This fall, I'm making edits to my debut graphic novel, Timid (Scholastic/Graphix Spring 2024). I’m also speaking and teaching at school visits and after-school enrichment classes. Here is a description of my 2022-23 school visits:
School Visits by Scholastic Graphic Novelist Jonathan Todd
My debut graphic novel Timid is about an African-American tween in the 1980s who must overcome shyness to discover the value of being part of a black community in a predominantly white middle school in a Boston suburb. And that’s in addition to learning to stand up to his peers and father in using his talent in cartooning for projects and a hopeful career.
Here is an early draft of a scene: https://cecilhall.tumblr.com/post/137924429595/this-is-an-excerpt-of-a-graphic-novel-im-working)
Prior to Timid’s publication, I have been teaching workshops in which third through eighth graders learn to write and draw fictitious and autobiographical comics. Being in the final stage of my book project also gives me a chance to demystify the creation of a graphic novel. Before The Covid-19 pandemic, I shared these thoughts about my creative journey at the Charles River Creative Arts Program: https://vimeo.com/284191142
My school visits cost $1,000 per day (in-person or virtually) and include four 45-minute to 1-hour auditorium or classroom sessions (customized to the school’s schedule). Schools may choose from the following sessions:
1) From Kid Cartoonist to Graphic Novelist and Q&A: I share my creative journey in a slide show that explains how I discovered cartooning as an 8-year-old and the types of comics and cartoons I drew in elementary, middle and high school. I also discuss how I transformed myself from a political cartoonist to a graphic novelist. This session is ideal for an auditorium presentation.
2) How to Make a Graphic Novel and Q&A: In this session, I explain each step of the process of creating my debut graphic novel, Timid: 1) Writing the first draft, 2) Revising the story about 10 times 3) Working with two editors and revising the book more 4) Thumbnailing the entire book and revising the blueprint for the book two times 5) Drawing the 261-page book in pencil 6) Drawing and lettering the book in ink 7) Scanning the book and cleaning up the digital files for the colorist
3) Autobiographical Comics Workshop: Graphic memoirs are huge among middle-grade and tween readers. I share my approach to creating graphic narratives rooted in personal experiences, asking students to reflect upon meaningful moments in their lives and think of precise ways to express these memories—and their significance—in comics form.
4) Create a Graphic Novel Page Workshop: I explain the elements of a story, panel planning/creating thumbnail sketches, penciling and inking a graphic novel, and I coach students through creating their own graphic novel page.
5) Build Your Own Session: I can design a session around a topic related to a school area of study: e.g. writing story plots, exploring cultural differences in stories, creating a sense of place in stories
Schools can choose any combination of the sessions described above, including doing four sessions of the same session to cover multiple classrooms.
Here are highlights from one of my Create a Graphic Novel Page workshops: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb-U45sdS8o
Please email Jonathan at cartoonistonfire (at) gmail.com to schedule a school visit--or enrichment classes--for the fall, winter, or spring.