For other aspiring graphic novelists out there...

NB: There is a (very) small graphic novel update hiding at the end of this post.

I think I've posted here before about my experience on graphic novel writing courses run by the Arvon Foundation: I've been fortunate enough to attend two. I thought I'd elaborate a bit more as there is a course running this September and I think there are still a few places available - and I can't recommend it highly enough.

I first found out about the Arvon Foundation from a writer friend who had attended a course. He spotted the graphic novel course in his brochure and, knowing about my Big Idea, passed the details on to me. It sounded fantastic but far out of my league in terms of cost (this was at the stage when I'd just convinced my parents to help me through more studies after completing my Biology degree). Still somehow I knew I had to do the course. So I applied for a grant and, helped I'm sure by a very praising letter from my tutor, I received it.

I attended the course in December 2006 taught by Bryan Talbot and Steve Marchant, with Posy Simmonds as the guest speaker. I was shy, terribly nervous about meeting people and fitting in and my work being good enough, but I needn't have worried. What I found there was a small group (10 I think) of people as nervous as me, from such a range of backgrounds and age groups, united by a love of graphic novels. I can't tell you what a joy it was to find myself in such understanding company....as opposed to the kind of people I still come across who, when I tell them I'm writing a graphic novel, only think of Batman and X-Men or, when I says its for adults, add a prefix to the 'graphic' that begins with P.

Oh, and I should mention the surroundings. We were staying here, in a beautiful country house called The Hurst in the middle of rural Shropshire, i.e. the middle of nowhere, with no internet and no mobile phone reciption: the ideal place to knuckle down to some serious writing! If, like me, you're a serial procrastinator, you'll find this a terrifying but ultimately necessary thing. I don't think I'd ever have gotten started without it, and its what gave me the idea of taking a long, internetless rural retreat earlier this year as well.



The structure of the course was nicely balanced, with a taught session in the mornings (everything from the history of graphic novels to how to begin structuring and writing one, storytelling techniques, page layouts and writing and drawing exercises) and private working time/one-to-one tutorials with the tutors in the afternoons. For me this was the most beneficial part. Almost everyone had come to the course with a clear idea of a short piece of work they wanted to tackle. I came with visions of a grand epic and needed a lot of help finding a starting point and a way in, even to talking about it let alone setting pen to paper. I found my way in, and I found a group of people who are still my friends and supporters to this day.

The evenings were a chance to listen to talks by the tutors about their own work, and usually descend into informal late-night chats (and the occasional drunken sing-song). Bryan Talbot in particular was most entertaining ;)

I got so much out of the course that when I saw Arvon were running another one in 2008, there was no question about it, I knew I had to go. Luckily I was in more of a position to pay for it that time. The second was taught by Bryan again, but this time also Peter Blegvad and the guest speaker was none other than the wonderful Simone Lia. The level of teaching was, once again, fantastic. Although the group of students was quite different the second time around, there was still something wonderful about connecting with a group of likeminded people and again, lasting friendships were formed.

And the legacy of having attended both courses continues. I am still in touch with most people I met on them, and we make comics together still. It was having contact with people like Bryan Talbot that got me into the right place at the right time to meet with an editor from Jonathan Cape and started the chain of events that led to my publishing contract. Saying that makes it sound like luck, which it wasn't: I worked hard and learned a huge amount through those courses that helped me on my way, more than I ever imagined I would.

If you also dream about that big graphic novel, I'd highly recommend you think about what you're doing in September. This year's course will be taught by Bryan Talbot again, but this time joined by Hannah Berry. Posy Simmonds will once again be the guest speaker. I've never experienced anything like the focused, creative atmosphere of the two Arvon courses I've attended or the community spirit of sharing cooking and living with such a big group of comic nerds. Don't be put off by the costs as there are grants availble to help if you can't afford it. I certainly wouldn't have been able to go without that help.

At risk of sounding like an advertisement, you can find more information about this year's course right here. If you go, I'll be jealous.

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I'm working on structuring my graphic novel at the moment. Taking all the elements I want to include and putting them into an order that tells a good story. Its slow work, with no pretty pictures to show you, and I'm not finding it easy. But its definitely the kind of thing I need to get right at this stage and not have to alter too much further down the line. Back to the drawing board for me....