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NiWo21k
Aug '20

Hi,

I started writing (ok, it's more scribbling what I do ^^) a while ago, mostly just for fun and started with two different little stories. After a little time out, I wanted to continue with one of them and also post it (to get a little feedback).

But there was always one question in my mind that I hope maybe some writers can help me here :slight_smile:

I always hear people talking about having art (like sketches or paintings) somewhere in there to make it a little more attractive, especially with the cover. Now while I am a really bad writer, I am an even worse artist :smiley: I just was able to create some kind of placeholder cover for my current story ^^

So I was thinking of using photography but would that be a good alternative?
Or is it more a matter of taste?

Every little insight is helpful and appreciated :slight_smile:
And sorry, should this be a dumb question :frowning:

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    Aug '20

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    Aug '20
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lillyssil
Aug '20

I think it is a matter of taste. But I think on Tapas people generally like it more if you paint something. Personally I think Photography can look out of place a lot of times. But you don't nessacary have to be a good artist to make a good Novel so don't force yourself to draw something if you are not good at it (You could always ask someone else to do your artwork). But if you like photography you can use photos. There are no limits to being artistic. Just make sure that they are your own photos and that there is nobody who doesn't want to be on the photo is on the photo. I am sure you will find people who like that too.

KelheorRegular
Aug '20

I think photography could be a nice alternative, but I should say I'd never expect artworks in the novel.
If they will be very good - it's okay. If they will be more average - I would prefer not to have them at all. In the end I am reading a novel, not a comic, and would prefer to build the images in my mind based on the actual description, not on the attached artworks (because it's frequently the problem how the artworks are totally not in tune with my own vision).

NiWo21k
Aug '20
lillyssil

Yeah, this "out of place" feel is something that I have in my head and why I didn´t really try it out :confused:
Mostly because finding a motive seems a little bit harder, like having people in it, or using motives that someone else might already have done.

And I agree with you: a writer doesn´t need to be an artist, but I think it makes it a little bit more personal :slight_smile:
And for my first try a few years ago I used a drawing of an artist, the problem was, that test readers were angry because they thought the good picture showed a good story ^^

I am still thinking about what I will do, for now, I used my own "drawing" (hoping people don´t think the story is even worse than that when they see the cover here :smiley: ).

Thanks for your reply :slight_smile:

NiWo21k
Aug '20
Kelheor

You know, that was actually my first thought when I started writing. I thought people read a story to get their own imagines in their heads, but lately, I read more and more that artwork is an important part of a novel.

It feels like taking a part of the fun of reading a story away.

Thanks for your thoughts :slight_smile:

KelheorRegular
Aug '20

Sure, it's only my humble opinion and maybe it really is important, but I say most of us not really accustomed to pictures in "adult books". And if you see Harry with Daniel Radcliff's face, you'll never get rid of this image, so it's not that fun, because someone put it in your head =)

Fuzed
Aug '20

Hi NiWo21k, how're you today?

I saw some people saying that they use photographs, edited to look like drawings for their covers. So you might want to look into that.

Also, it's not a necessity to have nice artwork. However, a nice cover attracts more readers and if you have character designs and stuff that you want your readers to see, then it's an added benefit...

Good luck with writing! :smiley:

darkone4587
Aug '20

Honestly it's a cool idea if you can get it to work right. Light Novels do it all the time with some of the more emotional or action packed scenes. It could add a lot of impact to the scene and spice things up every so often even if it's a mundane scene.

NiWo21k
Aug '20
Kelheor

Oh I so agree with you :slight_smile:

I once created two characters (two very dear to me and the reason why I started writing) and I commission from time to time artists to come up with their interpretations - meaning with just the few details we know from the story, they should draw how they see them - and it is amazing how near and still different hey come out - showing that written words can be strong in creating a design in your head that is unique but also very simmiliar - so, as with your example, getting injectec with how it should look takes a lot out of the great skill "Imagination" out of it :slight_smile:

NiWo21k
Aug '20
Fuzed

Hi, I am good, hope you too :slight_smile:

Yes, I have seen that. I tried it out once, but I failed hard :smiley:
TBH, if it comes to "art" I am not really good with photoshop like programs - I feel more comfortable with real markers and paper.

Now you scare me - I have drawn my own cover, and now I think I know why no one wants to check my story out :sweat: :smiley:

You know, as a little extra at the end, like an author's little diary I actually can see something like this working, but I just can´t see them used all the time.

Thanks, I will see where it leads me, for now, I wait if people read my story, and if not, I might drop it for good ^^

surenlicious
Aug '20

I am an artist writing my novel, but I wouldn't place too many images in besides a chapter cover, or a story arc cover (Tapas are you reading this, let me this this please XD).

