the Hardy Boys, the Three Investigators, Nancy Drew, Tom Swift, etc.

[LynnieS]

Not to mention fanfics.

[Clarste]

What do fanfics have to do with Light Novels?

[LiberLibri]

Originally Posted by velderia

Has there been an American who created a light novel (in English, with manga-styled illustrations)? Or, maybe I should ask has there been a English-speaking person who has created a light novel?

Carrie Asai has. The Japanese version was illustrated by 田倉トオル (TAGURA Toru).

If you aim at the Japanese market, then you should promote yourself strategically. It is not a bad way to apply to the Dengeki Illustration Contest, for example.

[LynnieS]

Originally Posted by Clarste

What do fanfics have to do with Light Novels?

In Japan, one form of self-publishing is done through the keitai, and the stories are usually pretty light. The writer uses his keitai to key in the story, chapter by chapter, and puts them online. His readers then go to read it. I believe that a few of the writers' works have been published in real life now.

Side note: Chinese writers have something similar, but they go through an online publisher like Qidian who, if they prove popular, will sign the writers to contracts. Once signed, future chapters then cost a few yuan each for the non-pirate readers. The really big writers get book and/or game deals.

Translated into Western terms, the writing part is closer to fanfic than the self-publication process, IMHO. If velderia is serious about doing an English version of the light novel, starting out - and then growing beyond - this way is one possibility.

[musume_no_hoshi]

Twilight (yes THAT one) is published in Japan in light novel format. They splitted the books into a smaller books, included shoujo manga styled illustrations. The four books are splited into 13 light novel sized books.

http://twilight.lost-star.org/manga.php

Despite it's not written as a novel, looks like Japan decided it's better to make it more like a light novel. As much as I dislike twilight, I think a light novel format seems to be a good format for it.

[mg1942]

This just in from YEN PRESS!



brilliant marketing or fail train?

[yezhanquan]

Now, those shoujo illustrations may make Twilight actually more bearable.

As for this Spice and Wolf pic.... give me Horo. Thanks.

[mg1942]

For the new spice wolf novel to generate more sdales, I think yen press should make a spinoff company (still owned by Yen press) that specializes with novels. No matter how hard they try to make the cover look western it;'s still gonna be relegated to the manga section in Barnes & Novle because - It's yen press!

won't surprised if they change the spelling of her name to HOLO

[Slice of Life]

I've seen better Horo cosplay that particular costume. If you wanna call it costume.

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by mg1942

This just in from YEN PRESS!



brilliant marketing or fail train?

Aye, this cover is being discussed inthe S&W forum... it only makes sense to me if they're going to shelve the books in the adult fiction section. I don't see it going anywhere good in the anime/manga section (fear the irate mothers who think anime/manga is for kids).

Now I think S&W *belongs* in the young adult or adult section (all that economics) but so far most bookstores automatically put light novel translations in with the other manga.

[yezhanquan]

IMO, light novels are aimed at a slightly older audience. I mean: You are reading text. Given the stereotype of short attention spans among kids today....

[mg1942]

Originally Posted by Vexx

Now I think S&W *belongs* in the young adult or adult section (all that economics) but so far most bookstores automatically put light novel translations in with the other manga.

and that's a problem
they just offended many manga fans with the cover and the majority non-manga fans will not pickup something near B&N's manga/comic section

[yezhanquan]

I'm not offended (non-fan here). It's just that the model's smile looks a little.... odd. I half expected Horo to be a sneering monster, judging by this cover.