Q&A for How to Self Publish and Promote Your Manga

You can make manga at any age.

Everyone has a chance, all there is to be done is to believe you can and to study manga and drawings, as well as practice whenever possible. No one has an angelic hand when they first put their pencil on paper, they work on it for years and always get better.

Scan in your manga, then edit it on a software of your choice.

You are never too old to start a project! It sounds like this would be a great option for you since you already have the artistic skills to bring it to fruition.

If you post some of it online for free, the readers can get a piece of your work, and with that information they can determine if they like your story and artwork. Customers and fans always like to know that their money is being well-spent, so by giving them a chance to sample your work before investing in it, you're giving people the opportunity to decide whether or not your work is worth the money to them.

Start with body structure and face structure. Then, work your way through clothing and then to shading.

Yes, although the lines won't look as neat and bold as they would if you used pen or markers.

You can try printing out many different body structures and tracing them. Then, right after tracing, try to draw it yourself freehand. You can do the body as a whole or break it down into parts. Keep practicing this over and over, take it slow at first, then try to get faster. If you keep practicing, you'll see an improvement.

Ask your parents or people in your neighborhood if they need any odd jobs done so you can make the money for your supplies.

Yes. Posting your content online is a great way to promote it and gain recognition.

Absolutely, lots of mangakas do it. It helps boost your sales and it gets your name round really well, you just have to be careful and watch out for scamming websites.

A pencil, an eraser and an Artline black ink marker (fine 0.4 is best for beginners). Practice using these basic tools before moving onto other more advanced tools (Copic, Ohuhu, etc.).

That's a tough one. You can either figure out a way to convince them to let you, or do it without them knowing and build a fan base and wait to make money off of your manga until you are 18.

Usually it is the style of art that determines whether or not something is classifies as a manga. Usually the book is "backwards," but it doesn't have to be, and no, the creator does not have to be Japanese.

No, a 9-year-old cannot publish a paid manga without a parent or guardian because most platforms like Amazon KDP, Gumroad, and Webtoon require users to be at least 13 or 18 to sell. However, with a parent's help, they can set up an account and manage payments. A young artist can share their manga for free on sites like Webtoon Canvas or Tapas without selling. If you know a 9-year-old who wants to publish, they should ask a parent for help!

Yes, you can create manga part-time. Many artists start by working on their manga in their free time while studying or doing other work. Set a schedule that works for you, even if it’s just a few pages per week, and focus on steady progress. Posting online on platforms like Webtoon or Tapas lets you share at your own pace. Over time, if your manga becomes popular, you might turn it into a full-time career.

Yes, self-publishing manga can be free if you publish digitally on platforms like Webtoon, Tapas, or GlobalComix. Selling digital copies on Gumroad, Itch.io, or Amazon KDP is also free, but they take a small percentage from your sales. For printed copies, you'll need to pay for printing and shipping. Print-on-demand services like Lulu or BookBaby charge per book, usually $5 to $15 per copy, depending on size and color. Bulk printing is cheaper but requires more upfront money.

First make sure your pages are finished and in the correct format, such as JPEG or PNG for web and PDF for digital books. Choose a platform based on your goal: for free sharing, use Webtoon, Tapas, or GlobalComix; for selling, consider Amazon KDP, Gumroad, or Itch.io. Create an account, upload your manga, add a title and description, then publish. Promote it on social media to attract readers.

You can publish your manga online for free on platforms like Webtoon, Tapas, or GlobalComix. If you want to sell it, consider using Amazon KDP, Gumroad, or Itch.io for digital downloads. No printing is needed.

You can sell your manga through platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Gumroad, Itch.io, and Payhip. Print-on-demand services such as Lulu, Blurb, and BookBaby allow you to sell physical copies without large upfront costs. For manga-specific sites, try GlobalComix or ComiXology. Additionally, you can promote and sell your manga on social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and at conventions if possible.

To create a manga cover, start with a strong composition that highlights your main character or theme. Use a dynamic pose to grab attention, clean linework, and details that reflect your manga's story. Choose a color scheme that fits the mood—bold colors for action, soft tones for romance. Add your manga's title in a readable font and place it so it doesn't block key art. If working digitally, consider using Clip Studio Paint or Photoshop for clean effects.

You can find manga artists online on platforms like DeviantArt, ArtStation, Pixiv, Reddit, Instagram, Twitter, Fiverr, Upwork, Medibang, and Discord.

To improve your drawing, study the works of professional manga artists like Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball), Eiichiro Oda (One Piece), Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto), and Naoko Takeuchi (Sailor Moon). Pay attention to their art style, paneling, and storytelling. Practice their techniques and incorporate your unique style.

Consider collaborating with an artist through social media or online platforms; many artists are open to partnerships and might be interested in illustrating your story.

Yes, you are able to convert your manga into animated! Just you need to study and set age 18+ then join or make studio where team is going to help you. You know because animation industry is not simple to do with a single person!.

You can use drawing software like Krita instead. It is an open source software for drawing, the domain is :- krita.org. Here you can edit or make your manga in digital version.

You just need to go to Japan and sell your manga. After becoming popular you can make your own anime!

Start with a script. The script can be about anything you want. Once you are done with most of the script, slowly work your way up to the drawing.

Hiring an artist would most likely not be profitable for an entire manga. Keep practicing, and you'll see that you'll get better.