Is there a way to imbed pictures in a story?

[Priscilla_June]

Not sure if anyone else have thought of this, but as I plan out one of my fantasy series I have wondered just how I can display to the reader certain things. The first item that comes to mind is maps. In a fantasy series this is certainly important visual representation of the area in which an adventure is taking place and for which a level of worldbuilding can be displayed.

How does one convey that to readers? Can you imbed a hyperlink? Do you post a factbook to another page?

There even could be a case where you include an image of the character. In the age of AI created images it would be interesting to include a link to a picture to allow the readers to truly see the vision of the character.

I’d love to hear how others have done this to try and give more depth and continuity to a story outside of the writing itself.

 

[yowser]

The only image inclusion option is the 'illustrated' category, which has its own non-trivial difficulties/barriers.

See https://www.literotica.com/faq/illustration-works

 

[ElectricBlue]

Not sure if anyone else have thought of this, but as I plan out one of my fantasy series I have wondered just how I can display to the reader certain things. The first item that comes to mind is maps. In a fantasy series this is certainly important visual representation of the area in which an adventure is taking place and for which a level of worldbuilding can be displayed.

You'd have to use Illustrated Stories.

How does one convey that to readers? Can you imbed a hyperlink? Do you post a factbook to another page?

You can embed links, but only to another Lit Page. You could put maps and illustrations in your Art Works page and link to those, but they only get processed in batches, maybe once a month.

There even could be a case where you include an image of the character. In the age of AI created images it would be interesting to include a link to a picture to allow the readers to truly see the vision of the character.

The current Lit policy doesn't allow AI drawn content in stories.

I’d love to hear how others have done this to try and give more depth and continuity to a story outside of the writing itself.

I like the idea of maps, but keep in mind, not everyone will share your vision of your characters. That's a limiting thing, I reckon, if a reader doesn't like your taste in people. Sure, you're the author, but by presenting images, you'd be locking a reader out of their imagination.

Readers have their own view of our writer's worlds, and it might not be the same as ours.

 

[MillieDynamite]

In short, in the literature sections of Literotica, no, you can't have images. This includes maps and diagrams.

 

[Priscilla_June]

All great points, shame it takes a month to get any sort of illustration posted, that sort of hampers the ability to get pertinent maps or other tid bits of info to the reader. Ill have to play with it and see. Im thinking images like factbook pages that maybe talk about kingdoms or such.

 

[Priscilla_June]

In short, in the literature sections of Literotica, no, you can't have images. This includes maps and diagrams.

How do you then overcome this in a way (within guidelines) to deliver the readers any helpful material like a map?

 

[MillieDynamite]

A companion piece could be put out prior to the stories with a note, "Useful Maps for my Big Fat Fantasy Tale."

 

[Bramblethorn]

IIRC Laurel has occasionally allowed authors to include images in stories outside the illustrated categories, on a case-by-case basis. One could ask, with no guarantees that the answer will be "yes".

The alternative is posting the images separately and letting readers know where they can be found.

 

[alohadave]

There even could be a case where you include an image of the character. In the age of AI created images it would be interesting to include a link to a picture to allow the readers to truly see the vision of the character.

@EmilyMiller and @Djmac1031 have been tweeting AI images on Xitter with links to their stories. Might be something to explore.

https://twitter.com/EmilyMillerLit

https://twitter.com/TommyMac1031

 

[EmilyMiller]

@EmilyMiller and @Djmac1031 have been tweeting AI images on Xitter with links to their stories. Might be something to explore.

https://twitter.com/EmilyMillerLit

https://twitter.com/TommyMac1031

We’ve done a Twitter take over. Musk is super pissed. He tried to run us over with a Tesla truck, but it broke down.

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

Not sure if anyone else have thought of this, but as I plan out one of my fantasy series I have wondered just how I can display to the reader certain things. The first item that comes to mind is maps. In a fantasy series this is certainly important visual representation of the area in which an adventure is taking place and for which a level of worldbuilding can be displayed.

How does one convey that to readers? Can you imbed a hyperlink? Do you post a factbook to another page?

There even could be a case where you include an image of the character. In the age of AI created images it would be interesting to include a link to a picture to allow the readers to truly see the vision of the character.

I’d love to hear how others have done this to try and give more depth and continuity to a story outside of the writing itself.

Like this…

https://twitter.com/x/status/1736140517165985837

Em

 

[Djmac1031]

We’ve done a Twitter take over. Musk is super pissed. He tried to run us over with a Tesla truck, but it broke down.

Em

Yep. If by "Twitter take over" you mean "three people liked my tweet once," then yeah, crushing it.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Yep. If by "Twitter take over" you mean "three people liked my tweet once," then yeah, crushing it.

Two of them were bots.

Em

 

[Djmac1031]

Two of them were bots.

