Proposed sticky thread - authors looking for collaborators

[jsmiam]

In case any artists are wondering why the flurry of authors looking for artist/illustrator collaborations, it’s a new Literotica feature of story series where cover art is possible.

I propose to this forum’s moderator: create a sticky thread that’s always at the top. Maybe it would galvanize many of the requests into a single place, a little like the one in the editors forum. It’s not perfect nor a magic pill, but better than nothing.

Just two cents.

 

[LiverpoolMaster]

In case any artists are wondering why the flurry of authors looking for artist/illustrator collaborations, it’s a new Literotica feature of story series where cover art is possible.

I propose to this forum’s moderator: create a sticky thread that’s always at the top. Maybe it would galvanize many of the requests into a single place, a little like the one in the editors forum. It’s not perfect nor a magic pill, but better than nothing.

Just two cents.

Nope.

I know that various people like me have been hoping to achieve a mutually enjoyable and productive collaboration with artists here for years. It isn't down to any "new feature". Unfortunately most of the artists on here seem to regard this wish as some kind sinister plot to avoid paying them money/commission... as if their only motive for coming on Lit was self-centered commercialism rather than the enjoyable and friendly to-and-fro which motivates the rest of us.

Yes, better than nothing but I fear it would be an almost complete waste of effort.

 

[jsmiam]

Nope.

I know that various people like me have been hoping to achieve a mutually enjoyable and productive collaboration with artists here for years. It isn't down to any "new feature". Unfortunately most of the artists on here seem to regard this wish as some kind sinister plot to avoid paying them money/commission... as if their only motive for coming on Lit was self-centered commercialism rather than the enjoyable and friendly to-and-fro which motivates the rest of us.

Yes, better than nothing but I fear it would be an almost complete waste of effort.

Partly correct but partly incorrect. Illustrated stories have been around for years and series/chapter stories have been too, so yes, partly correct. But now, there’s also a new feature where authors have more abilities to control the way series look, including new cover art, so partly incorrect.

You must be logged in to see, but this links lead to the series beta: https://literotica.com/my/#/series/stories/

And this thread discussed it: https://forum.literotica.com/threads/anyone-played-with-the-series-beta-yet.1576776/

I’m almost a disinterested third party because I don’t write series myself. But there has definitely been more authors asking about collaborations since this new feature (cover art) came on the horizon.

I do notice that the requests for collaborations tend to get quickly responded to with a “show me the money” reply, and I partly understand and partly don’t, since the authors don’t make any money for writing.

I do see where there’s a difference from the “who’s asking” perspective, so there is at least some bit of a difference.

A sticky to me seems like a compromise: one central place (mostly) for threads on that topic, rather than an author here/an author there posting their own threads. And maybe a discussion here for artists to discuss their perspectives too and be heard. (Even though artists and poets don’t get much attention when it comes to getting their submissions approved, you might at least be heard by fellow Literotica member authors.)

 

[SteelPoint]

I think Liverpool's point was that this issue has been around almost since the VA corner was invented. So it's definitely not a new thing.

Any new source of "need for collaboration" will presumably only make the situation worse.

I share the view that, unless somehow Lit. starts attracting artists who are genuinely amateur rather than semi-pros out to make a buck AND who have an interest in other people's ideas, the sticky idea is something of a non-runner.

 

[jsmiam]

I think Liverpool's point was that this issue has been around almost since the VA corner was invented. So it's definitely not a new thing.

Any new source of "need for collaboration" will presumably only make the situation worse.

I share the view that, unless somehow Lit. starts attracting artists who are genuinely amateur rather than semi-pros out to make a buck AND who have an interest in other people's ideas, the sticky idea is something of a non-runner.

Thanks both of you for replying and sharing your views. Part of this is and should be a discussion, specially by the visual artists and not an intruding author such as I. (Even though I’m a noted series story non-lover. Full disclosure, I did ask for a collaboration once years ago for a maybe illustrated story, which isn’t and wasn’t a new Literotica feature. But cover art for series stories is a new Literotica feature.)

My thoughts were there might be fewer overall new threads by new requesting authors, since more might post in the one sticky thread. That would be easier to ignore for the non-interested artists, and less clutter inside the board. (Incidentally, clutter is my personal reason for disliking series stories, so im mostly an anti-clutter person.) This whole thread began with my opinion, but I’m glad and prefer for the visual artists to do most of the talking, even if/when they don’t agree with my opinions. So thanks again.

Also (shifting topics a bit), I do see another difference: visual artists (at least published artists here don’t have a way even with the new (I repeat, new as of fall 2022) cover art feature, to document that they were the contributing artist, if they participated in the series story, as the artist. That seems like something that could be added to the new (I repeat, new) cover art feature to better serve any visual artist who might partake.