How to become an author of books and mangas?

In Japan, books, novels, and mangas drive the country’s entertainment. Both anime and games, dramas, and movies are based on these works. Therefore, many dream of becoming a manga author (mangaka) or a writer of light novels or other book formats. In this article, we will discuss whether it is possible for a foreigner to become a famous author, and what steps are necessary to achieve this.

Before we start, I would like to say something quite obvious: You need to be fluent in writing and in the Japanese language! You need to be at least at N2 of the JLPT to have the ability to create mangas, and preferably N1 to write books and novels. And it is not enough to have diplomas; you need to know the dialects, keigo, and slang to create good works. The most important thing is that you can write something acceptable to be accepted by the publisher! So the first step is to know Japanese! It doesn’t have to be perfect; there will always be some mistakes in the drafts and original files you present to the publisher. Even the Japanese don’t speak Japanese correctly…

If you want to write mangas, you need to know how to draw, you need to show that you are a professional! The same goes for writing the story; you need to be a professional! We will not discuss how to write your story, draw it, or how to create it. The focus of the article is to explain that it is possible for you to become a famous author and what you need to do to achieve that.

Can a foreigner be an author of books and mangas?

Some believe that the simple fact of being a foreigner makes it impossible to become an author of books in Japanese or a mangaka. It is true that for both a Japanese and a foreigner, the biggest difficulty in becoming a famous author is creating a successful work. However, the only obstacle that separates a foreigner from a Japanese is being fluent in the language.

There are many foreigners who are authors of books, light novels, and mangas. Even at a university in Kyoto, the head of the manga department claims that 600 students at the school were foreigners. It is worth noting that most light novel and manga authors use pseudonyms and have never appeared in public, so there may be foreigners among them.

There is even a Brazilian illustrator named Lucas Thiago Furukawa (pseudonym of Yuu Kamiya) who became famous for writing the light novel of No Game No Life, which even got an anime adaptation. Other famous foreigners include Tony Valente, Åsa Ekström, Shindo L, Boichi, and Hagin Yi. Despite the pseudonyms, some are from France, Korea, Sweden, and the USA.

It doesn’t matter how old you are, your gender, your experience, or even what country you are from. What matters is whether the book or manga will attract the Japanese audience and sell.

The first steps to becoming a famous author

Now that you are fluent in Japanese, are a writer or artist, and have created your successful story, you need to keep in mind that succeeding as an author of light novels, books, or manga is a dream for many Japanese, and you are competing with them! There are thousands chasing the same dream, but it is not impossible!

You need to present your story! You have 2 options: try to contact a publisher or expose your work to the world on your own. Many people, before becoming famous mangakas or light novel writers, publish their stories on the Internet or take them to events like Comiket. Others start by trying to participate in competitions or events that some magazines, publishers, and organizations hold.

To participate in the events and contests we mentioned, you need to research each one and keep track of all the dates and rules. Remember that exposing your manga or book on the Internet does not necessarily mean creating a blog or website; there are online sites specifically for this, with thousands of readers waiting for independent works. Now let’s talk about the most common option, which is contacting the publisher.

Contacting the Publisher

You need to choose the publisher you want to publish your works and contact them. You can find the phone number or email address in their magazines and books. Try to contact them or even show up in person and schedule a meeting with an editor to present your works. Anyone can do this, regardless of experience.

We recommend trying to schedule a meeting in person, even though some publishers encourage contact via the internet. Sometimes, trying to send your work online, you may not always receive feedback or even a response. Keep in mind that there are thousands of people sending their works and stories to the publisher, especially if it is a famous publisher.

In these meetings, you meet an editor who will read your work and give their opinion. If you really write a successful work, you will probably be accepted, or perhaps the editor will suggest tips and procedures for you to succeed, even if not with them. You can try as many times as you want; editors encourage you not to give up if they see some potential in you.

If you are rejected by the publisher, don’t give up on becoming a mangaka! You can write doujinshi (independent works) and achieve success on the internet until someone notices you. And don’t give up on having meetings and presenting different works to the editors of the magazines.

The Publishers of Japan

The publishers mentioned above are responsible for publishing your stories to the world. Most publishers, especially those of mangas, publish weekly or monthly chapters of works by various different authors in magazines that look more like thick books. This is the way publishers have found to measure the success of authors and determine if their works are famous enough to get an anime adaptation and continue being published.

We also recommend reading: Tips to become a mangaka

Below, we will leave a list of Light Novel and Manga publishers. It is important to clarify that you need to research them, as some specialize in certain genres or types.

The main Light Novel publishers to contact:

• Dengeki Bunko;
• Famitsu Bunkom;
• Fujimi Fantasia;
• GA Bunko;
• Gagaga Bunko;
• Jump J-Books;
• Kadokawa Benas Bunko;
• Kodansha BOX;
• Kodansha Ranobe Bunko;
• MF Bunko J;
• MF BOOKS;

The main manga publishers to contact:

• Akaneshinsha;
• Akita Shoten;
• ASCII Media Works;
• Bunkasha;
• Bushiroad;
• Bungeishunjū;
• Core Magazine;
• Chuokoron Shinsha;
• Daitosha;
• Enterbrain;
• Fujimi Shobo;
• Fusosha;
• Futabasha;
• Gakken;
• Gentosha;
• Hakusensha;
• Hayakawa Publishing;
• Houbunsha;
• Ichijinsha;
• Issuisya;
• Kaiohsha;
• Kadokawa Shoten;
• Kobunsha;
• Kodansha;
• Mag Garden;
• MediaWorks;
• Nihon Bungeisha;
• Ohzora Publishing;
• Sansai Books;
• Shinshokan;
• Shinchosha;
• Shodensha;
• Shogakukan;
• Shobunkan;
• Shonen Gahosha;
• Shonen Jump;
• Shueisha;
• Square Enix;
• Tokuma Shoten;
• Tokodo;
• Ushio Shuppan;
• Wani Books;

Now you know how to become a successful light novel author or mangaka. Have you tried sending a work to any publisher? Contest or website? We hope to see your experience in the comments.