Em

Hey, don't bot-shame.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Hey, don't bot-shame.

Talking of, I was trying to create a blonde version of Cameron. Maybe with the endoskeleton showing through torn flesh. Stupid AI.

Em

 

[PennameWombat]

Yep. If by "Twitter take over" you mean "three people liked my tweet once," then yeah, crushing it.

I've used my Twitter account to announce many of my stories over a couple of years, the tweets almost always get retweeted by the official Literotica account, so potentially seen fairly widely...

But I've never noticed any upswing in views tied to the announcements. I've seen yours and Emily's tweets, well, some of them. There are some other Lit authors who used to be very active there but I've not seen them post in quite some time, Saddletramp1956 was one of the most active there (one of those prolific authors I've never seen post here, maybe that's why they're prolific )

But given the weird nature of posts that get boosted or not, it's unclear to me if they're not tweeting as much or if it's "the algorithm."

 

[Priscilla_June]

I had thought about a twitter before, this would be an interesting use for it if I do. So it doesnt sound like there is much traffic tho?

 

[Djmac1031]

I had thought about a twitter before, this would be an interesting use for it if I do. So it doesnt sound like there is much traffic tho?

I mean, if you're starting a brand new account (like I did) then yeah, you have to build an audience from scratch.

I joke about the "three likes" thing but I honestly only just started. So it's gonna take some time.

 

[Priscilla_June]

I mean, if you're starting a brand new account (like I did) then yeah, you have to build an audience from scratch.

I joke about the "three likes" thing but I honestly only just started. So it's gonna take some time.

Is there a lot of interaction with other authors? Is that where the hang out is?

 

[PennameWombat]

I had thought about a twitter before, this would be an interesting use for it if I do. So it doesnt sound like there is much traffic tho?

The official Twitter Literotica account has 20,000 or so followers. If you tag them when you send a tweet, they're very good about retweeting (well, reposting, up yours, Musk) it to their followers. So they can potentially be seen by a decent sized audience, even if your account doesn't have a huge following as yet. Due to "the algorithm," it's unpredictable how many will see your tweet. I have gathered a few likes and other accounts retweeting after the Literotica account retweeted. I've never had much interaction with most of my actual friends and family and my writing on Lit, many of whom do follow me there so would've seen my tweets, it's not a secret, just seems it ain't their bag to read here.

As I mentioned, I've never been able to discern any uptick in views specific to a tweet - clearly I've never gone viral. But I also have never had anyone tell me, on Twitter or here, that was how they found their way to my story. But I've never posted artwork, mostly due to a crippling lack of interest in making any.

But yes, the overall traffic on Twitter has dropped. You could also pay His Muskness to be a 'verified' account and get boosted ahead of us hoi polloi.

 

[Djmac1031]

Is there a lot of interaction with other authors? Is that where the hang out is?

Not really. There's a few of us goofing around. Again I've only really been there a few days. There may be more and I'm just not in the community yet

 

[PennameWombat]

Is there a lot of interaction with other authors? Is that where the hang out is?

Not really. There's a few of us goofing around. Again I've only really been there a few days. There may be more and I'm just not in the community yet

"Author" Twitter exists, but what I've mostly seen is among various 'mainstream' author communities. Stephen King used to have a huge audience and was very active, but not any more. Harry Turtledove, for one, is still very active, but mostly posts politics. More broadly, I used to see lots of mid-list authors be quite active (e.g., Cherie Priest), many of them have left or significantly lessened their activity.

The controversy around Cait Corrain, the to-be-published author who was caught posting derogatory fake reviews all over Goodreads was amply covered and discussed among many "debut" authors (others who, like her, had just received traditional contracts for books coming in the first half of 2024.) Corrain has since had her contract and book cancelled.

I've never seen nor fallen into such a "Literotica Author" 'community' (or whatever you want to call it.)

 

[EmilyMiller]

I've used my Twitter account to announce many of my stories over a couple of years, the tweets almost always get retweeted by the official Literotica account, so potentially seen fairly widely...

But I've never noticed any upswing in views tied to the announcements. I've seen yours and Emily's tweets, well, some of them. There are some other Lit authors who used to be very active there but I've not seen them post in quite some time, Saddletramp1956 was one of the most active there (one of those prolific authors I've never seen post here, maybe that's why they're prolific )

But given the weird nature of posts that get boosted or not, it's unclear to me if they're not tweeting as much or if it's "the algorithm."

He’s still posting there.

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

I had thought about a twitter before, this would be an interesting use for it if I do. So it doesnt sound like there is much traffic tho?

Twitter is like a major metropolis during COVID. The only people there are the stupid and those who have to be.

Twitter reminds me of The Last of Us. But bleaker.

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

Is there a lot of interaction with other authors? Is that where the hang out is?

You’re in the hang out, hun .

Em