The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Graphic Literature: Artists and Writers on Creating Graphic Narratives, Poetry Comics, and Literary Collage

A New and Much-Needed Craft Guide Anthology to Graphic Narratives, Poetry Comics, and Literary Collage

The fourth volume in the immensely popular Field Guide series, THE ROSE METAL PRESS FIELD GUIDE TO GRAPHIC LITERATURE gives readers unprecedented insight into the techniques of 28 of today's most innovative creators of poetry comics, graphic narratives, and image-text hybrids. With original craft essays, corresponding exercises, and full-color examples of their work, each contributor offers reflection and instruction informed by their own methods and processes. From mark-making and page composition to deeper renderings of place, character, and voice, this much-needed guide to the field illuminates and demystifies the process of creating image+text work. Editors Kelcey Ervick and Tom Hart also provide a historical introduction that links today's graphic literature to visual storytelling of the past and helpful pedagogical resources to round out the volume. This is a book for writers who want to make graphic narratives and literary collage, illustrators and comics artists exploring new approaches to storytelling, teachers encouraging their students to work with image and text, and anyone curious about what one contributor calls "comics magic."

FEATURING ESSAYS AND GRAPHIC LITERATURE WORK FROM: Justine Mara Andersen • Oliver Baez Bendorf • Leonie Brialey • Thi Bui • Sharon Lee De La Cruz • David Dodd Lee • Arwen Donahue • Trinidad Escobar • Naoko Fujimoto • Marnie Galloway • Lauren Haldeman • Tom Hart • Mira Jacob • Keith Knight • Aidan Koch • Matt Madden • Mita Mahato • Deborah A. Miranda • Josh Neufeld • Dustin Parsons • Zeke Peña • Nick Francis Potter • Kristen Radtke • Scott Roberts • Alexander Rothman • Eleni Sikelianos • Bianca Stone • Lawrence Sutin

"This is such a beautiful, helpful book. If comics is a giant dome, with your story locked inside, The Field Guide to Graphic Literature presents you with 28 different philosophical doors into that world. The practicality of this book, and its acknowledgement of the myriad of avenues and practices in comics, makes me feel inspired as both a creator and a teacher."--Nicole J. Georges, author of Calling Dr. Laura: A Graphic Memoir

"Kelcey Ervick and Tom Hart have assembled a dynamite and diverse cast of comics creators under the covers of this exciting and important collection. Each contributor offers a deeply insightful window into their respective approaches to comics-making and shows how to put these ideas into practice through smartly-composed accompanying creative exercises sure to open spaces for readers to discover their own way into making comics--whatever their background. This is an indispensable resource for anyone teaching comics and for comics authors, from the experienced looking for new inspiration to those just getting started on their journey."--Nick Sousanis, author of Unflattening

"This book is a good first step to unlearning what you think you know about comics, a medium so vast, it's mind-blowing. It's inspiring to see the processes of such diverse, talented artists, and to be let in on their creative philosophies."--MariNaomi, author of I Thought You Loved Me

Writing Guide. Essay. Hybrid. Literary Criticism. Art.

Kelcey Ervick is the author of four award-winning books, including the graphic memoir, The Keeper: Soccer, Me, and the Law That Changed Women's Lives (Avery Books/Penguin), winner of a 2023 Ohio Book Award. Her comics and stories have appeared Lit Hub, The Rumpus, The Believer, and the Washington Post. A professor of creative writing, she writes and draws about writing and drawing at her bestselling Substack newsletter, THE HABIT OF ART.