Page 1 of 8 in the Sketchbooking Series for Manga Makers
Every story starts with a spark. It might flicker during a walk, explode while watching anime, or whisper at the edge of a dream. In the 8 Pages of Sketchbooking, Page 1 is all about capturing those first raw ideas before they drift off into the ether.
If you haven't seen Monday's post this week it would be a good idea to catch up with the flow of this discussion that will last about 6-7 more episodes!
We call this first page Imagination Sparks—and it’s one of the most exciting steps in manga creation.
🌱 What is an Imagination Spark?
Think of this as your creative compost pile. It’s messy, spontaneous, and full of magic. You don’t need structure yet—just the willingness to explore and collect whatever bubbles to the surface:
- Strange dreams that stick with you
- A cool power or character quirk you saw in a show (but want to twist)
- A world idea that could be ruled by cats, gods, ghosts—or something completely new
- Random quotes, song lyrics, or visuals that spark an emotion
🧠 How-To: Capture the Sparks
1. Start a "Spark" Spread
Open a blank spread in your sketchbook. This is where all your raw ideas live. Think of it as a catch-all brainstorm board.
2. Use These Prompts to Get Started:
- What kind of world do I want to draw?
- Is there a character who's been living in my head rent-free?
- What emotion or message do I want people to feel when they read this story?
- If I could steal one superpower from fiction, which one would it be—and how would I twist it?
3. Doodle Freely
This is key! Don’t overthink. Draw floating heads, symbols, costume ideas, or even scenes with no context. Let your pen guide your thoughts.
4. Keep it Messy & Honest
There’s no pressure here. The best manga ideas often begin as wild, chaotic, and half-formed. Let it be weird.
🔥 Real Talk: All Big Ideas Start Small
This is the page where you play. You’re not building a whole manga yet—you’re exploring what could be. A flicker of inspiration now could become your most iconic scene later. Just let it out and trust the process.
🧪 Bonus: Mini WIP Peek & Warm-Up
Want to get a jump on tomorrow’s Work-In-Progress Wednesday?
Here’s a mini warm-up exercise to help transition your sparks into a developing idea:
Exercise: Draw a tiny manga panel (2" x 2") showing your main character doing something simple—but uniquely them.
It could be a glance, a smirk, a strange ritual, or a burst of magic. Whatever you sketch, let their vibe shine through.
Tape or paste it next to your Spark page—you’ll see how quickly imagination becomes momentum.
Next up: Work-In-Progress Wednesday!
We’ll take your strongest spark and start shaping it into a concept you can build on.
Got a question or want to share your Spark page? Tag @SketchBookArtists and use the hashtag #8PagesOfManga
Let’s sketch some magic ✍️💥
