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How to Self-Publish a Manga

Manga in Japanese translates into "picture book," but is the term used to describe Japanese comic books that have been capturing the imagination of many young people in Western countries since they began to be translated into English by American publishers starting in the late 1990s.

Getting a manga publisher to publish an independent manga artist's work can be a very daunting task. Because of that, self-publishing manga has become a popular choice for many aspiring manga artists. With the variety of options currently available, self-publishing can be an easy and inexpensive way to test the market reception to your manga.

Things You'll Need

  • Completed manga work
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Instructions

    • 1

      Organize and compile your completed manga to appear as professional as possible. Pay close attention to insure that text, page size, format and storyline are all concise and consistent.

    • 2

      Review your manga; either self-review your content or have it reviewed by friends by posting on a website or your personal blog for review and comments by peers. Proof your work for any spelling or grammar errors and edit accordingly.

    • 3

      Finalize your desired format. If possible review other self-published manga for ideas about page size, paperback or hardcover, dust jacket, and binding type, such as coil or perfect-bound binding.

    • 4

      Decide on a budget. One low-cost option is to print your completed manga at a local print shop like Staples, Kinko's or Office Depot. These days you can also find an online self-publisher to fit almost any budget. Print production costs can be $2 or more per book. Also consider royalty, ISBN and shipping fees, which will increase your budget. Several online self-publishing companies also offer printing options to reduce costs, such as discounts for bulk orders, sales through their site, POD (Print on Demand) and e-book downloads.

    • 5

      Publish and sell your manga. Review and compare popular online self-publishers and local print shop options. Some popular online sites are Lulu, Createspace, Cafepress and Mashon. After you've got your completed printed manga in hand, sell it in person at your local independent bookstore, comic book shop and at the "Artist Alley" at anime conventions. Also get the word out about your manga by creating a webpage or posting info about on it on your blog or your own personal webpage.

Book Publishing

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