About being a mangaka

[Hidenara Saikaku]

Okay, here we go.

Though I'm not yet an official mangaka (`coz my debut work isn't released yet) I'll ba happy to post this up for aspiring mangakas and for everyone else.

Of course, you need skill in drawing. I've been perfecting this skill of mine since I was 10 (if I'm not mistaken), that makes 7 years of training, which also resulted in making me ampidextrous (that is, I can use both right and left hands for drawing, writing, etc). With that, I'm confident enough that I can keep up with senior mangakas like Yasuhiro Kanou-san and Kawashita Mizuki-chan.

To perfect your drawing skill, you can refine it by drawing random stuff (except stickmen and the crappy stuff) like copying characters from other mangas or animes. Drawing real world stuff would also help a lot. Like, when you go hiking with your friends or family, you can stop by for a while and draw the scene you find good.

With that, you can try creating your original characters. It may sound hard, but it isn't, really. The best way to create them would be to write their characteristics (both inside and out). Their inside characteristics should usually be seen through their eyes, or, at times, their entire body. I'll be posting samples here when my freaking scanner is fixed (or replaced), stupid me, who broke it xD.

Now that you've got your own characters, try thinking up a story. For the best results, make your story as close to reality as possible (like Mx0, Ichigo 100%, etc. Don't make one like Bleach (sorry Bleach fans), `coz it would suck. Trust me.). Also, try your best to make a story that leaves a great impression on people.

Now we've come to the "bloody" part. Try making action scenes using your characters and your story. It sure is hard, right?

But, that does not end there. We've just come to the "bloodiest" part. A very important skill is to visualize the scenes, and, better if you can visualize the page itself. Once you've mastered doing this, you'll have no problem in creating your manga. Now I can feel that the person reading this is a potential mangaka. Haha.

After that, try finding readers. It can be your best friend, your parents, your classmates, or your dog (just kidding xD). If they like it, good for you. Oh, and it works better if your reader is a gal, if you're a guy, and vice versa. That way, you would understand how the opposite sex would feel after reading it. It's always best if your readers are satisfied with it, isn't it?

If there are any questions, you can reply here. I'll post samples of my works soon.

[StrikeFlo]

So what's your status as mangaka, are you trying to find a publisher or are you planning to start with doujinshi?

How about posting a summary of what could be your future manga or a few sketches?

[Hidenara Saikaku]

I'm already associated with Shueisha (a relative used to work there, so it's a bit easy for me to get in) and they will be publishing my manga on June. Watch out for the title Disillusionment. It's can be classified a seinen, slice-of-life, school/university life, romance and the likes of that. Don't expect it to be too ecchi, `coz I don't like it that way =3

Well, I am not allowed to share sketches or samples of this one until it is published, so bear with me while I wait.

[StrikeFlo]

Too bad, maybe you can show us some pics unrelated drawn by you to have an idea on your level of drawing. (honestly in shounen jump there are some guys that don't seem to be able to draw better than 5 years old kid...)

Do you know what magazine it will be published in? shounen? SQ? young? monthly young? ultra? akamaru?
Will it be a one shot or serialization?

Oh, and, you know, ecchi stuff increase popularity of series. Just look at to love ru that began at the same time than Mx0 and that's still on shounen jump despite having a story a lot less interesting...

[Hidenara Saikaku]

I may be able to post recent drawings next week, not sure though, `coz I'm busy as always.

About the ecchi stuff again, I just said "don't expect it to be too ecchi", its ecchi level should be around the level of Mx0 or Hatsukoi Limited.

Yeah, I know where it would be published, but according to the contract, I'm not allowed to give away inside information, so I'll just inform you when it comes out. It may even be possible for me to provide you the raws.

[StrikeFlo]

You're not even allowed to tell in which mag it'll be? That's some tough contracts... but it can't be helped.

If you want to release it in english with Ossu! I don't really care as long as it fits my standards of quality. like black black or white white without altering the original pages... but, well, since you'll be doing the original pages that's kinda awkward... kinda never expected to face that situation here actually...

About ecchi stuff Kanou doesn't draw much ecchi stuff usualy, but kawashita is another story... because if you look at... well, most of her works, it's always pretty ecchi (who said ichigo pantsu???) hatsukoi limited was maybe the least ecchi of her works..? (but the nopan girl on the extra stories alone kinda raised a lot the ecchi level of that series) 

So if you can't talk about anything concerning that future manga of yours, how about telling more about how it goes to get your manga published?
first are you a japanese living in japan or did you come to japan recently?
Next, even if you knew someone from inside I suppose there's still some kind of procedure to follow, did you already have the story or even a chapter or 2 done that you showed to them?
Do you already have the traditional editor from shueisha to "coach" you?

[Hidenara Saikaku]

I already have 17 chapters finished and the inside people already had a look at it (I work really fast when I'm at the right mood)... it was hard to be actually accepted but it was worth it. About the contracts, it really is strict. (notice that mangakas you rarely, if ever, find mangakas' pics on the net, etc)

I'm not Japanese but I've been living alone in Japan for almost a year now. I'm actually a Filipino, though I don't like speaking my own language (haha).

And speaking of ichigo pantsu, this character here (Toujou Aya, from the 5th OVA) doesn't resemble her manga self, she rather looks like Aika... xD

Oops, gotta go... what a hectic sched this week >.>

[StrikeFlo]

17 chapters already? wow, I guess things are pretty settled already for you. Did you follow the standard 18 pages/chapter? if so that should be 1 vol and a half already.
I heard (or should I say read) that each chapters plot had to be approved by an editor from shueisha, are your 17 chapters accepted as they are or do you have to make some touch ups/redo some?
What part was hard? getting picked among a lot of other candidates? getting your chapters already done accepted?

From what you already wrote here, I had kinda guessed the contracts were strict, but now that you make me notice it, it's true that excepting a few exceptions, there's not a lot of mangaka with websites showing pics like that...

on a side note, if you feel like joining ossu to help me on tl, I think that shouldn't be a problem... but with a mangaka's work you'll most likely won't have time for that. Be sure to come write stuff here once you'll have officialy begin too, I kinda get interested in your case 

[Hidenara Saikaku]

Sorry for the really late reply, I was very very busy recently (working on a couple of one-shots)

Yeah, my editor already approved them.  I'll keep you updated if I can, so bear with me xD

[StrikeFlo]

If you still pass by, maybe you could update your status as being a mangaka?