Books for Teens: Writing Fiction & Comics

Have you ever gotten a great idea and then sat down to write it, only to find it you had no clue how to get it from inside your head onto the paper?

Don't worry, you're not alone. If you're a teen interested in writing fiction, comics or graphic novels, here are some books that can help with that process.

Just Write by Walter Dean Myers brings over 40 years and 100 books worth of experience to you in the same straightforward language I love about all the other books he writes. He balances practical advice with his own story of how he became a writer and serves to inspire and instruct.

On Writing by Stephen King is one of the most common resources suggested to writers of all ages for good reason. King describes his process and is honest about his slow start getting published. I enjoy his conversational style which is easy to read.

Make Comics Like the Pros by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente focuses on storytelling and the process of getting published. The two comic artists give examples from their own work and history. They give you front row seats to their creative process but also remind you that there is no One way to do things.

In Comics Confidential by Leonard Marcus, thirteen Graphic Novelists talk about story, craft and life outside the box. Marcus interviews each artist and includes an original two-page comic made especially for this volume. It's a great look into the lives of working artists.