Q&A for How to Become a Mangaka

You can use whichever you like! It's been said that digital is easier when you're learning to draw if you can find the right tools, such as a drawing tablet and the right programs. Popular Mangaka's who use traditional paper and pencil have generally had a lot of training and experience drawing, but both are good skills to learn. Do whichever you're most comfortable with first.

No, it is not too late. You can start at any age: just sign up for competitions and try your best! It is best to take art classes, but you don't have to.

Yes, you can. For one, you can self-publish manga, and you can even earn a living doing it. However, you'll probably have more luck if you're living in Japan.

Yes.

It depends. If you are writing a Manga for children, write in Hiragana. For teenagers, use Kanji or Hiragana. For adults, any of the languages will do.

I would recommend Photoshop, Paint Tool SAI, or Manga Studio. If you want free apps, you can use GIMP or Pencil 2D.

First, you can make the manga pages using traditional drawing, then scan it into your computer to make cleaner lines. You don't have to, but inking is hard and can get messy; if you mess up, there is no "undo" button.

Any language is acceptable in a manga, but if you want it to be in Japanese, use an online translation tool to help you.

Make the time! Think about it when you're in the car on the way somewhere, when you have breaks at school, any time you're not totally focused on something else. Keep a notebook with you and jot down ideas whenever they come to you.

Of course.

Yes, most programs that have the 'layers' options will allow you to do this. All you do is draw the character, and then switch to a different layer. You can also move those characters on the page.

Yes. Manga Studio is one of the best software for creating digital manga, and it has a wide range of effects to replicate the traditional way.

Yes, you can be. Just practice as much as possible and look at some tutorials online.

You can get your manga published by a non-Japanese publisher, such as Darkhorse comics, or a weekly comic magazine.

Start with beginner art classes and learn the basics of art.

I'm no professional, but I'd say just start with who is closest to you. If you have a friend or a family member that is good at drawing and likes to do it, you might be best off asking them first. Otherwise you can find tons and tons of aspiring artists online who would love to get some exposure for their work - DeviantArt might be a good place to start.

Yes. If a Japanese publisher finds your manga to be of value, you can get it published. You might need to get your manga translated if it isn't in Japanese.

You can find an online site to enter your manga in a contest. If you can't speak Japanese, use a translation app. Then, while you're waiting for a reply, work on building your Japanese.

Yes, you can. You can either find a site to submit your work to for payment, or you can create a website with ads that can generate revenue.

Yes, most often a comic will need to be finished (unless it's part of a larger saga) before it can be published.

Practice by drawing​ the typical characters first. Later, look at the Mangalore styles that you like and take segments from that style and try to incorporate them in yours. Do this for a bit of time, and soon enough you will have a style of your own.

Yes, you can.

There is no age limit when it comes to creating manga. Many programs will do fine, but using something like Paint Tool Sai or Photoshop will make your manga look high in quality. You can either go with standard traditional art (this will require having to scan or photograph your pages), or you can go digital and use a pen tablet.

G pen, Maru pen, .9mm mechanical pencil, Tombow mono plastic eraser, correcting fluid and a kneaded eraser.

Possibly if you have an friend or assistant that can draw backgrounds, or if you just practice a lot until you improve. Manga drawings are mostly focused on the action anyway, you don't have to have very detailed backgrounds.

No, you can post your Manga on websites like Tapas and Webtoons, which are for all ages.

Screen tone is not required for Manga. It is optional.

In Australia it is very rare to find a school that has a Manga Ka degrees, but you can instead choose fine arts. You can then become a Manga Ka in Japan, but prepare yourself, because becoming a Manga Ka in Japan is not easy.

Yes, but it wouldn't exactly be a manga. It would probably be classified as a "light novel" or "novella."

You can do it for your own fun, but if you would like to publish it, you would have to ask permission from the creator of the original drama series.