I make a LOT of art for my novel, but eh...I rather have my readers focussed on reading rather than drooling over my art haha.

NiWo21k
Aug '20

I thought about what you just wrote, and you know what, I think, if you are someone like you, who has this as an template or better as an plan, then it could work - a kinda hybrid of both worlds, something that isn´t done so often :slight_smile:

So, I have to say, my initial question was more in direction someone writing a story and then uses art as an after thought :wink:

I your case you just have to be careful to not cross that thin line that you give your readers something to drool over from the sound of it :smiley:

foxnflames
Aug '20

I think one of the best things about novels is that I can use my imagination to create the characters and scenery and I don’t want art to “interrupt” the picture in my head or not be what I’m envisioning. That said, I started playing around with illustrations :grimacing: not every chapter because I don’t need that extra commitment on my plate.

There is a novel on here that I read that is illustrated (one per chapter) and I don’t mind it, in that instance they enhance the work and I look forward to them. So I guess it depends. But I’ll also say that if you have subpar drawing skills then you probably shouldn’t. Not you specifically OP :sweat_smile: but anyone.

NiWo21k
Aug '20

I once heard someone saying something like:

Words create ideas,
ideas create pictures,
pictures create colors,
colors create scenes,
scenes create words.

or something like that, my memory isn´t really good :smiley:

I think you describe it actually quite well how my feelings about novels are :slight_smile:
As I said a little bit above, if you plan it well it might work, but only if you keep it simple, meaning not creating pictures of the characters but maybe from very specific items (like a map). And as you said it can become work :smiley:

But it can become a distraction.

Oh, no need to hold back, believe me, my art is maybe kindergarten level :joy:
If you want, you can see what I am "capable" of here (but be warned, this can´t be unseen :smiley: ) - the newest one is also the placeholder I used for my cover ^^

https://www.deviantart.com/niwo21k/gallery/69948943/doodles4

But joke aside, I know what you want to say :slight_smile:

lillyssil
Aug '20

If I would have drawn like this in kindergarten I would be a star right now.

foxnflames
Aug '20
NiWo21k

Lmao your work is nowhere near kindergarten level. The Ryuk! I like it. But I’d prefer a pivotal scene or something that just has to be seen visually than sketch dumps every chapter. And you can always have your reader look on your social media if they just want to see art you do for your story.

One of my main characters is in my pfp so I don’t feel the need to add a drawing of him constantly in the story.

NiWo21k
Aug '20

@lillyssil
Really? I just don´t know, it looks so simple and I don´t really see worst ones out there :open_mouth:
But tbh, you are not the first one telling me that :confused:

@foxnflames
Thanks, glad you like it. But the same I said above, I always see them so "bad", but I am no artist, so I have no clue about it really :smiley:

Oh, and of course that is what a piece of art should show. As I said earlier, if you want to create art for a novel, it should be something very special :slight_smile:

The part about social media is also true, and it helps keeping your readers informed.

Iris-Grimoire
Aug '20

I think the art would end up feeling better for mood than for characters, because as said above, it does replace a bit of the imagination aspect. But on the other hand, while a good character description can let you have a pretty good image of the character, you can't really go in and describe every spire of a crazy looking temple without sacrificing pacing, for example. Something like a simple banner-size simple painting, just so the reader goes "oh it's spooky/it's whimsical/it's awe-inspiring in the characters' perspective" and proceeds to read with some of the work cut out for them, but not all of it.

But essential? Not really. Unless you want to also practice art for yourself(like building porfolio for tabletop books, which use this a lot!), the banner, thumbnail and cover will be more than enough.

NiWo21k
Aug '20

It is funny what you are saying :slight_smile:
No don´t think I think you said something wrong, but about "describing" things we are on one wave lenght. But this is exactly what some writers told me just not long ago is what you should do.

In my current story "Journey of a Huntress" I actually try to balance the amount of details I tell the reader, but my test readers all told me I should go all out with details - and telling them I think it would might bring pacing problems, I was told, that that doesnt matter, because you write, and this is the way you tell what is going on. Let´s see how others think if they read it, but after posting it yesterday, I think my cover is keeping people away from reading it :smiley:

And I agree with what you say about banners and what you wrote in your last paragraph :slight_smile:

Jen-Jen
Aug '20

I was JUST wondering about this. I am TERRIBLE with art, so I comissioned some on Fiverr for $5 a piece. But Canva has been really good for making placeholder art. You'll have to use Tapas's custom dimensions, but most themes still work. Pm copy and paste your title onto it, and maybe change the color scheme or something, idk.

Does anyone know how to add a picture.png to a novel? I want to add a map as an extra, but it looks like I can't upload anything in the main text area, only to the thumbnail.