Hello, birdyful readers! Hope all is well.
I’m a bit overdue on announcing this, but July sure flew by because it’s already August!
I wanted to share some of my plans for an upcoming book project, just to get people interested in my very unconventional story book.
But before that, let me explain the unconventional part. I’ve been trying to figure out a new way of presenting my stories, not exactly in graphic novel format.
While browsing online for inspiration, I came across a very interesting style.
Everyone heard of George Orwell’s 1984? If you haven’t read it, that’s fine—some classic novels can be tough to pick up. I only read it because it was required for one of my English classes. Anyway, a graphic novel version of it caught my eye, and I was immediately intrigued by its format!
It might not sound all too mind-blowing when I explain it, so I’ll skip the boring bits. However, discovery it helped me decide which direction I wanted to go with my Haenyeo and the Red Sea Dragon book.
For those new here, here’s the first concept cover I’m letting marinate:
After some research, I decided that the book will be like a classic illustrated novel, a style that isn’t popular nowadays (for various reasons). But hey, I’m willing to risk it and have people dig it. Won’t that be a challenge?
What is the difference between a graphic novel and an illustrated novel?
In illustrated novels, the drawings illustrate or extend the text. In graphic novels, the illustrations are the story.
-LibrarySparks
I’m aiming for 60% text and 40% illustrations. I think that’s a good balance for an amateur writer like me, especially since I can’t let go of my drawing tendencies!
Because I admit...
I’m not a skillful writer, nor do I have the gift of weaving words together. But as a bookworm, I’ve always wanted to challenge myself to write a novel, even a short one.
So I thought this Haenyeo tale would be a good starting point.
In my spare time, I’ve been gathering my materials and doing studies in order to create an original fairy tale folk tale about a novice haenyeo diver and her magical encounter with the Sea Dragon lord.
But first of all—
What is a Haenyeo?
A Haenyeo, which literally translates to “sea woman,” refers to traditional Korean female divers mostly found on Jeju Island. Some people like to call them the modern-day “mermaids” because of their incredible ability to hold their breath for a long time, diving deep, without any scuba gear!
These women hone their skills over generations, passing down their techniques and the best “harvest grounds” from mother to daughter. It’s an intimate trade, where one has to rely on each other for survival and profit.
I first learned about Haenyeo divers as a kid, thanks to my uncles who owned some fish markets. They introduced me to raw fish (sashimi), alive octopus (a delicacy that’s surprisingly enjoyable if you can handle the wriggly texture), and all sorts of seafood soups and spicy crab stews made by my grandmother.
I was even lucky enough to try abalones, which was the priciest and prized seafood around, as only haenyeos—sea women divers, can harvest the best ones.
It wasn’t until I visited Jeju Island for the first time as an adult that I truly appreciated the haenyeos. Back then, they weren’t yet recognized by UNESCO, but I was fascinated by these “living mermaids” who turned out to be mostly grannies wearing tight black wetsuits and huge goggles!
Sadly, this diving tradition is fading, so I thought it would be wonderful to create a character who is a young haenyeo, to help raise awareness and cultural interest.
Raw Storytelling
As for the illustrations in this book, I’ve decided to do raw pen sketches with minimal coloring, kind of like those old-school classic illustrated novels where artists only used pen and ink to save printing cost.
Below, I’m excited (and nervous) to share an excerpt from the book where my main character, Soah, encounters a mysterious creature under the sea.
Just so you know, I first drew out the story because it helps me organize and visualize the scenes better (comic artist habits). I then used those drawings as inspiration to write out the details of the story. I’m still debating on whether or not I should include these storyboard panels in my book.
Anywho, here is the result of my writing. Please tell me what you think.
Soah dove deep into the ocean with the practiced kick of a seasoned diver. She scanned through the dim light, turning her head from side to side in search of any squid movements. Even a cuttlefish will do, she thought when suddenly, a faint glimmer caught her eye in the distance.
Curious, she swam closer to investigate the strange sparkle. The murky seawater obscured the object's details, but she could make out that it was some sort of red jewel. She reached out and picked it up, feeling the roughness of the basalt that had encrusted around it, almost like a shell.
It looked like a piece of jewelry that someone lost— but before she could further speculate, a dark shape darted past her peripheral vision. Instinctively, she spun around, her heart racing with alarm
Before her loomed a large figure staring at her with beaming yellow eyes. Its seaweed-like hair streamed behind, making it seem more dark and imposing, while its tail fin sliced swiftly through the water. And were those claw-like hands? Soah's mouth opened in shock as she made a voiceless cry causing a rush of bubbles to escape. She instantly covered her mouth, momentarily forgetting she was deep underwater.
Desperately needing air, she kicked upwards with renewed urgency, breaking through the surface with a gasp. She let out a shrill whistle, a breathing technique used by the Haenyeo to release and gain air—a sumbisori.
"What was that? A mulgishin?" she wondered, her mind racing. But according to urban legends she’s heard as a child, water ghosts only dwelled in ponds and rivers.
No, perhaps it was a giant, hairy fish from the deep, she reasoned, though uncertainty tinged her face. Whatever it was, she needed to warn the others, she thought gravely, but a nagging doubt crept in. How could she warn them about something she didn't fully comprehend?
Taking a deep breath, Soah prepared herself to dive once again into the water to investigate further. "Maybe I was just imagining things because I didn't take enough air—" she reassured herself as she descended into the deep.
As she opened her eyes, she was met with an astonishing sight. There, before her, she found herself face to face with a beautiful human face. "A... a mermaid?!" she gasped inwardly, her mind reeling. A half-naked man with flowing black hair floated below her, his long red tail almost disappearing into the darkness of the sea floor. No, it was a merman, she realized, correcting herself as she gazed at the man underwater.
But why does he look so sad? Soah wondered in awe. The creature's mournful expression was not only unexpected, but it instantly dissipated her fears. Intrigued, she swam closer for a better look. To her astonishment, tears round as white pearls streamed from the merman’s yellow eyes, and floated gently towards her.
In stunned silence, Soah watched as one of the tears drew nearer and nearer, until—
She woke up with a start, her eyes wide and her heart pounding. Something had dripped onto her forehead, jolting her fully awake. She found herself back in her home, lying on the gudeul floor —underfloor heating—below her blanket. Was it all just a dream?
i'm honestly obsessed with your writing — it's so immersive and its descriptiveness pairs really well with your illustrations~ can't wait to read more!!
This is SO awesome! I love illustrated books, and your writing style is so wonderfully readable.