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  • Seminar
  • In-Person: Seaport
  • Adult (18+)

Adapting Your Story into a Graphic Novel

No Longer Enrolling

  • $85.00 Non-Member
  • $75.00 Member

Class Description

They’re everywhere now: from the children’s sections of bookstores to New York Times bestseller lists. Have you ever wondered what your memoir, essay, or middle-grade manuscript would look like as a graphic narrative?

In the first part of this seminar, we’ll examine why graphic narratives by Vera Brosgol and Josh Neufeld are compelling. Next, using prose you’ve already written, we’ll organize your piece, annotating it into sections of physical description that could be drawn and sections that could be translated into a combination of captions, thought bubbles (thoughts going on inside a character’s head), and speech balloons (words that a character would speak out loud). You will use your annotated piece to create a thumbnail sketch—or blueprint—for a comic using stick figures and hand-written notes. You will then use your thumbnail to start a graphic novel script, which you or an illustrator can use to produce a polished graphic narrative of your story.
No previous art experience is needed to start adapting your prose project into a graphic narrative. Open to all prose writers. Writers are asked to come to class with a piece of prose.



Class Format

This class will take place in-person at our Center for Creative Writing in Boston's Seaport neighborhood.

Covid-19 Update:

GrubStreet's space will be mask optional when Boston's Covid-19 Community Level is low or medium. When the Covid-19 Community Level is high, our space will require masks. Please check GrubStreet's Covid-19 page for the latest info on masking and Community Levels before visiting in-person.

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.

Scholarships Format/Location

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.

This class will take place in-person at our Center for Creative Writing in Boston's Seaport neighborhood.


Covid-19 Update:

GrubStreet's space will be mask-optional when Boston's Covid-19 Community Level is low or medium. When the Covid-19 Community Level is high, our space will require masks. Please check GrubStreet's Covid-19 page for the latest info on masking and Community Levels before visiting in person.


Space Accessibility:

Our space is ADA accessible with automatic door openers, ADA-compliant restrooms, desk and table spacing, braille signage, and elevator. Our classrooms can be equipped with ALS for hard of hearing individuals. We cannot guarantee a scent-free environment. For more accessibility requests, please contact our Operations team at [email protected] or (617) 695-0075.