SVS Graphic Novel Pro is a ten-week cohort course from the School of Visual Storytelling, taught by professional cartoonists Shawn Crystal and Jake Parker. It covers writing and drawing comics from idea to finished pages: you produce a polished short comic of 10 to 20 pages, a plan for a full-length graphic novel and a strategy for breaking into comics or self-publishing. The course includes 54 video lessons, eight downloads, 13 assignments with guided checklists and ten weekly group livestreams with the instructors. It costs $699, and the waitlist is open for the winter 2027 cohort.

The course is organised in three phases, planning, production and publishing, so it covers the business side of comics as well as the craft.

What You Will Learn

Planning a short comic, from idea to a page-by-page plan
Producing the finished pages of a 10 to 20 page comic
Working through 13 assignments with guided checklists
Planning a full-length graphic novel
Strategies for breaking into comics or self-publishing
Getting feedback in weekly livestreams and a private student group

Who Is SVS Graphic Novel Pro For?

The course suits illustrators and cartoonists who want to finish a comic rather than just start one, and anyone planning a graphic novel. It is useful for both aspiring professionals and self-publishers.

You should already be comfortable drawing characters and environments; the SVS Essentials curriculum is good preparation.

How the Course Works

Over ten weeks, students watch video lessons, complete 13 assignments with checklists and join a weekly group livestream for live questions and answers. A private student group allows you to share work and get feedback from classmates throughout.

Course Structure

The course follows three phases:

Planning: idea, story and the plan for your short comic
Production: drawing and finishing the pages of your short comic
Publishing: how to break into comics or publish your own work

What You Will Make

You will finish with a polished short comic of 10 to 20 pages, a plan for a longer graphic novel and a strategy for getting it published, which together make a strong comics portfolio.

Why a Cohort Course?

Comics take a long time to make, and many artists abandon a story before it is finished. A ten-week schedule with weekly livestreams and assignments gives you structure and a deadline, while the student group provides readers and feedback along the way. Finishing a short comic first is also the most realistic way to prepare for a full graphic novel, because it teaches the whole process on a manageable scale.

Price and Access

Graphic Novel Pro costs $699. At the time of checking, the course was taking sign-ups for its winter 2027 waitlist; dates and payment options are announced to those on the list.

About the Instructors

Shawn Crystal is a professional cartoonist who also teaches comic cover design at SVS. Jake Parker has worked for about 25 years in animation, comics and picture books, including projects at Reel FX and Blue Sky Studios, and created the Inktober drawing challenge.

How It Fits With SVS Learn

Graphic Novel Pro sits alongside Children's Book Pro as one of the two advanced programmes that follow the Essentials curriculum. Students who completed Next Steps for Illustrators and chose comics as their specialty will find it the natural next step.

Things to Consider

Time: ten weeks of lessons, assignments and weekly livestreams.
Commitment: finishing 10 to 20 pages takes steady weekly work.
Tools: digital or traditional.
Before this: character and environment classes in SVS Essentials.
Enrolment: join the waitlist for the winter 2027 cohort.

Start the Course

Interested in learning with SVS Learn?

Start Graphic Novel Pro

For the programme details and waitlist, visit the official SVS Learn website.

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Last verified: October 26, 2026

Graphic Novel Pro by SVS Learn