I'd love to be able to draw well. (Alas, not one of my natural talents, although if I took the time I'm sure I could improve.) Because if I could, I would make a graphic novel about some of the stranger episodes of my life.
I have seen some really beautiful, fun, and thought-provoking graphic memoir-ish books lately, and I think it's a fascinating way to tell a life story. Here are a few I've come across (fictionalized but based on life experiences) that might inspire you in this direction.
The Frank Show by David Mackintosh
"Maus: A Survivor's Tale" is a dark and complicated story of a man's relationship with his father, who survived a concentration camp in World War II.
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
What do you think, you artists out there? Is a graphic autobiography in your future?
"The Frank Show" is a children's book about a boy who brings his grandfather to school for show and tell, and learns some surprising things about the grumpy old man. Although it's fiction, many of us have an eccentric relative or ancestor (or perhaps we are that relative) whose story would make a great illustrated children's book.
Maus, A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman
"The Arrival" by Shaun Tan is an absolutely stunning story of an immigrant's arrival in a strange new land. This book is unusual in that it tells the story with no words -- the gorgeous illustrations alone carry the narrative weight. Although it relies heavily on fantasy elements, it tells a story that nearly everyone can relate to.
