PROFILE
Pen Name / Name: 孜孜（Zizi）
Social media profiles: Instagram: @zizi_manga
Age: 20

Favorite manga:Vinland Saga
Favorite movie: Happyend

Entry title: “Rival”
Round: SMA Taiwan Round: “Smiles”
Award: Honorable Mention

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“Just keep drawing, and you will have many friends who will walk this path with you!”

About SMA

How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?
這是我第一次投稿漫畫，也是第一次得獎。我一直都很難想像自己的作品被其他人觀看，更何況是遠在日本的SMA評審們。知道入圍決選的當下，我人還在上學校的體育課，整個人都輕飄飄的。這就是我得獎的感覺。

This was my first time submitting a manga, and also my first time winning an award. I’ve always found it difficult to imagine my work being seen by others, let alone by the SMA judges in Japan. When I found out I was a finalist, I was in my PE class at school, and I felt completely light-headed. That’s how it felt to win the award, too.

What was the inspiration behind your awarded work?
我發現有時激勵自己前進的並不是他人的鼓勵與讚賞，而是那份「想要贏」的心情。無論是贏過某個人、贏過某個現實或是某個環境，那種「討厭」的力量會讓自己很努力去做一件事。那是我畫這篇故事的第一個靈感來源。

I realized that, sometimes, what motivates me to move forward is not the encouragement and praise of others, but that feeling of “wanting to win”. Whether it’s winning against a person, a circumstance, or an environment, that power of “dislike of losing” or “a will to overcome” pushes me to work very hard on something. That was the first source of inspiration for drawing this story.

What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them?
因為和繪圖軟體的漫畫功能不熟，所以在背景與網點設置上花了很多時間，最後是在摸索與試錯中完成了作品。這個挑戰感覺很難跨越，所以只希望自己能多練習，熟悉製作漫畫的流程。

I was unfamiliar with the manga features of the drawing software, so I spent a lot of time on background and screentone settings. In the end, I finished the work through exploration and trial-and-error. I think this challenge is difficult to overcome quickly, so I just hope to practice more and become more familiar with the manga production process.

READ Zizi’s Awarded Work HERE!

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About Your Manga

How and when did you start making manga? What do you wish you knew as a beginner? What advice would you give to someone who wants to start drawing manga?
我從高中一年級開始有意識地創作漫畫，雖然都是一篇兩三頁的小短篇，但讓我練習到了很多。老實說我覺得自己現在還是個 beginner，但如果真要給建議的話，我希望所有開始畫漫畫的人都要珍惜那個想要創作的念頭。畫畫的技術和方法百百種，但沒有創作的慾望，就甚麼也畫不出來了。

I consciously started creating manga in my first year of high school. Although they were all short pieces of only two or three pages, they allowed me to practice a lot. Honestly, I feel like I’m still a beginner now, but if I had to give advice, I would hope that everyone starting to draw manga cherishes that impulse to create. There are hundreds of drawing techniques and methods, but without the desire to create, you cannot draw anything.

Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools?
我通常使用數位工具繪製漫畫，這樣比較方便隨時有空就創作。

I usually use digital tools to draw manga, as it’s more convenient for me to create whenever I have free time.

What was the first manga you picked up? Is it easy to access manga where you live?
印象中的第一套漫畫應該是姜境孝老師的〈世界探險系列〉吧？台灣幾乎每所國小的圖書館都有，在有能力購買日本漫畫之前，我最喜歡到圖書館看這些韓國漫畫。在我住的地方，購買漫畫非常方便，就算書店沒賣，也可以用網購。不過，因為家裡人都不看漫畫，所以我的童年其實沒有很多看漫畫的機會。

The first set of comics I remember was probably Kang Kyung-hyo’s The World Exploration Series. Almost every elementary school library in Taiwan has it. Before I was able to buy Japanese manga, I loved going to the library to read those Korean comics. Where I live, buying manga is very convenient. Even if a bookstore doesn’t carry the title you want, you can buy it online. However, because no one in my family reads manga, I actually didn’t have many opportunities to read comics while growing up.

Which manga changed your life?
張季雅老師畫的〈異人茶跡〉！在那之前我只知道有韓國漫畫、日本漫畫，小學五年級翻了這本漫畫之後，慢慢意識到也有台灣人在創作台灣的漫畫，覺得自己也可以努力看看。

Ikoku Nikki: The Taiwan Tea Story (異人茶跡) drawn by Ji-Ya Chang! Before that, I only knew about Korean and Japanese manga. After flipping through this comic in fifth grade, I slowly became aware that there are also Taiwanese people creating Taiwanese comics, and I felt like I could also work hard and give it a try.

Which manga character do you most identify with? Why?
好像沒有特定一名角色，不過我很喜歡努力做一件事、失敗後還能坦然接受的角色。因為他們有去做想做的事。

There isn’t one specific character, but I really like characters who work hard at something and can calmly accept failure afterward. Because they went out and did what they wanted to do.

What kind of manga do you want to make next?
很多類型我都想嘗試看看。台灣的創作者缺乏完整的產業與商業模式支持創作，常需要一人多工經營作品，希望未來能越來越好。

I want to try many genres. Creators in Taiwan lack the support of a complete industry and business model for creation, often needing to manage their work by themselves. I hope things will get better in the future

About You

What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax?
我目前的生活還是以課業為主，所以畫漫畫反而是我休息的方式！

My life currently revolves around my studies, so drawing manga is actually how I relax!

What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)?
我現在還是大學生。

I am currently a university student.

Where do you see your manga career in five years time?
還不確定，不過還是會繼續畫下去的。

I’m not sure yet, but I will definitely continue drawing.

What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could?
繼續畫就對了，你會有很多畫畫朋友一起走！

Just keep drawing, and you will have many friends who will walk this path with you!

What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®?
建議可以多看看得獎作品，除了發想創作方向外，也能學到很多表現技法。

I suggest looking at the winning works often. Besides getting new, creative ideas, you can also learn many techniques for expression.

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Thank you, Zizi! We’re eagerly awaiting your next manga masterpiece!

The deadline to join SMA24 is May 10th. Enter for a chance to develop your potential as a manga creator with us in Japan!